Appropriation Bill 2021

As shadow finance spokesman, heavily criticised the budget as having no plan for post-COVID economic recovery, citing debt blowouts, infrastructure cuts and declining mining investment confidence.

“It is worth repeating that our categorisation of this budget is that it is a budget of accounting without principles and funds without funding.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

Criticised the estimates process as a 'protection racket' for ministers and attacked the government for wasting money during the health and youth crime crises.

“Under Labor the budget estimates process is gone. It is dead. You might as well bury it.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

Defended the budget as delivering strong economic outcomes through effective health management during COVID-19, highlighting job growth and infrastructure investment.

“Queensland is the only eastern seaboard state not in lockdown. In Queensland, our businesses are open, construction continues apace and services continue to be delivered.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

Criticised the committee process as lacking transparency and raised concerns about infrastructure cuts, housing shortages and union favouritism clauses increasing project costs.

“We are a unicameral parliament. Increasingly we are seeing committees not used as a process of scrutiny but used as a process to shut down members.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

Criticised the government's lack of water infrastructure planning and alleged pork-barrelling in the Regional Development Minister's electorate while questioning the minister's effectiveness.

“It is obvious that this government does not seem to understand the consequences of the lack of planning for water security in this great state of ours.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

Expressed disappointment with declining quality of estimates hearings and inability to get straight answers on Olympic Games benefits for regional areas, north-west royalties and gas reserve policy.

“I am finding it very difficult. No matter how clever I think I am in trying to make my questions concise, it is just getting harder and harder to get a straight answer from the government.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

As shadow education minister, criticised the government for losing control of teacher and student safety, citing asbestos incidents at Sunnybank State High School and inadequate data collection on violence.

“What was clearly evident during the Education, Employment and Training Committee hearings is that the Palaszczuk state Labor government is losing control.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the government's investment in education and training, particularly the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program and local school upgrades.

“This is a government that recognises the fundamental power of education and training to change people's lives.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

As shadow racing minister, criticised the mismanagement of Eagle Farm racetrack and the $30 million investment in QRIC which has only 59% stakeholder confidence.

“If we needed another example of the mismanagement of the racing industry, of course, we need look only to the Eagle Farm racetrack.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

Raised concerns about crossbench time allocation in estimates and questioned education funding for Northern Beaches High School perimeter fencing and regional school capacity.

“I think we need to address in the future whether we allow visiting members to come in and use crossbench time or whether we can better allocate that time.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

As shadow health minister, criticised the record health budget as failing to address ambulance ramping at 41%, ballooning surgery waiting lists and the '$2 billion Hospital Building Fund' as lacking transparency.

“Despite it being a record health budget, more ambulances are being ramped at our hospitals than ever before. It is at 41 per cent statewide. That number is the worst in living memory.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

Endorsed the Health and Environment Committee report and defended Queensland's COVID-19 response, comparing 23 active cases to 23,000 in NSW as evidence of effective health management.

“I am reminded of today's statistics of the 1,900 total COVID cases that Queensland has experienced in the course of this pandemic compared to the 20,000 current active cases in New South Wales.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

Acknowledged health workers' COVID-19 efforts but raised serious concerns about rural health workforce shortages, clogged emergency departments and lack of hospital beds in regional Queensland.

“In certain areas Queensland's hospital system is buckling under the number of patients flooding through its doors. We are seeing critical shortages of GPs in the regions, a major shortage of bulk-billing and no beds.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard

As shadow transport minister, criticised the government for losing control of major transport projects including Cross River Rail cost blowouts, Coomera Connector delays and Gold Coast Light Rail stage 3 delays.

“The evidence provided to the Transport and Resources Committee demonstrates that this government is losing control of major transport projects.”— 2021-08-31View Hansard