Palaszczuk government report card 2022: The best and worst ministers rated
Our state politics team have given their verdict on the Palaszczuk government’s performance, with one minister receiving an E and seven failing to get a pass mark. VOTE IN THE REPORT CARD NOW
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It began with the summer of discontent and didn’t get any better.
The Palaszczuk government’s 2022 kicked off with integrity concerns, as corruption-busting legend Tony Fitzgerald was pulled out of retirement to head up an inquiry.
It was a sign of what was to come for the year — a flurry of inquiries and reports stretching from the behaviour of Star Entertainment to catastrophic failures at the state-run DNA lab.
Each report revealed cracks which the state government would need to fix.
Housing, mental health reform and integrity issues were big ticket work packages which the state government moved on this year.
SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL ANALYSIS OF THE GRADES
They had to be pushed into position each time rather than be proactive.
It remains a state government with a slim agenda and the slow dissipation of Covid-19 as a beast needing to be dealt with by political leaders has exposed this even more.
This is the first year since they came into power where there have been more bad days than good.
OVERALL MARK FOR PALASZCZUK GOVERNMENT: D
ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK: C
Premier and Olympics Minister
After two years of a pandemic providing the ultimate distraction, the Premier had arguably her rockiest year since taking the top job. Red carpet distractions and an ill-fated trip to Hamilton Island yacht week (resulting in the cancelling of that week’s Cabinet meeting) were little compared to the integrity crisis which threatened to engulf the government earlier in the year.
Even the release of Professor Peter Coaldrake’s report was not without controversy, with the Premier not fronting for questions due to a “dental emergency”.
A Fitzgerald 2.0 inquiry into the CCC, a disastrous mishap at the DNA lab with thousands of criminal cases in doubt, a damning inquiry in the state’s police forces’ handling of DV cases, sky-high ambulance ramping and a bizarre fight with the Queensland Resources Council have also marred 2022.
Embarrassingly, she was forced to apologise for taking her partner Reza Adib to an official IOC meeting with president Thomas Bach, and she also made a huge misstep when she was forced to backflip over not including Paralympics in her ministerial title – something she agreed to change under pressure (although, still hasn’t).
But despite appearing to lurch from one disaster to the next, Palaszczuk remains reasonably popular in the electorate, is a shrewd political player and is adept at riding through the controversy remarkably largely unscathed.
STEVEN MILES: C+
Deputy Premier, State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics Infrastructure
The Deputy Premier oversaw one of the biggest political drags on this government since they won re-election in 2020: the Wellcamp quarantine facility, which cost taxpayers an eye watering $223m and will never be owned by the Queenslanders who helped pay for it.
And yet Miles’ only regret about the facility was that it wasn’t built sooner.
Overall this year was one of relative inaction from a Deputy Premier who leads the party’s dominant Left faction.
However, he should be given credit though for taking charge of the government’s response to the housing crisis and giving it the momentum it deserved.
CAMERON DICK: C
Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment
It was a year of highs and lows for the man controlling the purse strings. After saying in 2020 there would “not be any increased taxes, we have said that very clearly from the start, no new taxes from the Labor government if we are re-elected” – we got a whole bunch.
Controversial coal royalty rate hike caused a minor international incident with Japan, not to mention the start of an all-out war of words with the Queensland resources sector.
But the move has undoubtedly significantly improved the budget – for now. He had significant skin taken off for pushing unpopular land tax changes, snubbed by interstate Treasurers including Labor ones.
GRACE GRACE: B+
Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing
It has been a solid 2022 for the Education Minister, who has stuck her neck out on a number of important issues.
She was a vocal advocate for the rights of LGBTQI+ students in light of the Citipointe College saga this year, announcing an independent review of the accreditation framework for private schools.
Grace also stood firm on the pay cut for teachers who refused to get the vaccine, got consent education into schools, and saw through a number of legislative changes including an update to the state’s industrial relations law further protecting workers from sexual harassment.
Not to mention she was one of the government’s more entertaining pollies in parliament – if Grace was on her feet, it wasn’t going to be boring.
SHANNON FENTIMAN: A-
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
Shannon Fentiman led the charge on the state’s biggest domestic violence law reform agenda so far, including building blocks to criminalise coercive control.
Still the government’s hardest working and most effective Minister. Loses marks for dragging heels on the inquiry into Star when other jurisdictions were already acting.
YVETTE D’ATH: E
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services
Multiple high-profile controversies in the public health space have come down to prolonged toxic workplace cultures.
DNA lab failures are a particularly egregious reflection of D’Ath’s lack of leadership over time, noting she was previously the Attorney-General.
Ambulance ramping and triple-0 call wait times continue to be a disaster, while she took far too long to take action on serious issues at Mackay.
Calls for a fresh pair of eyes in the health portfolio to shake up the department and implement sweeping cultural and structural change are set to grow louder.
MARK BAILEY: B-
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Gets some credit for reacting quickly to the Optus hack, finally has smart ticketing rolling out and oversaw some major M1 and Cross River Rail milestones.
New mobile phone and seatbelt cameras have proved to be a boon for the bottom line. Has some serious work to do with the spiralling road toll.
MARK RYAN: D-
Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services
A disastrous inquiry into how Queensland Police respond to domestic violence cases has left a huge stain on the Police Minister, given he has been at the helm now for six years.
Was left red-faced when letters emerged of a victim asking him for help over mistreatment from police, and was left to deal with the fallout of the Bob Atkinson review into youth justice. Needs to turn the portfolio around – quickly.
MICK DE BRENNI: C+
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement
Proved himself valuable in the energy policy space, particularly at the national level. But de Brenni is marked down for letting himself get continuously sidelined by the Premier in his own portfolio. Progress made on revamping QBCC but still work left to do.
STIRLING HINCHLIFFE: B-
Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement
Finally has a reason to smile as the state’s tourism industry bounces back after a shocking two years.
Got the Suncorp Stadium concert cap lifted from six to 12, and was appointed as chair of the Olympics legacy committee, which will hold a 500-plus person summit in March.
Had an awkward budget estimates moment when it was revealed the government gave Dreamworld the OK to repurpose cash for a koala-research facility for a new rollercoaster.
Is (as of now), still the only Olympics-affiliated Minister to also have Paralympics in their Ministerial title.
LEANNE LINARD: D
Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
Farcical delay on the release of a review into youth crime laws, keeping outcomes from Queenslanders unnecessarily.
Notably passionate about portfolio areas, including long-term reform of youth justice to do better by disadvantaged children.
Unfortunately lacks influence to change government position.
MEAGHAN SCANLON: B-
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs
Remains a rising star in Queensland Labor who rarely makes a stumble in her portfolio.
Has driven reform to stamp out single-use plastics in Queensland, secured state’s biggest conservation acquisition in a decade, and led the charge to sign up to national environmental reform.
Still hasn’t delivered independent Environmental Protection Agency election commitment. Will have work to do on state’s paltry emissions reductions target.
LEEANNE ENOCH: C
Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts
Dropped the ball on housing but credibility retained by accepting the need to pick up the pace and move on with the job. Vowed to stop the state’s sell-off of public housing.
MARK FURNER: C+
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities
One of the more low-key MPs, but was much more in the spotlight this year – for a variety of reasons.
Bravely shared his family’s own personal experience with domestic violence as he sought to raise awareness of the important cause.
Saw several significant pieces of legislation through including the first update to animal welfare laws in two decades, plus a tough stance on biosecurity and a controversial new seasonal fishing ban on Spanish mackerel.
Had a silly moment when he called Ros Bates a “dopey, stupid woman” in the house during a parliamentary debate, but apologised.
GLENN BUTCHER: C-
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water
Weathered criticism of government’s management of Paradise Dam and his alleged involvement in the ultimate axing of the Hells Gate Dam proposal by the federal government. Marked down for sitting on the Bradfield scheme review before finally releasing it in December.
SCOTT STEWART: D+
Minister for Resources
Appears to exert no influence on the government in promoting resource industry causes, which became crystal clear when the treasurer did not even tell him prior to a royalty rates hike.
A parliamentary inquiry into the safety culture in the coal mining industry was a good call.
DI FARMER: D
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development
Pretty unclear what has been achieved this year when it comes to reform.
The sector has largely chugged along swimmingly, but that’s due to the Covid-19 rebound. Released a glossy document on improving the skills capacity of the state over the decade.
CRAIG CRAWFORD: D+
Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
Path to Treaty finally progressed then immediately stalled. He was supposed to introduce legislation to establish treaty structures by end of year but failed to do so.
Originally published as Palaszczuk government report card 2022: The best and worst ministers rated
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