George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip

In another show of code-crossing unity, the Titans, Broncos, Cowboys, Lions, Suns and Reds have fired off a fresh letter to 1 William Street. THIS IS GEORGE STREET BEAT

Lead sporting bodies are paying a $4 levy to cover the cost of patrons’ 50 cent fares on game day. File picture

In another show of code-crossing unity, the Titans, Broncos, Cowboys, Lions, Suns and Reds have fired off a fresh letter to 1 William Street, politely demanding the Premier stop taxing the vibe.

Frankly, they’ve got a point. The Crisafulli Government is busy patting itself on the back for locking in 50 cent fares, while still charging clubs a $4 levy to cover the cost of that very same public transport.

Queensland is obsessed with football. People schedule weddings around Broncos games. The Gabba could sink into the earth and someone would still show up for the cricket with a fold-up chair and a XXXX.

The letter oozes polite menace to the tune of: “We love your 50 cent fares … but why are you still charging us like it’s full price? Please stop taxing the very thing that keeps thousands of cars off the road and butts in stadium seats.”

They even throw in the big scare — major events ditching Queensland with events on costs skyrocketing up to 70 per cent for holidays and weekends and 25 per cent on weekdays.

GSB can see their point, you can’t shout “cheaper travel for all!” then send the invoice to the Broncos.

Former federal MP Julian Simmonds has been appointed chief executive of Economic Development Queensland. Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Well, well, well, the jobs for mates gravy train steams ahead under the LNP.

Our predictions that another mate from the LNP has levelled up to a chief executive position rang true.

This time, it’s Julian Simmonds – ex-federal MP, once bounced out of the seat of Ryan by the Greens’ rising tide, now reincarnated courtesy of Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie as the freshly minted CEO of Economic Development Queensland.

A fellow party man just happened to be the most qualified person in the whole state to run the government’s property powerhouse. What luck!

Mr Bleijie quietly slipped out the news on the eve of the Easter long weekend, announcing he had accepted the EDQ board’s recommendation to appoint Mr Simmonds after the sudden departure of Debbie McNamara after just 10 months in the role.

Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie announced Mr Simmonds’ appointment on Thursday – just before the Easter long weekend.

Since Mr Simmonds was booted from federal politics he’s been leading coal industry-funded, anti-Labor lobby group Australians For Prosperity.

You’re right, it’s the same group that deleted two months worth of social media content after the Australian Electoral Commission wrapped it the knuckles last month for unauthorised election material.

No matter, EDQ chair Brendan O’Farrell is brimming with praise, calling Mr Simmonds instrumental to hitting the government’s ambitious housing goal by 2044.

The appointment of Mr Simmonds was the second shock announcement made by the LNP on the eve of the Easter long weekend in what’s known as ‘taking out the trash’ – announcements you know will be controversial.

How quickly the moral high ground erodes when an opposition takes government.

HOT WHEELS

Judging by the LNP’s chauffeur-driven ministerial vehicle fleet you’d be forgiven for thinking the cost of living crisis is over.

Gone are the plucky ministerial Holdens, Toyotas and Volvos once driven by Palaszczuk government ministers at the start of the last term.

As Premier, Steven Miles’s office had access to a hybrid Toyota Kluger and electric Polestar 2, while then treasurer Cameron Dick used an uninspiring Hyundai Ioniq 6.

Premier David Crisafulli has kept Mr Miles’s wheels and added two office pool cars, an electric Hyundai Ioniq and – in a nod to Elon Musk – Tesla Model Y.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie is comfortable travelling to and from his Sunshine Coast electorate (and across the southeast to axe housing projects, Labor might argue).

Mr Bleijie cruises in a Lexus ES300 while his office has the keys to a Mercedes EQA250 – which according to Carsales starts at $85,000.

Other Merc-driving ministers include education’s John-Paul Langbroek, health’s Tim Nicholls, families’ Amanda Camm and Steve Minnikin in customer service.

There’s a sixth Mercedes available for everyone’s use.

Notably, there are six diesel vehicles in the ministerial fleet, up from five under the Miles government.

GSB hears not all ministers were happy with their vehicles.

Treasurer David Janetzki’s electric Hyundai had broken down twice, prompting him to trade it for a Toyota Kluger.

DING A’ LING

Say hello to Simon Ling – the man about to take the wheel of Queensland’s multibillion-dollar cheque book.

He has a resumé that reads like a world tour of finance (New York, London, Sydney – tick, tick, tick) and a promise to become Queensland’s Treasury whisperer.

Boy, does the state need one.

With debt now forecast to hit $218bn by the end of the forwards and blowouts plaguing every government department known to man, Treasurer David Janetzki has a significant challenge ahead.

But Mr Ling, the newly appointed chief executive of Queensland Treasury Corporation, appears up to the task bringing decades of global banking grit to the job – just not in time to sharpen his budget pencils.

Mr Janetzki says his new hire will “restore respect” to the bottom line, while QTC’s board is backing him to turn the state’s financial arm into a world-class powerhouse.

“It’s a privilege to join such a high-calibre team, and I’m energised by the opportunity to help shape resilient, sustainable solutions that deliver long-term impact for Queensland,” Mr Ling said.

QTC’s Managing Director Funding and Markets Division Susan Buckley will continue serving as acting chief executive after Leon Allen stepped down in February. Mr Ling’s tenure begins on July 1.

Originally published as George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip