Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2022

Spoke in strong support of the budget, highlighting record health investment, renewable energy commitments, and criticised the LNP for opposing revenue measures.

“Good jobs, better services and protecting the great Queensland lifestyle—that is our commitment to Queenslanders and what this budget is all about.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Delivered the Leader of the Opposition's budget reply, arguing the budget is built on broken tax promises, fails to address the health crisis, and lacks vision for Queensland's future including the 2032 Olympics.

“Twenty-six times, the Treasurer promised no new taxes. This budget is built on a broken promise.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget as a typical Labor budget with higher taxes, bigger debt, and broken promises. Argued it fails to address the health, housing and integrity crises facing Queensland.

“As the Treasurer has said, this budget is a typical Labor budget and I completely agree. There are higher taxes. He misrepresented what he was going to do in the budget. There is bigger debt. It is more Labor nonsense.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

As Deputy Premier, defended the budget as fairly and fully funded with a huge commitment to hospitals and health, and attacked the Leader of the Opposition's record and integrity.

“This budget is a huge commitment to hospitals and health. It is fairly and fully funded. It deserves support.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Commended the Treasurer on the budget, highlighting tourism recovery investment, sport and Olympics funding, and local electorate projects for Sandgate.

“I start by congratulating the Treasurer on handing down his third budget, the 2022-23 budget, which delivers good jobs, provides better services and supports Queensland's great lifestyle.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

As shadow Treasurer, criticised the budget for breaking the promise of no new taxes, increasing debt to unsustainable levels, and failing to deliver genuine reform for Queensland.

“This is a budget that has confirmed that, when it comes to keeping their word, their integrity is in tatters.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, praising health reforms and the mental health levy. Criticised both the LNP and Greens for opposing the sustainable revenue plan for mental health services.

“With both the blues and the Greens rejecting a sustainable revenue plan for funding mental health and AOD services, Queenslanders will know that it is only Labor that will deliver on these important issues.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Criticised the budget for neglecting the Sunshine Coast, failing to address the health crisis including closure of the Nambour Hospital fracture clinic, and not investing in essential road infrastructure.

“Since the last record health budget last year, staff have told me that Queensland Health is trying to spin its way out of problems and massage messages.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget as broken promises and missed opportunities on health, housing and roads. However, welcomed the mental health funding of $1.64 billion while opposing the mental health levy on businesses.

“I do welcome the additional funding of $1.64 billion in operating funds and $28.5 million in capital funds for mental health. That money will go to new beds for adolescents, young adults, adults, people with perinatal disorders or eating disorders, and older persons requiring mental health services.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Congratulated the Treasurer on a sensational budget for Queensland and Pine Rivers, highlighting investments in schools, an ambulance station in Lawnton, and police station replacement.

“I am so happy to rise and contribute to this debate. From the outset I congratulate the Treasurer on a sensational budget for Queensland and for my community of Pine Rivers.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting investments in seniors, disability services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships, and local Barron River electorate projects.

“The Palaszczuk government is delivering for Queensland's First Nations people, for our seniors and for those living with a disability, their carers and their families.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

As shadow health minister, argued Queensland is in a health crisis with ambulance ramping at 42 per cent and the government has lost control of the public health system over three terms.

“Now we have arrived at crisis point—situation critical: a health system on its knees overseen by a government incapable of managing it.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, emphasising the resources sector's contribution to Queensland's prosperity, new economy minerals investment, and increased coal royalties to fund hospitals.

“The royalties our resources sector generates help pay for our hospitals, our doctors, our nurses and our paramedics and this is a credit to the resources industry.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Praised the budget's investment in health, neighbourhood centres, First Nations cultural institutions, schools and public housing for the Redlands community.

“I feel absolutely blessed to live in the Redlands. It is so nice to see that we will be celebrating our First Nations people with the Quandamooka Art Museum and Performance Institute on Minjerribah.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget for inadequate social housing investment on the Gold Coast, lack of drug and alcohol treatment facilities, health crisis, and insufficient estimates scrutiny time.

“Based on current commitments by this government, the Gold Coast will miss out on about $50 million of its share this year and last year. Fundamentally, Queensland state housing budgets have been and continue to be grossly inadequate.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Criticised the budget for breaking the no new taxes promise, growing debt to $129 billion, and failing to address integrity issues and cost-of-living pressures in regional Queensland.

“Of course, then there is the debt, which continues to grow relentlessly. It is now $110 billion and will be $129 billion by the end of the forwards.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, thanking the Premier and Treasurer for their leadership, and highlighting school upgrades, the satellite hospital, and Cross River Rail station upgrades in his electorate.

“I rise in support of the 2022 appropriations and revenue legislation amendment bills. I want to start by thanking the Premier and the Treasurer.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Supported the budget and highlighted infrastructure investments in Logan including hospital expansion and road projects, while questioning opposition support for revenue measures.

“If the LNP had their way again, because they have done it before, then my community would not get the Morayfield ambulance station, it would not get the additional services planned for the Caboolture Hospital.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting health staff recruitment, school infrastructure, road projects, and social housing investment for Rockhampton and Central Queensland.

“I rise to speak in support of the Appropriation Bill and the Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Described the budget as one of broken promises, criticising long-neglected infrastructure like the Beaudesert courthouse and road funding, while acknowledging some specific project funding.

“This year's budget is a budget of broken promises.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Acknowledged some positive budget items for his electorate including the Mount Morgan water pipeline and Sarina Hospital, but criticised the government for inadequate cost-of-living relief, growing public debt, and over-reliance on public sector expansion.

“I was, therefore, disappointed that more was not done in the budget to help Queenslanders deal with the extraordinary cost-of-living pressures they face and will continue to face in the coming months.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Acknowledged some positive spending in Far North Queensland including roads and community centres, but criticised inadequate water infrastructure, mixed messages on coal, and biosecurity failings.

“The $7.6 billion raised from coal royalties is an example of the huge benefits to Queenslanders in the form of jobs and paying for essential services, which is something that renewables will never be able to replace.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Strongly supported the budget, highlighting record water infrastructure investment, manufacturing grants programs, and local Gladstone electorate projects.

“This is a budget that regional Queensland will remember for a long time. We are delivering on things that matter to the people in our regions: good jobs, better services and a great lifestyle.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

As Minister for Police and Corrective Services, spoke in favour of the budget highlighting investments in community safety, police, fire and emergency services, and corrective services infrastructure.

“I rise to speak in favour of the Queensland state budget 2022-2023 and put on the record my support for the appropriation bills.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget as unambitious with misplaced priorities, particularly spending more on prisons than social housing. However, supported the revenue measures including the mental health levy and coal royalty increases, correcting what he called the Treasurer's misrepresentation of the Greens' position.

“We will be supporting these measures. We have never said we will not. I welcome a retraction of the suggestion from anyone on that side that we have said we will at whatever point they choose to offer it.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Criticised the budget as a typical Labor budget with new taxes, highlighting inadequate regional health services, housing shortages, and cuts to local government funding including Works for Queensland.

“This is a typical Labor budget with new taxes—a racing tax, a payroll mental health levy, a coal royalty increase and confirmation of a land tax on land owners resident in other states.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting health investments for the Gold Coast including the Coomera Hospital, record national parks investment, and environmental initiatives.

“This budget delivers: $1.3 billion for a new hospital in Coomera; a 114-bed expansion at Robina Hospital; and another $16.5 million commitment for a 20-bed transit lounge at Robina.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Praised the budget as outstanding with record spending in health and education, highlighting Cairns Marine Precinct expansion, mental health investment, and neighbourhood centre funding.

“I rise to speak in support of the appropriation bills. What an absolutely outstanding budget this is.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget as an expression of government values, highlighting $2.2 billion for out-of-home care, the historic commitment to extend support for young people leaving care to age 21, and youth justice reforms.

“Budgets are an expression of what a government values and this budget is about people. It is about Queenslanders.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Criticised the budget for inflation, rising interest rates, profligate spending, record debt, fraudulent tax promises, and union-driven cost blowouts in infrastructure projects.

“Guess what, Mr Deputy Speaker, the Treasurer's promise that there will be no new taxes in this budget we now know to be as hollow and as fraudulent as his hollow promise that he has no interest in being Premier.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Argued the budget lacks vision and favours buying jobs over creating them. Criticised the government's management of energy, water pricing, rail privatisation, and the Olympics commitment, while acknowledging some positive road and education spending.

“I rise to respond to this year's budget. As a spokesperson for a large part of regional Queensland and as the Leader of the KAP, we say that it lacks vision.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Supported the budget highlighting Kirwan health precinct redevelopment, Riverway Drive stage 2, police facilities and school upgrades for the Thuringowa electorate.

“I made a commitment to the people of Thuringowa that we would deliver a $40 million Kirwan health precinct site and redevelop it completely.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Enthusiastically supported the budget as a $1 billion investment in his electorate of Bundamba, highlighting the Ipswich Hospital expansion, Springfield rail extension, and local school and transport projects.

“What a great budget for Queensland and what a great budget for Bundamba! This is a bumper $1 billion Bundamba budget that delivers a fair go now and into the future.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Criticised the budget for lack of engagement with regional communities, comparing Queensland's women's policy unfavourably to New South Wales, and expressing concern about coal royalty impacts on local supply chains.

“If they are impacted by the rise in royalties and those royalties are not returned to the region—not returned to Proserpine Hospital, Mackay Hospital or Moranbah Hospital—I will be holding this government to account.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting record investment in neighbourhood and community centres, the $2.9 billion housing investment, arts sector funding, and local electorate school projects.

“This year's state budget is also delivering a landmark investment of $115.5 million over four years into Queensland's arts sector and cultural infrastructure.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

As Minister for Agriculture, praised the budget's investment in drought preparedness, agricultural science, and regional communities including new drought reform programs.

“I am proud to be standing here as the Farmer's Friend, delivering once again for Queensland's agriculture sector.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, welcoming the record health funding for Ipswich including the $710 million hospital expansion, housing investments, and the mental health levy on big business.

“Our fantastic quality of life in Ipswich is strengthened by having a Queensland Labor government that is not afraid to invest heavily in public services or to make multinational corporations pay their fair share to preserve our quality of life.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Argued the budget is based on a broken promise of no new taxes, criticised lack of infrastructure funding for the Moggill electorate including the Centenary Highway bridge and ambulance station.

“At its core, this 2022 Palaszczuk state Labor budget is one that is based on a broken promise. Queenslanders simply can no longer trust the Palaszczuk state Labor government.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Spoke briefly in support of the budget as a good, decent Labor budget focused on health, education, jobs, cost of living, and the 2032 Olympics.

“This is a good, decent Labor budget. We are all elected to this place to make people's lives better. That is what we on this side of the House do each and every day.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Argued the budget is deeply out of touch with struggling Queenslanders, criticised the modest coal royalty increase as a missed opportunity, and called for a 35 per cent flat royalty rate on coal and gas.

“This is not a budget that reassures Queenslanders that this government will step in when times are tough to make sure they do not freeze or starve, that they do not get kicked out of their homes.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget for delivering no new services or projects for Currumbin electorate, with existing commitments delayed or underdelivered including the Tugun Satellite Hospital, Currumbin Eco-Parkland, and the M1 upgrade.

“Sadly, the funding for SMA is where the good news ends for us in this budget. In fact, the Currumbin electorate has received no new services or projects—that is right: zero!”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Criticised the budget for broken promises on the Sunshine Motorway duplication, neglecting road infrastructure and local schools, and failing to address community safety concerns.

“This is another broken promise from a government that has continually failed to deliver for the Sunshine Coast.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, praising the $1.6 billion mental health investment, housing affordability measures, education funding, koala protections, and women's safety initiatives.

“$1.6 billion has been allocated with a focus on substance abuse, suicide prevention and child and adolescent mental health. This funding will completely transform our mental health system.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Praised the budget's record investment in health infrastructure, education including special schools, and transport upgrades including the Kuraby to Beenleigh rail line and Beaudesert Road intersection.

“This budget is delivering the largest capital investment in health in Queensland's history. We are delivering more hospitals, more beds and more services than ever before.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting the $107.5 million Cairns Water Security project and broader Far North Queensland investments.

“An exciting development in the state budget is the $107.5 million commitment to stage 1 of the Cairns Water Security project. This will secure Cairns' future water supply.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Supported the budget highlighting investments in health at Prince Charles and Redcliffe hospitals, education projects at local schools, and transport improvements including Beams Road.

“We have some great education investments in our area too. I was really pleased to see continued funding for Aspley Special School and Geebung Special School.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Welcomed Coomera Hospital early works funding but criticised the budget as groundhog day for Theodore, with residents feeling like second-class citizens due to inadequate housing, road and school investment on the northern Gold Coast.

“Unfortunately, this budget has been groundhog day for the Theodore electorate. There are so many issues that we would love to see properly fixed. Again, we are missing out.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

As Minister for Employment and Small Business, praised the budget for payroll tax relief for small business, skills and training investment, and record employment outcomes.

“The LNP? The opposition leader told us again this morning, in his budget reply speech, what he thought about small business, and that is absolutely nothing. He actually did not even mention it.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, criticising the LNP's budget reply as offering no solutions on health, youth offenders, or the gender pay gap while Labor delivers real outcomes.

“This budget comes from a team that delivers solutions. This budget delivers good jobs, better services and a great lifestyle.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Praised the budget as one of the best he has seen, highlighting train manufacturing at Torbanlea, hospital upgrades at Hervey Bay and Maryborough, and new paramedics for the Fraser Coast.

“Honestly, this is one of the best budgets I have ever seen delivered and I have been around politics a long time.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget as a budget for Brisbane not the bush, lacking a new Blackwater Hospital despite increased coal royalties from the region, and failing to deliver renal dialysis for Longreach or adequate agriculture staffing.

“The very place that provides royalties is Blackwater. It needs a new hospital. The hospital in Blackwater was built when Utah came to Blackwater in the late 1960s or early 1970s and it is not fit for purpose.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Criticised the budget for hidden costs in Cross River Rail, lack of visionary reform, and throwing borrowed money at issues without measuring outcomes.

“This budget is as bereft of visionary reform as the last.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget, highlighting 60 new beds at Redland Hospital, mental health investment, school infrastructure at Capalaba State College, and TAFE restoration after the LNP era.

“This is a great Labor budget that delivers yet another surplus. There is also a record health spend in our budget, which means we can deliver more at Redland Hospital.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

As Attorney-General, supported the budget highlighting investment in court modernisation, Legal Aid Queensland funding, and the historic $363 million domestic violence reform package.

“We have committed to an historic $363 million reform package over four years, to implement all 89 recommendations of the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce's Hear Her Voice report.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the record $23.6 billion health budget as Health Minister, highlighting new hospital and bed expansion projects, workforce growth, mental health investment, and Redcliffe Hospital's $1.06 billion expansion.

“This Palaszczuk Labor government is delivering a record $23.6 billion health budget. This budget represents our unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Supported the budget highlighting investments for the Bundaberg region, while noting concerns about reduced local government funding and workforce training outcomes.

“The region I am privileged to represent has a proud history and a bright future.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

As Treasurer, defended the budget in reply, rebutting LNP criticisms on debt, jobs and taxation, and attacking the Greens for opposing the mental health levy while claiming to support progressive values.

“This is a budget for our times, it is a budget for all Queenslanders and it is a budget that we are proud of.”— 2022-06-24View Hansard

Criticised the budget for cuts to police services, inadequate alcohol and drug treatment facilities, and excessive borrowing that future generations will have to pay back.

“At the end of the day, we are borrowing more than we should. We are wasting money. Future generations will have to pay back.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Congratulated the Treasurer on a proud Labor budget, highlighting the Queensland Cancer Centre, Pumicestone school upgrades, the Abbey Museum funding, and a public transport planning study.

“This is a budget that will make a real and positive difference to people's lives right across Queensland, and I could not be more delighted.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget for neglecting the Gold Coast, highlighting lack of police resources, out-of-control youth crime, and the Brisbane-centric nature of the government's spending priorities.

“Out of sight, out of mind—this is the disappointing reality of Labor's attitude towards the Gold Coast.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget and criticised the LNP for not supporting revenue measures including coal royalties, highlighting record health spending and investments for Townsville.

“The speeches so far from the opposition show that the LNP is planning more cuts. We know this because they have not said one word in support of the revenue measures.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the Treasurer for breaking the no new taxes promise, highlighting the housing crisis, QBCC inspection delays, and lack of infrastructure funding for Everton electorate.

“On every occasion when the Treasurer was asked this question, he emphatically stated there would be no new taxes.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget highlighting investments in health, education and community infrastructure for the Hervey Bay region.

“This budget ensures a progressive Queensland will be one more educated, more critical, more healthy, more mobile and better prepared for the ongoing economic challenges that lie ahead.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget as a smokescreen with rising debt heading to $129 billion, cuts to local government funding, and union-led cost blowouts taking money away from regional projects.

“This budget is another smokescreen. The budget is another lot of Labor debt. It is heading to $110 billion, with the forward estimates showing $129 billion.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Spoke in support of the budget highlighting health investment, jobs growth and local infrastructure for the Ipswich West electorate.

“I rise to speak in support of the Appropriation Bill 2022 and the Appropriation (Parliament) Bill 2022.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget for false hope in the Burdekin electorate, highlighting the unfunded Moranbah Hospital, inadequate police staffing, and prison overcrowding remaining at 125.8 per cent.

“What we saw in the delivery of this budget was a lot of false hope, a large serving of false reasoning and a system of measures that go beyond erroneous and border on negligence.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

As shadow minister for natural resources, criticised rising state debt despite record revenue, health system failures, youth crime, teacher shortages, and neglect of the Condamine electorate.

“As we can see, it is not the level of revenue that is the problem. It is the mismanagement and poor handling of the Queensland economy by this Palaszczuk government that is the problem.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Described it as a standard state Labor budget that delivers for roads, health and education but falls short in other areas, while praising the positive acknowledgement of coal and royalties revenue.

“In all fairness, I have described the budget like this before and I will describe it again—it is a standard state Labor government budget.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget for failing the Gold Coast with no new social housing funding despite a 70 per cent waitlist increase, inadequate cost-of-living relief, and nothing new for the Bonney electorate.

“This budget did not include a single new cent to build social housing.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Supported the budget highlighting the Jindalee bridge on the Centenary Motorway, school infrastructure, and the Vietnamese Community Centre funding for Mount Ommaney.

“It is budget week and I will give you one guess what I want to talk about first. Of course, it is the Jindalee bridge on the Centenary Motorway.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Described the budget as characterised by broken promises, wrong priorities and missed opportunities, criticising new taxes, Redland Hospital construction delays, and Cleveland rail line neglect.

“This is the 14th budget that I have replied to on behalf of the northern Redlands Coast area. While there are good measures in this budget, it is characterised by broken promises, wrong priorities and missed opportunities.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

As Minister for Women, praised the budget's investment in Skilling Queenslanders for Work for women, women on boards targets, Logan Hospital expansion, and local school and transport investments.

“It was the Palaszczuk government that delivered the Women's Strategy after those opposite cut it. It was the Palaszczuk government that delivered a women's budget statement after those opposite cut it.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Criticised the budget for incompetence and fiscal mismanagement, highlighting broken tax promises, vacant public housing, light rail delays and cost blowouts, and lack of investment in firming capacity for renewables.

“It is a real Labor budget full of incompetence and fiscal mismanagement. If these guys could add one and one together and come up with two, I would be very surprised.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Praised the budget as an excellent Labor budget focused on addressing the needs of every Queenslander, highlighting health, education and local infrastructure investments for Nicklin.

“This is an excellent Labor budget. Congratulations to the Treasurer and his department for getting things done.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard

Acknowledged some positive funding but raised concerns about missing community transport funding, specialist homelessness services, and the need for more police and national park maintenance.

“Concerningly, I cannot find a continuation of our funds for community transport. This was vital in plugging the gap for those under 65 travelling daily for cancer treatment.”— 2022-06-23View Hansard