Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2019

As committee chair, endorsed the Economics and Governance Committee report on the 2019-20 Budget estimates and praised the Palaszczuk government's investments in hospitals, schools, roads and job creation in the Logan electorate.

“Budgets are sometimes dry documents, but we know they make an enormous difference to our electorates and the regions. First and foremost, the stability of the economy is presented.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget estimates process and the member for Cook's decision to relocate her electorate office outside her electorate at significant taxpayer expense.

“The cost of the fit-out of the new office is $70,000 and the yearly rent will skyrocket to more than $71,000 per year. Her new digs are not in the Cook electorate.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Thanked the Committee of the Legislative Assembly for their work but raised concerns about the need for more crossbench representation and adequate staffing for electorate offices given increased constituent numbers.

“It is vitally important that North Queensland MPs are given the opportunity to speak—speaking spots and questions without notice—rather than being pushed right down the back so they are silenced on these matters.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Described the estimates process as revealing embarrassments for the government with a budget based on debt, taxes and rehashed projects.

“The estimates reports and the estimates process I recently witnessed have been the most eye-opening I have experienced in my 12 years in this House.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

As Leader of the Opposition, condemned the budget as delivering higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure, with new taxes ripping $1.25 billion from the economy.

“Labor's latest budget delivered nothing for Queenslanders except for higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

As Deputy Premier and Treasurer, defended the budget as backing Queensland jobs with an $885 million payroll tax reform package and $50 billion infrastructure investment supporting over 40,000 jobs.

“More than 216,000 jobs have been created in Queensland since our government was elected. It would have taken those opposite more than two decades to match this rate of jobs growth based on their own jobs growth rate.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

As Deputy Leader of the Opposition, attacked the Treasurer's integrity regarding her property purchase near Cross River Rail and called her untrustworthy.

“What we learnt is that Queensland has a Treasurer and a Deputy Premier who cannot be trusted. At best we have a Treasurer who has incredibly poor judgement.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and highlighted the government's $1.468 billion in grants to local governments and the Works for Queensland program supporting 21,000 jobs.

“In the 2019-20 state budget the Palaszczuk government provided a total of $1.468 billion in grants to local governments, more than double the baseline funding of $600 million for which the Local Government Association of Queensland advocates.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget as delivering higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure, and raised concerns about integrity standards for state MPs compared to local councillors.

“So far in this term of government Labor has introduced 10 new or increased taxes, ripping $3.5 billion from Queensland's economy. That is money from mums' and dads' hip pockets.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the budget's delivery of jobs, transport and education investments in her electorate.

“This is a great budget that delivers for people right across Queensland. In the electorate of Pine Rivers it delivers with jobs, transport and education.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Condemned the budget as lacking leadership and vision, with higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure, while criticising the government's integrity failures.

“It was a traditional Labor budget of higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure—a budget and a government that lack leadership, lack vision and fail to foster the economic conditions in which Queenslanders can thrive.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

As Premier, defended the budget as backing Queensland jobs and investing in regional communities through hospitals, schools and skills training programs like free TAFE.

“Fundamentally, we are doing something that no other state or even the federal government is doing: we are looking at the skills for the future.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the government's TAFE reforms and the Racing portfolio's failure to deliver promised infrastructure projects, noting significant underspend and delays.

“The latest Racing Queensland annual report, published 10 months ago—not three years ago or five years ago but 10 months ago—promised to deliver night racing on the Gold Coast as well as replacement greyhound and harness racing tracks by 2020.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the budget for delivering jobs and economic prosperity, particularly highlighting the payroll tax reforms and Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.

“This was my second opportunity to participate in the estimates process and it only reinforced and highlighted what we on this side of the House already know and that is, in the 2019-20 budget, our Labor government is delivering in spades for Queenslanders.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Supported the committee report and criticised the opposition for lacking substance in their estimates questioning, noting they barely mentioned drought or forestry despite claiming to represent regional Queensland.

“The word 'drought' was mentioned 16 times but only one time by an opposition MP. This is a party that says they are the voice of the farmer, yet only once did they mentioned the drought.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

As deputy chair of the committee, criticised the government's handling of Acland mine approvals and the failure to match federal funding for prickly acacia control, warning of an environmental disaster.

“This is the largest germination of seed of prickly acacia that we have ever seen. This is in the headwaters of the Lake Eyre Basin.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget's impact on regional Queensland, particularly regarding reef regulations, water infrastructure and agricultural policies.

“This budget continues Labor's attack on our farmers and regional communities.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for failing to deliver adequate infrastructure and services to regional areas like Gympie.

“This is a budget of higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the budget's investments in the Ipswich region including hospital expansions and manufacturing jobs.

“This is a budget that delivers for all Queenslanders, including the people of Ipswich West.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for failing to deliver adequate services and infrastructure to the Bundaberg region.

“This budget fails the people of Bundaberg.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the budget's delivery for her electorate.

“This is a budget that backs jobs and delivers for the people of Mount Ommaney.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for higher taxes and less infrastructure, particularly for the Gold Coast region.

“This is a bad budget for Queenslanders—a budget of higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the budget's investments in Townsville including the new stadium and hospital services.

“This budget delivers for Townsville and for all of North Queensland.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for failing to deliver adequate health services and infrastructure to the Sunshine Coast.

“This budget is a bad budget for Queensland—higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

As Shadow Health Minister, criticised the budget for cutting the Queensland Health capital budget by more than $200 million and the ongoing IT system failures.

“At a time when we have seen a major bed shortage and ongoing code yellows in hospitals across the state, it is staggering that the Queensland Health capital budget is being cut by more than $200 million.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget as a typical Labor budget of higher taxes and more debt, highlighting the delayed Nambour Hospital refurbishment and youth justice crisis.

“This year's state budget was a typical Labor budget of higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the budget's delivery for her electorate and Queensland.

“This is a fantastic budget that delivers for Queenslanders.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for failing to deliver for regional Queensland and raised concerns about the impact of the waste levy on businesses.

“This budget fails regional Queensland with higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the budget's delivery for Queensland.

“This budget delivers for all Queenslanders.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget and the government's integrity failures, particularly the Deputy Premier's phone call to the CCC Chair.

“This budget fails Queenslanders with higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget as bad for Queensland with more taxes and less police officers per capita, noting the state now has 12 fewer police officers per 100,000 people than in 2015-16.

“Trying to tax your way to prosperity is like standing in a bucket and trying to lift yourself up by the handle. It just does not work. Neither does this Labor government.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure, and raised concerns about the Deputy Premier's phone call to the CCC Chair.

“Apart from the sheer budgetary implications, we saw some astonishing revelations during the estimates process this year.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for reducing the proportion of spending on law and order from 4.39% under the LNP to 3.98%, representing a $234 million annual shortfall.

“A budget is about a government setting its priorities. We have seen from this government more tax, more debt, more waste, fewer jobs and less infrastructure.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the budget's investments in community safety and services.

“This budget backs Queensland jobs and delivers for all Queenslanders.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for failing regional Queensland, particularly in relation to water infrastructure and agricultural support.

“This budget fails regional Queensland.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for higher taxes, more debt and less infrastructure, and attacked the government's integrity failures.

“This is a bad budget for Queensland—higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and less infrastructure.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Endorsed the committee report and praised the budget's delivery for Queensland.

“This budget delivers for all Queenslanders.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the budget for introducing new taxes including the waste levy which will drive up costs for councils, businesses, builders and families.

“This waste levy and the regulation that is putting in place the waste levy is nothing but a tax grab.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Raised concerns about the impact of the waste levy on regional areas like Mount Isa where recycling is not feasible, noting that costs cannot be absorbed by fragile regional businesses.

“We in Mount Isa cannot bear these sorts of costs and that we will not get an industry going. There must be some way we can, but we cannot do it in this manner and it will not just pop up overnight.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard

Criticised the waste levy as a tax that the government knew was wrong because it was not announced before the election.

“The government knows this tax is wrong. It knows it is wrong because it did not announce it before the last election.”— 2019-08-20View Hansard