Appropriation Bill 2018

Criticised the main Appropriation Bill, accusing ministers of deliberate obfuscation during estimates and failing to answer genuine questions about debt blowouts and waste.

“This year I saw the most deliberate obfuscation, avoidance and dodging of questions that I have seen in those 12 years.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Defended the budget as delivering on election commitments, creating jobs, and investing in infrastructure like Cross River Rail, health and education.

“I am enormously proud of the fourth Palaszczuk Labor government budget, which was delivered in this chamber in June this year.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Strongly criticised the budget and estimates process as secretive, arrogant, and a 'protection racket' that shielded ministers from scrutiny.

“Secrecy, cover-ups, arrogance, protection racket—that is exactly what the Palaszczuk government delivered during the estimates process this year.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and defended the estimates process, arguing opposition members failed to comply with standing orders when asking questions.

“If only the opposition could have asked a question that conformed with the standing rules and orders we would have been okay, but that was not to be.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Criticised the budget for failing its own fiscal principles on debt, borrowing and public service growth, and attacked new taxes including the waste tax and wagering tax.

“I contend that the fiscal principles outlined on pages 48 and 49 of Budget Paper No. 2 are a complete and utter farce and nobody should be taking any notice of them.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Defended the budget as setting the policy framework for jobs, health, education, and essential services, while criticising the opposition for failing to properly prepare their questions.

“At the end of the day, a budget is about setting the policy framework for the future in terms of growing jobs, creating jobs, looking after the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Criticised the estimates process as a 'complete disappointment' and the budget for failing to address unemployment in his electorate, particularly the removal of Back to Work SEQ support.

“Overall, these hearings were a farce. We need to have genuine engagement and transparency. Queensland deserves a government with a plan and a clear vision.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report, praising the budget's investment in infrastructure, health, education, and Advance Queensland initiatives.

“I am proud to be part of the Palaszczuk Labor government that is delivering for Queenslanders as it is very clear that our budget commits to infrastructure, trade, tourism, health, education.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Criticised the estimates process as a 'protection racket' that failed to provide adequate scrutiny of local government spending, noting time for opposition questions was severely limited.

“I would like to thank the government members for their protection racket. There is a reason they ran that protection racket. They know that they have weak ministers.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report, highlighting budget investments in regional Queensland including the Works for Queensland package and Indigenous councils infrastructure program.

“There was a recurring theme in relation to my portfolio areas, and that is how this government—the Palaszczuk Labor government—is genuinely the government and the party for the bush.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard

Criticised the budget as one of 'taxes, debt and unemployment' and attacked the estimates process as a protection racket, highlighting concerns about debt reaching $83 billion.

“Under Labor economic growth is weaker, employment growth is falling and unemployment remains high. Labor's budget for this year is one of taxes, debt and unemployment.”— 2018-08-21View Hansard