Appropriation (Parliament) Bill (No. 2) 2021

Criticises the government's COVID restrictions on businesses while not providing support packages, and raises concerns about planning decisions. However, does not oppose the appropriation bills.

“This government time after time has imposed measures that cost businesses, cost livelihoods, cost families and without any transparency around the reasons or outcomes of these measures.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard

As Treasurer, moved the bills be read a second time and defended the government's economic record, highlighting Queensland's job creation, economic growth, and COVID-19 response.

“Queensland has led the nation's recovery out of COVID-19. Our strong economic recovery has been built on a strong health response.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Strongly supports the bills and defends government's economic management, highlighting cycling infrastructure investments and job creation.

“In 2022 there is a new truism in politics, and that is the economy will always be stronger under Labor and the best economic managers are Labor.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard

As committee chair, explained the nature of unforeseen expenditure and defended the process, noting much relates to timing of Commonwealth payments.

“Every year within the unforeseen expenditure of Appropriation Bill (No. 2) there are always payments from the Commonwealth that were anticipated to be paid in a previous year that are brought forward to this year.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Will not oppose the bills but criticises government's economic management, lack of small business support, mental health funding, and border policies.

“The LNP will not be opposing the bills. The money has already been spent by the Labor government, but there are several concerning trends to which I wish to draw this parliament's attention.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard

Criticised the government's debt levels and spending but acknowledged the bill recognises expenditure required for government programs. Raised concerns about the Titles Registry valuation.

“Basically that half a billion dollars is going on the bill for taxpayers, the debt that they will owe to the state for many years to come.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Supports the bills and praises the government's COVID response and strong economic recovery.

“Our staged and measured reopening of our border allowed Queenslanders enough time to get double vaccinated to protect themselves and their families.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard

Supported the bills and explained the annual appropriation process as a transparency and accountability mechanism under the Financial Accountability Act 2009.

“As a matter of transparency and accountability, we sit here to formally approve this unforeseen expenditure.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Will not oppose the bills but criticises the Treasurer's economic understanding and debt management, though acknowledges that federal government has also contributed during COVID.

“Debt is not bad. Debt is not bad at all. It depends on how that debt is used.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard

Criticised the Treasurer's budget forecasting and the government's approach to transparency, while acknowledging the unforeseen expenditure for departments.

“How did the Treasurer get it so wrong when this budget was released five months into the financial year?”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Strongly supports the bills and defends Labor's economic management, highlighting Queensland's economic performance and job creation.

“Economic growth is at 6.1 per cent—a six in front of it—compared to the national economy growth of 3.9 per cent.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard

Supported the bills, noting unforeseen expenditure is less than half of the previous year and represents only 0.74% of appropriations, below the decade average.

“The unforeseen expenditure in 2020-21 is less than half the amount incurred in the 2019-20 financial year.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Raises concerns about infrastructure needs in Coomera electorate including M1, exits, hospital and rail. Criticises lack of funding for local priorities while not opposing the bills.

“I will continue to ask for the fast-tracking of projects. I will continue to ask for more money to be committed to the Coomera Connector.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard

Criticised the government's spending control and highlighted Queensland's poor economic rankings, while acknowledging the legislation authorises the unforeseen expenditure.

“It is incredible, but perhaps not surprising, that the Labor Treasurer—who only had to prepare a budget for seven months due to the commencement of the 57th Parliament—was still unable to control the spending.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

As Transport Minister, strongly supports the bills and defends government's economic record, highlighting infrastructure investments and job creation.

“We understood that managing the pandemic was an economic strategy as well as a health strategy from day one.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard

Acknowledged unforeseen expenditure is a normal annual process but criticised the government's lack of transparency and integrity, particularly regarding the pandemic response.

“This is not unusual. Indeed, it is a process that we go through pretty much every year.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Criticises government spending priorities, youth justice funding for cancelled Caloundra jail, and border policies' mental health impacts. Calls for more police resources for Kawana.

“I will never let members of the Labor government forget that they were the ones who were causing so much mental health and anxiety for Queenslanders stuck over the border.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard

Supported the bills and defended the government's economic record, noting unforeseen expenditure is below the LNP's peak and Queensland's economy is performing strongly.

“Six departments saw unforeseen expenditure representing 0.74 per cent of the 2020-21 budgeted allocations, well below the average of the past decade and below the LNP peak of unforeseen expenditure of 0.94 per cent.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Criticised the Treasurer's budget forecasting and the government's use of COVID-19 as an excuse, while accepting some departments genuinely need extra funding.

“I accept that both the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services genuinely need to claim extra COVID-19 related expenditure.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Supported the bills and highlighted Queensland's strong economic growth, noting lapsed appropriations represent timing issues rather than cuts.

“Lapsed appropriations, I want to stress, are not cuts. They typically represent where funds for a program have not been spent in the year in which they were anticipated.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Criticised the government for overspending and failing to support small businesses during COVID-19, while the bill addresses unplanned supplementary appropriations.

“As we have seen time and time again in recent years, this Labor state government is borrowing to pay for recurrent operational expenditures, just as it is in this bill, not on infrastructure.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Supported the bills and defended the government's economic recovery plan, explaining the reasons for unforeseen expenditure including natural disasters and COVID-19 response.

“Unforeseen expenditure can occur occasionally for any number of reasons, including natural disasters, weather events or emergent issues, new decisions and the implementation of government policies made during the year.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Criticised the Treasurer's budget management and the inflated Titles Registry valuation, while contributing to the debate on the appropriation bills.

“Clearly this bill is before the House because we have a Treasurer addicted to overspending and underplanning.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Supported the bills and highlighted Queensland's economic success, noting this is an annual process that should not come as a surprise.

“Every year some MPs are surprised by this bill and every year I am surprised that they are surprised. It is an annual process and it should not come as a shock.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Supported the bills and highlighted government investment in jobs programs like Back to Work and Skilling Queenslanders for Work.

“The Palaszczuk government is the government of responsible spending and strong budget delivery.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Contributed to the debate by highlighting youth justice issues in his electorate, questioning whether additional spending addresses the right priorities.

“When I see additional funding for youth justice, police and so forth, I wonder whether the priorities are right.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard

Stated the LNP is not opposing the bill but criticised the government's spending patterns and lack of support for small businesses. Moved adjournment of debate.

“The LNP is not opposing the bill. I do not know what practical option there would be to oppose the bill—the money has already been spent—but there does need to be commentary made and issues highlighted with that expenditure.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard