Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022

Continued her speech from the previous sitting day, defending the government's pandemic response and arguing that the Chief Health Officer had been transparent by appearing regularly in the media and answering thousands of questions.

“These people have given of their time seven days a week, week after week, day after day—an incredible effort by our CHOs.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Defended the government's COVID-19 response including emergency measures, highlighting Queensland's capacity, resources and resolve in managing the pandemic over two years.

“I rise to make a contribution to the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022. I do this in the knowledge that for the past two years and two months we have prioritised the health, safety and interests of the people of Queensland in responding to the most challenging and unknown health crisis many of us will ever see in our lifetimes.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

As shadow health minister, acknowledged the unprecedented circumstances requiring emergency powers and that the LNP has supported them, but moved amendments to establish a parliamentary oversight committee and shorten the extension period, arguing the current level of scrutiny is insufficient.

“The opposition is also of the view that, in a democracy such as ours, these types of powers should not be in place any longer than necessary.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Opposed the extension as an independent, arguing the committee inquiry process had failed Queenslanders and questioning why emergency powers were needed when the federal biosecurity measures were expiring and parliament could be reconvened if required.

“This extension is authorising the continuance of this silence as well as lockdowns, quarantine and mask and vaccine mandates without the needed transparency, consultation or reference back to this parliament for scrutiny.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

As Deputy Opposition Leader, stated the LNP would not support the bill without amendments for parliamentary oversight and release of health advice. Criticised border closures, vaccine mandates, and lack of transparency, stating the LNP supports 'living with the virus' but not unchecked extension of emergency powers.

“If not, then we are sorry but we will not be able to support this bill.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

As chair of the Community Support and Services Committee, supported the bill, noting the committee recommended it be passed and that the extensions are necessary to protect public health.

“As chair of the committee, I commend this bill to the House.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Supported the bill, acknowledging the impact of COVID-19 on individuals, families and small businesses but arguing there is still a case for proportionate restrictions while the pandemic continues.

“I rise in support of the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Spoke in support of extending the emergency provisions, focusing on the importance of maintaining support for small businesses through the temporary Small Business Commissioner and related leasing dispute mechanisms enabled by the COVID emergency framework.

“I rise to support the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Raised concerns about transparency and the erosion of rights, citing the Australian Human Rights Commission and Queensland Human Rights Commission. Supported the shadow minister's amendments for greater oversight.

“We need to respect the views expressed by the Australian Human Rights Commission, which have increasing concerns regarding lack of transparency and scrutiny of bills such as this.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Called for greater openness and transparency from the government, noting Queensland is now in a very different position with over 90 per cent vaccination rates and the emergency powers need proper oversight.

“Today I am calling for this state government to repay the enormous efforts and the commitment made by Queenslanders. I am not calling for anything more than openness and honesty.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Criticised the truncated committee process and lack of parliamentary scrutiny, arguing the government left the legislation to the last minute and there is no requirement for public health officials to formally answer questions about restrictions.

“If this was so important to the minister and the government, why are we leaving it to the last minute? We are truncating the whole committee process by only allowing 31 days for the committee to examine this.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Supported the bill, expressing gratitude for the government's handling of the pandemic and particularly its impact on remote and Indigenous communities in her electorate.

“I commend the bill to the House.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Supported the bill, noting ongoing COVID cases and deaths and arguing the enabling framework allows the Chief Health Officer to respond rapidly to new threats while winding back restrictions when no longer needed.

“It enables a range of things to be done, but it does not require the powers to be used.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Supported the bill and criticised the LNP for changing its position overnight, suggesting the Deputy Opposition Leader was making policy on the run and undercutting the shadow health minister.

“We are getting an insight into who has the real power in the LNP. The change in position happened overnight.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Acknowledged the need for a robust COVID-19 response but argued the bill lacks accountability and transparency. Proposed amendments to create a pandemic review committee with oversight powers and called for greater government transparency on health directions.

“We want to restore accountability and ensure that it is the Premier and the health minister who ultimately own these decisions and ensure that the government is up-front about the human rights implications of health directions.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Called for the release of health advice and parliamentary scrutiny, criticising the government for being 'afraid of accountability and transparency' and noting Queensland parliament sat the fewest days of any Australian parliament.

“It is time to release the health advice, to trust the people, to not patronise them, and to acknowledge that keeping people safe does not mean keeping them in the dark.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Spoke strongly against the bill, calling it an extension of 'unlimited and godlike pandemic powers' and a 'disgraceful vaccine mandate'. Cited opposition from the Queensland Human Rights Commission and Queensland Council for Civil Liberties despite over 1,700 submissions against the bill.

“I rise today to speak against the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill. The bill will extend the government's and the Chief Health Officer's unlimited and godlike pandemic powers until 31 October.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Supported the bill, emphasising the importance of maintaining public health powers during the ongoing pandemic.

“I commend this bill to the House.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Supported the bill, praising the government's pandemic response that kept schools open and allowed Queensland to respond to changing variants.

“I am absolutely delighted to be speaking to the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Defended the bill as necessary to continue Queensland's successful COVID-19 response, arguing the public health measures worked and the government's leadership protected the community.

“I rise to speak in support of the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022. I do so because it worked and it is continuing to work.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Reaffirmed support for COVID-19 health directives and vaccination mandates but raised concerns about the need for greater parliamentary oversight and transparency of the government's public health decisions.

“I wish to reaffirm my support for all COVID-19 health directives and mandates. I support and accept all the public health advice.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

As Opposition Leader, acknowledged health workers' sacrifices and Queenslanders' hardships, but argued for targeted transparency amendments including parliamentary oversight and release of health advice, criticising government waste on hotel quarantine.

“The opposition has consistently asked responsible and measured questions throughout the pandemic.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Criticised the lack of openness and transparency in the government's COVID decision-making and supported the LNP amendments for parliamentary oversight and release of health advice, calling for a transition to the next stage of the pandemic response.

“It is for them and the public at large that we need to transition to the next stage as outlined in the shadow minister's amendments.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Supported the bill, reflecting on the evolving pandemic response and the importance of maintaining public health powers as Queensland transitions to living with COVID-19.

“I certainly commend this bill to the House.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Supported the bill and criticised the opposition for being unhelpful throughout the pandemic, arguing they got in the way of the government's disaster response with political point scoring.

“Throughout a disaster is the time to be united and it is a time that the opposition could have pulled up its socks and said, 'We're here to keep Queenslanders safe as well,' but instead it got in the way numerous times.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

As a former nurse, strongly supported the bill, defending the vaccination program and rebutting anti-vaccination arguments raised by crossbench members. Cited 180,000 health worker deaths globally from COVID-19.

“I will start off by saying that I support the bill.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Acknowledged the pandemic's significant impact but argued the emergency powers should not be extended indefinitely, citing numerous examples of constituents harmed by border closures and restrictions.

“I think we all should acknowledge the significant disruption and upheaval to the lives of Queenslanders that the COVID-19 pandemic has had.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Criticised the bill as giving the government unprecedented power without oversight, demanding transparency including release of health advice and a plan for easing restrictions, noting the government failed to honour its promise to review mandates at 90 per cent vaccination.

“This bill gives the Palaszczuk Labor government an unprecedented amount of power with little to no oversight, no checks or balances, no accountability.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

While supporting vaccinations, expressed growing opposition to ongoing mandates, arguing the emergency powers have been extended beyond their original justification and the public is worn out by conflicting government advice.

“I am an avid supporter of vaccinations, particularly the miracle of the mRNA vaccinations. However, more and more I am becoming an avid opponent of the ongoing mandates.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Supported the bill as Agriculture Minister, emphasising the government's public health response had saved thousands of lives and that the measures remained necessary.

“This legislation continues the vital measures the Palaszczuk government has put in place to protect Queenslanders.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Supported the bill, noting Queensland was in lockdown for only 21 days compared to Victoria's 260 days, and praising the community for following restrictions which gave time for the vaccination rollout.

“I rise to speak in favour of the bill before us.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Supported the bill, highlighting high vaccination rates in his electorate and the effectiveness of the emergency public health response in enabling Queensland's freedoms.

“Queensland was the first jurisdiction in Australia to act decisively and declare an emergency to respond to the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Called for a return to normality and freedom, arguing the extension bill is a further impediment to people's hopes. Supported the shadow minister's proposal to shorten the extension to 31 May rather than 31 October.

“What we have in this extension bill is a further impediment to the hope that people have for getting back to a normal life. That is not fair.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Acknowledged COVID is real and supported vaccination, but argued Queensland is in a fundamentally different position from when powers were first granted, supporting the LNP amendments for parliamentary oversight and transparency.

“I and the LNP support vaccination. We support, and have supported and always will support, the AHPPC vaccination advice.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Criticised the government's lack of compassion regarding border closures, expressed sorrow for those unable to farewell loved ones, and supported the LNP's amendments for greater accountability.

“I place on record my extreme sorrow for those who have not been able to come to say goodbye to those who have lost their lives because of the lack of compassion shown by the state government.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Supported the bill, framing Queensland's pandemic response in the context of global COVID-19 impacts and praising the Palaszczuk government's approach.

“They support the Palaszczuk government, the bills we are putting forward and the extensions because they know it is the right thing to do.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

Supported the bill, acknowledging the devastating impact of COVID-19 on families and communities while arguing the extension is necessary to continue managing the pandemic response.

“I rise to support this bill to extend the provisions required to support the public health response.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Spoke in support of extending the emergency provisions, acknowledging the pandemic's difficulty for everyone while praising the Chief Health Officer, health minister, and frontline workers for their steadfast efforts.

“I rise in support of and will vote for the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Acknowledged the LNP has supported emergency powers throughout the pandemic but argued the powers should not remain in place longer than necessary and that greater parliamentary oversight is needed to honour public trust.

“Extraordinary circumstances require an extraordinary response. That is why the LNP opposition has supported the laws that have been in place over this period of time giving unprecedented powers to the government and the Chief Health Officer.”— 2022-03-29View Hansard

While acknowledging he supported initial emergency measures including border closures despite the significant sacrifice of his border electorate, argued the continuation of powers without transparency and accountability, particularly vaccine mandates, is no longer justified.

“I have always agreed with the state government's use of powers to keep Queensland safe, and I am particularly talking about things like the border closures.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Criticised the double standards of border closures, citing the NRL entourage being allowed in while Queensland Health nurses living across the border could not cross to work, and the impact on regional communities like Mungindi.

“It was galling for Mungindi residents to read of the red carpet treatment given to the NRL entourage who jetted in from Sydney, whilst at the same time Queensland Health nurses who worked at the Mungindi Hospital in Queensland and lived on the New South Wales side of the border could not cross the border to come to work.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Supported the bill, outlining the objectives of the emergency provisions including powers for emergency officers and the Chief Health Officer to respond to COVID-19.

“I rise to support the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Supported the bill, criticising the federal government for inadequate health funding and defending the state government's pandemic response.

“I am pleased to be able to contribute to the debate on the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022 and give my support to its passage.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Stated the LNP has carefully considered the bill and recognises the powers are extraordinary with little oversight, arguing Queensland's position is now very different from when the powers were last extended.

“We, the LNP, recognise that the provisions contained in this bill are extraordinary. They give an unprecedented power to the government with little to no oversight.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Called it arrogant to repeatedly extend unprecedented emergency powers with little transparency, noting the government broke its promise to review provisions when 90 per cent vaccination was reached.

“It is arrogant to repeatedly extend unprecedented powers with little openness and transparency on restrictions and health directives.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Recognised the government needed to act quickly at the start of the pandemic but expressed concern about the lack of transparency entering the third year, arguing Queenslanders need more than blind trust.

“What concerns me is that as we enter the third year of this pandemic there is still little transparency when it comes to the health advice.”— 2022-03-31View Hansard

Defended the government's COVID response and supported the bill, highlighting the Premier's leadership in working with the Chief Health Officer to protect Queenslanders.

“The government led by Premier Palaszczuk was able to get the best advice and work with the Chief Health Officer to act quickly and firmly to protect Queenslanders.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

Traced the history of emergency power extensions since February 2020, arguing that while initial measures were justified, continuing to extend them without sunset criteria or parliamentary oversight is no longer appropriate.

“In February 2020 the Public Health (Declared Public Health Emergencies) Amendment Act came to this place which extended public health emergency regulations to 90 days.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard

As Education Minister, spoke in support of the bill, defending Queensland's pandemic response and criticising the opposition's inconsistent approach to public health measures.

“I rise to speak in support of the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill. Queensland has done a remarkable job managing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”— 2022-03-30View Hansard