Campbell Newman channels Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen in maiden speech
MAIDEN speeches tend to mark the first rung on an MP's career ladder. For Campbell Newman, his maiden speech to parliament today happened as premier.
MAIDEN speeches tend to mark the first rung on an MP's career ladder. For Campbell Newman, his maiden speech to parliament today happened as premier.
Mr Newman, who ran from outside parliament for Queensland's top job, spoke of his desire to live up to his predecessors as premier, including controversial figure Joh Bjelke-Peterson.
He credited Sir Frank Nicklin, who led Queensland from 1957 to 1968, for his strong emphasis on ethical and dedicated service as well as the development of resources industries in the state.
"If, as premier of Queensland, I can live up to the standards of my eminent predecessors, I know I will have worked hard and with honour for the people of Queensland," Mr Newman told the parliament.
Before outlining Sir Frank's army and political career, Mr Newman credited Queensland's most controversial leader, Sir Joh, as the longest serving premier in history and his "many achievements".
Sir Joh was premier from 1968 to 1987 but his reign involved corruption between the government and police, as revealed in the Fitzgerald Inquiry.
"His government built this state into an economic powerhouse that led the way for our country for so long," Mr Newman said of Sir Joh.
Mr Newman said his political philosophy was centered around community and small government. "As premier I believe the best ideas should result in less regulation, lower taxes and fewer laws but most importantly the people of Queensland will always, always, always come first," he said.
This is the first week of parliamentary sittings since Mr Newman led the Liberal National Party to a crushing defeat of Labor, reducing the ALP to just seven seats in the 89-seat unicameral House.
A bill to reform the committee system of parliament and the role of the Speaker will be debated later today, after the first Question Time.
Following Mr Newman's first speech to parliament, his deputy Jeff Seeney and Treasurer Tim Nicholls delivered a rousing speeches slamming the Labor election campaign.
Mr Seeney it said the campaign was characterised by personal attacks on Mr Newman's extended family and paid the price with the outcome of the election.
"They have met the political fate that they so richly deserved," he said.
"It was unprecedented and it was disgusting, and it disgusted Queenslanders from Currumbin to Cook.
"It is one of the reasons why there are only seven members on the Opposition."
Both Mr Seeney and Treasurer Tim Nicholls discussed the role of their "back deck meeting" in which they decided to install Mr Newman as leader from outside the parliament last year.
"We came together and made some fairly hard decisions in a short amount of time and out of that meeting, on a small suburban back deck, a great friendship has been formed and a great team has been formed," he said.
Mr Seeney said Mr Nicholls had been selfless to set aside his own leadership aspirations.
Maiden speeches are continuing.
New Agriculture Minister John McVeigh highlighted his home town and the role of farming in the state's history, while Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said he believed in "growing the pie" and small government.