Appropriation (COVID-19) Bill 2020
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill authorised approximately $4.8 billion in emergency funding for Queensland's COVID-19 response. It provided $3.18 billion in supplementary spending for 2019-20 and $1.61 billion in interim supply for 2020-21 to protect jobs and support the economy during the pandemic.
Who it affects
All Queenslanders who relied on government support during the COVID-19 pandemic, including workers, businesses, and community services that benefited from state government relief measures.
Key changes
- Authorised $3.18 billion in supplementary appropriation for the 2019-20 financial year to fund COVID-19 response
- Provided $1.61 billion in interim supply for 2020-21 until the annual budget was passed
- Sought parliamentary approval rather than using executive unforeseen expenditure powers, ensuring transparency around emergency spending
- Funding administered through Queensland Treasury for distribution to departments as part of the COVID-19 relief package
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Introduced22 Apr 2020View Hansard
Vote on a motion
Vote on the government's urgency motion to declare the Appropriation (COVID-19) Bill urgent, bypass committee referral, and impose a three-hour time limit on all stages of debate. The LNP, KAP and NQF opposed the time constraint, not the bill's urgency itself.
The motion was agreed to.
A formal vote on whether to accept a proposal — this could be the bill itself, an amendment, or another motion.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (17)
▸Committee22 Apr 2020View Hansard
Referred to Economics and Governance Committee
▸Second Reading22 Apr 2020View Hansard
▸19 members spoke9 support10 mixed
Introduced the bill as Treasurer, outlining the $4.8 billion in emergency COVID-19 funding covering health, jobs, business support, and household relief. Called on the opposition and crossbench for bipartisan support.
“COVID-19 poses the single largest threat to the global economy since the Great Depression.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Stated the LNP would not oppose the bill but heavily criticised the government for being the last state to announce a major stimulus package, failing to provide small business grants, and cancelling the budget to avoid scrutiny.
“The state government is seeking to appropriate almost $5 billion with this bill, and the LNP will not oppose this measure, with an additional $3.1 billion this financial year and an additional $1.6 billion next financial year.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Defended the government's response as the first state to provide emergency declarations and economic support. Highlighted the $500 million workers assistance package and the Jobs Finder Queensland portal.
“It is absolutely essential that, no matter what happens, we keep our small businesses open, keep people in jobs and make sure we come out of this crisis stronger and more resilient.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
As Deputy Leader of the Opposition, offered bipartisan support for the principle of economic stimulus but criticised the government for being the last to announce a stimulus package, offering loans instead of grants for small business, and committing $200 million to Virgin Airlines while small businesses missed out.
“We support this bill because it is necessary to provide the stimulus and the support. However, we have a lot of questions about the detail.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the bill and highlighted work with local governments through the LGAQ and QTC to support councils affected by COVID-19, as well as multicultural affairs support for refugees and migrants.
“While this appropriation bill acknowledges the need for significant financial support for jobs, businesses and health, this government's response to the effects of the pandemic in Queensland has been so much more.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the need for economic assistance but criticised the lack of detail in the $4.8 billion appropriation, called for more support for regional airports, small businesses, and training providers.
“This bill allocates $4.8 billion in a few flimsy pages with not a lot of detail. There are some programs that have been announced, but there is a black hole in regard to a very big appropriation bill before this parliament.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Endorsed the bill as vital for keeping Logan families safe and employed, highlighting the health response including fever clinics and the $300 million household relief package.
“If the Appropriation (COVID-19) Bill 2020 that I stand up for had a subtitle it would be 'keeping Logan families safe and keeping Logan families working', because that is what this bill is about.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Criticised the government for providing loans rather than grants to small businesses, unlike every other state. Highlighted that only 11,000 of 438,000 Queensland businesses had received support and expressed concern about the Gold Coast being overlooked.
“The reason that this state government has not been able to provide those small business grants is because of the state of the budget before we went into this situation.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the bill, highlighting the $500 million worker assistance package, concessional loan facility, electricity rebates for households, and the $70 million support package for community kindergartens.
“What is very clear is that this bill will support the ordinary working Queenslanders who are feeling the impact of the COVID-19 emergency, that is the people in Queensland who have lost their jobs, have lost their income or are at risk of losing their tenancies.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the bill but argued the QRIDA loan program mechanics were broken, with the scheme closing prematurely and penalising applicants who took time to prepare thorough applications. Called for the scheme to be expanded or assessed on needs rather than first-come-first-served.
“I believe—and the last 48 hours have convinced me of this—that the mechanics for this loan program are broken and need to be improved.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the bill and highlighted the government's record $23 billion road and transport investment program supporting over 21,500 jobs, emphasising that construction projects were continuing and being accelerated during the pandemic.
“Nothing is off the table when it comes to our government's resolve to help Queensland recover from the health crisis as quickly as possible.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the bill but called for the government to do more for casual workers excluded from JobKeeper, migrant workers and international students, and criticised the public service pay freeze as counterproductive. Argued mining companies should pay their fair share rather than punishing frontline workers.
“We should pay for this crisis by making sure mining companies and big corporations pay their fair share, not by punishing frontline public servants.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the bill, highlighting the broad range of relief measures including payroll tax relief, household electricity credits, land tax relief, and housing support for vulnerable Queenslanders in the Redlands community.
“Our government has responded to support all Queenslanders, because that is what good governments do.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the need for a response but criticised the lack of parliamentary scrutiny and the guillotining of debate. Called for adequate police funding from the appropriation and raised concerns about domestic violence increases and youth crime.
“If this parliament is not sitting, how can it scrutinise the executive? If it cannot scrutinise the executive, we are far from the best practice of operational parliaments across the Commonwealth.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the bill, detailing the chronology of government relief measures from February through April and highlighting their positive impact on the Redlands community, including payroll tax relief worth $8.8 million to local businesses.
“These additional appropriations represent a commitment to my Redlands community and to all Queenslanders, a commitment that we will be with them all the way.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Criticised the government's economic track record including record debt and lowest business confidence, while acknowledging the need for COVID-19 support. Argued Queensland businesses were left to languish compared to other states' grant programs.
“Every day I receive dozens of calls from small business owners who are desperate for a lifeline from a government willing to invest $200 million in a foreign owned airline.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Supported the bill as Minister for Agriculture, highlighting the QRIDA loan program's approval of $206.4 million supporting 18,785 jobs, and the agriculture sector's resilience during the pandemic.
“Creating and protecting Queensland jobs is in the Palaszczuk government's DNA.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Called for $20,000 grants for small businesses instead of loans, arguing it is inherently more expensive to do business in North Queensland. Proposed that Queensland buy a controlling stake in Virgin Airlines rather than simply bailing it out, and called for infrastructure spending on dams.
“We say that we should not be bailing out an overseas airline; we should be buying into it. This is a great opportunity for us to have a controlling stake in a strategic asset in Australia.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard
Opposed the urgency motion's three-hour time limit on debate, arguing it was insufficient for scrutiny of such significant legislation, though did not oppose the bill's urgency itself.
“We will be opposing the urgency motion. We do not oppose the fact that it is urgent because we agree, and that is what we are here for—to debate the COVID response legislation. However, we oppose the time constraint put on it.”— 2020-04-22View Hansard