Dr Barbara O'Shea MP

Argued the budget lacks meaningful cost-of-living relief and largely continues Labor initiatives; welcomed the Revenue bill's permanent $30,000 First Home Owner Grant and legislated 50-cent fares but criticised the government claiming them as its own.

“When I turned to the Revenue (Cost of Living Relief Locked-in Law) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, I was expecting some new cost-of-living measures that would help Queensland families, but what I found was that there were not any new measures to ease Queenslanders' financial stress.”— 2026-06-25View Hansard

Welcomed the minister listening on exemptions but argued the 122 last-minute amendments are complex and unscrutinised, calling for the amended bill to be returned to committee for proper consultation.

“However, the 122 amendments that the minister introduced yesterday are complex, convoluted, confusing and lacking in detail, particularly the licensing exemptions, compliance labelling and path speed limits.”— 2026-06-04View Hansard

As a committee member, raised stakeholder concerns about code-managed ERAs lacking a public register, removal of small-scale mining sureties, overtourism risks from single permits, and the UWIR extension, urging the department to retain a three-year underground water reporting cycle and address contaminated bores.

“I would encourage the minister and the department to listen to the concerns of stakeholders with respect to the proposals outlined in this bill to ensure that our environment continues to be protected with respect to the competing demands of mining and tourism activities.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard