Building Queensland Bill 2015

Moved the second reading as the responsible minister, championing Building Queensland as delivering on Labor's election commitment to establish an independent statutory body for rigorous, transparent infrastructure planning free from political interference.

“This bill will provide the highest level of transparency and accountability in advice to government about infrastructure without compromising commercial-in-confidence material.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Stated the LNP would not oppose the bill as it carries on the work of the LNP's Projects Queensland, but criticised the government for having no new infrastructure projects, no funding plan, and an infrastructure freeze.

“The LNP will not be opposing this legislation. Of course it carries on the good work that was started under the LNP with the formulation of Projects Queensland within Treasury.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

As committee chair, commended the bill as a real commitment to integrity of process that prevents the government from looking after their mates and provides transparency and accountability in infrastructure planning.

“This bill before the House is a real commitment to integrity of process. That is what I admire about the Deputy Premier and the rest of the cabinet. They are focused on the need to be transparent, accountable and give the community confidence in the government.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Endorsed the shadow minister's comments and did not oppose the bill, but argued it is essentially a rebadging of the LNP's Projects Queensland and criticised Labor for releasing an unfunded wish list rather than a real infrastructure plan.

“Delivering infrastructure on the ground is what it is all about. It is not about restructuring the committees or changing the nature of the planning process, and that is essentially what this bill does.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Supported the bill as important for fairness in building infrastructure across Queensland, noting it would ensure his electorate would no longer be left in the dark on vital infrastructure and that projects would be funded without selling assets.

“For my electorate of Gladstone this is a very important bill that meets our needs into the future and addresses our priorities.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Agreed with the bill's concept and supported it in theory, but expressed serious doubts about the government's willingness to actually refer projects to Building Queensland, noting it had zero referrals in its first four months of administrative operation.

“I do agree with this bill. If it is used appropriately, Building Queensland could provide independent expert advice on infrastructure priorities based on a rigorous cost-benefit analysis as well as community benefits. I just have some doubts that this government are capable of utilising this structure for the benefit of Queensland.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Supported the bill as ensuring accountability and rigorous cost-benefit analysis for infrastructure projects, contrasting it with the LNP's 1 William Street development which had no business case.

“Finally, there will be a plan and accountability with respect to infrastructure in Queensland.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Acknowledged the bill's objectives but used his speech primarily to advocate for regional infrastructure including a meatworks and inland port for Emerald, and road sealing in western Queensland.

“The Gregory electorate is a wealth-creating region in this state. For the people of the Gregory electorate, infrastructure is a key ingredient for their survival, for their jobs, for their towns and for their small businesses.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as providing transparent, responsible and accountable infrastructure planning, noting it was an exciting time for Queensland with 326 major infrastructure projects in the pipeline over four years.

“It is such an exciting time for Queensland, with major infrastructure projects in the pipeline—326 of them in the next four years—with none of them funded by asset sales.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Criticised the bill as merely a name change from Projects Queensland to Building Queensland, warned of an infrastructure freeze under Labor, and cited BIS Shrapnel forecasts that 40,000 workers would move interstate to New South Wales.

“It is time Labor stops blaming everyone else and takes responsibility for its poor choices and lack of a plan.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Supported the bill as effectively taking the politics out of specific infrastructure planning and investment in Queensland, criticising the LNP's history of politically motivated infrastructure decisions.

“In blunt terms, the Building Queensland Bill will take the politics out of specific infrastructure planning and investment in Queensland.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Did not oppose the bill but criticised it as a pipedream without funding, arguing Labor has failed to address how it will pay for infrastructure and has no way of funding its wish list beyond seeking a bailout from the federal government.

“Time and time again what we see is a Labor Party that plan to fail and fail to plan. They just simply have a wish list and they have no way of funding it.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as meeting three key government objectives: delivering on Labor's election commitment, establishing Building Queensland with powers as an independent statutory body, and ensuring robust transparent infrastructure assessment.

“This bill will deliver what Queenslanders want—a considered, open, transparent and accountable independent process to assess infrastructure projects in this great state.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Made a brief contribution primarily criticising Labor's lack of a funding plan for infrastructure, while calling for the Mooloolah River Interchange upgrade as a priority for the new Sunshine Coast Hospital.

“How does a government prioritise a project when it spends $2 billion and does not deliver the road network that is essential to get people to that hospital?”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Supported the bill as pivotal for determining infrastructure requirements to meet future needs, particularly in North Queensland and the growing tropics region, emphasising job creation and economic growth.

“Building Queensland will be pivotal in the determination of the infrastructure requirements by the state to meet these future needs.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Acknowledged the bill's potential for standardised infrastructure assessment but expressed reservations about potential politicisation, criticised Labor's infrastructure freeze and lack of a funding source, and advocated for road and transport infrastructure in his electorate.

“I believe I have here in front of me a copy of the Deputy Premier's infrastructure wish list. But no, in fact, it is not a wish list because it is blank.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Supported the bill as delivering on another election commitment, emphasising the need for transparency, accountability and a whole-of-government approach to infrastructure for growing communities like his electorate of Stretton.

“Building Queensland will help take the politics out of infrastructure investment in Queensland. This will ultimately lead to better outcomes.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Expressed support for properly costed and transparent infrastructure assessment but raised concerns about the government's track record, the lack of a funding plan, and the risk of Building Queensland becoming like the TV series Utopia.

“Many of us have seen the TV series Utopia, which is caricature of an infrastructure body. Unfortunately, there is some uncanny resemblance with Building Queensland, which has similar goals and aspirations.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Supported the bill as fulfilling another Labor election commitment, arguing that Building Queensland would provide certainty for the private sector and move infrastructure decisions beyond political pork-barrelling.

“Labor in government builds things. It is just what we do. From Suncorp Stadium to the Gateway duplication, we build things.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Expressed serious concerns about the bill as establishing yet another bureaucratic body that would stifle economic progress and hold up infrastructure proposals, adding more red tape after the LNP had worked to reduce it.

“I have serious concerns about the establishment of yet another bureaucratic body which will have a seemingly unlimited scope to hold up new and existing infrastructure proposals in Queensland.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Supported the bill as what Queensland needs at this moment, emphasising Building Queensland's role in building private sector confidence through a steady pipeline of projects and its ability to assess social sustainability of infrastructure.

“Building Queensland will build confidence by overseeing the pipeline of infrastructure projects.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Stated the LNP was not opposing the bill primarily because Building Queensland is just the LNP's Projects Queensland under another name, but criticised the government's draft infrastructure plan as containing no new projects.

“As the LNP has already indicated, we are not opposing this bill primarily because Building Queensland is just the very successful LNP Projects Queensland under another name.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard

Supported the bill as providing Queensland with an independent, unbiased and robust way to review and approve significant building projects for the first time, particularly important for fast-growing communities like Ipswich.

“For the first time Queensland will have an independent, unbiased and robust way to review and approve significant building projects.”— 2015-10-27View Hansard