Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2021

Supported the budget, highlighting investments in women's safety ($155 million to tackle violence against women), justice services ($1.4 billion for frontline justice), and local electorate infrastructure including schools and roads.

“Women's safety was a key priority for the Palaszczuk government in this budget, with an investment of more than $155 million to tackle violence against women in the next year.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As Treasurer, moved the bills be read a second time, presenting the 2021-22 budget focused on economic recovery, jobs growth and infrastructure investment.

“That the bills be now read a second time.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Opposed the budget, accusing the government of political spin and deception through the 'bogus sale' of the land titles office and the creation of funds without actual money in them. Argued the budget contained nothing new for Glass House.

“Queensland, do not be conned. This government is not going to build new hospitals from this fund. This government is not going to build new social housing from this fund.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Delivered the budget reply, arguing the budget fails to address crises in health, crime, housing, and congestion, with funds announced but not funded, and criticising the Titles Registry revaluation as financial trickery.

“Two days ago the government had the chance to outline a plan to regain control of health, crime, congestion, productivity and housing. Two days ago it had a chance to put money in the funds they trumpeted to fix these problems.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget, emphasising the $2.9 billion total housing investment as the largest concentrated investment in social housing in Queensland's history, including 7,400 new builds over four years.

“As a Labor government, we believe that all Queenslanders deserve a safe place to call home.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Defended the budget as delivering strong economic recovery, highlighting job creation figures, and attacked the opposition for having no plan and promising cuts.

“It is clear from the rant we just heard from the Leader of the Opposition that those opposite have no plan for our pandemic recovery and no vision for our great state.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget, praising record education spending in local schools, the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, and health investments including a satellite hospital at QEII.

“This budget is another great outcome for Queensland and is in direct contrast to the previous cut-and-burn actions of the LNP government.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As shadow Treasurer, criticised the budget's fiscal principles, questioned the Titles Registry valuation, highlighted declining private business investment, and announced the LNP's social entrepreneurs loan scheme.

“The fiscal governance of this state has hit a new low, and that is something I did not think was possible after the former member for South Brisbane's track record. What we have are funds without funding and accounting without principles.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Opposed the budget as a typical Labor budget losing control of law and order, housing, the health system and state government finances. Criticised debt blowouts and broken promises to the Redlands.

“This laissez-faire attitude to government finances means that our grandchildren will be saddled with the government debt in the range of $127 billion and rising.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Defended the record education budget and job creation figures, criticised the opposition for having no education policy, and highlighted the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.

“We are in the middle of a world health pandemic. Some areas of New South Wales have just been declared hotspots because there is an outbreak, and Victoria is just coming out of lockdown. We are not out of the woods yet. Our economic recovery sees Queensland leading the nation for jobs and growth, yet there is nothing from those opposite but whingeing.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget as a traditional Labor budget with record spends in health, education, infrastructure, jobs and renewables. Highlighted Cross River Rail, housing investment and environmental protections.

“I felt a real sense of pride for being part of a Palaszczuk Labor government that is delivering such an outstanding budget.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Criticised the budget as full of holes with funds that have no funding, particularly the $2 billion Hospital Building Fund with zero dollars allocated, and highlighted lack of investment on the Sunshine Coast.

“On Tuesday they announced they were investing $2 billion into the Hospital Building Fund. There is a not a dollar—zero dollars—in the Hospital Building Fund. It will not build new hospitals.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting investments in seniors' concessions, disability services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships, and the $300 million Path to Treaty Fund. Also welcomed local Barron River infrastructure projects.

“The establishment of a $300 million Path to Treaty Fund honours those who for generations have called for treaty.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As shadow health minister and registered nurse, argued the budget fails to address the health crisis, with ambulance ramping at 40 per cent, unfunded Hospital Building Fund, and some hospital and health services receiving less funding.

“So flimsy is the Hospital Building Fund that it is not even given a line item. That is right; the $2 billion Hospital Building Fund, the centrepiece of the Labor Party's health policy, is not even given a line in the government's own budget documents.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Acknowledged some welcome spending but criticised the budget as a missed opportunity, arguing the government failed to make big corporations pay a fair share. Criticised the renewables numbers as phoney, social housing as insufficient, and state schools as underfunded.

“This budget was an opportunity for Labor to show some courage and for bold ideas to drive our economic recovery, but they are playing it safe instead.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As Minister for Resources, highlighted budget investments in Queensland's resources sector including exploration grants, mine rehabilitation, and gas industry support, as well as local Townsville projects.

“The resources sector has continued operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting 71,000 jobs. I would like to take this time to again thank everyone in the resources sector—not one single case of COVID-19 in 71,000 jobs.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting the $244 million Jindalee Bridge upgrade on the Centenary Motorway and the Buy Queensland procurement policy supporting local businesses and jobs.

“Over 90 per cent of product for Transport and Main Roads projects, like the Centenary Motorway, in Queensland are manufactured in Queensland, keeping locals in my electorate in jobs.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As Minister for Agriculture, highlighted budget investments in regional Queensland including drought support, biosecurity, Rural Economic Development Grants creating 1,800 jobs, and sustainable fisheries strategy.

“The Palaszczuk government has a proud record of investing in the portfolios of agricultural industry development and fisheries and rural communities. There is a $523 million budget for my portfolio—another half a billion dollars allocated for Agriculture and Fisheries.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting the $22.2 billion health investment, Ipswich Hospital expansion, new satellite hospital in Ripley, and record $2.9 billion social housing investment.

“These investments in health care are what Labor governments do best because we understand that protecting the health of Queenslanders, no matter where they live, underpins a successful economy.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Criticised the budget as deep in deception with dubious accounting, unfunded building and investment funds, and failure to deliver infrastructure and services for the Moggill electorate.

“Only Labor could deliver a state budget in which there are building and investment funds without funding. There is a so-called $2 billion Hospitals Building Fund, a $1 billion Housing Investment Fund, a $300 million Path to Treaty Fund and a $500 million Carbon Reduction Investment Fund. All of these are announced as so-called funds and yet not a single dollar has been allocated.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Opposed the budget, arguing the Southern Downs electorate did not receive its fair share. Criticised the health system's ambulance ramping, the highway maintenance backlog, and the crime problem in Goondiwindi.

“If Lawrence Springborg—a farmer with a grade 10 education—can take on the Department of Health and practically eliminate ramping, then this government can do it too.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Acknowledged some positives for his electorate in schools, hospital upgrades, and road projects, but criticised the budget for lacking vision on nation-building projects, underfunding palliative care, failing regional health services, and ignoring youth relocation sentencing.

“On the surface this budget appears to have all the bells and whistles with promises of big spending and jobs, particularly in regional Queensland, but it is lacking in detail.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget as strong, responsible and people-focused, highlighting education investments in local Stafford schools, Prince Charles Hospital upgrades, and social housing investment.

“This is a budget that backs education, invests in health, delivers jobs and builds housing. This is a budget that delivers for Queensland and it delivers for Stafford.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Highlighted the record budget investment in the Redlands Coast including roads, education, hospital expansion, and satellite hospital, contrasting it with lack of federal investment.

“This is another great budget for Queensland and another great budget for Redlanders. In fact, it is a record budget for our Redlands Coast.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting the record $22.2 billion health budget including a satellite hospital on Bribie Island and Caboolture Hospital redevelopment, and key road upgrades for Pumicestone.

“Our new satellite hospital on Bribie is just what the doctor ordered for our ageing community.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Criticised the budget for confusing papers, the Titles Registry revaluation, unfunded hospital and housing funds, and lack of investment in rural and regional Queensland infrastructure.

“The budget magic did not stop there. The Treasurer had swiped $2 billion of the imaginary money and put it into a fund for social housing and another $2 billion of the imaginary money into a fund for hospital infrastructure. These funds are supposed to be going to deliver all this money but sometime in the never-never.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Opposed the budget as relying on creative accounting and deception through the overinflated land titles office valuation. Criticised the lack of support for small businesses identified as COVID exposure sites and the lack of hospital transparency data.

“This is a budget that relies on what can most kindly be described as creative accounting or what might be more accurately described as deception.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting over $1.4 billion for the environment, including the $500 million Carbon Reduction Investment Fund, $270 million for the Great Barrier Reef, and waste reduction programs.

“I am incredibly proud that we have set up this $500 million fund that provides continued certainty for land restoration carbon farming across this state.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Criticised the budget for failing the fastest-growing region in Queensland, highlighting delays to the second M1, Pimpama railway station, exit upgrades, and lack of hospital planning for the northern Gold Coast.

“The government is fast and loose with the truth.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Opposed the budget as one of the worst for Currumbin, criticising broken promises on the Tugun satellite hospital and the Currumbin Valley ecotourism park, and the lack of funding in the Hospital Building Fund, Housing Investment Fund and other announced funds.

“I will conclude by saying this budget is one of the worst budgets for my Currumbin community and it is one of the worst budgets for Queenslanders.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As Minister for Police, highlighted budget investments in police, corrective services and fire and emergency services, as well as local Morayfield projects including hospital redevelopment and school upgrades.

“This budget is proudly a Labor budget. It invests in jobs, infrastructure and services. It provides opportunities for Queenslanders and it builds stronger, better, safer communities.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget with its focus on COVID-19 recovery, nation-leading economic indicators, and social housing investment. Highlighted local education funding for Aspley and Geebung special schools.

“This is a budget with a laser-sharp focus on recovering from COVID-19. The economic policies of this government are helping our great state power forward.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Acknowledged some positive education spending but criticised the budget for creative accounting, the Titles Registry revaluation, debt trajectory, lack of agricultural support, and missing flood levee funding.

“I will never stop talking about the trajectory for debt of $130 billion. I think it is important that we never take our eye off that.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Opposed the budget as a typical Labor budget with cuts to infrastructure, black holes and a dodgy self-sale of the titles office. Criticised the waste levy advance payments expiring and predicted a new household rubbish bin tax.

“This government has failed to answer one simple question: where is the money in this budget to pay for the billions of dollars of promises?”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As former Treasurer, delivered a detailed critique of the budget's debt position, arguing borrowings have increased by $51.5 billion in five years, the Titles Registry revaluation is financial trickery, and the government has benefitted from federal windfall gains.

“This budget is a triumph of spin over substance. Not only is it a triumph of spin over substance; it is a budget of hope over experience—hope that things will be better and experience under Labor that we know they will not.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget as delivering a fair go for Bundamba with new schools, healthcare upgrades, major infrastructure investments, record social housing and renewable energy investment.

“This is a budget for the Bundamba community and all Queenslanders that continues our great state's strong recovery by delivering more health care, education, community services, housing, roads, infrastructure, renewables and, most importantly, jobs.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Praised the budget as delivering for the Sunshine Coast with infrastructure spending, health investment in Nambour Hospital, and jobs creation.

“How good is it to be a Queenslander? We may have lost Origin 1, but as the Treasurer explained when handing down this budget, we are ahead of all the other states in the important economic indicators.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Opposed the budget as a sham full of smoke and mirrors, centred on the shonky $7.8 billion titles office valuation. Criticised savage cuts to infrastructure spending, inadequate road funding, and the future risk of interest rate rises blowing out debt servicing.

“This budget is a sham. It is full of smoke and mirrors and shonky propositions.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Criticised the Titles Registry revaluation as a farce, questioned government accounting practices, and highlighted cost blowouts on light rail and other projects due to best practice industry conditions.

“This is smoke and mirrors. This is absolute rubbish. This is Labornomics. This government is messing up this state and it has messed up this budget.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting the $71 million investment in the screen industry including $4 million for Far North Queensland. Also spoke as Speaker about the $106 million Appropriation (Parliament) Bill and $41 million Annexe refurbishment.

“I am proud to be working to deliver the government's election commitment for a $6.8 million production facility in the Far North.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Highlighted budget investments in Townsville including hospital upgrades, school funding, road infrastructure, housing, and the new Kirwan police station.

“The Palaszczuk Labor government continually demonstrates time and time again that it is serious about delivering high-quality health care to the people of Townsville.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Opposed the budget, criticising the cut of a newborn home visiting program on the northern Gold Coast, road funding projects pushed into the never-never, and insufficient investment in local schools and sporting facilities.

“We should not be cutting programs that protect the most vulnerable in our society.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As shadow transport minister, criticised Cross River Rail cost blowouts, Gold Coast Light Rail delays, infrastructure spending cuts, and the growing road maintenance backlog approaching $6 billion.

“At the end of the day, this budget is simply as bereft of visionary reform as the Treasurer is of showing humility. You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting the satellite hospital at Petrie, Prince Charles Hospital car park, Bray Park State High School innovation centre, road and transport infrastructure, and a new Dayboro police station.

“It is an absolute honour to rise this afternoon to speak in support of this fantastic Labor budget.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As Minister for Regional Development, Water and Manufacturing, highlighted the Queensland Jobs Fund, Building our Regions program delivering 2,700 construction jobs, and investments in the Gladstone region.

“When we make a promise we deliver and I can tell the House that regional communities certainly appreciate that.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting education funding for bayside schools, the $320 million Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, the booming screen industry at Screen Queensland Studios in Hemmant, and the $22 billion health commitment.

“This budget strengthens the core values of the Palaszczuk Labor government—health care, education, infrastructure, renewables and jobs. It is a true Labor budget.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As shadow police minister, criticised the budget for failing to fund promised projects in his electorate including hospitals, police stations, and roads, and highlighted rising crime targets and unfunded marine rescue promises.

“What we saw in this place on Tuesday was the Treasurer taking the approach of famed American hoaxer PT Barnum and hoping that, indeed, there is a sucker born every minute.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Opposed the budget, arguing the government has been spending $22 million more per day than it earns for six years while delivering worse health, roads and crime outcomes. Called for a new Toowoomba Hospital and a second road to Highfields.

“We have been bingeing not booming. We are spending not just the money of future generations but plenty more.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Praised the budget for ensuring economic security and employment opportunities, highlighting the Mackay region's potential in agribusiness and new industries.

“This is a budget that ensures our economic security and employment opportunities and delivers a bright future for Queensland.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Criticised the budget for thinking small and making everyday Queenslanders bear cuts instead of taxing big banks, developers and mining corporations. Argued the housing investment was misleading, state schools underfunded, and regional abortion services declining.

“This budget allows the big end of town to continue its free ride, and it is everyday Queenslanders who are left behind.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Highlighted record health investment for Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, education funding for remote schools, and the strong COVID-19 response protecting vulnerable remote communities.

“This record health budget delivers for Queensland and, more specifically, it delivers for Cairns and for Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget as a record seventh consecutive budget for the Redlands, highlighting 32 new ICU beds, a new car park for Redland Hospital, a satellite hospital, record education spending and TAFE investment.

“Don again delivers a record budget for the Redlands. This is seven times in a row.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Criticised the budget for record debt heading to $127 billion, infrastructure cuts of $4 billion, the Titles Registry revaluation, and failure to fund critical road safety upgrades in the Lockyer Valley.

“This budget should have charted a clear path out of the pandemic, but where is the vision and investment in vital services across Queensland?”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget as a traditional Labor budget focused on health, education, housing, renewables and the 2032 Olympics opportunity. Highlighted the record low 5.4 per cent unemployment rate as evidence the economic recovery plan is working.

“We are on the cusp of something great. Never did I think when sitting over there with seven members that we would be on the cusp of hosting an Olympic games here in Brisbane, Queensland, in 2032.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

As shadow environment minister, criticised the Carbon Reduction Investment Fund having no funding over the forward estimates, the broken promise on waste levy payments to councils, and the underwhelming Great Barrier Reef funding.

“Labor is a lot of talk with very little action.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Defended the budget in reply, highlighting the record job creation figures, the legitimacy of the titles office valuation backed by independent firms and ratings agencies, and the $52 billion infrastructure program. Attacked the opposition's record of savage cuts.

“This is an unashamedly Labor budget! When the pandemic hit, our government made the deliberate decision to put the budget into deficit to protect jobs and livelihoods.”— 2021-06-18View Hansard

Criticised the budget as void of ideas but full of empty promises, highlighting hospital ramping at 40 per cent, slashed infrastructure spending, and no funding for critical road and school upgrades on the Sunshine Coast.

“Not one constituent in my electorate has contacted my office this week to ask a question about the state budget and it is not because they do not care about their future... they just cannot relate to a government that has clearly lost touch with reality.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget as continuing the COVID-19 economic recovery plan, highlighting education infrastructure projects and school funding across the Ipswich West electorate.

“What these projects deliver is not just new or improved infrastructure for our communities, but jobs for workers and contracts for suppliers. This is a true Labor budget.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Criticised the Gold Coast receiving only 8.5 per cent of the capital budget despite 14 per cent of the state's population, highlighted a $74 million drop in health service budgets compared to actual expenditure, and raised concerns about underspending on public housing.

“With something like 14 per cent of the total population of the state of Queensland, the Gold Coast will receive only 8.5 per cent of the total capital budget.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Defended the health system against opposition claims of crisis, praised the budget as a COVID recovery and infrastructure budget, and highlighted the $2 billion hydrogen and clean energy fund.

“The Treasurer and Premier are to be congratulated on a fantastic budget. We have economic growth, falling unemployment and huge numbers of people moving to the greatest state in the nation.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Supported the budget highlighting record health investment, education funding, infrastructure projects in his electorate, and the $2 billion Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund.

“We will continue to build back better in Queensland, we will do it while prioritising Queenslanders' health and we will create thousands of jobs as we do it.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Criticised the minimal budget spend in rural electorates, argued for investment in ultra-supercritical coal-fired power technology rather than uneconomic hydrogen, and supported coal as Queensland's key energy source.

“Coal is king and will be for many years to come.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

As Minister for Energy, highlighted the single largest energy investment in Queensland's history including electricity rebates, grid-connected batteries, pumped hydro, and renewable energy projects.

“The Palaszczuk government has delivered the single largest energy investment in Queensland's history at the same time as maintaining our public assets, renewable energy projects and network upgrades to bring cheaper, cleaner energy into homes and businesses across the state.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Acknowledged some positive school funding but criticised the budget for failing regional Queensland, particularly in health infrastructure, lack of nation-building water and energy projects, and prioritising social infrastructure like Cross River Rail over money-making projects.

“Do not say that you support it; go and build it. Make sure it is done. Do not do another study of another dam. Build it. Build these things to lay the platform for industry—money-making projects, not money-absorbing projects.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Praised the budget as a beautifully crafted plan delivering $50 million in education spending for Caloundra, and defended the government's pandemic health response as the foundation of economic recovery.

“This is not luck. This is not coincidence. This is not chance. This is the result of the Premier standing firm and making all the correct calls in the face of ill-informed and often asinine criticisms from many quarters.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Criticised the government for adding costs to housing through mandatory livable housing standards and increased infrastructure charges during a housing supply crisis, and highlighted unfunded housing and infrastructure commitments.

“At a time of severe housing shortages in the private rental market, now is the time for the Queensland government to get cracking and remove the barriers to affordable, more timely delivery of housing. Incredibly, the Queensland government is doing the opposite.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

As Health Minister, defended the record health budget, corrected opposition claims about capital budget cuts, highlighted hospital building projects, and criticised the LNP's record of sacking health workers.

“It is clear that those opposite cannot read a budget. They claim that the health capital budget has been cut. That is incorrect. When the one-off leasing commitment for leasing STARS is taken into consideration, the increase to the health capital budget is $260 million, or 23.7 per cent.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard

Congratulated the Treasurer and highlighted budget investments in the Cairns region including health, education, and aviation access for tourism.

“I rise to make my meagre contribution to the budget in reply.”— 2021-06-17View Hansard