Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2022

As Treasurer, moved the second reading of all three bills, explaining the unforeseen expenditure was driven by COVID measures, flood recovery and accelerated capital works, and that the betting tax changes would deliver a sustainable funding model for Queensland racing.

“The wealth of our economy and the wealth of our people are inextricably linked to the health of our people.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Criticised the $2.85 billion overspend as demonstrating the complete incompetence of the Treasurer and attacked the government's renters tax proposal, noting the Treasurer was humiliated when the Premier ruled it out without telling him.

“It is a $2.85 billion overspend. What can you say? That shows the complete incompetence of the Queensland Treasurer.”— 2022-11-10View Hansard

Criticised the $2.8 billion unforeseen expenditure as a record blowout reflecting the Treasurer's inability to control wasteful spending, highlighting the Wellcamp quarantine facility and the Visy arrangements as examples of waste.

“What we have seen here is a Treasurer who is incapable of controlling the wasteful spending of his cabinet colleagues.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

As Economics and Governance Committee chair, defended the unforeseen expenditure as routine and appropriate given COVID and flood impacts, noting Queensland's $2.8 billion compared to New South Wales' $17.8 billion in the same period.

“Since 2008 there have been four years that have had larger unforeseen expenditure as a percentage of the overall budget.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Criticised the overspend as showing Labor's wasteful spending and wrong priorities. Attacked the government's GP payroll tax and the renters tax, noting the Treasurer's amendment only withdraws the land tax 'at this time'.

“To put that into perspective, this year's overspend is more than five times greater than previous unforeseen expenditure from the 2012-15 financial years.”— 2022-11-10View Hansard

Criticised the $2.8 billion unforeseen expenditure as emblematic of Labor waste, highlighting the $200 million Wellcamp quarantine facility, and argued the shelved land tax amendment's 'at this time' wording signals the tax will return.

“Treasurer Cameron Dick is so arrogant that the first day the Premier said they were not going to proceed with this renters tax due to the public scrutiny she was under, the Treasurer already had a statement ready to issue to the media from his office which said, 'The Treasurer stands by everything he said about the renters land tax.'”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Defended the unforeseen expenditure in the environment portfolio as entirely attributable to upfront waste levy payments to councils, which were supported by the Leader of the Opposition. Also defended health infrastructure investment on the Gold Coast.

“That overspend can be entirely attributed to the $672 million to deliver annual payments upfront to councils.”— 2022-11-10View Hansard

As Economics and Governance Committee member, defended the unforeseen expenditure as driven by COVID support and flood recovery, highlighting the mental health levy and the betting tax mechanism requiring large multinationals to contribute to country racing.

“We make no apologies for supporting the Queensland economy and Queenslanders through the pandemic and in times of natural disaster.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Criticised the $2.825 billion budget blowout as exposing an incompetent government losing control of spending. Detailed unforeseen expenditure in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and argued the government fails to deliver for regional communities.

“The sheer amount of the blowouts exposes an incompetent government which is losing control of spending.”— 2022-11-10View Hansard

Supported all three bills, highlighting local projects in Hervey Bay funded by appropriations and the strong economic recovery driving record employment in the Wide Bay region.

“The Palaszczuk government has steered the path required to get us to this point and has taken thoughtfully considered decisions through these appropriations to safely navigate the stormy waters created by a worldwide pandemic.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Criticised the $2.8 billion overspend as the biggest blowout in a decade, highlighting the waste on the Wellcamp quarantine facility and calling for extension of disaster recovery grants for flood-affected farmers.

“Unforeseen expenditure is another name for a budget blowout.”— 2022-11-10View Hansard

Defended the appropriation as demonstrating good economic management, highlighting record low unemployment and investments in health, education and infrastructure in his electorate.

“This appropriation bill again demonstrates what a fantastic economic manager the Palaszczuk Labor government is.”— 2022-11-10View Hansard

Criticised the $2.825 billion in unforeseen expenditure as exposing the government's incompetence in planning and budgeting, listing examples of infrastructure cost blowouts.

“The vast majority of this relates to Appropriation Bill (No. 3), whereby additional funds are being sought from the Consolidated Fund for 14 departments.”— 2022-11-10View Hansard

Criticised the government for not fast-tracking infrastructure projects in the fastest growing region in Queensland while bringing forward $330 million in TMR spending elsewhere, but acknowledged the appropriation would be ratified.

“If you are going to have an overspend, if you are going to bring funding forward which you have proven you can do, because there is something like $330 million in TMR alone, put it towards the urgent projects.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Criticised the overspend as the largest in living history and highlighted the $220 million wasted on Wellcamp quarantine facility, arguing the money could have been spent on roads and health services in his community.

“This appropriation bill contains the largest overspend in living history, $2.85 billion.”— 2022-11-10View Hansard

In reply as Treasurer, defended the unforeseen expenditure as saving lives and livelihoods during COVID and natural disasters. Noted New South Wales had six times more unforeseen expenditure. Commended the betting tax reforms as nation-leading.

“As Treasurer of Queensland, I could not be prouder to seek this supplementary appropriation for the 2021-22 financial year for unforeseen expenditure.”— 2022-11-10View Hansard

Criticised the $2.825 billion overspend as the largest in 10 years, arguing the government failed to plan for COVID business support grants, highlighting ministerial failures and infrastructure delays on the Sunshine Coast.

“They cannot plan, they cannot execute, they do not listen and they do not anticipate the needs of the very Queenslanders they purport to represent.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Focused on the February 2022 floods' impact on her electorate, highlighting the $700 million Resilient Homes Fund and Gambling Community Benefit Fund grants supporting flood-affected community clubs.

“This funding program gives them the options and the autonomy to have a real say in what they want to do with their home and their future.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Raised concerns about the record overspend and the Queensland Revenue Office sending land tax assessments to exempt homeowners, but acknowledged the betting tax would support racing while expressing concern about the mental health levy burden on businesses.

“This government is clearly desperate to raise revenue and is sending land tax bills to people who do not have to pay land tax but may be conned into doing so.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Defended the appropriations as necessary responses to COVID and floods, highlighted the $4.3 billion surplus, and supported the betting tax reform for racing industry certainty and the mental health levy.

“For all the opposition's misleading comments about financial mismanagement, once again, the facts speak for themselves.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Criticised the $2.823 billion overspend as staggering, detailed the $230 million Wellcamp quarantine facility in his electorate as a white elephant, and highlighted road damage and lack of disaster recovery support extensions for flood-affected landholders.

“When local residents look at the waste of $230 million at Wellcamp, they rightly ask why sufficient funding was not allocated to the rebuilding of Bowenville Norwin Road instead of the white elephant that we have at Wellcamp.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Defended the unforeseen expenditure as driven by COVID and floods, highlighted record-low unemployment and population growth, and supported the betting tax as a levy on multinational companies rather than families.

“At the last election we made a promise to the people of Queensland that there would be no new or increased taxes on Queensland families, and we have kept that promise.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

As Economics and Governance Committee member, criticised the record overspend while service delivery standards declined, and described the betting tax as the fourth broken tax promise by a government that has checked out.

“Cost blowouts, broken promises and a lack of transparency and accountability will become the hallmarks of this government.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Supported the appropriation bills highlighting the $60 million capital expenditure for the Rockhampton Ring Road and record education budgets including kindergarten funding reform and teacher recruitment programs.

“I am very pleased that the early works on the primary utility plant removal are included in this budget.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Criticised the $2.8 billion overspend as typical Labor waste, highlighting Wellcamp and warning that rising interest rates will make the debt burden worse for Queensland taxpayers.

“This appropriation bill consolidates and continues a typical Labor budget: more debt, more spending, more taxes and more waste.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Defended the unforeseen expenditure as necessary for flood recovery including the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund, and highlighted Queensland's record-low unemployment and strong economic management.

“Our record is clear. Our COVID-19 economic recovery plan provided a clear path forward and central to it was safeguarding our health and keeping our economy strong.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Criticised the government's planning failures, including brand new homes needing demolition for road corridors, the Wellcamp waste, and the lack of commitment to Sunshine Coast rail, arguing the $2.8 billion overrun reflects fundamental incompetence.

“This government could not plan a chook raffle!”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

As Minister for Agriculture, defended unforeseen expenditure as necessary for biosecurity, drought assistance and disaster recovery, challenging the opposition's characterisation of the spending as waste.

“When you have an emerging issue you do not wait for the next budget; you deal with the problem when it arises.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard

Supported the bills highlighting Mackay's economic transformation under Labor, investments in green energy, health infrastructure, roads, and the Pioneer pumped hydro scheme.

“My electorate has gone from strength to strength under the Labor Palaszczuk government.”— 2022-11-09View Hansard