Record of Proceedings (Hansard) - 25 Feb 2021 (2024)

2021_02_25_WEEKLY

Table of Contents – Thursday, 25 February 2021

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 225 SPEAKER’S STATEMENT .................................................................................................................................................... 225

Coronavirus, Operation of Parliament ............................................................................................................. 225 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE .......................................................................................................................................... 225

Olympic Games, Infrastructure Funding .......................................................................................................... 226 Payroll Tax Relief .............................................................................................................................................. 226 Olympic Games, Queensland Bid..................................................................................................................... 227 Coronavirus, Economy ..................................................................................................................................... 228 Olympic Games, Queensland Bid..................................................................................................................... 229 Tourism Industry, Marina Fees ......................................................................................................................... 229 Natural Disasters, Preparedness ...................................................................................................................... 230 Premier and Minister for Trade, Email Account............................................................................................... 231 Electricity Supply .............................................................................................................................................. 231 Premier and Minister for Trade, Email Account............................................................................................... 231 Junior Doctors and Graduate Nurses .............................................................................................................. 232 Premier and Minister for Trade, Email Account............................................................................................... 232 Industrial Relations, Worker Protections ......................................................................................................... 232 Crocodiles .......................................................................................................................................................... 233 Made in Queensland .......................................................................................................................................... 233 Hospital and Health Services, Funding ............................................................................................................ 234 Regional Queensland, Aquaculture Industry ................................................................................................... 235

Tabled paper: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries report, undated, titled ‘Ross Lobegeiger report to farmers: Aquaculture production summary for Queensland 2019-20’. ................................. 235

Western Queensland, Grasshoppers ............................................................................................................... 235 Logan, Road and Transport Infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 236 Townsville, Youth Crime ................................................................................................................................... 237

SPEAKER’S STATEMENT .................................................................................................................................................... 237 Cameras in Chamber ......................................................................................................................................... 237

YOUTH JUSTICE AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL ................................................................................... 237 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 237

Tabled paper: Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021. ........................................ 237 Tabled paper: Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, explanatory notes. .......... 237 Tabled paper: Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, statement of compatibility with human rights. ............................................................................................................................. 237

First Reading ..................................................................................................................................................... 240 Referral to Legal Affairs and Safety Committee .............................................................................................. 240

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY ............................................................................................................................................................ 240 PRIVATE MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS ................................................................................................................................... 250

Gold Coast, Hooning ......................................................................................................................................... 250 Gympie Bypass ................................................................................................................................................. 250

Tabled paper: Letter, dated 25 February 2021, from the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Hon. Mark Bailey, to the member for South Brisbane, Dr Amy MacMahon MP, regarding the Gympie Bypass project. .................................................................................................................... 251 Tabled paper: Letter, dated 22 January 2021, from the member for Maiwar, Mr Michael Berkman MP, to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Hon. Mark Bailey, and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Hon. Craig Crawford, titled ‘protect the Djaki Kundu’. .................................................................................................................................... 251

Coronavirus, Vaccine ........................................................................................................................................ 251 Anzac Day; Fall of Singapore, Commemoration.............................................................................................. 252 Nanango Electorate, Reef Regulations ............................................................................................................ 252 Maternity Services ............................................................................................................................................. 253 Moggill Electorate, Infrastructure ..................................................................................................................... 254 Bribie Island Road ............................................................................................................................................. 254 North Queensland, Insurance Costs ................................................................................................................ 255 Kurwongbah Electorate, Infrastructure ............................................................................................................ 255 Horticulture Industry, Seasonal Workers ......................................................................................................... 256 Toohey Electorate, Childcare Centres ............................................................................................................. 257 Wellcamp Airport, Quarantine Facility ............................................................................................................. 257 Central Queensland, Container Refund Scheme ............................................................................................. 258 Sippy Downs, Car Parking ................................................................................................................................ 258 Mansfield State High School, Academic Performance .................................................................................... 259 Townsville, Youth Crime ................................................................................................................................... 260 Coronavirus, Economic Response ................................................................................................................... 261 Kawana Electorate, Community Safety ............................................................................................................ 261

Tabled paper: Letter, dated 23 December 2020, from the member for Kawana, Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP, to the Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, Hon. Leeanne Enoch, regarding Wurtulla neighbourhood issues. .................................. 261 Tabled paper: Letter, dated 18 February 2021, from the Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, Hon. Leeanne Enoch, to the member for Kawana, Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP, regarding Wurtulla neighbourhood issues. ........................................ 262 Tabled paper: Letter, dated 20 February 2021, from Area Coordinator, Kawana Water 1—Wurtulla West Neighbourhood Watch, Ms Natalie Williams, to the Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, Hon. Leeanne Enoch, regarding Wurtulla neighbourhood issues. ...................................................................................................................... 262

Logan Electorate, Schools ................................................................................................................................ 262

Table of Contents – Thursday, 25 February 2021

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY ........................................................................................................................................................... 263 COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ............................................................................................................... 287

Portfolio Committees, Reporting Dates; Referral of Auditor-General’s Reports .......................................... 287 PRIVILEGE ........................................................................................................................................................................... 288

Tabled Paper, Withdrawal and Replacement ................................................................................................... 288 ADDRESS-IN-REPLY ........................................................................................................................................................... 288 ADJOURNMENT ................................................................................................................................................................... 294

Chatsworth Electorate, Rotary Club Centenary .............................................................................................. 294 Kangaroo Point, Detainees ............................................................................................................................... 295

Tabled paper: Nonconforming petition regarding detention of persons in Kangaroo Point Motel. ...... 295 Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association ........................................................................................................ 295

Tabled paper: Brochure from Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association Queensland titled ‘Access to equitable education: Strengthening rural & remote communities through education’. .................... 296

Hervey Bay Electorate, Jetstar Flights ............................................................................................................ 296 Health Services ................................................................................................................................................. 297 All About Living ................................................................................................................................................. 297 Toowoomba North State School ...................................................................................................................... 298 Morayfield Electorate, Infrastructure ............................................................................................................... 298 Julia Creek Hospital .......................................................................................................................................... 299 Samford Road, Safety Upgrades ...................................................................................................................... 300

Tabled paper: Queensland government map titled ‘Samford Road safety improvements project’. ..... 300 ATTENDANCE ...................................................................................................................................................................... 300

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THURSDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2021 ____________

The Legislative Assembly met at 9.30 am. Mr Speaker (Hon. Curtis Pitt, Mulgrave) read prayers and took the chair. Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I respectfully acknowledge that we are sitting today on the

land of Aboriginal people and pay my respects to elders past and present. I thank them, as First Australians, for their careful custodianship of the land over countless generations. We are very fortunate in this country to have two of the world’s oldest continuing living cultures in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples whose lands, winds and waters we all now share.

REPORT

Register of Members’ Interests Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I table the 34th report on the Register of Members’

Interests. Tabled paper: Thirty-Fourth Report on the Register of Members’ Interests [191].

SPEAKER’S STATEMENT

Mathers, Ms J Mr SPEAKER: I wish to advise the House of a milestone birthday for our Chief Hansard Reporter,

Jo Mathers. On behalf of all members I wish Jo a very happy birthday and many happy returns.

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE

Sullivan, Mr JH Hon. A PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (9.32 am): I move—

1. That this House desires to place on record its appreciation of the services rendered to this state by the late Jonathan Harold Sullivan, a former member of the parliament of Queensland.

2. That Mr Speaker be requested to convey to the family of the deceased gentleman the above resolution, together with an expression of the sympathy and sorrow of the members of the parliament of Queensland in the loss they have sustained.

It is my honour to lead this motion of condolence for the late Jon Sullivan, a servant of our state. I acknowledge his wife, Carryn, with us today. Carryn, of course, is also a former member of this House. Their daughter Tai is with us too, along with family friends Brittany and Justin.

Jonathan Harold Sullivan was born in Bulli, New South Wales on 10 November 1950 and was educated at Orange, Gulgong and Macksville primary schools and Trinity Grammar School in Sydney. Jon worked as a clerk in the travel and airline industries throughout the 1970s and 1980s. My very first memory of Jon was actually meeting him at an airport. In 1977, he ‘saw the light’ as we say and moved to Queensland, firstly to North Queensland and then in the early 1980s to Bribie Island.

In 1989, Jon was preselected by the ALP to contest the seat of Glass House. At that landmark election held on 2 December he won the seat from the National Party’s Bill Newton. My father, Henry, remembers speaking at Jon’s campaign launch. That election, of course, was one of great significance when a state Labor government was elected to office in Queensland for the first time in 32 years under then premier Wayne Goss. Jon went on to serve as a member of this House—firstly in the seat of Glass House and then in the seat of Caboolture—until his defeat at the state election of June 1998.

During his time in this House, Jon served as a member of the subordinate legislation committee from 1990 to 1995. He was the committee’s chair from 1992 to 1995. He was also a member of the newly created scrutiny of legislation committee from 1995 to 1998 as well as the committee’s first chair. At various times, Jon was also a member of the electoral and administrative review committee, the public accounts committee and the select committee of inquiry into ambulance services. People speak

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highly of Jon’s dedication to the important task of scrutinising the legislative instruments that came before the House. He was particularly keen about the protection of the institution of parliament and the rights and liberties of individuals.

As I mentioned and as honourable members will know, Jon’s wife, Carryn, also served as a member of this House from 2001 to 2012. Indeed, Jon and Carryn have the distinction of twice serving the Queensland community simultaneously as elected representatives, firstly, when Jon was a member of this House and Carryn was a councillor on the Caboolture shire council and then when Carryn was a member of this House and Jon was a member of the federal House of Representatives in the seat of Longman from 2007 to 2010.

Jon also twice had the distinction of being elected to parliaments which helped bring about a change of government for his side of politics. The first, as I said, was as part of the Goss government in 1989, and Jon did it again with the Rudd federal government in 2007. They are achievements of which Jon and Carryn and their entire family and their community can be rightly proud.

My father reinforced to me something I think was clear in Jon’s time in this place. Henry describes Jon as ‘the perfect local member’. Jon did not selfishly grasp for political prizes, promotions or prominent roles for their own sake; he wanted to serve his electorate as their representative in this House. After all, that is fundamentally why we all come here in the first place. I also want to mention that Jon and Carryn were married for 40 years.

Jonathan Harold Sullivan passed away last month aged 70. I place on record the government’s thanks for the years of service Jon gave to the institutions of our democracy and to the Queensland community. On behalf of the government, I take this opportunity to extend my sympathy and that of this House to Carryn, their daughters, Tai and Casey, and to all of Jon’s beloved family and friends. He will be sorely missed.

Mr CRISAFULLI (Broadwater—LNP) (Leader of the Opposition) (9.36 am): On behalf of the opposition I join in also passing on our sympathies on the passing of Jon Sullivan to the Sullivan family. As the Premier has outlined, Mr Sullivan was elected to this House in 1989 as the member for Glass House and served for three years before becoming the member for Caboolture between 1992 and 1998—very much a man of his political times, circumstances and surroundings. I want to reflect on some of the values that Jon brought to this place.

In particular he was conscious of the environmental challenges facing his electorate that come with a rapidly growing urban corridor between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. I know that was something he was passionate about. He was also passionate about maintaining the natural attractions of the Glass House Mountains themselves, the Conondale Range and the Pumicestone Passage. He was someone who championed the need for services—and I talk about things like roads, schools and health facilities—for what is an expanding region.

Mr Sullivan served on a range of committees throughout his time as a member, including as chairperson of the then subordinate legislation committee and the then scrutiny of legislation committee. I am told Mr Sullivan was indeed a keen parliamentarian and a keen debater and was always willing to participate and fight on behalf of his electorate. In 1992 the election saw him elected to the redrawn seat of Caboolture, which he held until 1998. I know that as he was a former member for Glass House, the current member in this House will also be reflecting on his time in public life.

Indeed, his time in public life was not done following his defeat in the late nineties, and in 2007 he was elected to serve as the federal member for Longman. Mr Sullivan was somebody who was passionate about his region and passionate about his side of politics. He was someone who fought hard for his community and his beliefs. Today we pay tribute to his service and extend our condolences to his wife, Carryn, who joins us today and who is, in fact, herself a former member, and indeed the broader family during what is a sad time for them.

Hon. CR DICK (Woodridge—ALP) (Treasurer and Minister for Investment) (9.38 am): I rise this morning to offer my contribution to the condolence motion moved by the honourable the Premier in memory of the late Jon Sullivan. Jon was a great Labor man. He was tenaciously loyal, he was a fierce advocate and he was a genuine representative of his community. Jon always called it as he saw it and you were never left in any doubt about where he stood on the big issues of the day. He was very kind and encouraging and supportive of new and young members of the Labor Party.

Jon was first elected to this House, as has been noted, in 1989 as one of the 24 new members who delivered a majority for the transformative Goss Labor government. There are two Queenslands: the world before Wayne Goss and everything that came after. That is because it is difficult to overstate

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the impact the Goss Labor government had on the state of Queensland. In his first speech in this place, Jon spoke in anticipation of the Goss reform agenda when he said— There is an aura of history surrounding this government, a mood that I find very agreeable. We have been entrusted with Government by a State that expects a fresh start. The Honourable the Premier offered just that to the people, and I look forward to my role in the delivery of that commitment.

As part of the Goss government, Jon championed the historic legislative, social, economic and cultural changes introduced and enacted by the first Queensland Labor government in 32 years. These reforms included: far-reaching electoral reform, including the destruction of the notorious Bjelke-Petersen gerrymander; the establishment of an office of women affairs and, later, the women’s policy branch; record investments in health care and hospitals, schools and public housing, all of which had been left languishing for decades; important and long-lasting public sector reform including the modernisation of the Queensland Police Service, the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the full-throated support of the Criminal Justice Commission and the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission. All of this was done within a framework of responsible and disciplined fiscal management. Jon was a tenacious and vigorous advocate for all of those reforms.

While Jon contributed greatly as a member of the Goss government, his greatest contribution, as has been noted in this place, was as a fierce advocate for his local community. Jon loved the community he represented. When he was first elected his electorate spanned from Bribie Island to Caboolture North and into the Sunshine Coast hinterland. He loved the personal connection of people, getting out and about, talking to local residents and hearing directly from them about the issues that mattered most to them. While Jon left this House in 1988, his political life was not over. History tells us Jon had a knack of knowing the right time to take up the fight for the Labor movement he held so dear, the movement he entrusted to deliver the policy, the programs and the reform measures that so many in his community relied on.

In 1989 he did it for Queensland and in 2007, when the call came to stand up again to champion the Labor cause and his community, Jon once again re-entered the political fray. Jon, never afraid of the hard work that came from being a candidate, delivered again for the Labor movement, winning the seat of Longman to help deliver a federal Labor government led by a Queensland prime minister, Kevin Rudd.

Jon meant the world to his family and I know his family meant the world to him. To Jon’s wife, Carryn, a former member of this place who brought the same fighting spirit and love of community to her own role as a member of the House, to his daughters, Casey and Tai, and to his extended family, we express our condolences on your loss.

The mark of success for any of us in this place is the legacy that each of us leaves. For Jon, it is the community that grew immeasurably and prospered from the investment in health care, education and infrastructure he secured for it and the people whose lives were improved immeasurably by his tireless advocacy. Vale, Jon Sullivan.

Mr POWELL (Glass House—LNP) (9.43 am): I too rise to acknowledge the service of Jonathan Harold Sullivan, Jon. Jon was not the first Sullivan I had the privilege of meeting. The first Sullivan I met was actually his wife, Carryn, when I was working in the then department of the premier and cabinet and subsequently in the department of child safety and found myself having to brief Carryn on a regular basis around ministerial forums and various other goings-on within the government. Indeed, he was not the second Sullivan I met. That was his sister Jan when I knocked on her door in a back street of Woodford in the election campaign of 2008-09. I will never forget it. We remind ourselves of it every time we catch up. She said, ‘Do you know who I am?’ I said, ‘No.’ She explained, ‘So you can write in that little black book in your pocket that this is a door you probably don’t want to knock on again because you will never get my vote.’ I recall saying something along the lines of, ‘That may well be the case but when I am your member I look forward to representing you as much as those who do vote for me.’ As a result, ever since and every time we meet, we share a hug, a laugh and a story or two about our local patch of Woodford.

Jon was actually the third member of the Sullivan family that I came across. Despite him being a former member for the seat of Glass House, which was subsequently renamed ‘Caboolture’ for a period—and despite the fact, as others have already shared, that Jon won the seat from a real national local legend in Bill Newton—it was not until I was elected in 2009 that I came in contact with Jon as the then federal member for Longman. I am not going to lie—sorry, mislead parliament: Jon and I had completely opposing political views. In fact, I worked very hard and very successfully to depose Jon with one of my then staff, a young bloke members will all know as Wyatt Roy. But Jon and I shared a

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mutual love for our communities. When I was in Canberra—I seem to recall it was in 2009, possibly 2010—lobbying my then federal colleagues for a few things around the electorate, he arranged a meeting with the then federal infrastructure and transport minister, one Anthony Albanese, to discuss the state of the D’Aguilar Highway and to try to secure federal funding. We did not achieve that under the then Rudd government—this was something that Wyatt Roy and the coalition government subsequently delivered—but I will never forget that he took the time to line up that meeting, attend it with me and put forward the case for federal investment in a state highway.

Post his political career, Jon and I were known to share a beer and even a laugh at local events while enjoying a band or simply just being in our community among salt-of-the-earth locals, but please do not tell anyone we did that! To Carryn, his daughters and his extended family, my sympathies. I know he is dreadfully missed in our shared community.

Hon. YM D’ATH (Redcliffe—ALP) (Minister for Health and Ambulance Services) (9.46 am): I rise to pay my respects to the late Jon Sullivan. As we heard, Jon served the Queensland parliament as the member for Glass House and, later, the member for Caboolture after a redistribution. He was elected on 2 December 1989 and was part of a historic win for Queensland with the election of the Goss Labor government. Fast-forward a few decades and Jon was part of another historic election win, being elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 as part of the Rudd government. It was during Jon’s time in federal parliament that I got to know him while he served as the federal member for Longman and I served as the member for Petrie. What became apparent very quickly with Jon was that he was genuine, kind and caring. Jon was a ‘what you see is what you get’ man and could not have been more down to earth. I remember us having a chat about corflute pictures and advice from party office. He advised me that he had been encouraged, maybe quite strongly, to shave the beard off. His response? ‘No. Take it or leave it.’ That is the man he was. What you see is what you get. He was truly there to serve his community and to make a difference for his community, state and country.

Jon would go into bat for anyone, raise issues of importance to effect positive change and give a voice to the voiceless. He was a forward thinker and always advocated for services for his region, which he recognised as being one of the fastest growing areas of Queensland. Jon ensured that he advocated for services that were needed. These included advocating for a dedicated university campus for the Moreton Bay region to ensure that locals could access world-class tertiary education. I too share this view and I am sure he was absolutely thrilled to see USQ setting up in the area.

Another passion of Jon’s was health care in terms of ensuring health services were available to keep pace with the growing population of his electorate. He advocated each and every day for additional health facilities. Some of those facilities we use today are very much due in part to Jon’s advocacy. I know that he lobbied the Goss government very hard—and I know the then premier got a lot of pressure—and that he did deliver for the people of Caboolture with the Caboolture Hospital.

Ahead of the 2010 federal election, a redistribution occurred which saw the southern parts of Jon’s electorate move into my then electorate of Petrie. It is always hard when you are a new member in that you work tirelessly in that first term and suddenly you find a third of your electorate taken off you and a third of a new electorate coming in and you have six months to try to get to know them and encourage them to want to vote for you. Jon was incredible. Even though he had thousands of new electors that he had to get to know in the northern part of his electorate, he spent so much time introducing me to the parts he was losing and taking me around and introducing me to businesses and making sure that they knew who I was and him praising me and saying, ‘You’ll have a great member in Yvette if you back her in.’ I truly thank him for his support during that time. It was his personal touch that made Jon such a community champion.

I am aware that despite Jon’s loss in 2010 he continued to be a community minded individual. After floods ripped through the Caboolture area one year, he heard of a family in need. Jon could not sit back and do nothing and let others take charge. That was not his style. I am reliably informed that he sourced a washing machine from a local branch member and personally picked it up in his van and delivered it to the family in need who had lost everything from those floods. Many would know Frank Sinatra’s famous song My Way, and ‘I did it my way’ was indeed true about Jon. He got the job done, but he did it his way. I have heard many stories of how Jon and indeed the Sullivan family have helped individuals without any fanfare. With his permission, I want to read an extract from a reflection of a friend of the Sullivan family, Justin Foster, who I know is here today. He said— On a personal level, it was the Sullivans who helped my family some 20 years ago and are the sole reason I joined the Labor party.

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Noticing my severely disabled single mother trying to raise two kids, they helped us out as much as they could to get the services and assistance we needed.

Because of the Sullivans’ influence, from primary school onwards I have been involved in every election to support the cause that Jon so vehemently believed in—that no person should be left behind or go without based on the contents of their wallet.

Thank you, Justin, for those kind words. This is just one example of how many see Jon and how Jon made such a positive impact in people’s lives. My thoughts are with Carryn, her daughter Casey, who could not be here today, Tai and the entire Sullivan family. We thank you so much for the time that you gave Jon to us. Vale, Jon Sullivan.

Hon. MT RYAN (Morayfield—ALP) (Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services) (9.52 am): I rise to contribute to the debate on the condolence motion and to pay tribute to the service and life of Jon Sullivan and to extend my sympathies to Carryn, Tai, Casey and the rest of the family and all of the people who knew Jon, because anyone who knew Jon was touched by his kindness and generosity of spirit. It takes a significant contribution to represent more than one level of government. Jon was recognised in the broader Caboolture community not only in this place as the Labor member for Caboolture and Glass House but also the Labor federal member for Longman. Very few people have that honour. The member for Redcliffe, the member for Ferny Grove and potentially the member for Callide, if he gets his way, have been able to represent their communities at two levels, but Jon’s contribution in many ways at the state and federal level is acknowledged.

Jon comes from a family of service, and the Premier alluded to this. I thought I would reflect on some of the words that Jon used himself in relation to the commitment from his family to service of the Caboolture community. In one of his speeches to the federal parliament he said— We do not think it is unusual that people with a shared interest in politics should marry. We do accept that it is unusual that we should be serving as elected representatives simultaneously, in our case for a second time.

I certainly remember during my first term here in this parliament I sat very near Carryn and we had a lot of talks about Jon’s service as the federal member and how we might lobby him as neighbouring state MPs to deliver more for our Caboolture region.

The 2007 election was a great election to be a part of—that is, the Your Rights at Work election, the Kevin Rudd election—where we were able to elect a Labor member for Longman with Jon Sullivan. Earlier I was talking with the Attorney-General about those corflutes where people were saying, ‘Jon, you should shave your beard off. It might help you get a few more votes.’ Jon went to the other extreme of course. He not only kept his beard but he made the corflutes fluoro orange so that no-one could miss those corflutes and his magnificent beard.

Jon gave me some advice when I was first elected to the parliament, and it was in his normal, quirky, quick-witted way. He said, ‘Mark, you’ve got to always remember the politicians’ place in the world.’ I said, ‘Okay, Jon. I’ll listen to your advice.’ He said, ‘If you walk down the road and there’s four voters there, what would you think?’ I said, ‘Oh well. Four voters. Fifty per cent of the vote. Two of them must like me and two of them must not like me.’ Jon said, ‘No, no, no, that’s wrong. None of them like you, but two of them might vote for you.’ Always so down to earth.

Jon loved Caboolture. He loved the entire region. Again, I want to reflect on his words. He said this about the people of Caboolture— The people there are wonderful; I believe there are none better anywhere, and I am so proud to represent each and every one of them.

The fact of the matter is that Jon was one of them and he knew, because he was down to earth, the power that comes from being in a place like this to make a difference in their lives.

I recall another story when Kevin Rudd came to Caboolture South. This was in 2010 when Jon was the federal MP and I was in the state parliament, and the mayor turned up as well. We were at the end of this very quiet street in Caboolture South and there were cars everywhere and people everywhere. Kevin Rudd had not turned up yet and the neighbours started coming out and asking, ‘What’s going on?’ Jon and I went over and they said, ‘What are all these cars doing here? Go away. This is a quiet street.’ Jon and I were talking about a special guest coming and they said, ‘We don’t want any of these out-of-towners here. This is just a quiet street in Caboolture South.’ We said, ‘Well, it might be the Prime Minister.’ There was a little pause and they said, ‘What? Ruddy?’ We said, ‘Yeah, yeah.’ They said, ‘Wait a second,’ and they went in and got a cup of tea ready and started making sandwiches. It was a great celebration after that and Kevin Rudd was well received in that quiet street in Caboolture South that day.

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Jon was a strong advocate for services in the Caboolture region and I think he was most proud of the commitment that Labor governments made in the Caboolture Hospital—an extraordinary commitment and a commitment that came after years of neglect. It was a Labor government that built that hospital, it was a Labor government that upgraded it and it is a Labor government that continues to invest in that hospital for the whole region. Jon was particularly proud about that. When the Borbidge government was in power and Mike Horan as the then health minister was downgrading some of the upgrades at the Caboolture Hospital, Jon never let him off the hook—ever—and he held him to account. I know Carryn was also very involved in those campaigns.

We have heard a lot about Jon. He had particular qualities and qualities that I found very endearing. He was quirky and quick witted and very kind. He was generous. He was good hearted and he could certainly chat. If chatting was an Olympic sport, then Jon Sullivan would have won the gold medal. In reflecting just briefly on his quirkiness, there was a time during the Borbidge government when the then member for Gladstone, Liz Cunningham, was thinking about whether to continue to support the Borbidge government or not and Jon Sullivan actually started waltzing behind Liz Cunningham during one of her speeches when she was talking about whether she was going to support the Borbidge government in minority government. It was called the ‘Cunningham shuffle’. It was written up in the Sunday Mail and I want to quote that article, which stated—

He’s no Fred Astaire, but Labor member for Caboolture Jon Sullivan has earned the tag of Queensland’s dancing politician.

Last Tuesday night in State Parliament, as the government hung in the balance on a confidence motion and Independent MP Liz Cunningham rose to deliver her verdict on its fate, he began waltzing behind her.

He was doing the dance craze that is gripping Queensland parliamentary circles, the Cunningham shuffle.

‘A little bit of backsliding gets me moving every time,’ an unrepentant Mr Sullivan told The Sunday Mail.

What is not well known is that the day after, on a Monday morning radio breakfast program—and I heard this story from Carryn—Jamie Dunn of B105 fame, rang Jon and wanted to interview him. Jamie Dunn said, ‘Look, Jon, I’d never even ever heard of you until I read about you in the Sunday Mail yesterday.’ Jon retorted, with his quick wit, ‘Well, I’d never heard of you until you rang me this morning.’

Jon was a good man. He loved his community, but he had a greater love for his family. The last set of words I want to use in reflecting on Jon’s service are again his—

Family is everything in any walk of life and in this profession it is especially so. Carryn and our daughters provided me with a great well of love, encouragement and support, for which I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Carryn, Tai, Casey, I will miss Jon. Know that he served his community and this parliament with humility and dedication. He was a good man. He will be missed.

Mr HINCHLIFFE (Sandgate—ALP) (10.01 am): I first met Jon Sullivan when he was a recently elected member of this parliament. As part of that historic class of 1989 Jon had won the comprehensively gerrymandered seat of Glass House. It is worth having a look at the electorate boundaries of that seat to see the enormous efforts that the powers that were at the time went to to make that a National Party seat. It is extraordinary. It is truly worth looking at. Jon overcame that handicap to win as part of Wayne Goss’s Labor team and had garnered a reputation amongst some of the young Labor throng as a particularly avuncular and down-to-earth MP.

While I got to know Jon better in more recent times when he and Carryn moved from their beloved Bribie Island to Taigum in my electorate, for the most part my interactions with Jon throughout the 1990s were brief, but this reputation as avuncular and down-to-earth is borne out by reflections from his electorate office staff. Three of Jon’s long-term staff, Lorraine who ran his office when he was a state member, Eileen who worked for him both in his state and federal office and Avalon who also worked for Jon in his state and federal offices, wanted to put on record their recollections of Jon as an MP and as an employer. Two of them have variously worked for me so I seem to be the source to pass this on. They tell me that Jon never pulled rank. He recognised all his staff and volunteers as part of the team. He encouraged and expected his team to provide frank advice during discussions about what was best for his constituents and he also empowered those members of his team to use their initiative, which they did to great success on many occasions. Jon’s electorate offices always hummed along. They were welcoming and respectful places and Jon was always generous with his attention and time when dealing with constituents and community groups. Jon was a respectful, funny, kind-hearted boss but also a good friend to those who he worked with. All electorate office staff who worked with him would agree he was one of a kind and a real pleasure to work for.

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Avalon enthusiastically recalls her first day working for Jon. Music was coming from his office and she called out, ‘Oh, Steeleye Span!’, which brought Jon out of the office to exclaim, ‘You know this band?’, and Avalon answered, ‘Yes, doesn’t everyone?’ It became apparent that everyone did not, but thus began a real musical friendship and marked the beginning of a really positive working relationship.

As we have heard, Jon served in this parliament over three terms and then a term as the member for Longman in the federal parliament. He distinguished himself especially in this parliament through his service on the Scrutiny of Legislation Committee and its prior equivalents. He served on that committee the whole of his time in this chamber, and a total of six years as chair or deputy chair. I am told that Premier Wayne Goss said that there was only one person who knew more about the detail of the legislation introduced by his government than him and that was Jon Sullivan—legislation that kicked off the modernising of Queensland, as the Treasurer said.

A former colleague and one of his whips, Terry Sullivan—while the father of the current member for Stafford, not a relation of Jon—told me that whenever a bit of filibustering was required, as it sometimes is in this chamber, and I note the member for Kawana made reference to that yesterday, Jon would accept the challenge and would be able to speak with genuine authority, with no recourse to modern committee reports or even explanatory notes, on the given bill and speak for exactly the length of time requested by his whip.

Speaking of filibustering, Jon could also speak at length about his real passion for community. He dedicated so much of his life to community organisations and activities that added value to those around him and to his interests. Community organisations in music and softball, which others may reflect upon, but also a unique group in Flipside Circus. Serving on Flipside’s board for almost 10 years, including a term as chair, Jon brought governance and policy skills to Queensland’s largest youth arts organisation, delivering circus training, community and social circus programs. Current chair, Hamish Clift, said his Flipside family would miss him terribly.

That said, beyond so many friends and colleagues, I know that his family are feeling his loss the most. To Carryn, a former colleague from her time as the member for Pumicestone in this place, I reiterate my sympathies and continue to extend my support. We have discussed what Jon was best known for within the party and that was his loyalty: his loyalty to his party, to his electorate, to his community, to his friends, and his family, of course. Loyalty was what he was most committed to. To Jon’s dedicated and very capable sister Jan, who we have heard of today as well, to his dearly loved daughters Casey and Tai, their partners Mitch and Jamie, to Jon and Carryn’s dear grandson Macquarie, my deepest condolences. Vale, Jonathan Harold Sullivan.

Mr WHITING (Bancroft—ALP) (10.06 am): I rise to pay tribute to Jon Sullivan, the former member for Caboolture. We have heard about his immense contribution to the community. I know he was extremely proud of what he had achieved with the Caboolture Hospital. I found him to be a true gentleman. In 2006 I was a young Caboolture councillor and I faced Jon in the preselection for the federal seat of Longman. It was a tough fight. Afterwards we pitched in together and worked on the Kevin07 campaign. That campaign was a memorable one. On the 2007 election night he took the time to thank me personally for pitching in and helping out with that campaign. Of all the people he could have thanked that night—and he thanked many people—he took the time to thank me for what I contributed. To me that is the true mark of a gentleman. That made an impression on me and is a great template for what a member of parliament should be.

I was there on the night that he lost to Wyatt Roy. He did that with such grace and a magnanimous spirit, once again showing us how to conduct oneself. It is the mark of a man. He was a true gentleman. I know that Carryn and his family are bereft. They are missing him immensely, as they always will. I know that his community in the Caboolture area will also always miss him. May he rest in peace.

Mr SPEAKER: My father, Warren, served with Jon. The committee minutes that were released this week about ambulance services were from a committee that he served with him on. This is my fifth term in this place and I have served here with Carryn. It was a pleasure to host Carryn, Tai—Casey could not be here—Brittany and Justin this morning. I pass on my deepest condolences to the family. Jon will be greatly missed. He was a champion of the region he served. Members, will you indicate your agreement with the motion by standing in silence for one minute.

Whereupon honourable members stood in silence.

Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, before moving to other preliminary business I inform the House that question time is expected to commence at approximately 10.55 am.

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TABLED PAPER TABLING OF DOCUMENT (SO 32)

REPORT BY THE CLERK

The following report was tabled by the Clerk—

192 Report pursuant to Standing Order 169 (Acts to be numbered by the Clerk) and Standing Order 165 (Clerical errors or formal changes to any bill) detailing amendments to certain Bills, made by the Clerk, prior to assent by His Excellency the Governor, viz—

Appropriation (Parliament) (2020-2021) Bill 2020 Amendments made to Bill

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‘Appropriation (Parliament) (2020-2021) Bill 2020’

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‘Appropriation (Parliament) (2020-2021) Bill 2021’

Appropriation (2020-2021) Bill 2020 Amendments made to Bill

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‘Appropriation (2020-2021) Bill 2020’

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‘Appropriation (2020-2021) Bill 2021’

Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2020 Amendments made to Bill

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‘Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2021’

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Coronavirus, Update; Coronavirus, Vaccine Hon. A PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (10.11 am): I can advise

the House that there has been one new case of COVID detected in the past 24 hours. It was acquired overseas and detected in hotel quarantine. There are now eight active cases in Queensland and 7,763 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.

Queensland’s vaccination rollout continues with 415 doses administered yesterday. There were 310 on the Gold Coast and 105 on the first day of vaccinations at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. That makes Queensland’s first week total 942 and we should reach 1,000 by today, ahead of the launch of the Cairns vaccination hub tomorrow.

In relation to the Commonwealth’s vaccination program and the two aged-care residents who were wrongly administered extra doses, health authorities are continuing to monitor both of them. It is important that the public has confidence in the delivery of this vaccine and we welcome the Commonwealth’s commitment to sharing the findings of its investigation with Queensland and what actions will be taken to ensure that that does not occur again.

Coronavirus, Queensland Border Hon. A PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (10.12 am): I have good

news for our Victorian friends. From 1 am Saturday travel restrictions from Victoria will be lifted. Greater Melbourne was declared a hotspot on 13 February and that ends on Saturday. As we say, Queensland is the place to be and from Saturday family, friends and visitors from Victoria can once again experience all that our great state has to offer.

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Olympic Games, Queensland Bid Hon. A PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (10.12 am): I have further

good news for Queensland. A few hours ago we moved a step closer to hosting the 2032 Olympic Games. At 2 am our time, the IOC board considered a report from the Future Host Commission. The Future Host Commission has recommended that we move to what the IOC calls targeted dialogue. We have not crossed the finish line yet; we have just moved a little further ahead in the race.

When a Queensland games was first suggested, I said that we would not do it unless it stacked up financially. That was before the pandemic. Now that we are starting our economic recovery, it is even more important that we do all we can to stimulate investment and create jobs. That is something that the 2032 Queensland Olympics can achieve. This is not about two weeks of spectacles. It is about 20 years of economic stimulus, 130,000 jobs, a $20 billion increase in international visitor expenditure with half of that in regional Queensland and $8.6 billion in trade opportunities, plus the opportunity to show three billion people just how beautiful and great Queensland is. I have also been crystal-clear: all of Queensland must share in the pride and excitement of hosting the games.

To get to the finish line we will need the support of all levels of government. Queensland mayors and councils have also long been champions. All three levels of government will have to work together on the funding arrangements. The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games showed the world what we can do. Ninety per cent of the venues we need for the Olympics are already built.

Finally, there is one last thing the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games can deliver: they can give us hope. There are children starting school this year who could grow up to compete at their own Queensland Olympics. Families will be able to cheer from the stands without needing a passport to get there. History beckons and a new golden age for Queensland is about to begin.

Screen Industry Hon. A PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Premier and Minister for Trade) (10.14 am): Since being

elected my government has worked hard to build a screen industry in Queensland. We know that there are many jobs from the screen industry. Before COVID we were experiencing an unprecedented boom with a pipeline of productions being filmed here: blockbusters such as Dora the Explorer, Aquaman, Godzilla vs. Kong, Guardians of the Tomb, Kong: Skull Island, Thor: Ragnarok and Pacific Rim Uprising, just to name a few. This is important because it not only promotes Queensland’s spectacular locations and our exceptional talent but it also creates a pipeline of industry jobs, not just jobs for cast and crew but also jobs in flow-on industries such as catering, set and costume design and trades including the construction and design of sets and, of course, electrical.

Then the pandemic hit causing many productions around the world to temporarily cease, but because we have the runs on the board and because of our strong health response and the hard work of Queenslanders in managing this pandemic, Queensland has emerged as one of if not the safest places to film not just in Australia but around the world. Queensland is now experiencing more demand to film world-class film and TV productions here than ever before. Clearly Queensland is the place to be. Last year during the height of COVID my government helped to lure 36 international and domestic productions to Queensland, pumping $350 million into the economy and supporting 4,300 jobs. From Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic and Escape from Spiderhead starring Chris Hemsworth, which are both being filmed on the Gold Coast, to Young Rock, which is being filmed in Brisbane, producers and global audiences have their eyes firmly fixed on our state. There is more opportunity for Cairns as well, which I know you are a big champion of, Mr Speaker.

Next month academy award winning director Ron Howard will start production of Thirteen Lives, the inspiring rescue story of the Thai soccer team trapped in a cave, injecting a further $45 million into our local economy and supporting 275 jobs. I hear that he was recently recruiting for cast members across South-East Queensland. That is also great news for our young people. In the far north, the Netflix teen series Dive Club recently completed production. In Outback Queensland, the production of Australian Survivor is headed to Cloncurry. I know the mayor is very excited about that. He texted me personally. I was pleased to see a recent release from the nation’s screen industry body Ausfilm showing that six out of the 10 international productions lured to Australia since July last year are being and will be filmed in Queensland.

I am also pleased to report that the Screen Forever conference that went ahead as a virtual event last week, after being postponed last November due to COVID, was a great success. It is an important event because it connects hundreds of national and international delegates with industry giants. I am advised that it included 130 speakers from companies such as Discovery, Madman Entertainment,

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Audible and Roadshow Films. I applaud the Screen Producers Association for delivering this event despite the challenges and we look forward to hosting all delegates, hopefully in person, when this year’s Screen Forever is again held on the Gold Coast in November.

Regional Queensland, Economic Recovery Hon. SJ MILES (Murrumba—ALP) (Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development,

Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning) (10.18 am): Queensland’s economic recovery is well and truly underway. Thanks to our strong health response we have been able to keep the economy open without having to sacrifice the health of vulnerable Queenslanders. Recently I saw firsthand how the Palaszczuk government’s investment in Rockhampton’s economic recovery is creating jobs for locals and driving economic growth. I thank the members for Rockhampton and Keppel for hosting me. They are strong community advocates who know that Queensland’s plan for economic recovery is working in their region.

Construction work is happening across Central Queensland, creating more jobs for locals. Many Rockhampton locals have jobs now thanks to Works for Queensland and COVID Works for Queensland. In the Rockhampton regional council area alone, Works for Queensland has delivered more than 800 jobs through 38 individual projects for the region.

COVID Works for Queensland has delivered $6.4 million to help build new passenger lounges and a new mezzanine floor at Rockhampton Airport. The construction phase is delivering 50 local jobs including for Brandon, Samuel and Brady, the very enthusiastic apprentices I met there on the ground. They told me the difference Works for Queensland was making in their lives.

From the airport we went to Rockhampton’s world-class zoo, where the Palaszczuk government has partnered with Rockhampton Regional Council to upgrade enclosures. Although I was there to see the new $320,000 perentie enclosure, the star of the show was chimpanzee Gandali, who celebrated his first birthday.

In Rockhampton we also met with the team at Beef Australia to hear about plans for the upcoming Beef Week. I would like to thank Chairman Bryce Camm, vice-chairs Grant Cassidy and Russell Hughes, CEO Ian Mill and the whole Beef Week team for their time and for my Beef 2021 tie. It is, indeed, the must-have fashion accessory of 2021! Like everything else, Beef Week will be a bit different this year. It will be COVID-safe and there will not be any international visitors. However, it will still be a fantastic chance to showcase and celebrate Queensland beef. To all the steak lovers out there and in here, now is the time to plan your Beef Week activities.

Rockhampton’s economic recovery is well and truly underway thanks to the Palaszczuk government’s commitment to regional Queensland.

Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to advise that we will be visited in the gallery this morning by students and teachers from Varsity College Primary School in the electorate of Burleigh and Robina State High School in the electorate of Mudgeeraba.

Regional Queensland, Economic Development Hon. CR DICK (Woodridge—ALP) (Treasurer and Minister for Investment) (10.21 am): One of

the Palaszczuk government’s key economic priorities is to grow Queensland’s regions. We are committed to backing our regions by attracting people, talent and investment and by driving sustainable economic prosperity. There is no better example of what regional Queensland can deliver than Wagner Corporation’s Wellcamp Airport and Business Park. Last week I had the opportunity to mark the start of construction on a new recycling facility at Wellcamp, supported by our government’s Resource Recovery Industry Development Program.

Recycling company Environex is building a plant that will create new life for discarded plastic, particularly from the agricultural industry. The Environex plant will convert this material that would otherwise go to landfill into a product that can be used instead of concrete for landscaping, a product that is itself recyclable at the end of its productive life. Environex’s CEO is so taken with what Toowoomba and the Downs have to offer that she has relocated her life to Toowoomba from Tasmania. Why would you not want to come to Queensland! Our $1.3 million investment will help create 30 new jobs in Toowoomba and keep nearly 8,000 tonnes of waste out of landfill each year.

Along with the Deputy Premier, I also had the opportunity to view progress on another exciting project underway at Wellcamp—the Regional Trade Distribution Centre—supported by the Palaszczuk Labor government. Our $10 million investment into this facility will supercharge airfreight access for our

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primary producers and exporters. This project is supporting 170 construction jobs and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. If the federal government can ever sort out its much delayed plan for inland rail, Wellcamp will be Australia’s only true trimodal freight terminal, linking rail, road and air.

International markets love Queensland’s high-quality food, fibre and manufactured products, and we are making it easier to get those products to them faster and fresher. I am talking about our world-class beef from the Western Downs, pork and nuts from the South Burnett, and fruit and vegetables from the Lockyer Valley. One in five Queensland jobs is supported by exports. By creating better, faster access to markets that are home to billions of potential customers, we can increase our exports further and create even more jobs. These are jobs on farm, at processing facilities and through the supply and distribution chains—all benefiting those regional communities where people live and work.

As we work to unite and recover, our government will continue to be tireless in its efforts to support investment that creates jobs and sustainable economic development. These two projects are great examples of our commitment to investing in a better future for all Queenslanders, particularly those Queenslanders in regional parts of our state.

Herston Biofabrication Institute Hon. YM D’ATH (Redcliffe—ALP) (Minister for Health and Ambulance Services) (10.23 am):

Queensland is leading the way in medical research. We have some of the best medical researchers and doctors in the country. Last week, I had the privilege of officially opening an innovative new facility, the Herston Biofabrication Institute. This new $10 million institute at the Herston Health Precinct will bring together clinicians, academics and industry leaders to advance knowledge and technology in 3D printing, scanning and modelling of medical devices and tissues such as bones. One of the doctors showed me how they have used their 3D printer to model the torso and groin area of an individual to practise and hone their skills on so that now when someone has a cardiac arrest, they can perform the procedure of a heart-lung bypass at the same time as someone is getting CPR—they are not having to wait until CPR is finished—giving that person a much better chance of survival going forward.

There will be a specific focus on a number of key areas including orthopaedic surgery, burns and dermatology, vascular surgery, urology, cancer care and intestine care, just to name a few. This state-of-the-art facility is the only one of its kind in Australia and is another prime example of the Palaszczuk government’s commitment to world-class research, in particular within the medical research sphere. The facility includes a full mechanical workshop, a number of 3D printers in the printing lab, a digital innovative hub, a tissue culture laboratory and patient consultation rooms.

It is the institute’s aim, within 10 years, to have biofabrication technologies integrated seamlessly into everyday patient care. Put simply, this technology will enable a body part which was missing or defective to be replaced with something that fits perfectly and has been created from a person’s own tissues, with nothing more than a small sample. While this may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, this technology is being developed and, with the Palaszczuk government’s support, realising this dream will not take long at all.

This institute will enable a 30-plus-strong team, linked in partnerships with the University of Queensland, to get on with the job of creating the next wave of medical technologies. I am advised that the institute will commence a number of trials this year, and we watch with interest the outcomes.

Olympic Games, Queensland Bid Hon. SJ HINCHLIFFE (Sandgate—ALP) (Minister for Tourism Industry Development and

Innovation and Minister for Sport) (10.26 am): As the Premier has advised, we have had some exciting news come out of Switzerland overnight. The possibility of Queensland hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games has moved a positive step closer with the International Olympic Committee announcing under their New Norm process that our state has progressed to the targeted dialogue phase. It does not mean that Queensland has won the 2032 Olympic Games, but it does put us in a very good position. Targeted dialogue is a closer level of discussion, a closer level of work with the IOC, and the next step in the process. Hosting an Olympic Games is no longer about being the highest bidder. The IOC’s reforms aim to deliver the Olympics in the most cost-effective, cost-neutral way possible for hosts.

We have a great working partnership between the Palaszczuk government, South-East Queensland’s councils and the federal government, something that needs to be further cemented. We all agree that 2032 could begin an extraordinary 20-year period of economic and infrastructure opportunity for the entire state—more than just the two or three weeks of elite sport. We already have

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80 to 90 per cent of the venues we would need; some of it forms part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games legacy. These facilities are already setting the gold standard for pre-Olympic training for Australia’s national teams competing in Tokyo. Recently we had the Australian swimming squad together at the world-class Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. They will also be training later this year in Cairns. Team camps are planned in Brisbane for archery, track cycling, BMX and shooting. Rockhampton will host rowing camps. Water polo teams will train on the Sunshine Coast and BMX national teams will train on the Gold Coast. Boxing, athletics and hockey will also train at venues around the state.

For young Queenslanders sitting in classrooms in Miles, Gracemere or Mareeba, today’s announcement could be the inspiration for their Olympic dream to compete before a home crowd—or, just as importantly, their Paralympic dream, because we know that anything is possible in Queensland.

Industrial Relations, Worker Protections Hon. G GRACE (McConnel—ALP) (Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and

Minister for Racing) (10.28 am): The Palaszczuk Labor government has and always will stand up for Queensland workers. That is why we are opposing provisions of the Morrison government’s omnibus IR bill. Earlier this month we made our concerns clear in our submission to the Senate inquiry into the fair work amendment bill 2020.

This Palaszczuk Labor government will not stand by while Queensland workers are threatened with laws that weaken their job security and attack their wages and entitlements. Let me be specific. We oppose the bill’s temporary flexibility provisions which are just shorthand for workers working longer hours without overtime payments and having their conditions changed without scrutiny. This government has consistently raised concerns about old zombie agreements that pay under award wages and conditions in industries like hospitality and retail where workers are already vulnerable to exploitation. The Morrison government’s bill finally accepts that these agreements are unfair and need to go but does not feel strongly enough to get rid of them until 1 July 2022. Our submission calls for zombie agreements to cease with immediate effect. That is how one supports real economic recovery and wages growth.

For many years I have met countless ripped off workers like young hospitality worker Tara who told our wage theft inquiry that she had to work 12- to 14-hour days for free—without pay. She is a victim of wage theft. We are concerned that, although the Morrison government has finally acknowledged the need to criminalise wage theft, their proposal will water down our Queensland laws, reducing penalties for wage theft and excluding non-payment of super and long service leave as an offence.

The Palaszczuk government has a proud history of protecting Queensland workers and we will not stand by while the Morrison government undermines workers’ rights and entitlements and fails to address the real issues of casualisation and precarious employment and low wages growth. True to form, the Commonwealth has yet again failed to meet their obligations to consult meaningfully on these broad ranging changes that will hit Queensland workers. It is simply not good enough and Queensland workers deserve better.

Resources Industries Hon. SJ STEWART (Townsville—ALP) (Minister for Resources) (10.31 am): As we continue our

economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic we are finding every opportunity to build back better. As Minister for Resources, I take the task of fostering economic development in Queensland very seriously. In simple terms, it is central to my job, and I will speak loudly and often about what we are doing to drive that economic development and the benefits it brings to Queensland.

We will use every opportunity we can to inform, advise and promote Queensland to investors. This is not about banner headlines. It is about the serious work of building awareness of the compelling investment opportunities that Queensland offers. With this in mind, we are developing a new arm of the mineral resources sector—the supply of minerals and products needed for the new economy and their role in the energy transition. Copper, cobalt, nickel and other rare earth elements are essential for this transition, including the electrification of transport and industry.

Queensland has these minerals in abundance, and is well placed to play a key role in this transition. A new market for growing the Queensland minerals sector is in Europe. Large industry groups such as the European Raw Materials Alliance and European Battery Alliance offer us new markets. Our Trade & Investment Queensland European office is working actively with my department on an investor engagement program. This month we ran an engagement session with the Movement

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of the Enterprises of France—30 firms attended with direct interest in the minerals supply chain from upstream extraction to downstream processing and manufacturing. This is just the first step in a much broader program of engagement, with similar events planned for Germany, Belgium, Holland and the United Kingdom.

This is yet another example that our government is backing the resources sector like we always have and demonstrates the vital role new economy minerals will play in creating jobs as we recover from COVID-19. Combined, the Palaszczuk government has invested around $50 million in exploration and industry support initiatives which has helped our resources and exploration sector continue working strongly despite the global pandemic. The North West Minerals Province, up my way, and our broader new economy minerals sector will create jobs and opportunities throughout Queensland. That is why we are seeing international interest in Queensland’s resources industry.

Energy Industry Hon. MC de BRENNI (Springwood—ALP) (Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and

Minister for Public Works and Procurement) (10.34 am): This government is focused on delivering a bright economic future for Queensland industry and workers, especially in energy. To understand the state’s future as an energy superpower, it is important to reflect on our pioneering past in energy generation. Queensland is already recognised for building Australia’s first underground renewable power station at Barron Gorge in Far North Queensland, back in 1935, under then Labor premier William Forgan Smith. I can advise the House that when I inspected the facility it was steadily doing its job of providing stable, reliable and renewable power, and firming services to the Far North Queensland grid.

Fast forward to 2021, the potential of renewable hydrogen is hitting the headlines around the world. It is easy to forget that this gas has been in use for a long time, albeit not in a renewable form. In fact, in the days of town gas, the lights right here in this House were powered by a blended gas composed of up to 30 per cent hydrogen. It was in 1969, when the first gas pipeline in Australia connected the Roma gas fields to Brisbane, that natural gas became the main fuel source used in this city.

Fifty years on, visitors to Gladstone are awestruck by the size of the liquefied natural gas complex on Curtis Island that has made Queensland the world’s biggest exporter of LNG—another job-creating initiative delivered by Labor that created 18,000 jobs in construction alone. Last year, the Port of Gladstone LNG exports exceeded two million metric tonnes per year for the first time.

Our experience as an energy exporter, our highly skilled workforce and our abundance of renewable energy sources is why the world is looking to our nation and our state in particular to lead the future energy industry. The CSIRO, in its GenCost 2020-21 report, confirms that Queensland wind and solar is now the cheapest form of energy and that the cost of renewables is expected to continue to fall.

Our government has committed $145 million to establish three renewable energy zones across northern, central and southern Queensland. I can inform the House that these zones have already attracted 192 proposals that together amount to $93.7 billion in investment and 60 gigawatts of renewable energy. This booming industry is estimated to enable 570,000 jobs in construction, low emissions manufacturing, resources and transport. I can further advise the House that a report released last week by the Global Hydrogen Council and McKinsey announced that around the world there are 228 large-scale projects worth a combined $300 billion of proposed investment through to 2030.

We plan to bring Queensland’s fair share of that investment here. We plan to secure this investment to secure jobs for hundreds of thousands of Queenslanders—Queenslanders like Lee Swayer, an electrolysis process coordinator, who I was pleased to introduce to the Deputy Premier at our announcement of the financing agreement with CopperString and Korea Zinc at Townsville’s Sun Metals. This is another massive opportunity for growing resources jobs in Queensland.

Today I can also announce that hydrogen is again being used as an energy source here at Parliament House. The senior management team from the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, a participant in our Hydrogen Industry Development Fund grants for their gas blending project in Gladstone, are joining us on the Speaker’s Green at lunchtime today for a hydrogen fuelled barbecue and to talk about Queensland’s future energy industry and their initiative to kickstart domestic demand.

I invite you, Mr Speaker, and all those in the chamber to join me, along with my assistant minister, Queensland’s hydrogen champions and our strategic hydrogen advisor Professor Ian McKinnon. Today it is a barbecue. In coming months and the near term there will be cars, blended domestic gas networks,

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buses, ferries, trucks and then a major export industry that we plan to ensure supports the low emissions plans of multiple nations, including long-term friends of Queensland and strong trading partners like South Korea and Japan.

With the Palaszczuk government’s plan to meet our 50 per cent renewables target by 2030 and achieve zero net emissions by attracting more industry and jobs, Queensland’s economic future is indeed bright.

Roads and Transport Infrastructure; Job Creation Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (10.38 am): The

Palaszczuk Labor government’s record $26.9 billion Transport and Roads Investment Program is tackling congestion and supporting growing Queensland communities. That investment supports jobs—more than 23,000 across the state, most of them in regional Queensland. From Cairns to Coolangatta and Longreach to Logan, people are turning up to work today on projects backed by this Palaszczuk Labor government.

We are not just investing in jobs for today. Queensland’s economic success depends on identifying and backing emerging industries that will support jobs of the future. The development of hydrogen based technology provides the opportunity to secure our state’s energy future and grow jobs. Those opportunities exist not only through hydrogen production and storage projects but also via greater investment and exports through Queensland’s publicly owned ports. Queensland can do that by harnessing cleaner, low-emission technology.

The transport sector is one of the biggest contributors to total emissions, producing about 13 per cent of Queensland’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The Palaszczuk Labor government is committed to cutting total vehicle emissions. I am excited about the opportunities that presents for the transport sector and am working closely with the energy minister, the member for Springwood, and the assistant minister for hydrogen, the member for Bundamba, to develop those opportunities.

We are also transitioning Queensland’s bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles. We have backed Gold Coast based company BusTech to build electric buses, with the first to be trialled in Logan. That project is supporting 150 jobs, boosting local manufacturing capability and supporting new skills and training opportunities.

Queensland has also led the way by being the first state in Australia to adopt an Electric Vehicle Strategy, including the largest electric superhighway in one state anywhere in the world. We recently opened 13 more electric vehicle charging stations on the superhighway, which is supporting jobs across not only the manufacturing sector—for instance, at Tritium at Murarrie—but also installation and electric work.

At the last election, Labor backed regional Queensland with a $1 billion commitment to train manufacturing jobs at Maryborough and rail supply chain jobs at Rockhampton. Under Labor, a 10-year pipeline of rail maintenance work in Maryborough has already been created, providing certainty for workers and businesses. By ensuring a reliable pipeline of work in regional cities like Maryborough and Rockhampton, the Palaszczuk Labor government is ensuring regional Queensland can become magnets for skilled workers, new jobs and businesses to invest.

Interruption.

PRIVILEGE

Alleged Deliberate Misleading of the House Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (10.41 am):

Mr Speaker, I rise on a matter of privilege. In an adjournment speech last night, the member for South Brisbane stood in this House and knowingly repeated false claims about the government’s record dealing with native title and cultural heritage issues on the Gympie bypass Bruce Highway project.

An opposition member interjected. Ms Fentiman interjected. Dr Miles interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Attorney-General will cease her interjections. Deputy Premier, you

are warned under the standing orders. I am allowing the matter of privilege, so I will hear it.

25 Feb 2021 Ministerial Statements 223

Mr BAILEY: On 17 February 2021, I arranged for the member for South Brisbane and her party colleague to receive a full briefing from my Department of Transport and Main Roads about the issues involved—which I attended. Having had the benefit of that briefing, the member for South Brisbane knew the status of the Rocky Ridge site, which she referred to as the Djaki Kundu in her speech. She also knew the position of the registered native title group for the area—the Kabi Kabi traditional owner group—and she knew about the extensive history of engagement with traditional owners for at least seven years on this matter.

Despite this, the member for South Brisbane made deeply offensive remarks about dispossession, about an alleged failure to listen and falsely claiming belittling and delegitimising traditional owners.

Mr SPEAKER: Minister, while I am allowing the matter of privilege to be raised, I ask that you write to me concerning the details of the matter and not prosecute the matters whilst we are here.

Mr BAILEY: That is my next line, Mr Speaker. I will be writing to you about what appears to be a deliberate attempt by the member for South Brisbane to mislead this House.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Resumed from p. 222.

International Year of Fruits and Vegetables Hon. ML FURNER (Ferny Grove—ALP) (Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and

Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities) (10.43 am): Mr Speaker, 2021 is going to be the year Queensland fruit and vegetable growers really shine. That is because the United Nations has declared 2021 to be the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. We are the country’s largest producer of vegetables. Queensland producers grew $1.1 billion worth in 2019-20.

Ms Palaszczuk: It’s our year. Mr FURNER: I take that interjection: it is our year. In the same year, we produced $1.78 billion

worth of fruit and nuts, making Queensland the second largest producer in Australia.

The Palaszczuk government has always backed our farmers to get their fruit and vegetables to homes around the world. Through our Growing Queensland Food Exports Program, we provided matched funding to 15 businesses to find new export markets. Even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic our innovative farmers worked with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to meet the demand for top quality Queensland fruit and veggies.

Queensland sent its first shipment of homegrown kabocha squash via sea to Japan. Kabocha is a vegetable highly prized in that country and it is grown in the Lockyer Valley. Our mandarin growers have started making inroads to the Philippines for their fruit. Our macadamia growers have increased exports of their product to China.

DAF is the largest provider of horticultural research in Australia. It is working with growers and exporters on a new protected cropping greenhouse, which I have inspected, at Ayr that will be able to one day produce high-value fruit and vegetables for exports to places like Japan, Korea and China. Recently I was fortunate to get my hands on one of their egg plants—a fruit grown in that greenhouse—and try my hand at making baba ganoush at home. Although I will never make it to being a celebrity chef, I think it tasted pretty good.

Together with the member for Nicklin, our great representative of Nicklin, I recently visited the Maroochy Research Facility on the Sunshine Coast where they tested 4,000 mangos over the summer to predict shelf life. Their research is helping the Queensland mango industry to deliver top quality fruit to consumers here and overseas.

Even during the tough times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Palaszczuk government has stood shoulder to shoulder with our farmers. We declared agriculture an essential industry right from the start. We have worked closely with industry to find workforce solutions while also keeping Queenslanders safe.

We are still the only jurisdiction in the country that is doing on-farm quarantine of workers from the Pacific Labour Scheme and Seasonal Worker Program. Over 700 workers so far have come and helped with the harvest, with more on the way.

224 Ministerial Statements 25 Feb 2021

Everyone in this chamber knows that Queensland grown fruit and vegetables are the best in the world. We are, of course, investing in both our traditional and our new industries as part of Queensland’s economic recovery, and that means we continue to back our world-leading farmers.

In 2021, the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, the Palaszczuk government wants everyone to get behind our growers, buy Queensland fruit and veggies and share the good news via social media by tagging your photos #eatqld.

National Disability Insurance Scheme, Worker Screening Hon. CD CRAWFORD (Barron River—ALP) (Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships) (10.46 am): The Palaszczuk government welcomes the recent changes that strengthen the safeguards for Queenslanders receiving support from the NDIS. At the beginning of this month, we welcomed new nationally consistent worker screening for around 90,000 Queenslanders living with disability.

Since commencing on 1 February, the no-card, no-start process has prevented 45 high-risk individuals in Queensland from working with people with disability. The new worker screening checks were part of national reforms to improve the overall safety and quality of services delivered through the NDIS. The changes mean that clearances and exclusions are recognised across all states and territories, including Queensland. Thorough and nationally consistent safeguards help ensure Queenslanders with disability are supported to achieve their full potential with their human rights respected.

The Palaszczuk government invests more than $2 billion annually in the NDIS and recognises that people with disability have the right to live their lives free from abuse, violence, neglect or exploitation. Extensive resources are available to help Queenslanders understand the new system—it is incredibly important for all NDIS providers and workers to understand their obligations, including whether they need a clearance.

An example would be new employees of NDIS registered providers, including sole traders, who will need worker screening clearance before they commence work. Existing employees who hold a current yellow card can continue working and will transition when their renewal falls due or if there is a change in their criminal history.

The streamlined online worker screening process and detailed user guides have been developed by the department. We are constantly learning about what Queensland’s $2 billion investment in the NDIS is delivering and what more can be done.

Last week I travelled to the Sunshine Coast and visited three very different but equally significant disability service providers. I thank the member for Noosa for joining me to visit disability support provider Sunshine Butterflies. Ms Leanne Walsh, founder and chief executive officer, showed us around the grounds, which were teeming with natural beauty and farm animals. I was able to see people enjoying karaoke and heard all about their woodworking and other activities. It was clear that Sunshine Butterflies is a place where people with disability are able to participate in activities that bring them joy and a feeling of connection with others and nature.

I also visited specialist disability accommodation operated by the Wesley Mission, where it was evident that the needs of the people who live there have been carefully thought through and planned for. The Palaszczuk government proudly granted $1 million for the construction of this specialist disability accommodation, and it has been providing people with disability the opportunity to have supported independent living ever since. Wesley Care Maroochydore accommodates five residents in the share house and nine residents in individual apartments. Each resident is able to decorate their apartment, with the guys obviously showing their passion for sport. The ladies’ apartments were also decorated to suit their personalities and reflect their own passions.

The staff and clients made my day. It was awesome to meet Cameron, who lives in his own unit, and see his impressive collection of Holden memorabilia. But not for too long, because he had to go down the street and buy groceries. I met Glen, who was enjoying a relaxing morning. Most impressively I met Shaun, who competed in Canada at the Calgary Winter Olympics as a downhill skier and got to meet Eddie the Eagle.

Honourable members interjected. Mr CRAWFORD: I love that movie! He loves to get out on his bike alongside his carer to stay fit

and healthy. He is also an expert at telling dad jokes. These conversations showed me the residents are exercising the choice and control that we always hoped the NDIS would deliver. I also want to thank

25 Feb 2021 Questions Without Notice 225

the service providers whom I visited for their insights, advice and the ongoing work they do. It is so refreshing to visit facilities like this and see the hard work our Queenslanders do to keep others happy, healthy and safe.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work Hon. DE FARMER (Bulimba—ALP) (Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister

for Training and Skills Development) (10.50 am): Mr Speaker, we want the training that we provide in Queensland to lead to a job, a better job or further training. We are after results for Queenslanders, which is why the Palaszczuk Labor government’s landmark Skilling Queenslanders for Work program is so important. Skilling Queenslanders for Work, which the LNP axed when in government, is one of the most successful programs of its kind in Australia, with a 73 per cent success rate for participants to achieve employment or further training. The last full evaluation of the program showed that for every dollar invested in the program there is an $8 return. It increased Queensland’s GDP between 2016 and 2019 by $1.1 billion. Importantly, as a result of the $430 million we have invested since 2015 we have assisted over 56,000 Queenslanders—above our target of 54,500—including nearly 39,000 participants to gain employment.

I was delighted to be at Barung Landcare in Landsborough with the member for Caloundra last week visiting their Work on the Range project to announce the latest round of successful applicants—an investment of $13.7 million to support a total of 81 projects across the state, providing almost 2,000 Queenslanders with the opportunity for employment or further training. This government has made it very clear—and the Premier repeated it only yesterday—that skills and training are front and centre of our economic recovery plan. We need the right people with the right skills for the right jobs, and that means providing the right training.

Together with the $100 million Equipping TAFE for our Future infrastructure program, free TAFE for under-25s, free apprenticeships and our Back to Work program, just to name a few, Skilling Queenslanders for Work is providing exactly the support we need to achieve that goal. The best thing about this program is not just the outstanding statistics; it is about how it changes people’s lives, including the lives of people who may come from entrenched unemployment or other significant disadvantage or who find it tougher than normal to get a job.

It was a delight to speak to the young people undertaking the current Skilling Queenslanders for Work program at Barung Landcare and hear their stories. They are variously completing paid work skills traineeships, studying a Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management, and working in community nurseries and on bush regeneration activities in the region. To see how excited they are to have found their strengths and be fulfilling their life dreams is absolutely gratifying. It was great to tell the Barung team that a further $400,000 had been approved in this latest round so they can recruit a further 16 people and continue the fantastic work they are doing. I wish the participants of this and future programs all the best.

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT Hon. YM D’ATH (Redcliffe—ALP) (Leader of the House) (10.53 am), by leave, without notice: I

move— That the House, at its rising, do adjourn until 9.30 am on Tuesday, 9 March 2021.

Question put—That the motion be agreed to. Motion agreed to.

SPEAKER’S STATEMENT Coronavirus, Operation of Parliament

Mr SPEAKER: I remind honourable members that under the current COVID directions all members are able to meet at the same time in this chamber due to the chamber having allocated seating; however, members are to have care while entering and exiting the chamber and should not loiter in the aisles or sit in a seat that has not been allocated to them. Members are asked to sanitise their hands before entering the chamber. We will still use bottled water rather than jugs and glasses.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Mr SPEAKER: Question time will conclude today at 11.54 am.

226 Questions Without Notice 25 Feb 2021

Olympic Games, Infrastructure Funding Mr CRISAFULLI (10.54 am): My question is to the Premier. Queensland has been starved of

new infrastructure projects for the last six years. The 2031 Olympic and Paralympic bid is a great opportunity to get going on some legacy projects. Will the Premier ensure that games spending is shared with firms right across the state so that all Queenslanders can win from the 2032 Olympic Games?

Ms PALASZCZUK: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I am glad he has asked a sensible question about the Olympics and infrastructure. Of course that is about jobs. I hope that the opposition would continue in their bipartisan support for this historic event. I know that the former Leader of the Opposition did.

This government has record spending when it comes to infrastructure across our state: in fact, $56 billion over four years. Yesterday we talked about our record roads and transport budget of over $20 billion, with most of it in regional Queensland. You only have to travel around the state. Going down the M1 you can see the infrastructure that is happening. We are working with the Commonwealth Government. We had to bring them to the table but we finally got funding. You only have to go up the Bruce Highway to see all of the roadworks that are happening for the growing communities we are seeing across the south-east. You can see the updates in Rockhampton, Mackay, Riverway Drive in Townsville and Smithfield up in Cairns. This is vital infrastructure that is needed.

If we are talking about transformational infrastructure I draw the member’s attention back to when we had the Commonwealth Games, because I think that is a very interesting point. We built infrastructure that is now utilised by the community. We fast-tracked and accelerated a couple of things such as the second stage of the Gold Coast Light Rail because we wanted connectivity between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in time for the Commonwealth Games. We built the Carrara Indoor Sports Complex, which is now used by the local community, and the Coomera Sports Park, which is also utilised. There are opportunities for more community based infrastructure; for example, there is one highlighted for boxing at Logan which could also be used in future.

Of course we have a Buy Queensland policy. We absolutely want to see local jobs in Queensland. I do recall that a certain Newman government outsourced train building overseas.

Opposition members interjected. Ms PALASZCZUK: They do not like talking about that. We are going to create around 1,000 jobs

by building trains in Maryborough. We will build trains here. We have a very strong Buy Queensland policy. We want to see Queensland come out in front when it comes to—

(Time expired)

Payroll Tax Relief Mr CRISAFULLI: My question is to the Premier. In 41 days Queensland businesses face having

to pay their deferred payroll tax liabilities to the Queensland government, which is another job destroying bill. Yes, ongoing assistance from Canberra is vital, but will the Premier consider waiving or further deferring these state liabilities to protect Queensland jobs?

Ms PALASZCZUK: We put in place a whole range of measures as part of our COVID economic recovery plan, helping businesses get through those very tough times. We put in small business grants, and we have had the Minister for Small Business travelling right across Queensland talking to small business communities about how we can help them. What the businesses are talking to me fundamentally about is the end of JobKeeper.

Mr WATTS: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock. Ms PALASZCZUK: That is right. That is the biggest issue out there. Mr SPEAKER: Sorry, I was asking to pause the clock but the clock is not on, which I assume is

what the point of order is related to. Is that right, member for Toowoomba North? Mr WATTS: Yes. Mr SPEAKER: We will put two minutes on the clock for the remainder of the Premier’s answer. Ms PALASZCZUK: At the end of March, we are going to see the end of JobKeeper. I have said

very clearly that we need to see some extra targeted assistance from the federal government. Mr Dick: They need to do their bit.

25 Feb 2021 Questions Without Notice 227

Ms PALASZCZUK: That is right, because they shut the international borders. I support that. Honourable members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr Mickelberg: Rather than blame, take responsibility. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Buderim— Ms PALASZCZUK: I am not in charge of the international borders. Mr SPEAKER: Premier, resume your seat please. Member for Buderim, you are warned under

the standing orders. Your comments will be directed through the chair. It may be pertinent to interject with others next time. That is just some guidance.

Ms PALASZCZUK: We have our $11 billion in economic recovery. This is responding— Mr Bleijie: Explain it. Ms PALASZCZUK: Guess what, member for Kawana: here is a little book just for you. There we

go. It is just for you. It talks about skills, growing our regions, investing in health, backing our business. Oh, yes, $11 billion. I spoke about it every single day I think from memory during the election campaign. Our strong health response has enabled our economy to recover faster.

Mr Crisafulli interjected. Mr SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition will cease his interjections. Ms PALASZCZUK: Perhaps those opposite should have a look at what is happening around the

world, where economies are shut, where businesses are not operating, where people are not leaving their homes unless they are going to get food. What we have done clearly here is we are absolutely focused on people. We are making sure that we have a clear economic recovery plan looking after people. It is about time that those opposite called their mates in Canberra about JobKeeper.

Mr Crisafulli interjected. Ms PALASZCZUK: Well, go and listen to people. Don’t whinge. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Premier’s time has expired. Ms PALASZCZUK: All you do is whinge. Mr SPEAKER: I will provide this guidance to both the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition.

You will direct your comments through the chair. You will not direct them at each other, and there is a very good reason why that is not allowed in the chamber.

Olympic Games, Queensland Bid Mr SPEAKER: I call the member for Mansfield. Ms McMILLAN: Good morning, Mr Speaker. Mr SPEAKER: Good morning, member! Ms McMILLAN: Some habits die hard, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Premier and Minister

for Trade. Will the Premier outline the benefits to Queensland of a Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Games?

Ms PALASZCZUK: Good morning, member for Mansfield, and what a wonderful morning it is! There was going to be no rain drowning out our parade today because today is a very significant day for Queensland. Not in my wildest dreams did I or anyone here think that the International Olympic Committee would choose only one place to go to targeted dialogue. After some extensive conversations we have had with the host commission with presentations and also that visit to Switzerland—which I think was incredibly important at the time, and I note it had bipartisan support at the federal and state level—it now puts Queensland in the box seat to deliver a world-class Olympics if we can secure all of the funding arrangements between local, state and federal. I want to say from the outset that I am up to having those conversations. I know that the Minister for Sport is very excited about having those conversations. I know from the conversations I have had personally with the Prime Minister that he is up for those conversations as well. If we can have all three levels of government working together, then that is great news for Queensland.

When we are talking about jobs, 130,000 jobs can be generated from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we look at how Sydney transformed and was put on the world map, there is exactly the same opportunity for Queensland and for Brisbane. I make my absolute commitment that we will involve all of Queensland in this. I want all of Queensland to share in that pride of having an Olympics on our

228 Questions Without Notice 25 Feb 2021

doorstep. It also means a $20 billion increase in international visitor expenditure. By 2032 we would expect that the international borders would definitely be open by then, especially with the vaccine now rolling out just within a year.

Mr Stevens: An LNP government in Queensland. Ms PALASZCZUK: I doubt that. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Mermaid Beach, I am not sure whether the Premier is taking your

interjections. Ms PALASZCZUK: I could say, ‘Tell him he’s dreaming,’ but I will not say that. It also is great for

our Paralympians, because it is not just the Olympic Games; it is also the Paralympic Games. When we are talking about people’s ability, there is so much inspiration in our state and that gives everybody the opportunity just as we did in the Commonwealth Games to support our Paralympians in that particular area. I think that will be wonderful, and I know all of the members would share in that. However, there is a lot of work to do and we are going to keep up that good work. With 130,000 jobs, it is a great day for Queensland and we should all embrace it.

(Time expired)

Coronavirus, Economy Mr JANETZKI: My question is to the Premier. As a proportion of gross state product, the

Queensland government has spent less on coronavirus stimulus than any other state. In 41 days, Queensland businesses face a serious cash flow crunch. Yes, ongoing assistance from Canberra is vital, but will the Premier implement new state targeted measures to protect Queensland jobs?

Ms PALASZCZUK: I understand that the member’s question is not actually correct. Per population we have spent a considerable amount of money in terms of the—

An opposition member interjected. Ms PALASZCZUK: No, you can have your own metrics. There is $1 billion in payroll tax relief.

We have put in place measures that other states did not even do: land tax relief to more than 18,000 parcels of land across Queensland; payroll tax refunds and holidays for more than 16,000 Queensland businesses; 7,000 jobs support loans for Queensland businesses; electricity and water bill relief of $200 for households and $500 for small businesses and sole traders; $1 billion committed to our two new funds, the Renewable Energy Fund and the Backing Queensland Business Investment Fund, to ensure the recovery supports businesses and our renewable energy future. We work on this side of the House; they whinge. We work. They whinge. It is very simple. I might say to the Leader of the Opposition that he needs to speak to—

Mr Crisafulli: To Canberra, yes. Ms PALASZCZUK: Yes, that is right—to Canberra about JobKeeper. Mr Dick interjected. Ms PALASZCZUK: I take the Treasurer’s interjection. They made people pay income tax on

JobKeeper. Honourable members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call. Mr Crisafulli interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I have given you some leniency. You are warned under

the standing orders. I have given you considerable guidance. Ms PALASZCZUK: It sounds just like Campbell Newman to me—exactly the same. I am proud

of our $11 billion investment in COVID economic recovery. We have seen one of the strongest health responses in the world here in Queensland. We are keeping Queenslanders safe. I might remind the member for Broadwater about that: we are keeping Queenslanders safe. Our strong health response has enabled our strong economic recovery—$11 billion—and we are opening up faster than New South Wales and Victoria. You cannot stand up and have a drink at a bar in New South Wales, but you can do that in Queensland. In Queensland how many people can we have at a wedding?

Mr Dick: Two hundred. Ms PALASZCZUK: We can have up to 200 people at a wedding. I think down there they are

going up to maybe 30 or 40. We have opened up our economy faster. We will continue to back our small businesses. Our debt is also lower than New South Wales and Victoria.

25 Feb 2021 Questions Without Notice 229

Olympic Games, Queensland Bid Mr KELLY: My question is of the Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and

Minister for Sport. Will the minister update the House on how a 2032 Queensland Olympics would be a boon to our local tourism industry?

Mr HINCHLIFFE: I will. I thank the member for Greenslopes for his question and for his interest in the difference and opportunity that the 2032 games can present for Queensland. Should we be successful in being the host for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games, it will be replete with opportunities for the whole of Queensland, as we have seen from recent experience. As we saw from the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the success of large-scale sporting events drives Queensland as a destination for visitors.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games saw Queensland tourism experience a 7.2 per cent increase in visitor numbers and a 13.5 per cent bounce in visitor income to almost $24 billion in 2018. Hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games would be an unrivalled opportunity to showcase our state, to demonstrate what we are about and who we are, to invite not only the whole of Australia but the whole of the world to experience that and be part of that. As I said earlier, it would be a 20-year opportunity.

In the 11 years leading up to 2032 and in the time beyond, there will be legacies for the tourism sector and for the visitor economy. There will be trade opportunities and engagements with the rest of the globe. Also, significantly, there will be great legacy opportunities for our communities. In particular, there will be legacy opportunities around encouraging more activity and physical activity that is so good for people in our communities right throughout the length and breadth of this state. Those opportunities are not only for those who strive to be an elite athlete—and one of those young children going into year 7 at Mackay State High School might be the next Cathy Freeman. I hope that young woman will be one of the great stars of a 2032 games, and that is what an Olympics and Paralympic games provides as a great inspiration and opportunity. It is not just those elite performances that will make a difference. It is also the inspiration that a 2032 games will provide and the input, inspiration and investment in the facilities that make a huge difference to participation sport right throughout the length and breadth of Queensland. That will mean a difference in the lives—both physical and mental health—of so many Queenslanders.

I relish the opportunity to see this take the next step. I very much welcome the great work that has been going on by all the parties who have been a part of this journey so far, understanding that we need to take it that step further. I look forward to the prospect of a 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games here in Queensland.

Tourism Industry, Marina Fees Mr BENNETT: My question is to the Premier. In just over a month tourism operators in marinas

across Queensland will start receiving sky-high bills of marina fees, albeit with limited passengers. Will the Premier consider waiving these fees and giving financial assistance to protect tourism jobs?

Ms PALASZCZUK: I thank the member for Burnett for his question. We have missed him on the shadow front bench. It is interesting how they put talent over there but not there on the front bench.

Mr Bleijie: Be nice. Ms PALASZCZUK: I am being nice. Mr Dick interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Treasurer, I have given you some guidance this morning. You are also

warned under the standing orders. Your comments are not being directed through the chair, as I have asked the House to do regularly.

Ms PALASZCZUK: We have been out speaking to tourism operators and we have provided some relief for some of those charges at marinas. I remember being in Cairns with the member for Cairns talking to his operators just recently. I can tell honourable members that the one thing they are talking about is the end of JobKeeper. That is the one main issue they were talking to me about. It just shows a bit of ignorance from those opposite in not understanding that the tourism industry is hurting, and they are hurting because of the closure of the international border. That is why when we went to the election we said we would put an extra $70 million into helping those industries. We have been speaking with them. We actually ran our Good to Go campaign, one of the most successful campaigns we have run in the tourism industries, getting Queenslanders to back Queenslanders. I saw some data

230 Questions Without Notice 25 Feb 2021

the other day. From memory, it stated that that campaign has been very, very successful and that the majority of people are looking at having a holiday in their own state, which is great news. We want people to get out there and back, not just up north and on the Gold Coast, but out west as well. All of Queensland has something to offer and I want everyone to be supported.

The No. 1 issue that is being raised—if those opposite had been out talking to people in the tourism industry they would know—is a collective agreement about JobKeeper. Nearly every operator that we met with in Cairns, including the head of Cairns—

Mr BLEIJIE: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order under standing order 118(b), relevance. The question asked by the member for Burnett was specifically about marina fees and waiving them or giving financial assistance. The member, particularly as he has a marina in his electorate, would be very keen for the answer to be relevant to marina fees and protecting those people.

Mr SPEAKER: I give a reminder, Premier, to go back to the core of the question. The answer has, however, been broadly relevant. I ask the Premier to continue if she has anything further to add.

Ms PALASZCZUK: Yes, Mr Speaker. As I said, the No. 1 issue that the tourism operators are speaking to me about is the end of JobKeeper. That is why I am making very strong advocacy to the Prime Minister. I raised it with him personally and then he sent one of his ministers up there because the cries for help are real. People are hurting and people are going to lose their jobs. That is why we are looking at some specific targeted measures so we can assist the industry. However, nothing is going to replace JobKeeper once it comes to an end, and that is a federal government responsibility.

Natural Disasters, Preparedness Mr SMITH: My question is of the Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development,

Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. Will the Deputy Premier update the House on what the Palaszczuk government is doing to protect Queenslanders from natural disasters, and is he aware of any alternative approaches?

Dr MILES: I thank the member for Bundaberg for his question. He knows what it is like to represent an area that has been devastated by natural disasters and how important it is—

Mr Bleijie: He just moved there. Dr MILES: And won. Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock. It was going so well, member for Kawana, until that interjection.

You are warned under the standing orders. Dr MILES: The member for Bundaberg knows how important it is that we prepare for natural

disasters and that we invest in recovery. It is now 10 years since we created the Queensland Reconstruction Authority. I want to wish everyone at the QRA a very happy birthday. They were created, originally as a temporary agency, out of the 2011 floods that devastated Queensland. However, it soon became clear that there was a benefit in having a standing reconstruction authority and they have achieved many things during those 10 years. In the first 12 months they worked with Lockyer Valley Regional Council to fast-track the relocation of Grantham residents to higher ground; they delivered $145 million to rebuild the river walk and Brisbane’s ferry terminals; $25 million to Toowoomba flood mitigation projects; and $45 million to reconstruct Cardwell. In fact, in the last 10 years they have coordinated $16.4 billion of disaster recovery investments after more than 80 different disaster events.

The QRA is a world-leading authority in how to not only build back but also build back better and in how to prevent disaster where we can. Right now, the No. 1 disaster prevention initiative on the Queensland government’s books is the Bundaberg flood levee. We have put $42.5 million down to invest in that levee, and now it is over to the federal government to match that commitment. It would protect more than 600 homes and 679 jobs. The federal government has a $4 billion fund for this kind of disaster mitigation but it has not yet spent a single cent, let alone the $42.5 million needed for the Bundaberg flood levee. Recently in Bundaberg the member for Bundaberg and I met with the mayor of Bundaberg—a good bloke, Mr Jack Dempsey; he is a big fan of our member for Bundaberg—and he said, ‘We are so thankful for the state government funding—not just in words but in actually putting money on the table. Now we are asking for the federal government, with all the issues that have gone in the past, to please think of the thousands of people that this impacts on a daily basis and match the state government’s funding so we can get on and make sure we have greater livability in the community.’

(Time expired)

25 Feb 2021 Questions Without Notice 231

Premier and Minister for Trade, Email Account Mr MINNIKIN: My question is to the Premier. A whistleblower has told the opposition that the

CCC’s mangocube investigation was not provided with the email tabled yesterday by the Premier’s now deputy chief of staff. Was the Premier aware that some evidence was not provided to the CCC by Minister Bailey and his office?

Ms PALASZCZUK: I thank the member for the question. I think the premise of his question is incorrect. The minister may write to you, Mr Speaker, about that.

Electricity Supply Mr O’ROURKE: My question is to the Treasurer and Minister for Investment. Will the Treasurer

update the House on the Palaszczuk government’s commitment to providing Queenslanders with affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity?

Mr DICK: I thank the member for Rockhampton for his question and for his strong support of publicly owned power generators in Queensland. That makes a massive difference to the price of electricity, the continuity of supply and the certainty that Queenslanders have about power in our state. I note reports this week in the Australian Financial Review and the Guardian about the future viability of Australia’s coal-fired power stations. I can assure all Queenslanders, including the member for Rockhampton, that Queensland’s electricity supply will continue to be strong and reliable. It will continue to be affordable for Queenslanders. It will become more affordable because of our commitment of $500 million through the Renewable Energy Fund commitment we made in the last budget.

As Tristan Edis from Green Energy Markets noted in the Guardian, Queensland’s commitment is key to Australia’s continued rollout of new solar and wind projects. Again, Queensland is doing the heavy lifting. Just as we are doing the heavy lifting for economic recovery, we are doing the heavy lifting when it comes to renewable power production and providing a consistent power supply to the rest of Australia. Our friends in New South Wales should not be sending us a bill for quarantine costs; we should be sending them a bill for all of the electricity we are providing to southern states to keep the lights on!

Earlier in the week we heard the Leader of the Opposition complaining bitterly about borrowing to keep the lights on. He does not want us to borrow to keep the lights on. He wants us to spend more money supporting Queenslanders, but complains bitterly. Some 22 times in his budget reply speech he complained about debt and borrowing, but now he wants us to spend more money. The Leader of the Opposition says one thing and does another. It does not matter what the issue is. He will flip and flop every single day, because he is a very practised politician. He has spent his whole life in politics and has never done anything in the real world. That is a defining issue about the member for Broadwater.

Opposition members interjected. Mr DICK: Those opposite do not like the truth about a political hack running their party. We will

keep the lights on for Queensland—just as we have done the heavy lifting in keeping the economy of our state going and growing and dragging the rest of Australia out of the COVID disaster.

Our positive health response led to a positive economic response. That is one thing the opposition does not want to acknowledge about our Premier and her leadership in the worst pandemic in a century. Look at other parts of the world where they have privatised electricity. There are $6,000 bills going to families in Texas because they deregulated the whole thing. That will not happen under our watch. The Leader of the Opposition does not want to borrow and does not want to spend. There is one way forward for him and he has never repudiated it: cutting, sacking and selling.

(Time expired) Opposition members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: The members for Southern Downs and Theodore are warned under the standing

orders.

Premier and Minister for Trade, Email Account Mr KRAUSE: My question is to the Premier. How many emails in the stacia1 @ bigpond.com

account have been retained? Ms PALASZCZUK: As I said, the emails in question have gone through the RTI process and

they have been retained. It is exactly the same question. If the member wants to be in the past and not talk about the future, let it be on his head.

232 Questions Without Notice 25 Feb 2021

Junior Doctors and Graduate Nurses Mr SULLIVAN: My question is of the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services. Will the minister

update the House on Queensland’s newest junior doctors and graduate nurses and the contribution they will make to our frontline health services?

Mrs D’ATH: I thank the member for Stafford for his question. Recently I joined the member and the member for Aspley at the Prince Charles Hospital to welcome Queensland’s newest health heroes. Across Queensland in 2021 junior doctors and graduate nurses are launching the next stages of their careers in 44 of our public hospitals. It is incredibly exciting that this year 776 junior doctors and around 1,400 graduate nurses will join Queensland’s health system. Our latest recruits are going through exciting orientation programs as they get to know their respective hospitals, services, clinical practices and procedures. I am especially grateful that they are joining our health system during this global pandemic. Queensland’s doctors, nurses and frontline health workers have kept us safe during COVID. These new additions will help us to ensure that this work can continue. Queensland’s health system is the envy of the world and, as the Minister for Health, I put on the record my thanks to the hardworking health heroes.

This government has a proud record of investing in the frontline services that Queenslanders need. The Palaszczuk government has rebuilt frontline health services since they were decimated by those opposite. I am advised that when in government those opposite cut around 4,400 health staff, including 1,800 nurses and midwives. They attacked doctors and nurses and ripped funding out of preventive health measures. In contrast, since 2015 the Palaszczuk government has hired 2,450 more doctors, 7,358 more nurses and midwives, 2,025 more health professionals and 812 more paramedics throughout Queensland.

Our commitment to ensure that our healthcare system and hospitals remain strong means that we continue to strengthen it by employing even more doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics and health professionals. That is why this government will employ 5,800 new nurses and midwives, 1,500 new doctors, 475 new paramedics and 1,700 new allied health professionals over the next four years. Ensuring Queensland’s frontline health workforce remains strong means that Queenslanders can receive the best possible care when they need it the most. Our frontline heroes have kept Queenslanders safe as a huge part of our COVID-19 health response and, once again, we thank them. That would not have been possible if our frontline health workforce had not been restored after it was brutally slashed by those opposite when in power.

As Queensland’s newest frontline health heroes are stepping into our hospital corridors around the state, I congratulate them on their achievement. Recently it was wonderful to be in Townsville to meet some of the new interns there. It is wonderful to hear that they are voluntarily choosing to go to these particular hospitals. The ones in Townsville had such a great experience. Their first choice was to go to Townsville, and we congratulate them on their efforts.

(Time expired)

Premier and Minister for Trade, Email Account Ms SIMPSON: My question is to the Premier. The Premier told her RTI officer that her stacia1

email account did not contain any government business emails. Yesterday the Premier told the House three times that the emails had been retained. Can the Premier explain the purpose for retaining these emails if they do not contain government business?

Ms PALASZCZUK: My understanding is that all of the emails have been retained. All of the mangocube emails have been retained.

Honourable members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Member for Burdekin, I understand it is your birthday today. Happy

birthday! You are warned under the standing orders. Honourable members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: I understand it is the member for Condamine’s birthday as well.

Industrial Relations, Worker Protections Mr BROWN: My question is to the Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and

Minister for Racing. Will the minister please update the House on how the Palaszczuk government is supporting Queensland workers, and are there any alternative approaches?

25 Feb 2021 Questions Without Notice 233

Ms GRACE: I thank the member for Capalaba for his question. As I am a proud ex-union official, we share that proud legacy in our work. The one thing that we are very passionate about is workers having secure jobs and receiving a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. That is all we ask. That is all we fight for. Obviously there is health and safety and the rest, but we want to ensure they at least have secure jobs. However, under the federal government we have seen a breaking down of that secure employment. We have seen insecure work, an explosion in casualisation that has come so much to the fore during this COVID-19 world health pandemic and workers who really deserve to be paid under an award and agreement put under contracts that are nothing but sham arrangements. We have seen wage theft out of control to the point where this state was the first state in the country to have operational wage theft laws, fixing up the mistakes and the bad work of the federal government.

It is an incredible legacy of the federal government that we have the lowest wage growth in this country post war, and that is all because of its IR laws, but in this state we have fixed up its mistakes. We criminalised wage theft. We introduced labour hire licensing laws. We introduced industrial manslaughter laws, and they were Australia’s first laws. We restored the rights of injured workers taken away by those opposite. We introduced 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave, which we are yet to achieve federally. We introduced portable long service leave for community service workers. Every one of those issues was voted against by those opposite. Not one was supported but voted against.

We need to change these laws in Australia, and let me tell the member for Capalaba that the federal government does not have the answers when it comes to what is required to make Queensland workers’ conditions fair and equitable in the workplace. That is why we are making our voice heard against the proposed IR changes. We will not let our strong wage theft laws be watered down by the Morrison government. In the inquiry that was ably chaired by the member for Nudgee, Declan Langlands told how they had to pay back till imbalances. Those imbalances were taken out of his pocket and those of other workers. This is what has been happening under the federal government’s watch. We will not have our wage theft laws watered down so that super and long service leave are not included in wage theft and there is a reduction in penalties from 10 years to four years. The federal government needs to consult meaningfully on this. True to form it has not and I once again call on it to consult and come to the table.

(Time expired)

Crocodiles Mr KNUTH: My question without notice is to the Minister for the Environment and the Great

Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs. In June 2016 the state government announced $5.8 million over three years towards crocodile management and to conduct a detailed population survey. Four years later, will the minister outline exactly where the $5.8 million has been spent and will the population survey and full report findings be released?

Ms SCANLON: I thank the member for the question. We do have a nearly $6 million crocodile management strategy that is laid out over two years. The Premier recently wrote to me on this particular matter and we have looked at that particular management plan. I can advise that in the last financial year there were 616 crocodile sighting reports and 38 estuarine crocodiles were removed. Most of that money is allocated towards FTE positions to make sure that they are responding to those sightings to ensure that they are dealing particularly with problem crocodiles in areas.

We do acknowledge that there is always more that can be done on crocwise education, so I will be travelling to Far North Queensland soon to contact mayors and industry to ensure that we are doing everything we can to make sure that people understand there are risks in croc country and that people are taking all of those measures really seriously. I am more than happy to provide a briefing to the member. I know we had a briefing yesterday about a separate matter, but I am more than happy to provide a briefing around the breakdown of that information around how that funding is allocated. We will also be releasing that report, ideally this year, as well. I have not had an opportunity to read the full contents of that report yet myself, but I am more than happy to make sure that that is released this year.

Made in Queensland Ms PUGH: My question is to the Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and

Minister for Water. Will the minister update the House on how the Palaszczuk government’s Made in Queensland initiative is creating manufacturing jobs and driving further investment in manufacturing around the state?

234 Questions Without Notice 25 Feb 2021

Mr BUTCHER: I thank the honourable member for the question. I also want to take the opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate her on the recent birth of her beautiful baby daughter, Elyse. Congratulations, member.

A government member interjected. Mr BUTCHER: Annastacia is her middle name; I take that interjection. What a great middle name! I appreciate the member’s continued support for manufacturing in Queensland, especially in her

electorate. I had the opportunity to visit one of those businesses in her electorate recently and her support and passion for manufacturing is certainly second to none. The Palaszczuk government has long recognised the strong Queensland manufacturing industry and its opportunity to create jobs right across this wonderful state. Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of Made in Queensland delivered $46 million in funding to support small to medium sized businesses and manufacturers to maximise their potential in the business, to make them become more internationally competitive and to expand their operations and employ more and more Queenslanders.

Since 2017 we have supported 85 projects across Queensland, from Millmerran in the south through to Cairns in the north. These 85 projects are anticipated to create more than 1,100 new jobs in Queensland over five years, generating more than $100 million in private sector investment. To date, 67 of these projects have been completed totalling $26.3 million in grant funding in Queensland. The manufacturers that executed these projects have reported that more than 3,500 existing jobs have been protected and that more than 380 jobs have been created through these grants. Round 3 of the Made in Queensland grant program will see 10 projects delivered in 2021, stimulating the economy further with an investment of another $20.7 million. This will also create more than 200 jobs over the next five years in manufacturing.

Today I am excited to announce the final three recipients of Made in Queensland round 3 funding. Firstly—as I said before, I know the member for Mount Ommaney is excited by this—Intellidesign, an innovative electronics designer manufacturing firm, has been awarded $306,000 to purchase advanced robotic assembly equipment. I know how important this grant is to that company. It has been doing such a great job. The introduction of this world-leading technology is anticipated to create 10 new jobs over five years, which is great for that company. At Acacia Ridge PTE Hydraulics, a hydraulic cylinder manufacturer, has been awarded $358,000 to purchase robotic automation cells. Finally, in Meadowbrook food manufacturer ATP Science has been awarded $1,588,000 to purchase high-tech production equipment.

(Time expired)

Hospital and Health Services, Funding Dr MacMAHON: My question is to the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services. The

Auditor-General’s report on hospital and health services released this month tells us that they are struggling to deliver their efficiency and productivity dividends. Will the government commit to funding the 9,000 additional frontline health staff announced in the 2020 budget without requiring the $1 billion in efficiency and productivity dividends to be met?

Mrs D’ATH: I thank the member for her question. I thank her for her interest in the hospital and health services. As the member would have heard from my previous answer, the Palaszczuk government has invested record funding since we came back into government in 2015. We rebuilt the health system so that we had the workforce to manage a global health pandemic. We would not be in the fortunate position we are in if it was not for that. We know that it has been a very difficult 12 months for our hospital and health services in relation to the pressures placed upon them. There has been additional funding contributed by the COVID budget to support them through the pressures that they have faced with the deferral of elective surgeries and with delay in leave being taken by staff. We know this has added to their pressures. We also know that the budget is under stress due to COVID and what it has done to the state, national and global economy.

We know that we have to make savings and we have to make tough decisions across the whole of government. Every single agency is doing its fair share of finding savings, but let us be clear: we are not compromising the health care that we are providing to every Queenslander who walks into that emergency department, who arrives by ambulance or who needs surgery. We are not compromising the frontline care that we are giving and we are not in any way impacting on the people whose absolute top priority is getting emergency care. They are our No. 1 priority. Sometimes that means making tough decisions, as every state did by suspending certain categories of surgeries during COVID. We all had

25 Feb 2021 Questions Without Notice 235

to make those tough decisions. I thank the doctors, nurses and health workers because they have done a remarkable job in picking up that backlog of elective surgery. What they have done has been incredible.

We all have to do our fair share. That includes in education, child safety, police, justice, roads and transport. We all have to find savings. Those opposite talk about not borrowing more money, they talk about debt, they talk about cutting revenue so we have less money coming in to go to hospitals, schools or roads, and also they say we should not be seeking savings across government. It is scary to think what the budget would have looked like if the opposition had gotten in. The question is very important. We will continue to make sure the best quality health care is being delivered to every Queenslander.

Regional Queensland, Aquaculture Industry Mrs GILBERT: My question is for the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries

and Minister for Rural Communities. Will the minister update the House on how aquaculture is supporting jobs and economic recovery in regional Queensland?

Mr FURNER: I thank the member for her question and acknowledge her strong support for aquaculture, not only in her electorate but also in surrounding electorates, and her support for job creation. My support for aquaculture and wanting to see Queensland as a powerhouse and the leader in aquaculture is no secret to the House. That is backed by the Premier, and I would be bold enough to suggest that it is also backed by former senator Ron Boswell.

I am delighted today to table the annual report Ross Lobegeiger report to farmers: Aquaculture production summary for Queensland 2019-20, which shows that the value of the aquaculture sector grew by 39.2 per cent to $164.9 million in 2019-20. Tabled paper: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries report, undated, titled ‘Ross Lobegeiger report to farmers: Aquaculture production summary for Queensland 2019-20’ [193].

This outstanding figure is evidence that the Palaszczuk government is focused on growing aquaculture to create jobs in the regions. Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and the Gold Coast stand out as the powerhouse regions for driving aquaculture production. We know when we support the aquaculture industry in Queensland we support local jobs and the opportunity for Queenslanders to enjoy more good quality Queensland seafood. So far we have attracted two Tasmanian businesses to Queensland: Tassal and Ornatas. I have had the privilege, as has the Premier, of visiting those facilities in Northern Queensland.

With an increase in production comes an increase in the number of people employed in our aquaculture industry, which is up by 15.2 per cent to more than 718 full-time-equivalent jobs. It should be noted that the industry is supported by a substantial number of off-farm services as well which have flow-on benefits for employment and regional development. Prawns are the real star here. There was an increase in total value of aquaculture of 39.4 per cent, from 4,630 tonnes in 2018-19 to 6,245.2 tonnes in 2019-20. It remains the largest employer, with 66 per cent of the industry’s total labour force. The red claw crayfish—I know it is on the menu in the Strangers Dining Room and you would be familiar with it, Mr Speaker—and freshwater fish sectors have also recorded significant increases in value and production. The overall value of the aquaculture sector has increased by 55.1 per cent, from $44.3 million to $124.6 million.

The future of aquaculture in Queensland, including prawn production, is looking very bright indeed. The total value of the aquaculture industry is expected to continue to increase in coming years with continued investment in the future development of the aquaculture sector. Aquaculture has a bright future in Queensland as we continue to support and open up opportunities for businesses in Queensland.

Western Queensland, Grasshoppers Mr MILLAR: My question is to the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries

and Minister for Rural Communities. Can the minister inform the House how a grasshopper impact survey will protect valuable Western Queensland pastures from complete destruction this year, and is he aware that the grasshoppers are not sitting around meeting but eating landholders into poverty?

Mr FURNER: I thank the member for Gregory for his question. I note his strong interest in agriculture right across the electorate of Gregory. For the benefit of the House, I have written to, and my office has briefed, the member for Gregory on this matter. Additionally, my staff have been in contact with the mayor of Winton to address this matter. We have a strong local member and also a strong mayor in Winton.

236 Questions Without Notice 25 Feb 2021

In response to the grasshopper population being experienced in the Central West and North-West Queensland, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has formed a grasshopper working group with representatives from the Australian Plague Locust Commission and the National Drought and Flood Agency. It will coordinate the response to the current grasshopper activity and provide consistent information while planning actions and research to assist with prediction and management in the future.

As the member would know as a former staffer of a previous agriculture minister in the Newman government, general biosecurity obligations are everyone’s responsibility. DAF will run another grasshopper impact survey from early March. It will be available on the FutureBeef website, through participating industry channels and on request.

Mr Millar interjected. Mr SPEAKER: The member for Gregory will cease his interjections. Mr FURNER: The survey will provide valuable feedback— Mr Millar interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Gregory, you are warned under the standing orders. Mr FURNER: I enjoy the cries of adulation from the member for Gregory. Opposition members interjected. Mr FURNER: Once again, more adulation! The survey will provide valuable feedback on what

landholders are experiencing now. Producers are encouraged to record their observations of the levels of grasshopper activity on varying land types and pasture species across their properties so that an estimate of the economic impact can be made. There is currently a solid level of knowledge about locusts, their swarming and the damage they do. However, there is much more to be done and learned about grasshoppers, including their ecology and their life cycles. There is no chemical solution currently on the market that is available to be used for grasshoppers appropriate to broadacre pastures. DAF is urgently investigating potential chemical treatment options with APVMA that could be approved for use under permit. There is ongoing work, but I am advised that there is no off-the-shelf product easily available at this stage. We will continue working with those landholders, with the farmers whom we support throughout Queensland, as we have done in the past and as we will do into the future.

Logan, Road and Transport Infrastructure Mr POWER: My question is to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. Will the minister

update the House on how the Palaszczuk government’s record road and transport budget is benefiting the Logan region, which I am passionate about, and is he aware of any alternative approaches to that funding?

Mr BAILEY: I thank the member for Logan for his question. We have ‘Mr Riverway Drive’, the member for Thuringowa; ‘Mr Stuart Drive’, the member for Mundingburra; and the member for Logan is ‘Mr Mount Lindesay Highway’! We see a record budget in roads and transport in this state under the Labor government with four stimulus packages. We have heard criticism from those opposite, but the fact is that the Palaszczuk Labor government is spending 50 per cent more on road and rail infrastructure than the previous Newman government did. That has allowed us to invest in the Mount Lindesay Highway.

Thanks to the advocacy of the member for Logan, in coming months construction will start on a $75 million four-lane upgrade between Stoney Camp Road and Chambers Flat Road. It is because of this Palaszczuk Labor government that 80 jobs have been created. Using a Queensland contractor means that jobs will flow. It also means that jobs will flow from our completed Mount Lindesay Highway upgrades including the $20 million project at Park Ridge South and through to the next section. The Palaszczuk Labor government’s investment in the Logan region includes other big projects such as the M1 merge upgrade worth $749 million, including the busway; upgrades worth $23 million to the Beenleigh Redland Bay Road; and $175 million in total to the Mount Lindesay Highway. That growth area is getting the infrastructure it needs under this Palaszczuk Labor government.

In the lead-up to the last election we saw those opposite wait and wait until the last minute—two days before the election—to bring down their costings in order to hide them. Why would they hide them until the last minute? It was because we saw a whole lot of cuts that would have impacted all sorts of projects throughout Queensland, including this specific project. The LNP were trying not to let people know that they were going to cut the $175 million upgrade to the Mount Lindesay Highway by hiding

25 Feb 2021 Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 237

their costings until two days before the election. That would have meant 80 jobs gone from Logan. What was also cut was the $28 million upgrade of the Beaudesert Beenleigh Road and the $19½ million upgrade to the Beenleigh Redland Bay Road.

We can see that those opposite have not changed. The Leader of the Opposition says he will be different but I do not see too much difference happening over there, with more cuts to roads and rail proposed in the run-up to the last election. We heard the Leader of the Opposition abuse our health leadership, calling them punch-drunk bureaucrats and abusing them for being power hungry in the middle of the pandemic. We heard the Leader of the Opposition describing our world-leading health response as crawling into the corner with a doona over your head and sucking your thumb. That shows the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition!

(Time expired) Mr SPEAKER: Member for Chatsworth, you are warned under the standing orders. Correct titles

will be used in this chamber.

Townsville, Youth Crime Mr LAST: My question is to the Minister for Police. The Townsville Stronger Communities Action

Group, TSCAG, was launched in 2016 and was supposed to address the youth crime epidemic in Townsville. One reported senior police source says that there has been no measurable success in those five years. What has TSCAG achieved for the people of Townsville?

Mr SPEAKER: Minister, you have one minute to respond. Mr RYAN: We have a holistic investment in Townsville around early intervention services and

prevention services, as well as bolstering the front line. Since coming to power, more than 100 extra police have been put into Townsville to support the good work that they do. One of the strategies that we have been supporting for a number of years is the Townsville Stronger Communities Action Group, which is about bringing together services and allowing them to work together in a targeted way with young people who might be making the wrong decisions in life, working with their families, ensuring that service providers are providing the services necessary and coordinating government activity. It is an important strategy but it is also a strategy that obviously requires constant vigilance. I know that the commissioner, alongside the director-general for the department of youth justice, is ensuring that the model is delivering on outcomes. If changes need to be made those changes will be made because at the end of the day we will never give up when it comes to improving community safety in Townsville.

Mr SPEAKER: The period for question time has expired.

SPEAKER’S STATEMENT

Cameras in Chamber Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to advise the House that the television pool cameras

will be filming in the chamber during the introduction of government bills, as per the protocol to advise members.

YOUTH JUSTICE AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL

Introduction Hon. MT RYAN (Morayfield—ALP) (Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for

Fire and Emergency Services) (11.54 am): I present a bill for an act to amend the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 and the Youth Justice Act 1992 for particular purposes. I table the bill, the explanatory notes and a statement of capability with human rights. I nominate the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee to consider the bill. Tabled paper: Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 [194]. Tabled paper: Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, explanatory notes [195]. Tabled paper: Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, statement of compatibility with human rights [196].

I am pleased to rise, alongside my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, to introduce the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021. My ministerial colleague will speak in more detail during the second reading debate in respect of amendments foreshadowed in this bill to the Youth Justice Act.

238 Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 25 Feb 2021

The government has moved swiftly and decisively in response to the continued risk posed to our community by a cohort of serious and persistent youth offenders. The data shows that around 90 per cent of youth offenders do not repeatedly offend, with many not reoffending after their first interaction with police. While this data is encouraging, the data also shows that there is a cohort of serious recidivist youth offenders, outliers, who are causing significant harm to the community. This cohort of recidivist offenders, representing just 10 per cent of all youth offenders, account for 48 per cent of all youth offending. Combined with the government’s five-point action plan, which has already helped facilitate a 23 per cent drop in the number of young offenders in 2019-20 and a nine per cent reduction in the number of charges, this bill will form an all-round strategy to tackle this cohort of persistent youth offenders.

These youth offenders do not respond to existing law enforcement measures so we are expanding the tools accessible to the police and the courts to target their behaviours and we make no apologies for this tough stance. Police are on the front line daily, putting their lives at risk to keep our communities safe. Notwithstanding that, our police continue to show understanding and compassion to everyone they deal with. It is in their training and it is what they are sworn to do. But they are also sworn to protect the community, to make it a safer place for us every day of their working lives. I know everyone in this place commends and thanks them for their service to the people of Queensland.

This government’s ongoing commitment is to improve safety for all Queenslanders. To deliver on that commitment, the government is taking a responsible and appropriate evidence based course of action through this bill. This bill contains significant reforms that will enhance community safety and the outcomes for young people.

Amendments are being made to the Youth Justice Act 1992 to increase the involvement of a young person’s parent, guardian or other appropriate and responsible person to assist the court or a police officer when making a decision about bail and to support the youth to comply with their bail conditions. The bill will provide for a presumption against bail for youths charged with certain offences while on bail for an indictable offence. In other words, the offender will have to prove to the bail decision-maker that they do not represent a threat to community safety.

The bill will establish bail conditions that can incorporate the use of GPS electronic monitoring as a condition of bail for recidivist youth offenders. This means the court can require an offender aged 16 or 17 to wear a GPS tracker. To strengthen laws in, and the principles of, the Youth Justice Act 1992 relating to bail, the bill will explicitly state that community safety comes first and must be protected from recidivist high-risk offenders. The bill will also put into statute the principle that offending while on bail aggravates the conduct to be considered by a court when imposing a sentence. The youth justice minister will speak further in the second reading debate on these amendments.

It is also important to highlight that a new youth justice committee will provide oversight of the implementation of proposed reforms and constantly monitor the government’s efforts to reduce youth offending. By meeting regularly, this cabinet committee will scrutinise the efforts of government agencies working to enhance community safety and hold youth offenders accountable for the crimes that they commit. This is in addition to the youth justice task force, led by Queensland Police Service Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon, which I previously announced alongside the Premier.

The bill also amends the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 to enhance community safety. In the last two years, police have seen an increase in the number of people charged with unlawful possession of a knife in a public place. This has corresponded with a general increase in knife related crime statewide. The Queensland Police Service advises that youths as young as 10 years of age coming to the attention of police are found in possession of a knife and that this behaviour peaks in the 15- to 16-year-old age cohort. This is supported by research from other jurisdictions. We know there is a tendency for some young people to carry knives in public spaces. This places the community and the youths themselves at risk of serious harm or death. Enabling police to quickly identify and seize these knives not only prevents them being used to cause harm but also creates a strong disincentive for people to carry them in the first place.

It is proposed to strengthen the powers in the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act to enable police to conduct a 12-month trial of the use of metal-detecting wands on members of the public in public spaces in the Gold Coast safe night precincts of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. Safe night precincts are entertainment and socialising hubs where many, particularly young people, like to gather. The high concentration of people in these areas makes any unlawful carrying of knives a particular risk to safety. A trial of these new powers, procedures and overarching safeguards will help the police and the cabinet committee to identify and address any unforeseen impacts. An independent review will also take place after the trial has finished.

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The provisions allow police to use handheld metal-detecting scanners to scan over the exterior of a person’s clothing and belongings to search for the presence of a knife. The scanning is fast and causes very little inconvenience. The amendments will provide that if a person does not submit to a scan, or if they do not comply with a police requirement to produce the item that has caused the scanner to activate, police will then have the power, without a warrant, to search the person for a knife. Also, if a person, having produced an item that was detected after an initial scanning was activated, is scanned a second time and the scanner activates again, police may have a reasonable suspicion to further search the person. Any subsequent search of the person will be conducted under existing provisions and safeguards of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act.

Only an approved senior sergeant, or an officer of at least the rank of inspector, can authorise a wanding period of 12 hours within a public place in a safe night precinct for the purposes of the trial. Any subsequent 12-hour period will require another authorisation. Police will be able to conduct scanning randomly on anyone who is in the designated public place in the prescribed area. They will not need a reasonable suspicion that a person is carrying a knife or doing anything wrong in order to scan them. This way, the scheme provides a deterrent for anyone in these areas to unlawfully carry a knife as they will know there is an increased likelihood of detection and charge. All other people who are scanned will experience very little inconvenience before they are on their way again. We are all used to these types of procedures conducted in airports, at some sporting events and even when we enter courts and government buildings. We are regularly subjected to metal detecting and the X-raying of our possessions to ensure the safety of the greater community.

There will also be important legislative safeguards wrapped around these new scanning powers. The safeguards include ensuring the person to be scanned is offered an information notice advising them of the process to be undertaken. This will ensure the public are clearly informed of the new powers and how they are to be used.

This bill also makes some fundamental changes to laws regarding hooning in this state. Recent tragic events underscore the consequences that result from unsafe driving behaviour. There were 287 fatalities on Queensland roads in the 12 months to the end of January this year. Shockingly, 73 more fatalities occurred in that 12-month period than in the preceding 12 months. Each one of those deaths is a heartbreaking and senseless waste of human potential. Each one of those deaths leaves behind a devastated family and community. These tragedies, and the ripples of devastation that flow from them, should not occur. Many are the result of reckless and unlawful behaviour of individuals.

Hooning is targeted by the Queensland Police Service because it places both the offending drivers and all Queensland road users at significant risk. It is also a category of offence that commonly features in the offending behaviour of recidivist youth offenders. In Queensland, hooning is not a single offence. It is a term that describes a category of offences listed in chapter 4 of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act as type 1 vehicle related offences. Type 1 offences include evading police as well as the following offences where they are committed in the context of a race, speed trial or burnout: dangerous operation of a vehicle; careless driving; taking part in a race or a speed trial; and wilfully driving a motor vehicle to make unnecessary smoke or noise.

We know that hooning is an issue of concern for the community. The number of hooning related traffic complaints received by police has increased by 132 per cent over the last five years. We also know that there are particular problems associated with the enforcement of hooning offences. Hooning offences occur in the context of mass gatherings. It can be a challenge for police to identify individual drivers in those circumstances. That is why on 6 September last year the government announced its commitment to provide the Queensland Police Service with advanced camera technology to assist in their enforcement of hooning offences. At that time, the government also announced its intention to bring to this parliament laws that strengthen the capability of our police to respond to hooning. Today we deliver on that commitment.

The amendments contained in this bill will mean that if a vehicle is identified as committing a type 1 vehicle offence the owner of the vehicle will be held responsible for the offence, except in circumstances where the vehicle is stolen or where the owner can show that another person was driving. Such laws already exist for the type 1 offence of evading police; however, this bill will extend the operation of that scheme to all type 1 offences. Specifically, the amendments will give police the power to serve a type 1 offence notice on the owner of a vehicle that has been identified through footage or through some other means as being involved in a type 1 offence. The owner of the vehicle will be required to respond to the notice by supplying information that will assist police to identify the driver of the vehicle or by declaring that the vehicle was stolen or sold before the offence was committed. Should the owner of the vehicle fail to respond, they will be taken to have committed the offence.

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These amendments will give police the legislative powers they need to enforce the law applicable to these offences that pose a clear risk to the safety of Queensland road users. They will also allow police to take better advantage of the high-tech cameras that the government has provided them.

The government makes no apologies for holding to account the small group in our community that puts all Queensland road users and pedestrians at risk by their reckless and unlawful actions. These amendments will provide a strong and targeted response to these individuals and, by doing so, reduce the risk that innocent Queenslanders will be affected by the tragedy of road trauma as a consequence of their actions.

Finally, the bill will establish a 12-month trial of electronic monitoring for a cohort of young offenders as another measure to keep communities safe. The bill provides the authority for a model of electronic monitoring led by the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, with support from the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Corrective Services. The legislation provides for each agency to have a distinct role in supporting the operation of electronic monitoring conditions once imposed by a court.

Queensland Corrective Services will support the model by remotely monitoring tracking devices 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The bill includes a clear authority for Queensland Corrective Services, at the request of the department of youth justice, to remotely monitor the tracking device, contact the young person by mobile phone and give the department of youth justice and the Queensland Police Service information relating to alerts and notifications from the tracking device. To minimise contact between the adult correctional system and young people, the bill supports a role for Queensland Corrective Services that is limited to remotely monitoring tracking devices and only contacting the young person through phone, including SMS, to verify a notification and/or resolve a minor alert.

Examples of resolving minor alerts include reminding the young person to charge the device and reminding them of their order conditions if they are outside the geographical location requirements of the court order. For higher level alerts, or where low-level alerts cannot be resolved, Queensland Corrective Services will immediately escalate the matter to the department of youth justice and the Queensland Police Service who will decide how to respond. The bill also limits Queensland Corrective Services’ disclosure of information to the department of youth justice and Queensland Police Service. This has been included to protect the confidentiality of young people’s personal information.

This reform package demonstrates the determination of the government to do whatever it takes when it comes to community safety. These are substantial reforms, based on advice from those on the front line, including police and legal and youth justice experts. We are giving the courts and police the further tools they need to deal decisively with this cohort of offenders who represent a danger to the community and themselves. I commend the bill to the House.

First Reading Hon. MT RYAN (Morayfield—ALP) (Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for

Fire and Emergency Services) (12.11 pm): I move— That the bill be now read a first time.

Question put—That the bill be now read a first time. Motion agreed to. Bill read a first time.

Referral to Legal Affairs and Safety Committee Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs Gerber): In accordance with standing order 131, the bill is now

referred to the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY Resumed from 1 December 2020 (see p. 187). Mr WEIR (Condamine—LNP) (12.12 pm): It is with great honour that I rise to deliver a speech on

the address-in-reply in this the 57th Parliament of Queensland. I begin by offering my congratulations to the Speaker, Curtis Pitt, the member for Mulgrave, on being re-elected to the highly regarded position of Speaker of this parliament. I had the privilege during the last term of government to serve as one of the panel of temporary speakers and as a member of the CLA, chaired by the Speaker. During that

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time I was part of a bipartisan parliamentary delegation to Papua New Guinea, led by the Speaker, and had a chance to observe the Speaker’s performance in the various roles of the Speaker—a role in which the Speaker has proven to be a respectful and dignified ambassador for this parliament.

This is the start of my third term as a state member—the third time the voters of Condamine have put their faith in me to be their voice in this the Queensland parliament. This is not something that I take lightly. I will endeavour to repay the confidence the constituency has placed in me throughout this term by advocating for all the issues and concerns that are important to them.

Whilst the overall result of the 2020 election was disappointing for the LNP, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution and dedication of the past leadership team of Deb Frecklington and Tim Mander. They both worked tirelessly and selflessly throughout the term and could not have given more of themselves. There are a number of things that will influence the outcome of an election—timing and fate being two very important parts. This was particularly the case for the 2020 election. The platform that had been built over the first two years suddenly meant little at the beginning of 2020 with the advent of COVID-19. In times of crisis or disaster the public always turn to elected government officials for advice and assistance. This was evident in Queensland.

The difference with the COVID-19 pandemic was that, unlike cyclones, floods, or bushfires, it was an ongoing issue for the entire year and remains so in our community today, and possibly for years to come. This has had a huge impact on the election result. Deb and Tim, you both gave everything to the campaign in the most challenging of conditions and can both hold your heads high. It was just not to be. I must also acknowledge at this time the contribution of the families of both Deb and Tim. It is a huge impost on the families of senior members of a parliamentary team, particularly in the lead-up to an election. Sacrifices were made by both the partners and children of those members.

I offer my congratulations to David Crisafulli, opposition leader, and David Janetzki, deputy opposition leader. I thank them for entrusting me with the very important role of shadow minister for natural resources, mines and energy.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge those members who retired or did not recontest the last election. Whilst retirement was not the reason for the former member for Pumicestone, Simone Wilson, to not recontest, I wish her well in her new career and hope she gets to spend some quality time with her family.

Ted Sorensen, the retiring member for Hervey Bay, was a much loved member of this House—by both sides, I think it is fair to say—and will be missed by all. He was one of the genuine characters to have graced this chamber. Ted gave many years of service to his community, both at the local and state government level. I wish him all the best.

Last but by no means least, there is my old friend Mark McArdle. Mark held many positions over a long and distinguished career. He was a minister, a shadow minister and at one time leader of the Liberal Party. Whilst Lawrence Springborg is known as the father of the LNP for his role as the leader of the National Party in bringing the two parties together—

Mr Stevens: Mark’s the mother. Mr WEIR: Mark McArdle played just as important a role as the leader of the Liberal Party in the

amalgamation of the two parties. In terms of the interjection from the member for Mermaid Beach, I can tell members that I introduced Mark at a function recently and I talked about the amalgamation of the two parties. I said that every wedding needs a bride. He gleefully took that acknowledgement. Mark faced some serious health issue during his time in this place, but his larrikin character continued unabated. My best wishes to him for whatever the future holds.

It is often said that politics is a tough game. This is particularly so for those members who are on the wrong end of an election defeat. Unfortunately, we lost two members in very close contests—Marty Hunt in Nicklin and David Batt in Bundaberg. They were dedicated, hardworking members and this House is the poorer for their absence. David Batt was someone I worked very closely with during the last term as we were on the same committee and became good friends. It was very difficult to see that seat fall by just nine votes. Marty and Batty, I wish you all the best and I sincerely hope that we see you both back in this chamber after the next election in 2024.

It is a massive commitment to stand as a candidate for a state seat and we had many strong, professional candidates across the state who were unsuccessful. Thank you to each and every one of them. I am hopeful many of them are able to recontest in the future. Congratulations to my colleagues who were re-elected this term to continue to fight the good fight as we are elected to do. A special congratulation goes to Amanda Camm for reclaiming the seat of Whitsunday for the LNP.

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As I said at the beginning of this speech, I am truly humbled by the support shown to me by the voters of Condamine. Despite some of the swings we saw across various parts of the state, my primary vote in Condamine increased by 12.85 per cent. Whilst we try to increase our vote at every election, to see such a significant rise was remarkable and a credit to our whole campaign team.

Before I speak more about the issues we campaigned on, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my office staff. Whenever you deal with the public, whether it be in business or politics, the first interaction that you have is at the front counter or a phone call which can define your view of that establishment. It is no different in an electorate office—perhaps even more so due to the many and varied issues we are confronted with.

I believe the courtesy, respectfulness and helpfulness of my staff in responding and dealing with these issues has played no small role in the election result in Condamine. I would like to thank Kylie Fuelling for always going above and beyond in the role of EO. Kylie is always supportive, a great sounding-board for me and professional in all aspects of her work—something I am sure all shadow ministers who have visited the Condamine electorate can attest to. I thank Kieran Wagstaff, who also shared the EO role. Kieran has moved on this year and I wish him well in the new job and his COVID-interrupted wedding plans. Hopefully they will come to fruition for him next week. They have been cancelled due to COVID on about three occasions, I think.

Wendy Sutton and Sandy Cowan share the EA position. I thank them for all they do to ensure the smooth running of the office. Thank you to the campaign committee of Bradley Siddans, Jo Saal, Peter and Sonja Wilson, Frank and Kay Goodall, Ian and Marg Graham, Doug Allen and Greg Johnson. Due to COVID, our campaign meetings were held via Zoom, which everyone soon became quite adept at. There were many others who helped on election day and over the three weeks of pre-poll. I give special thanks to those who contributed financially to the campaign as no campaign can run without funds, and this is becoming increasingly difficult as this Labor government continue to introduce legislation to restrict our capacity to fundraise these necessary funds.

The local campaign was on issues that I have been campaigning and advocating for over a long period of time—some since I was elected. Many of them are issues I have spoken of in this House many times—none more so than the continual failure by this government to support the workers at the New Hope Acland mine by refusing to grant the necessary approvals for stage 3. Many of these workers I have come to know personally. It is very disappointing and distressing when you make the phone call to them after they have been laid off. There are more of those in the pipeline if this approval is not granted in the very near future. This mine will run out of coal long before November, which is the date set for the Land Court hearing.

The Palaszczuk government continues to hide behind the court appeal process, despite the fact that the appeal has nothing whatsoever to do with any environmental impacts. These requirements have all been approved—all ticked off. While this government dithers, workers continue to lose their jobs and not just in Condamine. The refusal to allow stage 3 has also affected people all the way down to the Port of Brisbane. New Hope have stood down a further 70 employees since the state election. How many more will have to go? How many rail workers and workers at the Port of Brisbane will have to go?

Water security is a major issue in the electorate. We are seeing water being trucked into the towns of Cambooya and Clifton. Indeed, at Clifton we are seeing sewage trucked out and water trucked in. It is a totally unacceptable situation. During the election campaign, the then minister came to Toowoomba and stated that the government would be addressing this issue. Madam Deputy Speaker, you can imagine my amazement and disappointment when there was no funding allocated in the recent budget for this critical issue.

The need to secure land in the Westbrook locality for a future high school is an issue that I have been pursuing on behalf of the community. This would ideally be located within the proposed Fernleigh development at Westbrook where all issues such as traffic, drop-off zones and access to ovals and sporting facilities could be fully integrated and incorporated. This project is currently on hold due to issues with Toowoomba Regional Council fees, charges and conditions. One would hope this will be resolved in the near future for the greater good of the community of Westbrook and neighbouring townships.

Many communities in Condamine continue to suffer an increase in hooning, car theft and house break-ins. There is a lack of police presence, and nowhere is this more apparent than the one-officer station at Cambooya. There has not been an officer at Cambooya for several months. The station is

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unmanned. Given the growing population and social issues in the area, this situation is totally unacceptable. The police officers at Drayton are supposed to support the Cambooya community whilst a new officer is appointed. In terms of the geographical location of Cambooya, there is a police station at Drayton, which is over 15 kilometres away; there is a police station at Clifton, which is about 45 kilometres away; and there is one at Helidon and one at Pittsworth. Then we have the heavily populated area in between with not one resident police officer.

The Oakey community are holding a public meeting this Saturday to voice their concerns about crime in their local area. Kingsthorpe, Gowrie and Crows Nest townships all report the same problems with the lack of police presence in their communities.

More funding is needed on many, many other issues in Condamine. One that I would like to particularly note is the Oakey Hospital. The Oakey Hospital has not received any significant funding for many, many years. Due to this lapse, it now has very serious maintenance issues and is well and truly overdue for some very significant funding.

I will continue to fight for and to support the people of Condamine, whether it be about roads, whether it be about policing or whether it be about bad management by government. I consider it a great honour to be returned, and I will do my best to repay that honour that has been bestowed upon me.

Ms PEASE (Lytton—ALP) (12.27 pm): I respectfully acknowledge that we are sitting today on the land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. I thank them, as First Australians, for their careful and thoughtful custodianship of the land over countless generations.

I congratulate the Speaker, Hon. Curtis Pitt, on his re-appointment to this high position in our parliament and thank him for his ongoing service to Queensland. I congratulate the Premier on her re-election. The Premier has led our party with dignity. She has guided us with a calm and measured approach. She has listened to the people of Queensland and made our state a better place to live. With the Premier’s strong leadership, we will continue to be safe and we will continue to recover. The Premier has stood strong. She has listened to expert advice and acted on expert advice. The Premier has remained strong, even when others would seek to bring her down. Because of the Premier’s strength and commitment to Queensland, we are now on a strong path to recovery.

I am deeply honoured to again be given the opportunity to represent the wonderful people of Lytton. I really love the bayside and I look forward to continuing to work hard for my local community. So I thank the people of Lytton for returning me as their local member, and may I say to those in the community who voted for me and for the Australian Labor Party for the very first time: thank you. I appreciate your faith in me and in the Palaszczuk government. I commit to working hard each and every day to earn your vote at the next election.

I also want to thank baysiders. I thank you for your hard work and following the expert advice. I know from firsthand conversations that sometimes this was very hard and sometimes at a great personal cost, but your resilience, thoughtfulness and genuine altruism never ceases to impress me. That is what baysiders do: we always look after each other—always.

I would like to thank the Premier, the leadership team and Dr Young for their commitment to Queenslanders, the job and the sometimes hard decisions they have to make. As a result, they have kept Queenslanders safe and healthy during the global pandemic. I have had so many conversations with locals during the past 12 months or so, and they have all asked me to pass on my thanks to the Premier and Dr Young. I have lost count of the number of times I have had these conversations, so on behalf of my community I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Premier and Dr Young.

Thank you to the many committed and passionate Labor Party members and volunteers on the bayside whose support was integral to the re-election of the Labor government. Your hard work and commitment to the great Labor cause is acknowledged and appreciated. Thanks to Julie-Anne Campbell and Zac Beers for your great work. I would not be standing in this place today without the dedicated commitment and support of many.

To my family I say thank you. Words cannot express my love and gratitude to my husband Peter and my kids, Callum and Audrey; my daughter-in-law Simone; my sisters Catherine and Maureen; my nieces, great-nieces, my in-laws and my great-nephew, who is my next door neighbour. Without you I would not be able to do the job I do. Thanks for being so understanding and accepting of my frequent apologies, late arrivals or no-shows, so thank you and I am sorry. And I am sorry in advance.

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Thanks to my campaign director, Delena Amsters, and to the many bayside Labor Party members and supporters who worked tirelessly during the campaign. There are so many of you who helped; however, I particularly want to mention and thank a few: Wendy Marsh and her grandson Isaac—you are both legends—Dianna, Rebecca and of course the amazing Ann Westlake.

To my sister Maureen I would like to say that there are no words that can express my gratitude for everything that you do for me during the campaign and always. Thank you for your kindness, your thoughtfulness and unending support. You give so freely of your time, you offer great advice and you are an exceptional sounding-board.

Wayne Holmes, another long-term campaigner, was sadly unable to participate in the campaign last year due to ill health. Wayne, thank you for your years of dedication. Wayne proudly holds the record for attending every branch meeting. Even during his hospital stay he still dialled in to meetings. Wayne, we really miss your raffles. Joanne Jackson from my electorate office is my dedicated and loyal AEO and I would not have been able to do any of this without her. Her kindness, empathy and thoughtfulness have touched so much in my community.

I come from a union family, and I grew up understanding and valuing the importance of protecting workers and the benefits of standing up collectively. I respect and admire the work of the union movement in Australia, even more so now, to ensure that working people are protected from exploitation and have a safety net of minimum wages and conditions. This important work continues today. I am the proud member of the Transport Workers Union. I would also like to thank the MUA, SDA, Plumbers Union, AWU and TWU for their support during campaign and of course for their continued and ongoing work protecting their members.

I am proud my family’s long association to service to this great state of Queensland. My great-grandfather, Percy Pease, was elected to represent the then seat of Herbert in 1920 and he remained in office until his death in 1940. I see his and the Forgan Smith government’s legacy each and every day, be it at the Story Bridge or the Wynnum foreshore rock walls, which were built to create jobs using borrowings to create economic growth. Generations of Queenslanders, including myself, have benefitted from this investment by the Smith government and we will continue to do so.

Those infrastructure projects made good economic sense then, just as they do now as we unite and recover in Queensland. The Palaszczuk government is determined to provide an economic environment that gives industries confidence to grow their businesses. This investment has laid the foundations for a sustained recovery so we can seize opportunities to build a strong future. By safeguarding our health, backing small business, growing manufacturing, investing in infrastructure, growing our regions and investing in skills, we will ensure that our vision to protect our health and create jobs whilst working together will be met.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity now to work together to position Queensland for the long term. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our lives upside down but, just as occurred after the global financial crisis, we will come out of this more competitive and positioned for growth. While we have an abundance of natural resources including coal, gas, mineral, solar and wind, our greatest resource of all remains our people—Queenslanders—and our ability to work together. By working together we have the opportunity to build back better and to create a stronger economy than we had before COVID.

Bayside frontline workers, I thank you all. You have stood up to ensure that important services were delivered each and every day. To each of you and to your families I say thank you. When I was first elected in 2015 the people of the bayside wanted to see a government that was prepared to listen to all of the people and work together to build strong communities and a vibrant Queensland, and that is what we have done. I am proud to be part of a government that has listened and delivered important investments which will ensure a bright future for all Queenslanders.

I have spoken many times in this House about the shameful actions of the Newman government that ripped so many services out of the bayside community, including 24-hour primary health care, Child Safety and the department of housing, but probably the cruellest was the closure of our Moreton Bay Nursing Care Unit. Our community protested this closure; however, it fell on deaf ears and 85 residents lost their homes and were relocated with no or little regard to their families’ needs.

A government member: Shame! Ms PEASE: It was shameful. I will take that interjection. Since I was elected I have worked and

been supported by the Palaszczuk government to rebuild our fabulous community, even more so now during the pandemic. Gundu Pa, which means ‘medicines stones place’ in Jandi language, delivers

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outstanding public health services, including a seven-day-a-week, 24-hour-a-day primary care service to the bayside. This health centre continues to grow to meet the growing needs of our community, providing a centralised and modern health precinct that is free, easily accessible and available to all. During COVID it stood up as a fever clinic, and many of the staff were redeployed into contact tracing and hotel quarantine duties. The Wynnum Community Place, which is another organisation I am incredibly proud of, opened its doors in July last year. I am so very proud of this wonderful place where locals can come together to seek advice and support.

We cleaned up the Wynnum Creek by removing old derelict boats which have been an eyesore for so many years. I will continue to work with the community through the War on Wrecks task force to ensure the health of all local waterways and our environment. In fact, if you are free on Saturday morning, 6 March, at seven o’clock—nice and early—we have a Clean Up Wynnum Creek day. I have gumboots and gloves, so pop on down. There will be a barbecue and Jack’s Ice Cream will be there as well.

We are a government that is prepared to invest in small business, in people, in new technologies and new ideas. The bayside is full of innovative women and men who are busily developing new ideas and technologies. From health equipment to drones, from governance to accounting systems, to shared and social enterprise, these all have been supported through our government’s support for small business grants and initiatives. I am so very proud of all of our local businesses, and I recognise their contribution to the bayside. We all benefit from supporting our local businesses. Small local businesses are the backbone of our economy and our community, because they are often our first job and they are always ready to make a donation to support a local fete, school or community groups, all while working long hours to provide a service. May I again acknowledge the great work they have done during COVID to step up and follow guidelines as required.

So many people of the Lytton electorate are involved in its communal life. The Palaszczuk government recognises the importance of working in partnership with industry and business to create employment opportunities. It also recognises that a healthy, vibrant state is not created simply through an effective economic formula. My electorate is made up of a diverse range of people from many backgrounds, age groups and skill sets, all of whom have the capacity to contribute to the wellbeing of our great electorate in a multitude of ways.

I am justifiably proud of the mighty Wynnum Manly Seagulls, who had a very quiet 2020 season, but last weekend they stepped up against the Broncos in a trial game. The Wynnum Manly Juniors had an exceptional 2020 season and I congratulate all of the teams: the Bugs, Bayside United Soccer Club, Wynnum Manly Cricket, Wynnum Wolves—who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year—Wynnum Vikings and the Ladybugs. Of course I am also proud of our hardworking environmental groups and the vast array of activities across the electorate as well as a new and exciting entrant to the field, the Wynnum Fringe Festival.

Tom Oliver came to me during the COVID pandemic pitching an idea regarding a festival. In the words of the famous Paul Kelly, ‘from little things, big things grow’. With an $80,000 grant from the Queensland government and financial support from many local community organisations such as Margaret Vote of Raine & Horne, Quandamooka Festival, Wynnum Seafood Festival, Wynnum Manly Events, Wynnum Up Late, Wynnum Councillor Peter Cumming and of course myself, we were treated to a weekend of performances from artists, many of whom had not worked since March of last year. This all took place in November last year.

Baysiders supported this terrific event and turned out to enjoy the various shows—from the smoking ceremony at Greene Park to Sizzle on Pandanus Beach, and the many shows in the Wynnum Opera House and Winston Churchill Hall. It was great work by Tom and his team of volunteers—and there were many, including my husband, who was there from the opening at Friday lunchtime right through to the end on Sunday. Thanks to the baysiders who supported this event which brought business to Wynnum. At least three businesses have stated openly that their sales over that weekend recouped all of their losses during COVID.

The Wynnum Manly Leagues Club commitment to the bayside continues with a $13 million refurbishment of the club. That has continued during COVID so many people have been employed during that refurbishment. I was thrilled to help them lay turf on the mighty hallowed Kougari Oval, and may I say that the particular patch that I laid is looking sensational. This investment will see a refreshed club for all the community to enjoy, with improved dining and function facilities and an updated coffee shop. The club employs well over 100 locals and invests millions into our local economy and supports many local schools, clubs and community groups.

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To our local groups—such as Mercury Theatre, Savoyards, WROCCS, the Bayside Woodturners and Woodcrafters club, the Wynnum, Manly and Districts Men’s Shed, the Wynnum Manly Historical Society, the Eastern District Orchid Society, Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club, Wynnum Manly Leagues Club and our local sailing clubs, such as Wynnum Manly Yacht Club, Darling Point, Royal Queensland and Sailability—you all serve to connect baysiders by tapping into our creativity, skills and interests to ensure that ours is a healthy, caring and vibrant community and that no-one needs to live in isolation. I say thank you, and even more so during COVID.

As I have said, I am so grateful to baysiders for putting their trust in me as their representative again. I will work hard for you each and every single day. 2020 was a tough year for a lot of baysiders, but I am so proud of the community spirit that always shines through on the bayside. One example was the BMD Group and their donation of laptops for Brisbane Bayside State College and Darling Point Special School and the mighty MUA which, together with their workers, raised over $5,000 and made donations of stationery, devices and food to local families in need. I was able to distribute that through our local state schools to support vulnerable students and families—because, as I said, that is what baysiders do. We look after each other always.

Queensland’s strong health response means we can stay focused on our economic recovery: building infrastructure, creating jobs and investing in the front line. I will be rolling up my sleeves to make sure the bayside gets what it deserves. That means creating jobs for locals by investing in infrastructure and supporting industry, local manufacturers and small businesses as part of our economic recovery plan. I am passionate about making sure every child can learn in the best facilities, so I will continue to deliver upgrades to bayside schools. That includes $200,000 to upgrade amenities at Manly West State School, upgrades at Wynnum West State School and Wondall Outside School Hours Care, as well as the ongoing air-conditioning upgrades to all state school classrooms, libraries and staffrooms.

We are also expanding Redland Hospital, including a new ICU and 32-bed ward, as well as 713 undercover parking spaces, meaning more baysiders will have access to a world-class hospital closer to home. I am also thrilled to be working with WINNAM, our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander co-op, to turn the site of the old Wynnum Hospital into an integrated Indigenous, health and aged-care facility. I will continue to support our fabulous Wynnum-Manly Community Health Centre, Gundu Pa.

The Palaszczuk government is delivering $40 million for an overhaul and accessibility upgrades at Lindum station. It will see lifts installed as well as a new footbridge, a park-and-ride expansion, bike parking and platform raising. I look forward to continuing to work with all levels of government, and I call on the Brisbane City Council to get on with the job of improving the road networks around the station which was outlined in the technical study.

As I have already mentioned, we are incredibly fortunate on the bayside to have so many fantastic clubs and organisations that tie our community together. I will keep working every day to bring them the funding and support they need. I secured $1 million for the redevelopment at the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club and $300,000 for the Wynnum Manly Juniors, just to name a couple. Manly’s Coast Guard—which looks after all of the people who go out on the bay, the QF2 squadron—do an incredible job to keep local boaties safe, but I know how hard fundraising is, particularly during COVID. Therefore, I am delighted that we will provide Queensland’s marine rescue services with a $35 million funding package to replace ageing vessels and better integrate marine rescue services across the state. They are just a few of the things I am working on for locals.

We have achieved so much over the past few years, but there is still much more to do. Our government is ready to do this work and I look forward to working with baysiders. I reaffirm my commitment to the Palaszczuk government and to the people of my electorate. I pledge to my electorate that I will continue to listen to their concerns and work with them to achieve for our local community. I look forward to serving them during this term in government. Like those who have spoken before me, family has played a significant role for me standing in this place, and I reaffirm my thanks and love to them.

Ms LEAHY (Warrego—LNP) (12.44 pm): It is my pleasure to rise and speak on the address-in-reply debate. Firstly, I pass onto His Excellency the Governor Paul de Jersey my best wishes on behalf of the parliament and my disappointment with the time it has taken for the parliament to work their way through this address-in-reply. Further, I look forward to His Excellency’s continued visits to my electorate, especially those communities such as Hungerford who received their first ever visit from a Queensland governor. I wish to thank the voters of the Warrego electorate for putting their faith in me

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to represent their interests and goals for the forthcoming four-year term. I also wish to thank the hundreds of volunteers and supporters who helped out on pre polls at the election and on the election day across my electorate. It is a logistical exercise in an electorate larger than Victoria.

I would also like to thank my electorate office staff: Gerardine, who mans the second office in Dalby on her own; Shannon, who stepped into the role bravely during the election; and Paige, who whilst pregnant dealt with many election and constituent inquiries. We all wish Paige the very best for the birth of her second child in March.

As I stood in this House two terms ago to make my maiden speech, I did so as the first woman elected to the state seat of Warrego since Federation. With the support of my constituents, I stand here today making history as the first woman ever elected for three consecutive terms since Federation as the member for Warrego. I wish to thank Deb Frecklington and Tim Mander—and particularly their families for what they have done to support Tim and Deb—for the service that Tim and Deb have given their respective leadership roles in the last parliament and the work they have done for Queenslanders across this state. I also extend my congratulations to David Crisafulli and David Janetzki on their election to the position of Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Opposition. I admire them both for taking on these leadership roles. I look forward to working with them and holding the Labor government to account.

It is a privilege to serve as a shadow minister in the LNP shadow cabinet. It is an honour again to work with Queensland local governments in an expanded role as the shadow minister for local government, disaster recovery and volunteers. I have developed many relationships and good friends with mayors and councillors and their staff in the local government sector across the state, regardless of what their politics might be. I look forward to continuing these relationships and working with the newly elected mayors and councillors who have taken up their first term after the 2020 local government elections.

I take the appointment as the shadow minister for disaster recovery very personally due to the 2010 and 2012 Roma floods. Natural disasters and Queensland seem to go hand in hand. Queenslanders certainly receive probably a little bit more than their fair share. There are always ways to minimise the impacts of these disasters and make lives safer for Queenslanders. There needs to be a strong focus on disaster prevention to minimise the impacts that Queenslanders so often feel. For too long, communities have experienced the high cost of insurance—and I know about that personally after floods—and mitigation and prevention is one way to help drive down those insurance costs for mums and dads, especially those who are paying disproportionate costs in North Queensland, that is if they can get insurance at all. Prevention has a much lower cost financially and on human capital than recovery. I note there are predictions of a strong cyclone season in Queensland—so far, so good. However, I always remind people that the devastating Charleville flood was in April 1990. I hope many parts of Queensland receive drought-breaking rains for the areas that have so far missed out but I hope the damage is minimal.

I will now turn to some issues across my electorate. I wish to draw the attention of the House to some of the problems that occurred at the state election in October in the electorate of Warrego. The polling booths of Mungindi and Dirranbandi were closed at short notice just before election day, despite being advertised polling booths. There is no public transport to the next closest available polling booth at Thallon and the travel time is about half an hour or 45 minutes.

It was disappointing that the only place to find this information about these closed booths was buried in a press release on the Electoral Commission’s website. That is not very helpful to communities and to people who want to vote, especially when they do not have a local newspaper. Further, in the Warrego electorate there were more postal ballots rejected by the Electoral Commission for not being sealed, signed or witnessed than there were informal ballots. Across Queensland there were some 57,000 postal ballots that were rejected.

What disappoints most is that these rejected postal ballots are not reported in the same manner as informal ballots. Without reporting a rejected ballot, the electoral voting system is lacking transparency and transparency brings about public confidence in the electoral system. Those 57,000 Queenslanders would have thought they were providing a valid postal vote only to now find that it has been rejected. Without public reporting of these rejected ballots, there is no way to benchmark if this number is increasing or decreasing.

COVID has placed a strong focus on cleaning and sanitisation, and I think that is a good thing. Particularly in public buildings and in the community this is welcomed. I am, however, disappointed that this Labor government talks about a world-class health system and then fails to support regional

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hospitals to meet the expectations of general cleanliness. I received this email from a mum with a sick child who visited the COVID isolation room in the Dalby Hospital on Monday this week during the latest heatwave when it was 37 degrees. Her email said— My son and I had to be in yesterday afternoon 22nd February 2021.

Bed wasn’t made mouse droppings were on it.

Bed wasn’t working couldn’t get the side down it was stuck up. Bed had rusted.

Dead bugs grasshoppers dirty cotton buds on the floors.

Air con not working.

Table all bent up and broken.

Sticky stuff all over the walls.

Light doesn’t even work and what looks like a water leak.

3 different people were notified, 2 nurses and the doctor.

The nurses shrugged it off and the doctor told me it would be cleaned after I left.

There was no circulation and the room felt like an oven, I had to open the back door just for a bit of breeze, then we ended up covered in flys. Waited for an hour before my son was given pain relief or a cold cloth.

This is a busy regional hospital. The doctors, nurses and staff want to deliver a world-class hospital system. However, to do so, they need to be better supported by the Palaszczuk Labor government, especially at the Dalby Hospital. It is another example where this Labor government say one thing then do nothing to support the regional hospital staff and patients. It is just not good enough.

Another matter that is causing concern across my electorate is that of the drought. The drought is not over in many parts. It may have been overtaken by other issues. However, many landholders and communities have only just received some relief rains. I note that there are numerous photos on social media which actually show that there are significant issues and also green droughts across the electorate. There are some good patches where there have been some isolated rainfalls and there are some still in dire straits. It is hard to explain that green drought, and I know that people at Quilpie had difficulty trying to explain it to the Prime Minister. It is where enough rain falls to grow some grass and it looks green, but there is not enough to refill the dams and run the creeks. Those people will be short of water going into this winter.

That also brings me to the issue of drought declarations that rely on advice from local drought committees. These local drought committees provide advice to the state government about whether an area or a local government should be removed from the drought declared list—and pretty much all of my electorate is on that drought declared list. They will consider these declarations on an annual basis, usually in April. What is very concerning for producers, particularly those who have missed out or are in a patchy area where rain has fallen in some parts but not others, is that once the current drought declaration is revoked, the fodder and water freight subsidies will cease on the revocation of the current drought declarations.

The Queensland government clearly said in their response to the drought program review, which they initiated, that they supported the recommendation to remove these subsidies. I say to all producers: if you have not got your applications in for DRAS assistance it would be highly advisable to do so before these subsidies cease. I say to producers in the drought declared areas of my electorate and across the rest of the state: apply for these drought subsidies while you can because after the annual review in April these subsidies could well and truly be gone.

I was pleased that the Palaszczuk Labor government finally found a road west of the Great Dividing Range in their election campaign. They called it the ‘inland Bruce’. One thing for sure is that it is certainly well inland of the Bruce Highway—about 600 kilometres. I will be keeping a watching brief on this Labor government commitment given there was no 80 per cent funding commitment from the Commonwealth for Labor’s second Bruce. The state Labor government funding is mostly in the forward estimates beyond 2023-24. I am not holding my breath for a passing lane in the short term or any upgrades in the near future. However, if the state are serious about upgrading this road, they could reinstate the 110-kilometre-per-hour zone from Surat to St George which they removed. This road is now wider and safer than when the speed limit was 110 kilometres per hour and it makes sense to reinstate this speed zone for cars.

I will continue to remind the Palaszczuk Labor government of the other roads in the electorate that are in need of safety upgrades and repairs, and there are plenty of them. The single-lane bitumen roads are getting narrower and narrower every day under this Labor government. The bike tracks in

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some of the electorates in Brisbane are probably wider than some of these single-lane bitumen roads that B-doubles drive over in my electorate. The Roma Condamine Road is one such road where B-doubles filled with grain travel one way to feedlots while B-doubles of cattle travel in the opposite direction. I guarantee—I drove it the other day—that that single-lane bitumen road is not as wide as some of the bike tracks in Brisbane. Many of these roads have school bus runs like the Meandarra Talwood Road and the Jackson Wandoan Road. I will continue to advocate at every opportunity for the need to increase the maintenance of these roads with priority given to the sections where these school bus routes operate.

Whilst mentioning the Jackson Wandoan Road, there is $250,000 to be spent on planning for the intersection with the Warrego Highway. I have to say that that is needed sooner rather than later because I really do not want to see that intersection become a black spot. Up to 30 June 2020 the Labor government has spent $9,000 on two white survey pegs. They must be the most expensive survey pegs ever owned by a government. An amount of $250,000 for intersection planning does seem to be a bit excessive. We are yet to hear if this will result in a much needed slip lane turning north on the Jackson Wandoan Road.

When it comes to the intersection of local roads and the Landsborough Highway at Augathella, the Augathella Progress Association and I will continue to fight for safety upgrades. My parliamentary colleague and I have actually been out there and stood there. If that intersection were in Brisbane, it would have been upgraded by now. It is incredibly dangerous. I am pleased that the Murweh Shire Council are strong in their support for this safety upgrade. I will do everything I can to assist the council and the community to increase the safety at this intersection on the Landsborough Highway.

Mr Krause: It is dangerous.

Ms LEAHY: It is dangerous; I take that interjection. There are many other roads like the Warry Gate Road, the Bollon to St George road to name a few that need sealing and maintenance.

I am pleased we are now seeing an increase in residential property sales in my electorate. Around Tara I am advised that 50 properties have been sold during 2020 and new people are moving to the district. The local agent advised that she has not seen this number of sales for a long time. Despite 2020 being a difficult year, finally the Tara district is reaping some benefits.

The local South West reports that a local agent in Roma sold 21 properties in the month of December 2020. In fact, she said that only 21 were sold for the whole of 2019. The agents are saying that the break in the season, the high cattle prices and the bargain basement interest rates have been assisting a strong property market across the rural industry, and that is a very positive thing for my electorate. Many of the residential sales are locals returning. We are also getting some long-term gas workers and contractors with the gas industry settling and buying homes. It has been a long fight to actually get those people and the contractors in that industry to not just buy local but to live locally as well. We are starting to see some of the changes and the things that we put in place with closing down camps actually starting to bring benefits to communities.

This, however, does cause some difficulty in the availability of rental properties in communities like St George, Roma and Dalby. The rental market is tight and that makes it difficult for local businesses that have jobs and wish to encourage people to move to these communities for these jobs. Across the communities of the south-west we have jobs. We have professional positions and blue-collar jobs. I popped the Roma postcode into Seek and it came up with 159 positions. It was a similar story for St George, 115 jobs; and Dalby, 239 jobs. We have plenty of work across the south-west. We need more people to come and fill these jobs. Sometimes there are no applicants for professional positions. It makes it very difficult for childcare providers to actually provide child care when they do not get applicants for positions that they advertise. Many of these positions are full-time permanent with good salaries, and the communities have a very high livability for young professionals and young families across these regional communities.

In Roma, St George and Dirranbandi, communities are all establishing country university centres. These country universities offer a campus life environment for students studying by distance: space, computers, videoconferencing facilities and a tutor to assist with general academic skills. They are a great boost to these—

Debate, on motion of Ms Leahy, adjourned.

Sitting suspended from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm.

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PRIVATE MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Gold Coast, Hooning Mr CRANDON (Coomera—LNP) (2.00 pm): When is this government going to do something

about hooning? That is the question being posed to me time and time again. That brings me to the nub of it: when will we see the legislation that will give police the tools they need—

Mr RYAN: Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Just after question time I introduced a bill into this House introducing hoon laws. I seek your ruling that this is anticipating the debate on that bill.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Kelly): Member for Coomera, there is a bill before the House in relation to hooning. It is somewhat narrow in terms of the provisions of that bill. You are able to continue talking about the topic generally, but you must be careful not to stray into the area that pertains to the bill. We will be listening carefully and will provide some guidance if required.

Mr CRANDON: Thank you for your guidance, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will start again. When will we see some legislation? I now hear from the Minister for Police that that was introduced after question time today. I look forward to reading the material. I hope that it will give the police and the courts the tools they need and that ultimately it will give the people living in our community some respite from this ever-increasing issue.

When will we see the extra police we need on the northern Gold Coast? Finally, after intense lobbying, the new police station is being fast-tracked and will be delivered in November this year, but there has been no commitment as to how many additional police there will be. Although that question has been asked several times, we still have no commitment in relation to the number of additional police for the northern Gold Coast.

The hooning issue is at a crisis point on the northern Gold Coast. Last Saturday night was just another example. Out in the canelands, hundreds of people and cars were terrorising honest, law-abiding people. This email is one of many that I have received from one of my constituents. It states— Hi, I live at Woongoolba with a young family and we constantly get terrorised by hooning idiots every weekend. Last night was out of control with hundreds of people in cars blocking the Staplyton-Jacobs Well Road and Norwell road intersection doing burnouts. Something needs to be done before one of these idiots kill themselves or even worse they kill someone innocent just like the couple killed a few weeks ago at Alex Hills ... I’ve attached a link to a video—

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member, just yesterday I provided some guidance to the House in relation to the incident that you just referred to. Members need to be extremely cautious when discussing that matter because it is sub judice and you may offend the standing orders of the parliament as well as jeopardise the matters before the court. I ask you to be very careful and mindful of that direction yesterday.

Mr CRANDON: Thank you. The email continues— I’ve attached a link to a video from last night of a family trying to get home through this. It went on for over an hour and a half and not a single police car turned up even after being reported by many residents.

That is absolutely true. Police were busy doing other work. We do not have enough police officers on the northern Gold Coast to attend to these matters as well as all of the other domestic violence and other matters.

New Haven Funerals has also written to me. They are desperate to do something. New Haven Funerals has the contract with the state to go to fatalities around the place, and it wants something done as well. New Haven Funerals is calling on this government to do something in relation to the matter of hooning but also the matter of police in the northern Gold Coast.

Gympie Bypass Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (2.05 pm): Last night

the member for South Brisbane stood in this place and knowingly repeated false claims about the government’s dealings with the Kabi Kabi people and cultural heritage issues on the Gympie bypass project. I am advised that during the cultural heritage process for the Gympie bypass one individual raised a claim of Aboriginal cultural heritage on an area known as Rocky Ridge. My department has worked closely with the Kabi Kabi people since 2014, carrying out studies at Rocky Ridge, including comprehensive cultural heritage surveys based on their feedback and long association with this region.

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All claims of cultural heritage at the site have been thoroughly investigated, with reports going back to 1976. No tangible evidence of Aboriginal cultural heritage has been found at the site. The Kabi Kabi traditional owner group is the native title claim group and registered Aboriginal party for the area which represents the interests of the Kabi Kabi people. A cultural heritage management plan with the Kabi Kabi traditional owner group was endorsed in 2018. I met with representatives of the Kabi Kabi people, including elders, and they expressed faith in the process and its outcomes.

When no tangible evidence of Aboriginal cultural heritage was found, the individual who made the original claim over the site broadened their claim to a much larger area. I am advised that the name Djaki Kundu has only recently come into use in respect of the Rocky Ridge site. I am also advised that the individual involved in the claims over the Rocky Ridge site has met with the member for South Brisbane and members of the Greens party. The same individual was also involved in an unsuccessful Supreme Court action to stop work on the Gympie bypass.

I invited the member for South Brisbane and her party colleague to a detailed briefing from my department on these matters on 17 February. I also attended, and the facts relating to this matter were fully provided. The member was given every opportunity to ask questions of a cultural heritage expert working in the department. During that meeting I was stunned to hear the member question the legitimacy of the Kabi Kabi traditional owners’ native title claim. When I asked the member whether she had met with them, she confirmed that she had not. Despite knowing the facts, the member came into this place last night and made deeply offensive remarks about dispossession and about an alleged failure to listen and falsely claiming belittling and delegitimising of Kabi Kabi people. The government is committed to working closely with traditional owners and preserving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage.

It is clear the Greens party and the member for South Brisbane are exploiting First Nation people for their own political purposes. In doing so, the member for South Brisbane and her Greens party colleagues are actively undermining the proper role and functions of the registered traditional owner group that gives a voice to the Kabi Kabi people. The member for South Brisbane has been given the chance to hear them speak and to learn but has so far chosen not to. I cannot recall a clearer example of such political hypocrisy and opportunism from the Greens party. The government believes in and supports the native title process. We believe in working in consensus. For the benefit of the public, I table a letter from me to the Greens party and a letter from the member. Tabled paper: Letter, dated 25 February 2021, from the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Hon. Mark Bailey, to the member for South Brisbane, Dr Amy MacMahon MP, regarding the Gympie Bypass project [197]. Tabled paper: Letter, dated 22 January 2021, from the member for Maiwar, Mr Michael Berkman MP, to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Hon. Mark Bailey, and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Hon. Craig Crawford, titled ‘protect the Djaki Kundu’ [198].

(Time expired)

Coronavirus, Vaccine Ms BATES (Mudgeeraba—LNP) (2.08 pm): With the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in

Queensland on Monday came the arrival of a new sense of hope and optimism that has not been felt across the state in some time. The rollout of these vaccines heralds a new stage in the fight against this virus. It is a shot in the arm for Queensland’s economic hopes and the hopes of families and friends around the state and the country that they can soon reunite with those dearest to them. We know that the vaccine is a giant leap in the right direction towards restoring normalcy in our life. With that in mind, there should be no barrier for those wanting the vaccine to get it.

The fact that the vaccine has been made available free of charge by the Commonwealth government to anyone in Australia, even those who are not citizens and residents, is a truly wonderful initiative. What should not be a barrier to getting the vaccine is the cost of parking, but regrettably this is a factor for many people and it is the state government led by Annastacia Palaszczuk that is responsible. I have been on the record consistently pleading with the government to take action on the exorbitant parking fees at our state’s public hospitals, particularly on the Gold Coast where constituents of the Mudgeeraba electorate face eye-watering parking prices at the Gold Coast University Hospital. I have long been concerned that these prices may deter people from seeking out medical care. Unfortunately, this issue has come home to roost at a time when access to a groundbreaking vaccine is more important than ever. It is a sad indictment on the state government that this could be the case.

Frontline health workers are those at the top of the queue for receiving the first doses of the vaccine, and rightly so. Without hesitation, across the state healthcare workers stood up in the most trying of circumstances and risked their all in continuing to serve us in the face of the pandemic. I have the greatest admiration for these staff. It might surprise many in the community to hear that these staff

252 Private Members’ Statements 25 Feb 2021

do not receive any reprieve when it comes to hospital parking. My office was being told during the height of the pandemic that staff at the university hospital were paying nearly $300 a week in parking and union fees. That is just not on. When he was the health minister, the Deputy Premier was not willing to take a commonsense look at this issue and engage with car park operators to negotiate a fairer rate.

It is now at the feet of the current health minister, the member for Redcliffe, to step up and ensure that patients and Queensland’s frontline staff are not being slugged unreasonable amounts of money for parking at our public hospitals. There should not be anything stopping Queenslanders wanting to get the vaccine, least of all parking fees.

Anzac Day; Fall of Singapore, Commemoration Mr MELLISH (Aspley—ALP) (2.11 pm): I was so pleased with the Premier’s announcement

earlier this week that Anzac Day is good to go in 2021. Queensland’s Anzac Day commemorations will proceed as normal in 2021. The Premier asked me to look into this issue and we have managed to secure a great outcome for Queensland veterans and the wider community. We looked at a range of options—even looking at whether we could use stadiums in Brisbane and around the state—and what we have landed on, on the advice of the Chief Health Officer, is a great outcome—Anzac Day just like it is 2019. We are able to do this because of the fantastic work of Queenslanders in getting tested when they are feeling a bit crook and keeping up social distancing and scanning QR codes when they go in and out of pubs—all measures that we have had to live with over the last year or so.

Last year on Anzac Day there were over 270 active cases in Queensland. This year right at the moment there are fewer than 10 and there has been no community transmission for over a month. Victoria cannot do what we can and it is still unknown what New South Wales is doing, but two months out it is great that we can make this announcement. Outdoor events including dawn services, marches and later services will proceed without the need for check-in procedures. Indoor events such as at RSL clubs will require sign-ins as per normal. I sincerely thank Tony Ferris, RSL Queensland President—

Mr Ryan interjected. Mr MELLISH: I take that interjection. I thank him and also RSL south-eastern subbranch president

Kerry Gallagher for their dealings with me on this matter. As Tony said— The RSL is overjoyed. The communities and our veterans will be able to step out with their comrades so a great day for Queensland.

Kerry Gallagher said— Veterans get together one day a year and march down the streets of their town, the one they gave service to, and be able to catch up with their mates ...

I also commend Tony and RSL Queensland for their Light Up the Dawn initiative in 2020 which will continue. It was a great way for people to pay their respects at home, and I know plenty of members in the chamber did just that.

On a related matter, I recently had the real honour to be at the commemoration service for the 79th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore to Japan. Because of the sacrifice of those brave Australians who served in the Pacific War, we are able to enjoy the freedoms we do today. My own grandfather served in the 2nd/10th Field Regiment and was captured in Singapore and spent more than three years in Changi Prison and in atrocious conditions on the Burma Railway, so I was especially honoured to be able to lay a wreath on behalf of the state government for him, his fellow soldiers and their mates who did not make it home. Libby Parkinson, the event organiser, does a fantastic job every year. Her own father was captured in Singapore, and maybe he and my grandfather were mates or at least knew each other.

While I was there I had the chance to drop into the restored galleries at Anzac Square which really are fantastic if anyone has the chance to drop by. They are of course underneath the Shrine of Remembrance off to the side of one of the underground entries to Central station. There are great interactive exhibits with really helpful and knowledgeable staff. If anyone walks past every day on their way to work, they should do themselves a favour and drop in.

Nanango Electorate, Reef Regulations Mrs FRECKLINGTON (Nanango—LNP) (2.14 pm): On Tuesday, 9 February over 200 people

attended a meeting in Kingaroy to understand how the looming reef regulations will affect primary producers across the Burnett and South Burnett region. I was so pleased to be able to attend the meeting and I want to emphasise that this was the biggest turnout so far of any of the consultations held in any of the reef catchments from the cape down about these impending regulations. The turnout

25 Feb 2021 Private Members’ Statements 253

really demonstrated the high level of anxiety and concern in this community. Every primary producer in the South Burnett and western Gympie regions of the electorate will be affected by these regulations. I commend those who attended and asked excellent questions about how these regulations will be implemented and what level of compliance will be undertaken.

My community also challenged the strange scenario where the rules are different for each producer depending on whether you are growing a commercial crop or growing a fodder crop, not to mention that there will be a fee of up to $870 just to apply. Above everything else, the main question was why is the South Burnett region even included in this legislation—and I ask on their behalf—and how often does water from the South Burnett and west Gympie regions actually reach the ocean? It was a question that representatives from the Office of the Great Barrier Reef were simply unable to answer. When these laws moved through the parliament in September 2019, the LNP proposed amendments to introduce at least a 10-year grace period for the Burnett-Mary catchment area, but that was rejected by the Palaszczuk government. I appeal again to the Palaszczuk government: please reconsider removing or delaying these regions of the South Burnett and western Gympie areas from the reef regulations. These one-size-fits-all regulations should not be imposed on primary producers in these areas.

I also want to mention my recent visit to the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council. The Cherbourg community is located within my electorate and it was so great to catch up with Mayor Elvie Sandow, Deputy Mayor Tom Langton, CEO Zala and council staff Sam Murray, Edwina Stewart and Sean Nicholson. It was excellent to hear about their future plans for Cherbourg and to see the work being undertaken to revitalise the township, including the well developed vision for the new council administration building. As they have described it, this will be a game changer for the community. It has been designated as a priority project for the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils and will provide new space and new hope for Cherbourg. Given that Mayor Elvie has given up her office so other staff can have an office, I will be backing this project.

Maternity Services Ms PUGH (Mount Ommaney—ALP) (2.17 pm): Mr Deputy Speaker Kelly, I am not sure how your

new year’s was, but mine was huge! I pulled an all-nighter, but instead of a hangover I got an adorable baby. Elyse Annastacia Speechley Pugh was born at 10.37, or thereabouts, at the Mater Mother’s on New Year’s Day. She was 11 days overdue and she still needed a lot of persuasion from the staff and me. She is a very little lady with a big personality and even bigger shoes to fill. I want to thank my amazing midwives on shift that night—Erica and Leanne—who worked with me in the shower, in the bath and on the ball. We are so lucky in Queensland to have amazing midwives like these women in our hospitals, and I just happened to get these two superstars. Nothing fazed Leanne, who was the first midwife. She is a mum of five herself. She was totally on board with my birth plan and she was really respectful and absolutely incredible.

Being a midwife means being there for the most emotional day of somebody’s life. It is not a job; it is a calling, and I was incredibly lucky. Leanne and Erica were also great with my husband, Talbot. He is a first-time dad and it was a huge day for him. Being a support person is a really tough gig—it is almost as tough as having a baby—and I was incredibly lucky to have Talbot there for the birth of our daughter. Also in my support team I had Paris Jacobs, a local midwifery student. She followed me throughout my pregnancy as part of her degree. She will be an amazing midwife when she qualifies, so I encourage any expectant parents to consider adopting their own student midwife to help the next generation of midwives get their degrees. Centenary mums, Paris is a Centenary local and I can highly recommend her firsthand. I want to thank my GP and the midwives at my local medical practice, Grow Medical, who provided me with in-community care throughout my pregnancy. When we realised that Elyse was not growing as quickly as we would have liked, they helped me work through those issues.

Elyse decided that she really liked hospital. She wanted to go back. A few weekends ago, as she had not regained her birth weight by six weeks, we presented to the Children’s Hospital on the advice of our paediatrician. Again the staff were simply amazing. In one day we saw an ENT, a radiologist, a paediatrician and a lactation consultant. There may have been more. It was really busy. By Sunday morning we had a diagnosis of laryngomalacia, which is floppy airways, which is why she snorts—I am sure all members have heard her! We were allowed to go home with a management plan and Elyse is now steadily gaining weight.

What could have been a really scary and upsetting experience as new parents was made much easier by the wraparound support I received from all my public healthcare providers. As a parent, and as an MP, I feel very lucky that we have such a wonderful facility in Queensland for our community.

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Being pregnant during a pandemic was really interesting. Our entire health system adapted beautifully. I remember getting 13HEALTH advice about a COVID test from a fantastic nurse called Elyse. We are lucky to have this facility. I thank my community for their support at this exciting time.

Moggill Electorate, Infrastructure Dr ROWAN (Moggill—LNP) (2.20 pm): After six years of excuses, delays and inaction by the

Palaszczuk state Labor government to provide vital school, road, public transport and community infrastructure for the western suburbs of Brisbane, local residents are wanting to see decisive action by the re-elected state Labor government to address these issues. With respect to Moggill Road and public transport infrastructure, for years Labor has been nothing but a roadblock when it comes to comprehensively busting traffic congestion in the electorate of Moggill and across the western suburbs of Brisbane. It was only due to my consistent advocacy in 2019, and that of the federal member for Ryan, Julian Simmonds MP, that federal funding of $12.5 million was secured for the upgrade of the Kenmore roundabout which the state Labor government belatedly matched with an additional $12.5 million following my relentless advocacy on this issue.

Despite Labor promising my local community that they would be consulted on this upgrade before Christmas last year, it was only last week that I was formally briefed on the Labor state government’s draft design for upgrading the Kenmore roundabout and the associated section of Moggill Road. I wish to be clear: Labor’s draft design has significant impacts for local businesses, key stakeholders and all residents and I certainly have a number of serious concerns about Labor’s draft design. What is more, I am also very concerned at the significantly tight schedule of community consultation that the state Labor government is allowing for feedback and input, especially as it is scheduled to take place in part over the forthcoming Easter break. The Labor government must get this right. Labor must ensure due diligence.

Similarly, with respect to long overdue school infrastructure, significant concerns have been raised by local residents and stakeholders regarding the consultation process for the new Brisbane inner west primary school. The process of consultation on this important piece of infrastructure for the western suburbs of Brisbane by Labor is seemingly tokenistic at best. There is also the need for a new high school in my electorate, as well as a sustained investment in Kenmore State High School.

We have also seen the extraordinary response to local community groups by the Labor government that there is ‘a low level of need’ for a community and neighbourhood centre in Kenmore and a new western community hub. The state Labor government’s response to this much needed community infrastructure reveals the duplicity of local Labor representatives, local Labor branch members and the disgraceful exploitation of community organisations during the most recent state election campaign.

After six years of being ignored by Labor, local residents of the electorate of Moggill deserve a state government that is focused on their needs. It is only the LNP that has the vision, the ideas and the plans to deliver for the western suburbs of Brisbane. I look forward to continuing to work with my local LNP colleagues, the federal member for Ryan, Julian Simmonds MP, and Councillor Greg Adermann on a range of infrastructure solutions and ensuring that the state Labor government delivers its fair share of infrastructure funding to our area.

Bribie Island Road Ms KING (Pumicestone—ALP) (2.23 pm): It is time for Longman’s federal MP to back our

community and match the Palaszczuk government’s funding so we can dual lane more of Bribie Island Road. Time after time it is our state government doing the heavy lifting when it comes to getting the people of Pumicestone home sooner and safer.

During the recent election I secured $25 million in funding for local road upgrades right across our area, but Bribie Island Road is under extra pressure so it is a top priority for me and for our Palaszczuk Labor government. That is why I was so proud to announce $11 million towards dual laning Bribie Island Road from Hickey Road through to King John Creek. That project would link two dual laned sections and mean that nearly 40 per cent of Pumicestone’s most iconic local road would be dual laned. Our community knows that this is needed. Hundreds of people responded to my Bribie Island Road Action Plan and I fought hard to get this $11 million commitment. It will also support around 60 valuable infrastructure jobs as our local economy recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.

For work to start we need the federal government to match our $11 million commitment with another $10 million. Recently Minister Bailey wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister to advocate for this project and received no response. Why has our federal member also been silent on funding for this key

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upgrade that is so important to our community? Is it because of the Queensland LNP’s record of cutting $13 million from Bribie Island Road? I ask now: is Bribie Island Road a priority for our federal member for Longman?

Mr King: Terry, the Tasmanian tiger? Ms KING: I take that interjection. Bribie Island Road has work going on right now at the Old

Toorbul Point Road intersection and that jointly funded project is welcome. During the state election I reflect that our federal member Terry Young put up a billboard at the site of that work claiming that he is the one fixing Bribie Island Road. It said something about fixing it and getting a go, but the last money pledged by the federal government for the upgrade of Bribie Island Road is now several toppled prime ministers ago. It is time for our federal member to get on the phone to his mates in Canberra and come up with some new money so we can get on with the job.

Opposition members interjected. Ms KING: It is very easy for those opposite to poke fun at the very real aspirations of the people

in Pumicestone to get home sooner and safer as their local road comes under increasing pressure. If Terry Young MP will not get on the phone to his mates in Canberra, perhaps those opposite could do the heavy lifting that he seems so unable to do. I call on Terry Young to help Pumicestone residents get home sooner and safer and match our Palaszczuk government’s funding.

(Time expired)

North Queensland, Insurance Costs Ms LEAHY (Warrego—LNP) (2.26 pm): I wish to bring to the attention of the House the high cost

of insurance for residents and businesses in North Queensland and the ACCC report Northern Australia Insurance Inquiry. I advise the House that I hold shares in Suncorp and my interest is appropriately declared on the members’ register of interests.

In North Queensland we are seeing businesses close because they cannot get insurance. The Barra Fun Park was forced to shut its business after failing to secure public liability insurance. This has a ripple effect causing lost jobs and suppliers that no longer receive business. Volunteer organisations are also struggling to pay their insurance costs. One show society told me they had to pay a whopping $40,000 insurance bill annually to hold their show, meaning that $4 of every gate ticket sale goes to pay the insurance bill. Homeowners, particularly in Townsville, have had units on the market for seven years and not an offer because the body corporate insurance is excessively high. Businesses on Magnetic Island are finding it difficult to get body corporate insurance and without that insurance they cannot operate.

The Northern Australia Insurance Inquiry report released by the ACCC tells us home and contents insurance premiums are considerably higher and have risen faster in Northern Australia. Average premiums are almost double those in the rest of Australia. The state Labor government should not simply blame the federal government. The state has some skin in this game as well. If the state is to continue to collect funds from stamp duty on insurance premiums it has a responsibility to help communities become more resilient to disasters because, after all, the higher the insurance premium the higher the stamp duty collected. The state is responsible for driving mitigation and drainage projects that help prevent floodwaters from entering homes. It has a responsibility to help drive down the high cost of insurance for those North Queenslanders, those mums and dads, and it should be doing more to help those residents who live in North Queensland and deal with this increased cost of living.

In the process, the mitigation projects can also provide vital jobs for North Queensland economies. The ACCC report clearly references where mitigation has reduced insurance premiums. For instance, a case study at Roma is in the report. A 60 per cent reduction in insurance premiums was expected in Roma, and has actually occurred based on the market information from insurers. Mitigation works is not just about a levee bank; it is a suite of options that work in community. It could be raising homes, it could be making sure the drainage is actually improved. This state Labor government needs to step up and help North Queenslanders. North Queenslanders would like to see the state government’s response to the Northern Australia Insurance Inquiry.

Kurwongbah Electorate, Infrastructure Mr KING (Kurwongbah—ALP) (2.29 pm): I take this opportunity to again talk about one of my

favourite topics, infrastructure projects in the Kurwongbah electorate. I will not get through them all in one go so I will be back. First, I will talk about something that is quite topical and I am pleased that the member for Pumicestone just spoke about our federal member for Longman. I want to update the House

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on the biggest project in my electorate, which I share with the member for Bancroft, the Bruce Highway upgrade at Deception Bay-New Settlement Road in Burpengary. It is huge in dollar terms with a $150 million joint state and federal price tag. I was there this month with my neighbour, the member for Bancroft and thanks go to Minister Bailey for organising our tour. We have photos on the Facebook page and I know that everyone here will be excited to jump on and look at those.

I want to mention that the project has been in the making for quite a while. When the federal member for Longman, Mr Terry Young, was running at the last election he had a big truck there with writing saying that they were going to deliver the project and that work would start in June or July, although I stand to be corrected if I am wrong about exactly what was written on the truck. When he was elected and that did not happen, he blamed the state government. He said that the state government was holding up the project. That was true, I suppose. A state government did hold up the project. It was the Newman government that removed it from QTRIP. We have put it back in and got it going. That is one of the many own goals from that gentleman.

I move on to the next exciting project. To the south, work is about to hit high gear on the $30 million Petrie intersection upgrade after the construction contract was awarded to Ertech Queensland last month. There has been visible activity at the roundabout for about a year as utility and service relocations, resumptions and so on were carried out. Now that those preliminary works have been concluded, my office has received a steady stream of inquiries about the project’s status. Therefore, it is great to announce that things are ramping up. Work will start soon, not-so-sunny Queensland weather permitting. The first stage of works are expected to take place on the vacant land between Whites Road and Mill Street, next to Anzac Avenue southbound. I know that the over 28,000 commuters who use that intersection daily cannot wait. I am sorry about the short-term pain but there will be long-term gain.

Still in the south, I want to mention the Lawnton station park-and-ride. Since I last spoke about that project I have opened the $10 million Lawnton station park-and-ride, adding over 250 extra car parks, secure facilities for cyclists and CCTV security for patrons. Now that we are all back to work and back to school, it is good to see the car park getting some use. I do not have time to talk about Mathieson Park, the home of the mighty Pine River Bears, but members should stay tuned for the next time I have an opportunity to speak in the House.

Horticulture Industry, Seasonal Workers Mr LAST (Burdekin—LNP) (2.32 pm): The Queensland horticultural industry is facing an

unprecedented crisis off the back of a critical shortage of farm labour to pick and pack our horticultural produce. Despite the attempts of both the state and federal governments, local workers are missing in action and with backpackers having mostly returned to their home countries we face a crisis for the producers, the communities they live in and, in fact, for families throughout our nation. Make no mistake: this situation will hit families hard. Instead of paying $4 a kilo for tomatoes, prices could quite easily hit $40 a kilo on the supermarket shelves by the end of the year, which is a tenfold increase. Instead of the safe fruit and vegetables grown here in Queensland, we will need to rely on food produced overseas, often in questionable operations, that has taken weeks or months to arrive.

Our primary producers are facing the crunch and for some it may already be too late. Take the De Domenico family in Ayr as an example. They have 600,000 capsicum seedlings almost ready for planting and, while that sounds a lot, it is less than 20 per cent of the crop they would normally produce. The Rapisarda family, just up the road in Clare, face a similar dilemma and in Bowen more than 3,500 workers are needed if an average year’s production is to take place. Let us not forget that it is a $400 million industry in that area. Currently you can count the numbers available on one hand, but this affects more than the horticultural industry. In this state this cuts across the entire agriculture sector and even affects industries such as the meat processing sector. If there are any able-bodied persons prepared to have a go, I say head north to areas such as Bowen and the Burdekin where a worker with the right attitude can make $1,500 per week.

This government is quick to talk up their credentials and policy around creating jobs, but right now in regional Queensland we have a job crisis. We need action, not next week or next month; we need it now. Without our seasonal workers, the economic lifeblood of many communities in regional Queensland is under serious threat, along with the budgets of families throughout Queensland and Australia.

This week we heard the minister talk about the Pacific islander program. Whilst we welcome those workers, we need a lot more. In fact, we need tens of thousands more and we need them to arrive within the next month because right now the farmers are preparing their land for the upcoming

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season. If those workers are not available, they simply will not plant their produce and that is going to have a flow-on effect right across the state by the end of the year. We need to take action. It needs to happen now. I am calling on the government to work with the agriculture sector to make that happen.

Toohey Electorate, Childcare Centres Mr RUSSO (Toohey—ALP) (2.35 pm): Today I would like to speak about the importance of child

care for working families. Motherhood, more so in Australia than in any other country, hurts participation in the labour force by women, particularly for women working full time. Before having children, Australian women have an equivalent participation in work as men. However, once they have children many women will drop out of work, with some never going back. It has been found that often those who do return pay a career penalty. Child care is the highest hurdle for families where both parents want to work. Parents want to know that their child or children are safe, have appropriate positive and protective care, and that it does not cost them more in childcare costs to work than it does to stay at home.

It is important to support and value childcare centres across our communities. I work closely with the existing childcare centres in my area. Both Anthea and the team at Sunnybank Community Preschool and Kindergarten and Sandy and the team at C&K Moorooka Community Kindergarten provide a stellar service to families in Toohey.

Today I want to talk about a new childcare service that has opened in Toohey, Happy Tots on Keats in Moorooka. It is in addition to the existing services provided by the Sunnybank kindy and the C&K kindy at Moorooka, to name a few in my electorate. Like all childcare centres, there was paperwork to submit and legislative requirements to meet. Therefore, it was with much fanfare that Happy Tots welcomed stakeholders and local families to a morning tea recently. Charmaine and the team are very excited to have met the criteria allowing them to open their centre and to offer services to the families in Moorooka and surrounding suburbs. Enrolments have been flowing in from eager parents and Happy Tots in Moorooka is already advertising for more educators. The centre is ready, willing and able to meet the needs of the local community and surrounding suburbs.

Charmaine and the team were kind enough to show me around their wonderful facility. Sound barriers have been erected to protect the neighbours from the wonderful noise coming out of the facility while the children participate in play time. We all acknowledge that learning by play has been proven to give children the best start in life and a firm foundation for ongoing learning as young minds grow. The team at Happy Tots in Moorooka has put a lot of thought into how to engage young minds and allow creativity to blossom. State-of-the-art play equipment will provide a safe environment for the children to play before moving on to prep. We know working families are struggling right now and we need accessible and affordable child care.

Wellcamp Airport, Quarantine Facility Mr WEIR (Condamine—LNP) (2.38 pm): I rise to speak on an issue that is causing a great deal

of concern and division in the greater Toowoomba region. It will come as no surprise that I am referring to the COVID-19 quarantine facility to be located at Wellcamp Airport. Recently I met with representatives from the Wagner group and heard about their plans for the construction of the facility and their role in the management of the facility. The Wagners explained that international arrivals would land at Wellcamp, disembark from the aircraft and be transferred by a bus to the proposed 1,000-bed quarantine facility where they would go through the usual customs declarations and medical checks. They would then be escorted to their respective rooms for the required two weeks of quarantine. May I say at this point that that is far more information than I have received from the Premier’s office or from any representative from the state government, despite being the local state member. We discussed various other aspects of the facility’s design: water requirements, sewerage, garbage, food preparation and so on. However, John Wagner clearly stated that the medical obligation and accountability is the government’s responsibility and he could not speak on their behalf.

It is not in doubt that the Wagner group has the capacity and capability to construct the facility to whatever standards are required; it has a proven track record. The question is around the management of the facility by the state government. It goes without saying that there will be cases of COVID-19 in the proposed Wellcamp facility, including the UK and South African strains. Where will these people be hospitalised? If they are to be taken to the Toowoomba Base Hospital, this would place added pressure on its already stretched capacity. What happens if there is a transmission to a staff member or member of the public?

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Toowoomba attracts people from Moree to Kingaroy, Charleville to Gatton and all places in between for medical appointments, education at boarding schools, shopping, accountancy and legal appointments, among other things. The potential impact on a much larger area than just the Toowoomba Regional Council precinct is very real.

The residents of the Toowoomba region, South-West Queensland and north-west New South Wales have reason to be concerned and need answers. Instead, we are seeing reports in the media that the Premier has determined that this facility will be built regardless of public concern. The Brisbane Times of 23 February 2021 states— Queensland’s Premier has ordered the federal government to just get on with it and approve the proposed facility.

We saw the Deputy Premier in a spat with the New South Wales and federal governments over a $30 million quarantine bill, stating— We will not be paying that bill, not while the Commonwealth refuses to endorse our plan for a national quarantine centre.

If the concerns of the public had been answered you could understand this gung-ho attitude, but at this point in time we have many questions and no answers. The government needs to come clean with the people in the Toowoomba region and provide some certainty.

Central Queensland, Container Refund Scheme Mr O’ROURKE (Rockhampton—ALP) (2.41 pm): In Central Queensland, Amanda and Peter

McCasker from Kanga Bins manage the container refund scheme and do a mighty job. I have met with Amanda on a few occasions, and one thing that really stands out is her commitment to the people of Central Queensland. The Central Queensland container refund scheme reached an important milestone late last year with the return of its 100-millionth container since the Containers for Change scheme was launched just over two years ago, on 1 November 2018. As members would be aware, this has allowed Central Queenslanders to recycle drink containers and receive a 10-cent refund for each eligible container. Can members imagine how much of a saving we have made in our landfill? Think how much space 100 million containers would take up at our local dumps.

Central Queenslanders have benefited to the tune of $10 million, with refunds paid to individuals, charities and community groups. A lot of community groups have ongoing fundraising through this scheme. Not only have our communities received this direct financial support; there has also been a 54 per cent reduction in drink container litter across Queensland. This has also led to an increased awareness of the benefits of recycling in our community.

The benefits to our Rockhampton Regional Council are also significant, with that reduction in eligible containers not ending up in landfill. I have been out to the Parkhurst depot, where they have a large container refund cage out the front. All of the proceeds go to the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service, an absolutely wonderful service in Central Queensland.

The Central Queensland container refund scheme currently employs over 40 staff across nine sites. To make things easier, they have a whole range of services including automatic counting machines and a bag drop-off service.

This scheme has also challenged others in our community to consider other options in the recycling space. I believe that Rockhampton should be a major recycling centre. I would love to see us partnering with councils across Central Queensland to become the local hub. We could recycle glass, plastic and cardboard for the whole region and use those raw materials to manufacture new products locally and create new jobs. That is my vision and it is something I will continue to work on with the Rockhampton Regional Council and other stakeholders.

Sippy Downs, Car Parking Mr MICKELBERG (Buderim—LNP) (2.44 pm): I rise today to address the considerable concerns

of residents in Sippy Downs. Thousands of Sunshine Coast families and retirees call the lakes and leafy surrounds of Sippy Downs home. Sippy Downs is also home to the University of the Sunshine Coast, which has rapidly grown since opening in 1996. Prior to COVID, more than 14,000 students attended the Sippy Downs campus. This week, many of those students headed back to campus, and the resultant parking chaos has placed considerable strain on the entire Sippy Downs community.

The parking problem that has manifested itself in recent weeks is complex. It is a problem that is the legacy of a failure to plan and a failure to build the infrastructure needed to deal with the considerable population growth our area is experiencing. Sippy Downs is now suffering from a lack of foresight in years past. Despite being home to 14,000 students, the University of the Sunshine Coast

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has no on-campus accommodation for students. We have residential streets that are too narrow, townhouses with inadequate parking for residents, inadequate access roads, and a public school that was built on a cul-de-sac. Sippy Downs has no fire station, and the police station is rarely open when locals need it most.

The result is a community which is suffering from increasing levels of crime and persistent traffic congestion. Streets are so congested with parked cars that residents are unable to access their own homes, and buses are being forced to drive onto the wrong side of traffic-calming devices just so they can get through. I have received reports that on one street space was so limited this week that a TransLink bus smashed the side mirrors of many cars by just pushing through.

I have spoken to local councillor Christian Dickson about the issue this week, and I note his proactive response to mitigate the effect on the community. While parking enforcement is a Sunshine Coast Council responsibility, I believe that the university needs to help resolve the impact of students parking on residential streets. Adequate parking exists on campus at Sippy Downs. I will be writing to the university to ask that they consider removing deterrents to students parking on campus so they do not feel the need to park on residential streets surrounding the Sippy Downs campus.

Compounding the problem, I also understand that some private student accommodation providers have recently introduced a requirement for residents to pay an additional fee just so they can park on site. I will be seeking clarification on this matter from the respective student accommodation providers and, if correct, I will be seeking a rationale as to how they intend to ensure that Sippy Downs residents are not adversely affected by the resultant on-street parking.

The Sippy Downs community is a connected and welcoming one, but locals have a right to be aggrieved about the impact that students parking on streets and congestion are having on their way of life. I will continue to work proactively with Councillor Christian Dickson and the community to resolve these issues.

Mansfield State High School, Academic Performance Ms McMILLAN (Mansfield—ALP) (2.47 pm): I know that I would rather have a university than car

parking in my electorate. The 2020 graduating class have endured new times. They were our first preppies—a Bligh Labor government educational improvement strategy—the first to experience year 7 in a high school, more recently the first to navigate the new ATAR process as a means of entry to tertiary education, and the first cohort to embark on their final year of school during a global pandemic.

Despite the many challenges, our Queensland students’ educational achievements are something of which we should all be proud. Our schools remain at the heart of, and are central to, the economic progress of our communities right across Queensland. Claus Moser once said, ‘Education costs money, but then so does ignorance.’ Our schools are buildings with the future of Queensland inside.

I urge every member of this House to reject the politicised mistruths and propaganda of the ignorant and to take the time to learn of their schools’ academic achievements, for all are working diligently and strategically on a precise journey of continued school improvement. They are deserving of our belief, our support and our adulation.

In my community, Mansfield State High School student results have followed a six-year improvement trajectory and are outstanding. Our students’ results reflect their hard work, the collegial and collaborative support of educators working together across classrooms, effective teachers and strong educational leaders who apply explicit and precise strategies to improve student learning, and the sacrifices that countless parents have made—not only financially but also in time, effort and emotional support—to nurture their children’s education.

Thirty students across Queensland received an ATAR of 99.95—the highest possible rank. One of those students was Mansfield State High School’s Katherine Nguyen. Katherine should be proud of her success. Derek Liang received an ATAR of 99.9. Eighteen students, six per cent, achieved an ATAR of 99 or above. Seventy-eight students, 28 per cent, achieved an ATAR of 95 or above. One hundred and thirty-three students, 48 per cent, achieved an ATAR of 90 or above. The results achieved are equivalent to 20 students achieving an OP 1 and 32 students achieving an OP 2.

Some 315 students from Mansfield State High School have been offered a tertiary place—99 students at QUT and 110 students who are starting at the University of Queensland, my own alma mater. I am one of the many local members in this House who is not ignorant and who is immensely proud of the students, parents and teachers in my community and all that they have achieved.

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Townsville, Youth Crime Mr DAMETTO (Hinchinbrook—KAP) (2.50 pm): When I get up in this House I like to spruik about

how well our schools in the Hinchinbrook electorate are going. I like to talk about how good tourism is and a tourism product that we have on offer in the Hinchinbrook electorate. I cannot do that today. I am forced to speak about the crime crisis that is gripping the northern beaches of Townsville and taking North Queensland by storm right now.

I will read some figures to members and I want you, Mr Deputy Speaker, the member for Mundingburra, to take note. A total of 5,098 offences were committed in the Townsville local government area in the last quarter. There were: 771 offences for unlawful entry; 29 offences for robbery; 271 offences for unlawful use of a motor vehicle—that is three per day; and 964 other offences, including theft and unlawful entry.

All this is while the police minister spruiked this week that youth crime is down by 30 per cent. No-one is taking into account that these figures are from March last year until today. Unfortunately for the government, they are working the numbers. This happened during a pandemic. The COVID lockdown is responsible for the drop in youth crime over that 12 months, not the raft of measures that were introduced in March last year. Those measures included tougher bail laws. How did they work for us? Another measure was a police strike team. Let us talk about police in Townsville at the moment.

Mr RYAN: Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Just after question time today I introduced a bill into the parliament specifically about changing the Bail Act and changing the Youth Justice Act. The member is now talking about youth justice matters.

Mr Bleijie: You’re allowed to. Mr DAMETTO: I am not talking— Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Walker): Direct your comments through the chair, member for

Kawana. Please take a seat for a moment, member for Hinchinbrook. I will let the member for Hinchinbrook continue, but be mindful of your comments.

Mr DAMETTO: The police minister, the youth justice minister, the Attorney-General and the Premier have work to do on this. We have a war on our streets right now.

Government members interjected. Mr DAMETTO: Read the papers, listen to the people and get off your backsides, get up there and

spend a little bit of time there. I take that interjection.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock. Take your seat. Member for Hinchinbrook, that is unparliamentary language. Please direct your comments through the chair. Just be mindful that the points you are making have to be made through the chair and not made directly to members in this chamber.

Mr DAMETTO: This has become very personal for the people of Hinchinbrook. On 5 February we lost Jennifer Board from something that could have been avoided if this crime crisis was pulled under control.

Mr KELLY: Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. This matter may be subject to sub judice. I would ask you to rule on that.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Hinchinbrook, I remind you to be mindful of what you are saying. This has been stated several times before.

Mr DAMETTO: I am very mindful of the tenderness of this issue. We have also lost— Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock. It is not the tenderness of this; it is the legal perspective

that you need to be mindful of. It is a very tender subject and we need to be mindful of that as well.

Mr DAMETTO: We have some very good people on the other side of the House whom I know want to try to do the right thing for the people of Queensland. Queenslanders have elected them to do this job. Being a good person is not enough. They need to do the job. They need to get in there. They need to get their hands dirty and change some of this legislation. It is very difficult to get things done when on this side of the House or on the crossbench, but the government has all the power in the world to change things for the betterment of Queensland. I put the government on notice right now: if you do not use that opportunity and that power, the people of Queensland will strip it from you.

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Coronavirus, Economic Response Mr KELLY (Greenslopes—ALP) (2.54 pm): It is a great week. The vaccine for COVID is finally

rolling out. That is thanks to the fine leadership of the Premier and the Chief Health Officer. As I have said in this House several times this week, we are living through a modern healthcare miracle—just over a year from identifying a disease to having an effective vaccine for that disease. It gives us the possibility of light at the end of the tunnel.

Now we can rightly start to turn our attention to our recovery from COVID-19. We on this side of the House have always been mindful of this, but it is something that we can now put more attention into. In the last few days the Treasurer has spoken about the fact that we now have more jobs in Queensland than there were in January 2020. We are the only state that has more jobs now than it had before the pandemic.

When I look around our community I see how we are achieving this recovery. Firstly, we are backing small businesses. There are 160 or so small business adaptation grants that have been rolled out in our community. They kept small businesses viable. I worked with local businesses to run the takeaway message campaign. We encouraged people to eat takeaway food during the lockdown.

Ms Boyd: It was great. I partook. Mr KELLY: Good on you. It helped those businesses stay viable. Guess what? By taking that

action we kept those businesses viable. That is why there were so many small businesses at Minister Farmer’s small business roadshow that I went to. There were many businesses there wanting to learn more about how the government can benefit them.

The other thing we are doing in the local area is investing in infrastructure. I was at Whites Hill State College the other day for their badge ceremony and saw that work has started on the new outdoor learning centre. That is a fantastic project. It is one of six projects that are rolling out in my community. So many schools in our communities are getting infrastructure.

The mighty East Tigers are undergoing a redevelopment thanks to $1 million in support from the Palaszczuk Labor government. It is creating jobs. It is creating better community infrastructure. It will also be a boost for small businesses in Stones Corner and Coorparoo. It is going to start this year just ahead of when we hit the peak for vaccination.

These are just a couple of ways that we are uniting and recovering from COVID-19. We are backing small business and we are investing in infrastructure. We are improving local schools and we are improving sporting clubs. That is how you unite and recover. You build your community and create jobs. These are the things that the Palaszczuk Labor government is doing. We are turning our mind to the recovery. We are focused on creating the jobs that are needed in our community. This is how we recover from COVID-19. This is COVID recovery.

Kawana Electorate, Community Safety Mr BLEIJIE (Kawana—LNP) (2.57 pm): The greatest responsibility the government of

Queensland has is to its people and keeping them safe from thugs in our communities. I want to raise these issues, particularly as they relate to the areas of Wurtulla and Little Mountain in my electorate. Wurtulla residents have been fighting for over a year now to have certain people evicted from their community so they can once again walk freely in their community, walk their dogs, walk with their grandkids without the fear of being bailed up or whatever the case may be. On 23 December I wrote to the housing minister and expressed concern that there were three particular public housing tenants in this one area who were causing lots of grief for our community, including criminal activity. One of the offenders had over 100 offences against his name. These people are terrorising our community.

The majority of public housing tenants are great, decent people doing the right thing in our community, but there is a small minority like the ones in Wurtulla who have been completely terrorising our community and committing crimes—stealing cars, stealing weapons, committing break and enters. It is happening every week in Wurtulla. I wrote to the minister expressing my concerns. I table a copy of that letter. Tabled paper: Letter, dated 23 December 2020, from the member for Kawana, Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP, to the Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, Hon. Leeanne Enoch, regarding Wurtulla neighbourhood issues [199].

That was on 23 December. The minister wrote back two months later. She said— It is concerning that as the local Member of Parliament you would advocate for the eviction of your constituents ...

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If the Minister for Housing is worried about me advocating for the majority of my community in Wurtulla and she is happy to take a few of these people then let her. Let her move. In fact, if she has a spare bedroom, let them move into her house, because these people who are committing these crimes in Wurtulla are not welcome. I am getting reports now that these crimes are happening at Little Mountain and Meridan Plains as well. We have to get tough on these young offenders. We are seeing the revolving door cycle with these young offenders coming through.

Without anticipating the debate on the legislation the minister introduced today, there is a glaring omission: criminals who are committing these offences in Wurtulla would not have committed them had there been a breach of bail offence because they would have been in jail. They are not and they are still in our community terrorising locals in Wurtulla.

Government members interjected. Mr BLEIJIE: I table a copy of the letter from the minister.

Tabled paper: Letter, dated 18 February 2021, from the Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, Hon. Leeanne Enoch, to the member for Kawana, Mr Jarrod Bleijie MP, regarding Wurtulla neighbourhood issues [200].

For the benefit of the members laughing, I also table a copy of the letter from my local Wurtulla Neighbourhood Watch. Tabled paper: Letter, dated 20 February 2021, from Area Coordinator, Kawana Water 1—Wurtulla West Neighbourhood Watch, Ms Natalie Williams, to the Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, Hon. Leeanne Enoch, regarding Wurtulla neighbourhood issues [201].

In their letter they express the huge concern that they have at the crime in our community. It is time for the state government to put the victims before the criminals. Then we will have a society where everyone can have peace and joy and love living in their communities.

(Time expired)

Logan Electorate, Schools Mr POWER (Logan—ALP) (3.00 pm): I am pleased that the education minister is in the House

today because recently the Premier, the education minister and I, as well as the member for Jordan, were at a fantastic event. We were at the sod turning of a brand new primary school at Greenbank, right on the border of North Maclean, ready to serve those two communities. The plans are simply exceptional. It will serve the Everleigh community and others across Pub Lane. It is a fantastic site that will be an integral part of this growing community.

It was particularly exciting to meet with Cameron, who is a young plumbing apprentice, as part of the government’s program to ensure that there are trainees and apprentices on site. He is getting the skills that he will take through life and that will provide him with a fantastic job. I look forward to this fantastic school. I look forward to the new school team who will start talking to students and planning a uniform—

Mr Stevens interjected. Mr POWER: I hope to meet the principal soon. That will be fantastic. Growing areas like this are well understood by ministers such as Minister Grace, who

understands what growing areas need. The Premier too understands them, and that is why she is backing them in. We saw that when we built Yarrabilba State School, the Yarrabilba State Secondary College and the new critical thinking centre, which the minister also opened, at Park Ridge State High School. That fantastic centre will prepare our students in Park Ridge for the jobs of the future. We have new classrooms at Logan Village and new ones about to open at Logan Reserve. I hope the minister can come out for that opening as well. We also have a new admin building and classrooms at Park Ridge State School coming.

I want to continue to fight for a new site for a school to serve the growing area between Logan Reserve and the school at Park Ridge. It is an area that is growing really quickly. One would be thinking that is a lot of activity in that area. One would be thinking how many classrooms the LNP built during that time.

Ms Boyd: Zero. Mr POWER: I have spoken about it before. The member for Pine Rivers already knows the

answer. She gave it away. I wanted to build it up a bit more, but that is right. In this growing area they built zero new classrooms. That is because the LNP wants to cut, cut, cut and those cuts hurt those in growing areas the most. They cut, cut, cut and they built no new classrooms in the electorate of Logan

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because they do not understand what growing families need and they do not know what services growing families deserve. This education minister and this Premier understand what growing families need and deserve.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY Resumed from p. 249. Ms LEAHY (Warrego—LNP) (3.04 pm), continuing: In summary, the constituents of Warrego are

disappointed by the manner in which the October 2020 state election was conducted, especially with the closure of polling booths with short notice and rejected postal ballots. Despite some rainstorms, the drought continues. However, should this Labor government revoke drought declarations in April, primary producers are fearful that they will lose valuable freight and fodder subsidies for good. I urge producers to apply now for their DRAS subsidies if they have not already done so.

The lack of horticulture workers is causing distress to fruit and veggie producers in my electorate. They will be reducing plantings simply because they do not have the staff to harvest the garlic, onions, broccoli and grapes. I am advised that the Commonwealth restarted the Pacific Labour Scheme and Seasonal Worker Program in August last year in anticipation of the looming harvest season. I am advised that Victoria remains the only jurisdiction yet to approve a quarantine plan for workers despite the chronic shortage of workers. I call on the state government to get busy on this quarantine plan because the producers in my electorate are desperate for these workers, as are other areas across the state.

We heard from the member for Burdekin about the need for workers in his area. We will see increased prices for food in our shops if we do not have those workers, because there simply will not be the produce coming through the system. I know that most of the grapes that you would have seen over the Christmas period actually came from the St George region. We had a huge job to get the Victorian workers for that company up over two closed borders so that we could meet those supply contracts for Woolworths, Coles and Aldi.

COVID has brought a focus on hygiene, and that is a good outcome. However, that does not seem to have extended to some of our hospitals—in particular, the Dalby Hospital. I call on the state Labor government to do more to support the hardworking doctors and nurses so that patients do not have to endure mouse droppings on beds and the lack of air conditioning in COVID isolation rooms.

The state Labor government need to do more to return birthing services to communities like Chinchilla. It is appalling that one of the birthing suites has been turned into an office. The mums and dads of Chinchilla want their birthing services returned. They do not want more offices. It is farcical. On the one hand, we hear the government saying they are going to return these birthing services. On the other hand, what we find at these hospitals is that offices are taking over the maternity suites. That is unacceptable.

When it comes to roads I will continue to fight for my electorate to receive its fair share. Roads are the lifeblood of our industries—agriculture; tourism, even though it has done it really tough during COVID; resources and manufacturing.

I am encouraged by the strong rural property sales across my electorate and the recent jump in residential sales. I think that shows a confidence in the economy across the electorate. We have some jobs. We desperately need people to move to my electorate because so many of these jobs are advertised and we do not get applicants. We have great communities to live in. There is a huge livability factor in these communities. People need to understand that they can get ahead when they come and live in those areas because often the cost of living is much lower.

Ms BOYD (Pine Rivers—ALP) (3.07 pm): Mr Deputy Speaker Kelly, may I congratulate you on your appointment, along with Mr Speaker. It is truly an honour to be elected or returned to this place, the people’s house, and to work to make our communities even better places—better places for all. I thank the people of my community of Pine Rivers who placed their trust in me.

While political analyst Anthony Green may describe the Pine Rivers electorate as a ‘bits and pieces’ electorate, to me it has a diversity that reflects Queensland at large. This diversity is a challenge for any MP to represent but presents so much opportunity and strength—for example, mountain living to the west at Mount Nebo, Mount Glorious and Jollys Lookout. In the time that I have been the local member, we have seen large-scale upgrades to the school community here and, in the coming term, I look forward to delivering major safety upgrades to the Samford-Mount Glorious Road. The thriving industrial precinct of Brendale is home to myriad thriving and varied businesses—businesses like Elexon Electronics, a local manufacturing success story now with growing capacity and retained local Aussie manufacturing thanks to our state government.

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Aspen Medical, again in Brendale, stepped up making PPE at the height of the global pandemic, providing a local medical supply chain delivered by local jobs. Now we are delivering Downer’s Brendale Sustainable Road Resource Centre, which is a business that will actively divert waste from landfill and re-engineer materials for re-use on road construction. My community campaigned to remove the bottleneck from the Linkfield Road overpass. Work is progressing with the duplication as geotech and environmental investigations are occurring right now. This is a project in the member for Aspley’s electorate, and he and I have collaborated on it. I cannot wait to see it through to completion to progress this upgrade.

A government member: Great project. Ms BOYD: It is a great project. I take that interjection. COVID has been a challenge for

Queensland, but local projects delivered through our COVID Unite and Recover economic stimulus package are delivering real outcomes in Pine Rivers. We can see this at the new home of the Pine Rivers BMX club at Nolan Park in what will be a truly world-class facility. In Strathpine the Minister for Transport and I cut the ribbon on the Strathpine station accessibility upgrade, which is something I committed to in my first speech here in this place.

A government member: Hear, hear! Ms BOYD: Hear, hear! I delivered on the removal of the Dixon Street roundabout and upgrades

to Pine Rivers high, Strathpine West and Strathpine state schools. This time we will deliver a diverging diamond interchange on Strathpine Road, easing congestion on this clogged bottleneck. We will also improve the Strathpine bus interchange at the Strathpine Centre. The outside hours school care at Strathpine West State School will be significantly expanded. At the Pine Rivers Swans a partnership with the Moreton Bay Regional Council is delivering major upgrades to the club with new change rooms and a clubhouse.

Through Lawnton we have more than doubled the car park capacity at the Lawnton park-and-ride train station. I also recently checked out the $10 million investment we are making in the Pine Rivers Special School with eight new classrooms, two more learning spaces and significant classroom upgrades. In the neighbouring electorate of Kurwongbah is the long anticipated Lawnton State School hall, something I spoke about during my first speech in the House, something that I know the member for Kurwongbah has worked hard to deliver, and something this Labor government is proud to deliver.

I am proud to have advocated for a new Petrie ambulance station to increase capacity for the station. It will be a welcome addition on Gympie Road at Lawnton, which is a more accessible and suitable location. At Bray Park high, following on from the massive school hall upgrade, over $10 million worth of new buildings, classroom refurbishments and learning spaces are under construction. Bray Park State High School is growing as a result of its reputation and achievements, and the energetic leadership at this school is being supported with a bricks and mortar investment. Bray Park State School has been upgrading its prep spaces, and in this term of government we will see an investment in outdoor learning spaces. That has been a focus for improvement at the school over the years.

The Cashmere and Warner communities now have an increased police presence with the Bray Park and Strathpine police beats going mobile, allowing Pine Rivers police to be more mobile and more visible more often. The long-awaited Eatons Crossing Road safety improvements, particularly the notorious Lilley Road intersection upgrades, will be delivered under this re-elected government. We have already provided a safety solution for Eden Drive. This will continue works along Eatons Crossing Road end-to-end. These works will benefit Draper, Yugar, Closeburn and Cedar Creek as well as Clear Mountain. Only recently the community had a big win at the entry of Clear Mountain: the intersection of Clear Mountain Road and Eatons Crossing Road, which will beautify and improve their community entry. I congratulate the community for their continued and professional campaigning, in conjunction with Keep Queensland Beautiful, to achieve this much awaited outcome.

Through Mount Samson we have improved road safety outside the school with a new school flashing light zone. The school will also see upgrades to accessibility. The communities of Mount Pleasant, Laceys Creek, Armstrong Creek, Rush Creek, Kobble Creek, Sampsonvale and Dayboro will benefit from our election promise of a new police station in Dayboro. During my time as the local member we have upgraded the fire station to a modern, purpose-built facility. Now Sergeant Ken and the team will get the same.

Dayboro State School has been transformed through classroom upgrades. This term will provide the accessibility upgrades that are so imperative for this school, which is located on the side of a hill, along with major playground upgrades. Over the life of the Palaszczuk government we have worked

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hard to upgrade safety along Main Street, Samford, with pedestrian infrastructure. Thanks to a long partnership with Councillor Grimwade, I will see a pedestrian crossing at the Private Percy Cash Bridge over the South Pine River.

Mr Stevens: Darren? Ms BOYD: Yes, the former member for Morayfield. The local school will have classrooms

refurbished. Currently, road safety upgrades to Samford Road between Lomandra picnic area and Camp Mountain Road are being proposed. Residents in the suburbs of Camp Mountain, Wights Mountain, Highvale, Sampson Valley and Sampson Village will all benefit from these significant upgrades.

Last week I joined our Attorney-General to cut the ribbon on the Pine Rivers courthouse upgrades, significantly improving the safety and experience of victims of domestic and family violence in our community. Our government has already provided courtroom upgrades with technology to allow for remote conferencing and these upgrades further the capacity of the court, which is something that has been relied on during COVID. In the last term we opened a new university for our community: the University of the Sunshine Coast Petrie campus. While the last 12 months has meant that students and faculty have not been able to enjoy the bricks and mortar of the facility, I know that it is transforming lives—not just of our young people but for mature age students also.

Labor in government is always a government about jobs. We know that good quality jobs—the jobs you can rely on, jobs to build a life around—need qualifications to underpin them. That is why I am so proud to be part of a government that invests in TAFE with free TAFE for school leavers in our community. One of our signature programs, Skilling Queenslanders for Work—a program cut by the LNP and reinstated by Labor—is transforming the lives of vulnerable people in our community. Organisations like Marist180, working with Millen Farm in Samford, and the formidable Youth Development Foundation in Strathpine are at the heart of the delivery of this project in our community. I want to pay tribute to YDF not just for the transformative work they do with young people every day but the way that Gerry and the team stepped up through COVID to provide hot meals and much more to those in need.

I acknowledge the strong and unwavering leadership of our Premier and Deputy Premier. Throughout the pandemic they never stopped in their work to keep Queenslanders safe. I know that through this four-year term there is so much that we can deliver for Queensland, and I am so proud to be part of their team. One of the election commitments I am so proud of in Pine Rivers is the satellite hospital for the Pine Rivers community. We have an amazing hospital at the Prince Charles Hospital and in Strathpine we have a community health clinic, but as our community grows and our health needs become more complex we require more places to service the needs of our community. That is why I am so proud that the Palaszczuk Labor government will provide this resource by way of a satellite hospital, with its preferred location the university campus.

In May 2020, months into the public health emergency, I took on the role of Assistant Minister for Health. While my time in the role lasted mere months, the memories of the people I got to share that time with will last a lifetime. Our Health workforce is nothing short of astounding, and it was an absolute privilege to thank them on behalf of the government and express our pride and gratitude in their work on the front line.

I would also like to thank the ministerial staff, many of whom I continue to work with today in the Deputy Premier’s office: Dan, Kat, Amy, Sarah, Riley, Benton, Gen, Pete, Jarran, Maddie, Larin, Kirstin, Bec and, most importantly, the person who organises everything to be entirely efficient, Veronica Tomic. In the early stages of my new role as the Assistant Minister for Local Government I have seen that there are so many opportunities and such optimism throughout Queensland. I look forward to continuing to work with the mayors and councils to capture that, capitalise on that and overcome challenges.

It takes a strong foundation to enable us to do our work day in and day out. I often refer to the work of a parliamentarian as a lifestyle rather than a job, and it is our loved ones who wrap themselves around us and allow us to serve. In the last term my family grew. I had given up hope of having a child by the time I fell pregnant in 2018, but the addition of Evie P has been transformative, enriching and rewarding.

Being an older mum, the road was a little rough so I want to put on record my thanks to my community for their patience and understanding. I recall one group I needed to reschedule three times thanks to illness, and once I got myself in front of them they were nothing but understanding. I thank my colleagues for their support and regular check-ins. By my count, we are up to seven Palaszczuk Labor babies in our caucus.

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Mr Whiting: It’s eight. Ms BOYD: Is it eight? I miscounted. I thank my electoral office staff through that time—Noeline

Ferricks and Leigh Holborn—for their support and dedication. My parents, particularly through the election campaign, were there for us in every way we asked

and then some—countless hours on pre poll, even more babysitting, recruiting volunteers, cooking and chauffeuring. Thank you just does not seem sufficient. My husband, Reece Pianta, has developed many campaigning skills over the years. There really is not a day that goes by that he is not doing some manner of work for me and the community, but during election time he does all of the work. He is a great campaign manager—the best thing I ever managed to steal from the member for Capalaba. He has done a stellar job as a stay-at-home dad over the last two years. Together we have created an amazing little human who brings hours of delight. She is independent, creative, active and so loving. She is an absolute enchanting joy.

Thank you to my fantastic family—Matt and Nicole, Tim and Amanda, and Lisa and one of my best booth workers, Steve. More often than not I am absent rather than present, but I know these guys are always in my corner, and I thank them for their gratitude and understanding. My staff are formidable, often studying as well as working and campaigning. Alex Gardiner and Madison Mullins are energetic, creative, hardworking and passionate. I know that both of them will continue to go from strength to strength.

Elections always highlight the wonderful local Labor talent in our community, and I love campaigning with our Pine Rivers branchies. They do not shy away from hard work and they make campaigning fun. The chief of the campaign is always ReecieP, but I want to give a couple of recognitions at the risk of leaving someone out. Thank you to the constant contributions of Darren White, Tim O’Sullivan, Mick and Leonie Calleja, Rae Ellis, Naaz Ali, Ryan Butterworth, Vic Carr, John and Sally Halse, Mick Taylor, Nicole and Jim Molony, Greg Farr, Terry Heinemann, Greg and Pam Hand, Marianne Lucas, Harrison Thompson, Hayley and Alex Nizic, Jo Roberts, Richard Warman, Greg Fewtrell, the entire White family—Ash and James, Caryn and Steve, Callum, Michaela, Briannna and of course Jared—Adam, Shannon and Harvey Lines, Cathy Chapman, Helen Lum, Alex Smock, Yara Jabbour, Alison Price, Yvonne Tregoning, Heather Jackson, Paul McNair, Trevor Warren, the late Andrew Quinn and many more.

What becomes evident through campaigning is the dedication and passion that our Labor team have. Thank you to my in-laws for their continued support. Thank you to all of the local businesses that embraced, encouraged and supported our volunteers throughout the campaign. Thank you to the mighty trade union movement and my union, the United Workers Union. I have had the honour to work campaigning with some of Queensland’s lowest paid and most marginalised workers, and it is them I keep front of mind in every decision we make here in this place. I am so pleased to see our UWU team grow again in this term of government. Congratulations to the Labor party—congrats to Julie-Anne Campbell, Jeanette Temperley and all of the team.

Heading into the 2020 election campaign, we anticipated a dirty campaign from the LNP. We had seen the Pine Rivers branch of the LNP found in contempt of this parliament with threats to disendorse MPs for using their conscience vote to support the termination of pregnancy bill. The LNP branch preselected the director of research, policy and advocacy for the abominable Cherish Life, who was previously the LNP’s candidate for Bancroft in the 2017 election. The LNP preselected a candidate who was on record saying that women who have been raped or are victims of incest should legally have to carry that pregnancy through to birth. When asked her position on reproductive rights in a question at a candidate’s forum she squibbed it and backed off addressing the issue, instead saying that she would talk to people about it separately, off to the side, after the forum.

The LNP preselected a candidate with extremely poor judgement, as exemplified in her campaign petitioning for support to open the borders in the height of COVID. This was a stark contrast to Labor making Care Army calls—if only that were the worst of it. Our community can see through a fake. They saw through the pie-in-the-sky schemes and promises about dams and Bruce highways and $300 cash-for-votes drives. The people of Pine Rivers voted to stay on the right track and support the government that had taken such strong action on COVID. They supported a government that was focused on protecting them, protecting Queensland jobs and rebuilding Queensland’s economy. Our future is bright, it is positive, it is one where we unite and recover Queensland through this COVID pandemic. In our community of Pine Rivers, I will continue to fight for us, to deliver the commitments I made during the 2020 election in a Palaszczuk Labor government that is committed to jobs, infrastructure and building a better future.

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Mr STEVENS (Mermaid Beach—LNP) (3.25 pm): I am pleased—as the runner-up in the hotly contested ballot for the Speaker’s role, a position I have coveted for several years now—to have this opportunity to deliver my address-in-reply to the Governor’s speech, but I guess I will have to wait until the 58th Parliament to deliver it as the Speaker, even though I lost to a very worthy opponent. In responding to the speech of the Governor—Her Majesty the Queen’s representative in her aptly named state of Queensland—I must admit to bingeing out late at night on the Netflix series The Crown. It is series 4 and a great show and I shall refer to it later in my speech.

It is my very great pleasure once again to represent the good people of the Mermaid Beach electorate in the 57th Parliament of Queensland. In doing so, may I also give thanks to their wisdom at large for returning me as the member for Mermaid Beach—and also a great thank you to the LNP members of the Mermaid Beach branch who continue to preselect me to further their interests in the parliament of Queensland.

My job as an opposition member is to keep this Labor government honest. Although that is an impossible task, I will continue to prosecute their tardiness for the full term of the 57th Parliament. I would also like to thank the previous LNP leadership team of Deb Frecklington and Tim Mander in the 56th Parliament as I know they left nothing out there on the field in their quest to deliver the LNP government for this term. However, it was not to be, given the unique circumstance our first fixed-term election was conducted amidst, and I doubt any alternative to the current Premier and her government would have been chosen by Queenslanders in these unusual and emotional health parameters.

It was an election like no other I have experienced, where the key performance indicators of a good government were completely ignored and the nightly news and morning newspapers focused on the footy score coronavirus statistics and the Chief Health Officer’s advice to the detriment of any other government barometer. The Premier became the corona queen of Queensland, keeping interstate borders closed and concentrating totally on the fear factor of this worldwide pandemic killing millions of people in other parts of the world and making many more sick on a daily basis.

The real state of Queensland economically and socially through law and order was a lost conversation in the election period and got completely overshadowed by the Chief Health Officer’s nightly news report as to when Queenslanders would be safe again. The Morrison federal government has done the No. 1 health protection job by closing our international borders to all of the overseas hotspots, yet it is the Morrison federal government that is picking up the financial pieces for the errors made in New South Wales from the Ruby Princess and the incompetent Labor Premier Daniel Andrews in Victoria who let the virus escape through improper security services on quarantine hotels.

We are at the beginning of our first four-year term, a product of extensive lobbying that I started in the 54th Parliament when I was Leader of the House—as the late Tim Mulheim, our current Speaker Mr Curtis Pitt, the then shadow attorney-general Mrs Yvette D’Ath and Billy Byrne could attest to—and I wholeheartedly still support the concept of a fixed four-year term. Some of my colleagues have commented on what a bad idea it was, but we were not supposed to be in opposition.

Magnificently, the Gold Coast has re-elected the LNP in 10 out of 11 seats. Again, I pay tribute to young up-and-comer ‘Slamming Sam O’Connor’, who increased his margin in Bonney in an otherwise dismal outcome across the state for the LNP. Of course, I could not represent the fabulous people of the Mermaid Beach electorate without the unflinching and loyal support of my lovely wife, Ruth, and our family and her long-term understanding of the political demands of my career that enables me to serve my constituents 24/7. I would also like to pay tribute to my long-term branch chairman, Jazz Lee, and his SEC team who deliver 100 per cent to their members time and time again, which delivers a great outcome for the LNP in the Mermaid Beach electorate.

I would like to thank my two lovely ladies, who I hope are watching, in the Mermaid Beach office, Lisa and Mel, who are ever so helpful to constituents seeking advice and who always have a smiling face for visitors, even if a few of them would test Job’s patience. Of particular significance in the Mermaid Beach ballot was the campaign of one candidate based almost solely on the implementation of the Gold Coast city council proposal called the Oceanway. This, in essence, is a four-metre wide concrete cycleway/walkway structure built over pristine sand dunes and sand grasses from Main Beach through the Mermaid Beach electorate beachfront. At a cost for the first section of over $6 million for a structure built east of the A-line rock wall, it is identified as sacrificial infrastructure. This project is bureaucratic madness gone haywire when we already have nature’s perfect walkway called ‘the beach’. As for cyclists in their mamil gear whizzing along the cycleway, there are many designated cycleway spaces on our roads to accommodate their needs. Let’s not concrete paradise.

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Where is the Greens party when we need it to stand up for a genuine environmental vandalism cause? The Labor-Green alliance had the power to stop a cableway to Springbrook, but they do not care about concreting our beaches. In fact, the Labor-Green alliance have already managed to stop a cableway project on the Gold Coast which would have provided for 580 permanent jobs and 1,300 jobs in construction. I get the feeling if that mob opposite stays it will be the ‘Ray Stevens memorial cableway’. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, of the election result when the candidate crusading on the Oceanway got 500-odd votes and only 1.7 per cent of the total electoral votes. Even the informal vote got six per cent, so that should tell everyone what the Mermaid Beach electorate thinks of the Oceanway proposal.

A rising concern in my electorate is the increasing prevalence of serious crime with troubled recovering drug and alcohol addicted patients being housed in inappropriate accommodation without necessary supervision. When these folk, unfortunately, succumb to revisiting their previous addiction, the outcome for the community is intimidating, threatening and in some cases dangerous. This situation is exacerbated by the absence of enough of a police presence, who routinely complain about their babysitting duties at quarantine hotels and their checkpoint usherette duties at the borders in Queensland. The redirection of these valuable police resources without further embellishment of policing numbers on the Gold Coast is an invitation to would-be criminals that says the Gold Coast is open for dirty criminal activity.

In a corollary of the Palaszczuk government’s failure to protect its citizens, their weakening of the youth justice legislation has led to teen criminals stealing cars without fear of retribution by the courts. Their modus operandi of stealing car keys after breaking and entering houses to joy ride in swish European model cars is an epidemic in itself across the state and can be laid squarely at the feet of our blindfolded justice lady who turns the other cheek to repeat offenders. It is just not good enough.

On a local note, the light rail stage 3 will be starting in 2021, 85 per cent of which travels through my electorate. I have already negotiated a better outcome for a large power-generating building in Annette Kellerman Park near my office. For those who do not know, Annette Kellerman was Australia’s earliest naked mermaid in shows across America in the early 20th century. Perhaps that is how Mermaid Beach got its name. I promise the House that I will not replicate her infamy.

The light rail stage 3 will bring with it higher density housing and more high-rise development, as I have warned my constituents repeatedly. My big concern is the increase in traffic caused by the increase in density as, according to the department of transport’s own figures, 95 per cent of new residents of the high-rises in the area will drive a car. Parking in the streets will also be at a premium as the seven per cent of commuters who use light rail will probably still own a car as well for socialising on weekends.

That is the perfect segue into my next call on behalf of Gold Coast residents, which is for council to provide more bridge crossings across our rivers to enable increased traffic generated by the thousands of extra people relocating to the Gold Coast every year to travel around our city. The very reason people move to the Gold Coast is the wonderful lifestyle generated by perfect weather and magnificent geography. We cannot smother nature’s benevolence with traffic gridlock and turn our roadways into parking lots. The bureaucrats harp on about public transport but love to drive cars themselves. Perhaps the bureaucrats should be forced to use the public transport they so often lobby for.

We are a 42-kilometre lineal city with only three major bridge crossings of the Nerang River. Benowa Road is a classic four-lane road that leads to nowhere, and successive councils have been too voter responsive to address the absolute need to put more automotive infrastructure into our city. Markeri Street is another four-lane road with two-lane bridges that will require upgrading in the near future and the four-lane Rio Vista road is another with a two-lane bridge servicing it. On the credit side, the Isle of Capri bridge is currently being upgraded to four lanes in the fabulous electorate of Surfers Paradise, which is well represented by the member for Surfers Paradise, John-Paul Langbroek. This recognises the increase in east-west traffic movement generated by our rapidly growing population. I am pleased the election brought about funding commitments to upgrade the M1 and start on the alternative Coomera Connector.

This brings me to my earlier reference to the Netflix series The Crown. If ever there was a ‘Prince Charles’ of the Queensland parliament it would be the Treasurer, the member for Woodridge, Cameron Dick. When the member was given the Treasury portfolio, he identified he had no idea what the Queensland debt was and he probably still does not really care. This was written last year before the budget sittings. With Victoria going from $87 billion to $155 billion in debt and New South Wales going to $200 billion, it was a golden opportunity for the Treasurer to put more debt on the credit card of

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Queenslanders, and I predicted it. I said $130 billion would not be out of the question for the debt level that this Treasurer was prepared to impose upon Queenslanders’ children and their grandchildren. It was only up $28 billion, but with $2 billion and the Labor Party and their IT projects, who cares? This means an interest bill of up to $4 billion a year paid by Queensland taxpayers to lenders when that amount of money could buy 2½ new Gold Coast hospitals, a new M1 or several new high schools. The apathy and disdain in the Labor Party for fiscal responsibility is mind blowing and yet the Queensland electorate at large lets them escape condemnation for their profligacy and irresponsibility in this area.

That will change over the next four years as the economic reality of job losses, falling state revenues and financial hardship hit home, and the blame can be laid squarely at the feet of this incompetent Labor government. The only means they will have to combat their wilful spending will be to raise taxes, sell assets like they did with Queensland Rail and charge more levies. The ‘Prince Charles’ of the Queensland parliament, the member for Woodridge, will be skippering the Queensland economy ‘Titanic’ towards the economic iceberg and the buck will stop with him.

On a positive note, the LNP has a brand new youthful, energetic leadership team in Mr David Crisafulli and Mr David Janetzki, who will both drive home the economic failings of this government to our Treasurer, Mr Cameron Dick. The ‘double D’ team will do the heavy lifting for the LNP over the next four years.

I am sure Queenslanders will wake up in 2024 to the way forward in difficult economic times. This is a worldwide pandemic. At the moment Australia has a little boom on in certain areas, particularly my area of the Gold Coast. I was told that 450,000 ex-pat Australians have returned home to Australia because of the pandemic around the world. That has led to enormous demand. They are buying via the internet properties on the Gold Coast and in northern New South Wales as well. For people on the Gold Coast, the rental market has gone berserk. That little injection into the economy will come to an end fairly shortly and over the years ahead we will get down to the tin tacks of having to economically manage Queensland. The ratings agencies will be very harsh in terms of this government’s capacity to deal with this skyrocketing debt. The $28 billion of extra debt added by the government has been earmarked not just for infrastructure projects such as the much needed M1 or other job-creating infrastructure in Queensland but also for recurrent expenditure—in other words, keeping the lights on in Queensland and keeping the Public Service paid.

It is a sad indictment on this government that it cannot manage its budget so that its revenue equates with its expenditure for the years ahead. Everyone understands that a small amount of borrowing for infrastructure that will be used by Queenslanders of the future—a small amount of debt—is a good thing for future generations; however, it was just ridiculous for this government to go into the pandemic with the highest proportionate debt across Australia while last year having the highest state unemployment rate in Australia. I think we now have gone past South Australia or one of those states. As my mate in the racing game said, ‘The horse didn’t come last; he is second last. He has a lot of upscope.’ This state has upscope but only if Labor is not on the treasury benches.

As I said, last year’s election was like no other. I doubt that we will see that again at the next election in 2024 or thereafter. I believe that Queenslanders will put their trust in an LNP government in the 58th Parliament.

I thank the Governor for his kind words in opening the parliament. I ask the Governor perhaps to send the kindest and best regards of the member for Mermaid Beach to the Royal Family, particularly my best wishes for a speedy recovery for Prince Philip, who is under a bit of pressure at the moment. We would always like to see the Royal Family governing Queensland and treating it as the wonderful state that it is.

Mrs McMAHON (Macalister—ALP) (3.43 pm): Madam Deputy Speaker Lui, I start by congratulating you on your appointment to your position this term and by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather today, the Jagera and Turrbal people. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. I also acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which my electorate sits, the Yugambeh-speaking people. I acknowledge my local elders, Aunty Robyn and Ted Williams. Since the time of my first speech, only recently we lost Aunty Eileen. I acknowledge the sorry business that is occurring in my local community.

Here I stand at the beginning of my second term. I feel that I must reflect and comment on the first term. I can confirm that the sense of wonder and privilege upon entering this institution has not completely subsided, but I would like to think that I am starting to get the hang of it. Let’s face it: the dynamics of this job, this workplace and this chamber are unlike any other. It can be all at once bewildering and challenging, but I would not have put up my hand in the first place if I were not up for a challenge.

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What I really love about this role is my time and work in my electorate. I have decided that being in the electorate office is not unlike my time working in a police beat. We are an outpost of a much larger machine of government and you just do not know what is about to walk through the door or ring through. It makes it exciting. It does make it challenging, but it also makes it rewarding. I would love to say that everyone who walks in the door leaves happy, but life just does not work that way. We know that many will have tried every other avenue before contacting their local MP and we know that a significant number of others have no idea who to turn to first, but in each instance my staff and I do our best to listen and to advocate in their best interests.

This speech allows me to recognise those who contributed to my election. I must first and foremost thank the people of Macalister. It is because of them and it is for them that I have been re-elected to this House. I thank them for their support and for their ringing endorsement of my performance during the first term. My first preference vote increased almost 10 per cent, coming first in every single booth, including winning booths that Labor had never won before.

I am always a bit of a nervous candidate. I was told by someone who has been in this game a lot longer than me that you have to campaign as if it is going to come down to a single vote—or less. My team and I had an underlying confidence that the solid work we had done within the community over the previous two years would stand us in good stead.

I acknowledge the significance of my community’s faith and trust in our Premier. I would like to say that the 10 per cent primary boost was all me, but I know that when voters were reaching out for the how-to-vote cards they were looking for the Premier. ‘That’s the one,’ they would say as they walked into the polling booth. I am humble enough to admit that this election was a ringing endorsement of the Premier’s handling of COVID-19. I thank the Premier, the former health minister and the Chief Health Officer, for it was their decisions and their fortitude in the face of almost unrelenting pressure to stay the course and to put the health of Queenslanders first that have brought us to where we are today.

I am proud to have a leader who backs the science and the experts in the field. There are decisions that are politically popular and there are decisions based on evidence—not opinion polls and not lobby groups. I thank the Chief Health Officer for her expert guidance and strength during such a trying time. She made herself available to me on a number of occasions when I needed an understanding of individual cases within my electorate. This time, dedication and clarity have given me and my community faith in her decision-making processes.

In my first term I was pleased to have delivered my 2017 election commitments. In 2019 we officially switched on the lights at the Eagleby Giants field at Bishop Park, a year in which they were awarded the BRL’s junior Rugby League club of the year. At the end of 2019 we officially opened the trade training centre in Beenleigh. Delivering on election commitments is not where the work of an MP starts and stops; it is the things they do in between that are the measure of how an MP delivers for their community.

The first item on my agenda was a safety issue at the intersection of Kruger Road and Beenleigh-Redland Road at Carbrook, an intersection that during the peak school times services three schools and a childcare centre—all of this at a T-intersection controlled by a single stop sign. Whilst it was not on the timetable for an upgrade, some solid lobbying by the school community and me scored a $4.35 million signalisation of the intersection. Parents are seeing the work currently underway and, weather permitting, it will be finished during the June-July holidays. I thank locals and the school community for their forbearance during the construction period. I count that as a big win. Sometimes it is the little wins that can bring a big smile to my face: a security fence upgrade at Beenleigh State School that they had been asking for for some time; new multisport courts at Eagleby State School that had been at the top of their list at the beginning of 2018; a bus stop relocation out the front of Beenleigh Special School which eventually led to a commonsense decision; and a new senior playground for the Eden’s Landing State School.

Along with the 2020 Ready Program and continual infrastructure upgrades, I can report to the House that there has been more investment in Macalister schools in the past three years than there had been in the previous 10 years combined.

I am proud to be part of a Labor government that invests in our kids and that knows that state schools are great schools and backs this with the funding, but we are not done yet. This term will see the construction of the new hall at Beenleigh State High School, an expansion of the Carbrook State School administration building, reroofing at Mount Warren Park State School and new outdoor learning area at Windaroo State School, but most exciting is the work underway to open a new primary school in the Bahrs Scrub area. This will be the first new school in Macalister in almost 30 years.

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It is not just schools that will be transformed over the next four years. The Beenleigh Better Roads Project will be the catalyst for some long-awaited upgrades to key Beenleigh intersections that have remained unchanged for decades while growth occurred around them. It is not just about Beenleigh; the rest of Macalister will start to see movement on some long-awaited road upgrades in Cornubia and Carbrook. Discussions have already begun in planning the new justice precinct in Beenleigh. The Beenleigh Police Station, not much changed since I worked there, will receive a new facility to meet the demands of our growing community and boost in police numbers that will happen between now and 2025.

Delivering on commitments is core business for any member of parliament but the bread and butter is involvement in our community, and I have enjoyed being involved with a number of sporting, community and business groups. Frankly, I am quite chuffed that I have been able to pull on the Beenleigh Pride jersey at my age and be part of a few seasons, having fun and keeping fit with such a lovely group of women supported by the club and the community. I feel my transition to a baseball cap is probably a better fit for my age, so thank you to the Beenleigh Hawks for being patient as I found my way around the ground balls last season. I even got the opportunity to swing a mallet earlier this year with the Twin Rivers mallet club, so I would like to officially dispel the rumours that I am just a footy girl when even croquet gets a run.

I make no apologies in my community for supporting women and girls’ sporting opportunities. The research is clear when it comes to the health and wellbeing of children. Girls who stay in sport in their teenage years are more likely to retain healthy lifestyles later in life, and children who have mothers still participating in sport are more likely to adopt more active lifestyles. A population that is healthy and active is in the best interests of everyone, even if you are only interested in the bottom line.

I also believe that it is a fundamental role of a member of parliament to engage with a range of community voices to ensure they are represented in this House. In the last term I established the Macalister youth advisory committee, and a range of people throughout my electorate put their hands up to represent young people in Macalister. Many might assume that young people are disdainful or apathetic when it comes to politics, but I prefer to take the view that politicians must do more to make politics accessible and relevant to young people. An informed and participating electorate requires us to engage our constituents at an early stage.

I thank Amelia, Portia, Paige and Jaya for their assistance in establishing the youth advisory committee. For it to be successful in its aims, it had to be designed by young people. I thank the first cohort of the Macalister youth advisory committee, which ran from 2019 through to 2020. Obviously the delivery of its projects ran into some trouble in 2020, but it was flexible and agile and turned into a volunteer army, making care and welfare calls to seniors in Macalister. I am proud of the work they did and I never despair for the future of Queensland when I see what they can do. As I mentioned earlier this week, I want to acknowledge the next MacYAC cohort who has already met this year and I wish them well on their next two years in the role.

I now want to thank our members of the Beenleigh Labor branch. They are a small but dedicated and hardy crew. Campaigning was certainly different this time, but the phone calling and letterboxing never stopped. I want to give a big shout-out and thank you to the army of letterboxers who came out—because Australia Post certainly does not make things any easier these days—and it was foot power that came through. Dozens and dozens of friends, supporters, team mates—most not even linked to the party—were out there climbing the hills and handing out flyers. I could not fathom how many kilometres our ‘branchy’ Malcolm walked each day—he is just a machine—but we had a positive story to tell and everyone wanted it out there.

Marlene, Fran, Cathy, Ben, James, Susan, Inari, Stella, Sharon and Belinda were on the ground on election day marshalling the troops—and what a day it was with the threat of some supercell storm activity. At 2.30 pm that Saturday in Macalister, boy, did it hit! My lucky election hat, as my son called it, never knew what was coming and I do not think we ever saw it again. Thank you to all of the volunteers on the day manning the booths. The number of voters on the big day was obviously down, but everyone was in good spirits. We are quite lucky in Macalister with the volunteers we have on both sides. Everyone is there with a job to do and, no matter what colour shirt you wear, in Macalister it is done with a smile and a chat.

As has been acknowledged by all members in this House, the work that our electorate staff do—the diligence they have in addressing routine constituent issues and in our absence when we are in here—is the foundation of our work in the electorate. In the last term I was fortunate enough to have two very skilled and experienced electorate staff members. There are few people in the electorate that either Michael or Sean had not met or knew of. As locals themselves, they were dedicated to addressing

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the issues that confronted my electorate just as much as the constituents who raised it with them. I thank them for their service last term. I know that the work done last term has set us up for a very good term this time around.

I thank the party office for their support and the team there that provided guidance and assistance and the occasional kick up the backside when required. To Jeanette Temperley, Jules Campbell and the team at Peel Street, thank you for your leadership and on many occasions just being there as a sounding board. This was not my first rodeo, but sage advice is always appreciated. I know there are many Labor faithful who were following the results in Macalister that night and I was pleased to deliver the result for them. I want to thank Gary Bullock and the team at the United Workers Union and Gary O’Halloran at the Plumbers Union. Their assistance over the last term and the election was a solid platform for what we did locally.

I know many in my community and even within my family may have had reservations about how I would be able to juggle such a demanding role as a member of parliament with that of having a young family. My daughter, who was born during the 2017 campaign, is currently three and she is the most grounding influence anyone could possibly have. There is no capacity to have a big head or sense of entitlement when you are toilet training a three-year-old. While I will never profess to have this parenthood gig entirely sorted, I am regularly treated to the eye rolls of my pre-teen daughter and I have been led to believe that this is entirely normal and to be expected, so I must be doing okay. I am pleased and proud to be part of a government that recognises and normalises parenthood in this House and in this chamber. The women of Queensland should know that they do not have to choose between parenthood and a role as an elected person in this House.

My kids are probably getting an upbringing like few others. ‘Little Mack’ knows no other life and she does take it in her stride, even if those strides are at a hundred miles an hour. Ro, we have come so far in the past three years. To see you now talking, although I will not profess to understand what game it is that you are talking about, and to see you at school with your peers makes me happier than any other achievement I have attained. I know every day is a challenge for you and your teachers, but there is a massive support network around you and you are loved for who you are.

Cara, the ‘Big Mack’, words cannot express how proud I am to see you grow into the person you will become, and I have to say that I can see more than a little bit of me in you. Your individuality and your determination to not fit into any category and to be who you want to be is a sight to behold. I know that you are pretty stoked that you are as tall as me and that you can hold your own against mum at boxing—thanks for the shiner—but I want you to enjoy this time that you have before high school beckons next year.

To my husband, thank you for joining me on this adventure. When we met in the Army all that time ago, it would have been a brave soul to predict back then where we are today. We have been together for 25 years—I apologise for not remembering the date earlier this year, and thank you for the gift; you certainly know the way to my heart—but we are in this together and we are a team, and I am sure that at some point in the future as a team we will get an off-season. Whether you are attending the appointment with Ronan or I am—and he is the one attending right now—or doing the pick-up and drop-off with Mack or doing score table duty for Cara’s basketball, we have the logistics under control—mostly! Thank you all. I am proud to stand here as the member for Macalister returned for a second term. Every day that I am in this House know that I am fighting for Macalister; I am fighting for my community.

Mr DAMETTO (Hinchinbrook—KAP) (4.00 pm): It is a pleasure to once again have the opportunity to stand in this House and represent the good people of Hinchinbrook. I would like to thank the people of Hinchinbrook who supported me during the last election campaign and entrusted me to bring their voice into the Queensland parliament. It is an absolute honour and privilege to once again stand in this place. I would like to congratulate every one of the members in this House who would have fought very hard during the campaign to have the right to be here to represent their community. I am hoping that every one of you do your community proud, as I hope to do mine.

I represent the great electorate of Hinchinbrook. People like Ted Row, John Row and Marc Rowell come before me. I hope that walking in their footsteps I am able to make the community proud. The Hinchinbrook electorate is a varied electorate. It goes from the Bohle River in the northern beaches of Townsville all the way through to Tully Heads. What happens in Tully Heads means nothing in Cardwell and something that happens in Cardwell means nothing in Bushland Beach. We have very varied areas, from small micro communities to larger communities, with competing but also common interests.

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As I work through the next parliament and hopefully secure better lifestyle and living conditions for the people of Hinchinbrook, I will be fighting against population demise in our small and regional towns. The town of Ingham, for example, from one census to the next lost a fifth of its population through either people passing on or people moving away. We are working hard to build communities in these areas. We are working hard to attract people back to the regions. We want to do that through crop diversification in the Hinchinbrook electorate. Right now we are riding on the back of sugar cane, especially in the Herbert district, but we want to make sure that we are doing other things in the Herbert district to attract jobs and people to the region.

Investigating opportunities for other crops is one way of building communities, but building on our natural assets in the area is another. We have the largest island national park in Hinchinbrook Island, which is smack bang in the middle of the electorate. It is one of the most beautiful sites one will ever see with the Thorsborne Trail running from one end to the other. It is literally like Jurassic Park when you fly over it. It is one of our natural assets. We not only have Hinchinbrook Island; we have Wallaman Falls and Paluma. Developing tourism opportunities for these places is No. 1 on my list when it comes to invigorating the tourism industry in the Hinchinbrook electorate. State and federal government investment in these places will bring people to the region once the COVID restrictions drop and we are open for business as usual once again.

This term I will be working on fulfilling the election commitments that I made during the election campaign. I will be making sure that we continue the good work we are doing with the state government to fix some of the longstanding problems with Port Hinchinbrook. Port Hinchinbrook was devastated. It is a small community that sits just to the south of Cardwell. It has not fully recovered since Cyclone Yasi which happened 10 years ago. I will continue to work with all levels of government—local, state and federal—to unlock the funding required to get this part of Cardwell back on its feet. Right now we are working to get the sewage treatment plant up and running and a new sewage treatment plant, but there is more work to be done.

A problem right across the north of Queensland, and in the Hinchinbrook electorate, is crocodile management. We are seeing too many crocodiles in the ecosystem at the moment. Negative human interaction with crocodiles in the electorate is increasing. I will continue that conservation in this House this term. The Hinchinbrook electorate has some of the best schools, from the Northern Beaches State High School all the way through to Lower Tully State School and Kennedy State School. We applaud the state government’s investment in our schools. We applaud the state government’s investment in health. An election commitment from the state government was an ambulance centre for the northern beaches of Townsville to be situated in North Shore Burdell. There was also a commitment to lifesaving dialysis for Ingham, which is something that is very necessary and needs to be delivered during this term. I will continue to work with the health minister on those matters.

The reason I joined the KAP and continue to work as a KAP member in this House is the mantra of nation-building infrastructure to advance regional Queensland. At the KAP we believe the only way to advance Queensland is to invest in agriculture, our mining industry and our rural communities. By building those rural communities we generate more wealth for not only the northern part of Queensland but also the south-east corner. We can build more tunnels and roads in Brisbane if we have a firing mining industry that is able to flourish, coupled with an agricultural industry which is the lifeblood of this state.

I would like to thank the people who got behind me and the KAP during the election campaign. I thank our booth workers. Every booth worker who supported every other member in this House worked tirelessly to get their candidate over the line, to get their view and their voice in the parliament. I thank in particular my staff who worked extremely hard in their own time to support us. I would like to make special mention of my wife Alicia, who took holidays for a month from her busy schedule to help with my campaign. I thank my campaign manager, none other than Yolanda Delucia, my sister, who has been supportive of me and my work in the House since the very day that I put my hand up to run in 2017. The re-election results that we saw in this House were very much a family affair.

An honourable member interjected. Mr DAMETTO: I will take that interjection. I know which side of the bread my butter is on. I would

like to thank my son, who flew all the way from Brisbane to give a helping hand during the election. Once again, I think he realises which side of the bread is buttered. It was a pleasure to have the support of family, our friends and the people who actually just said, ‘Nick, I’m putting my hand up because I believe in what you are doing.’ One gentleman came up to me on election day—I will not shy away from this—and said, ‘The preferential voting system gave you an opportunity in 2017 to take the seat of

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Hinchinbrook, which you did.’ A couple of days later he rang me after hearing the election results. He said, ‘Nick, the show of gratitude from the voters in Hinchinbrook to re-elect you means that you did a good job in that first term and we are proud to have you in that spot once again.’

I will continue to work very hard for the Hinchinbrook electorate, making sure their voices are heard and ensuring that we have road and other infrastructure spends in the area. The Bruce Highway travels straight through the middle of Ingham and straight through the middle parts of Cardwell. There are talks of bypassing places like Ingham. We want to make sure that the right infrastructure spends are in place if that was to go ahead. I will continue to fight for the dredging of Port Hinchinbrook at the northern part of the Hinchinbrook electorate but also better marine infrastructure in places like Forrest Beach, Lucinda and Taylors Beach to make sure that we are capitalising on the great natural assets that we have in the area. Forrest Beach has been screaming out for forever and a day for better marine infrastructure, and Dungeness at Lucinda just needs some dredging and a rock wall. I will continue to work to make sure that we deliver that during this term of parliament.

Another group of people who have entrusted us to represent them in this term are the farmers in our electorate. Those farmers have fought rigorously against the state government’s introduction of the reef regulations and the bill brought in in 2019 that will help enact those. Farmers are the best environmentalists in Australia. They are the people who are the custodians of the country that they look after. No farmer wants to see the degradation of their land or the agronomy of their place lost. They want to make sure they are capturing all the nutrients they can. It costs a lot of money to fertilise. They do not want to see it going out to the reef. When it comes to herbicides and pesticides, they only use what they have to. There is a saying in the farming community, dear as poison, and that is true. Every farmer uses only what they need. We need the state government to acknowledge that and work with our farmers, not against them.

I would like to acknowledge my KAP counterparts, Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth, for the guidance they have given me not only through the election campaign but also through my first term of parliament. It is a scary notion to come down here for the first time. Madam Deputy Speaker, you would have experienced the same thing coming down from your electorate of Cook in your first term. Like everyone else in this place, for me the learning curve was quite vertical in the first couple of months. However, by surrounding myself with good men in Robbie and Shane, the member for Traeger and the member for Hill, I was given the support I needed to do the best I can in this House. I liken my first term of parliament to doing an apprenticeship. I hope I have acquired the skills necessary to deliver for Hinchinbrook over the next term and for terms to come.

Before I end, I would like to once again acknowledge everyone in this House. Congratulations on your re-elections—

An honourable member interjected. Mr DAMETTO: And I take that smiling interjection. Over this term I will be here to hold the state

government to account, to make sure that the opposition is helping us to hold the state government to account and also to fight for Hinchinbrook’s fair share. At the end of the day I am just a fitter boilermaker by trade doing my best to use my life experiences for the betterment of Hinchinbrook. I am one of us fighting for all of us.

Mr POWER (Logan—ALP) (4.11 pm): As we gather here after our election—and hopefully we will do so again in four years time—I recognise that we continue a human tradition of people gathering to consider how they will manage and govern their affairs that has existed for thousands of years. In particular I recognise the Jagera people who are a part of my electorate and also the Yugambeh-speaking peoples. I recognise that we continue that speech and that it is humbling to have the entire course of human history that has existed in our country.

I am humbled to speak in reply to our Governor’s speech at this extraordinary time in our extraordinary state’s history. Within this great state I represent what I think is—and I will back this up with hard facts during my speech—the greatest area with the greatest people in our great state. In the last term, during my address-in-reply speech I spoke with pride of the Logan community’s resilience in coming together to support those impacted by the 2017 floods following Cyclone Debbie. The Premier came to North Maclean to see for herself that collective response. I thought that I could never be more proud of Logan than I was when I saw how the Logan mud army supported their neighbours. However, our community now faces an even more extreme threat: the COVID-19 pandemic. I am simply blown away by the community response in Logan. If I may, I will illustrate that with a brief story.

Last year I got a call that no-one here would want: the chief of staff of the then health minister and now Deputy Premier rang to say that there was an infection within our community, that one of the people who was infected had worked in our school community and that they had significant fears of a

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major breakout. That turned our little area of Logan upside down, but the response from the community was simply awesome. In particular I recognise the Parklands Christian College in Park Ridge and their community response.

Principal Garry Cully immediately went out to inform people of what was going on. When he had to get tested and go into lockdown, Pastor Mike Warman from the community stepped up. He was there with the long line of people from the entire school community who were waiting in the heat to get tested. He sorted out problems with a positive and smiling face and he did that for days on end, adding to the fantastic community health response from the Queensland government. My son and I had been at soccer training with kids from Parklands Christian College, so like the rest of the community we did the right thing and got tested. After a few days I was cleared and was able to rejoin the community to see the response in action. It was absolutely fantastic that the community was so selfless that it went above and beyond to keep Queensland safe and we saw the results. Obviously even before that people were doing the right thing because we did not see infections from within that group.

The alternative to keeping Queensland safe and secure, as the Queensland government did and as our community did, is really stark. We know that the risky LNP called 64 times for our borders to open. They moved motions in this House to have our borders opened even as New South Wales had mystery community transmissions and, of course, as cases in Victoria were exploding. They had radical and risky plans that endangered the Queensland community, that endangered the Queensland economy and that endangered the lives of Queenslanders, especially the lives of Queensland seniors whom I feel the LNP take so much for granted. We heard that they had a secret plan to remain open to New South Wales regardless of how much New South Wales was falling. Premier Berejiklian told us that the then opposition leader, the member for Nanango, had secretly told her what she would not tell the people of Queensland, that whatever the risk Queensland would be opened and the advice of the health professionals would be thrown away.

Mrs FRECKLINGTON: Madam Deputy Speaker, I take offence at this absolute rot. Mr POWER: I withdraw, Madam Deputy Speaker. Mr Mander: You wait till you’re asked! Mrs FRECKLINGTON: I take personal offence. I ask the speaker to withdraw and further— Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Lui): Member for Nanango, I ask you to take your seat. Mr POWER: I withdraw, Madam Deputy Speaker. Mrs FRECKLINGTON: Madam Deputy Speaker, further, I take personal offence at the

misleading rot from this member and I will be writing to the Speaker with those concerns. Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nanango. Ms McMILLAN: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I have two concerns. One is

the unparliamentary language used by the member for Nanango and the second is the— Ms Bates: That is not a point of order. It is a frivolous point of order. Ms McMILLAN: I beg your pardon? Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members, I ask you to please stop quarrelling across the chamber. Ms McMILLAN: My second point of order relates to the member for Everton and the language or

the disposition he used, which was threatening towards another member of the parliament and which is unparliamentary.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Mansfield. Mr MANDER: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Everton, I ask you to sit down while I deal with one

point of order at a time. Members, I remind you not to use unparliamentary language, please. Mr POWER: I am pleased to hear that what Premier Berejiklian told people at a press conference

was not correct. I am pleased to see that there is concern and that we would have kept borders closed, because it is a vital tool in order to keep Queensland people safe.

For the people of Logan, connectivity is vitally important. The Mount Lindesay Highway is a vital connection for our electorate and we have already seen significant investment in it, such as the North Maclean safety project and the South Maclean intersection project, which of course received 100 per cent state funding. We have built a new bridge across Jimboomba Creek, connecting Camp Cable Road, where a new intersection had been built previously, to Johanna Street, again at 100 per cent. I

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know that the main roads minister has been down there to see those projects and is passionate about making sure that the Mount Lindesay Highway is safer and faster. He has a really deep understanding of the project. Of course, we have also built four lanes between Rosia Road and Stoney Camp Road and now we are building four lanes between Stoney Camp Road and Chambers Flat Road.

The minister spoke about it this morning. He also reminded the House that that was one of the projects to be cancelled due to the funding cuts that were announced barely two days before the people went to vote—in fact, probably after the majority of people in Logan had already voted. We knew that that would be cut because that funding was no longer there.

We have also seen fantastic investment in the four-laning of Johanna Street throughout to South Street. Here I want to reach out and say that the federal government has come to the party in funding part of this project. Secretly, I think the minister deserves that credit because he has fought so hard behind the scenes. Publicly, I acknowledge that the federal government has done a great job, but I recognise that the minister has put it on the agenda again and again in order to ensure there is that funding.

Mrs Frecklington interjected. Mr POWER: It is a secret I have let you in on, member for Nanango. I want to recognise the

public transport services that have come on in Logan, including the new TransLink electric bus service in Yarrabilba that makes it cheaper for residents to get through to the city or to the Hyperdome and the train connection. There is also a new Flagstone and Greenbank service, a fantastic way to get to the much improved park-and-ride at the Greenbank RSL, where people can get express services all the way to the city.

We should not forget the demand responsive transport, which I note the member for Springwood had great involvement in campaigning for—an innovative new service providing public transport to areas that have low population density. People in areas such as Chambers Flat can call a number or get on the app and access public transport services. When the LNP were in power they cut services. In the old electorate of Logan that I represented, there were 2,000 fewer bus stops each week, meaning significantly reduced services to the people who wanted to use public transport across our city.

We recognise that police and emergency services are really important. That is why we have built a new ambulance station in Yarrabilba serving this fast-growing community, and also one in Munruben, right on the Chambers Flat Road intersection, where there is great access not only to the Mount Lindesay Highway but also to the growing communities in Greenbank and Park Ridge. They complement the Logan West ambulance and the Jimboomba ambulance.

The new Logan Village Yarrabilba police station tripled the size of the Logan Village Police Beat. We have great, passionate police officers, including the new senior sergeant, working there. We recognise that our police really deeply care about their community, working from the police stations at Browns Plains and Jimboomba. They are hardworking, professional, caring police officers who are dedicated to keeping us safe, preventing crime and changing young lives to put people on the right path.

Moving on to schools and TAFE, I spoke earlier about the Premier, the education minister and the member for Jordan coming to Greenbank to visit the new Everleigh Estate opposite Pub Lane to attend the sod-turning to start the construction of a new school that will serve the families and future families in the quickly growing areas of Greenbank and North Maclean. This builds on the Palaszczuk government’s commitment to education where we have built the Yarrabilba State School; the Yarrabilba State Community College, as well as new buildings and a performing arts centre there; and the Park Ridge State High School, where they are preparing for jobs of the future and have a world-class critical-thinking space at the fantastic new arts centre building. As I said before, during the LNP’s term in government—the member for Pine Rivers knows the answer to this one—how many classrooms did they build during that time?

Ms Boyd: Zero. Mr POWER: Zero. The member knew the answer. Mrs Frecklington interjected. Mr POWER: No, I am talking about the growing areas of Logan, member for Nanango. There

were zero built there. It was a great disappointment. We built the new ward at Logan Hospital, adding new beds—the LNP built none—and we built

that addition in record time, powering ahead with the construction of that fantastic and adaptable centre. Construction is also underway on the expanded project which, for a growing area, is very important.

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We had COVID-19 testing centres at the Parklands Christian College during the emergency and a permanent testing centre at the Browns Plains Community Health Centre, which is a fantastic asset to the local area.

When we run for election, we never do it alone. I want to recognise and thank all of the members of the Labor Party in our local area who deeply believe in social justice and have a passion for delivering services to a growing area for which I fight. I recognise our trade unions, who fight for social justice in the workplace. I do not want to single out any of the unions because I think they are all fantastic, but I do appreciate the advice of Steve Baker at the Australian Workers’ Union and Peter Biagini at the TWU. All of the unions each and every day reach out to stand up for workers to create a better society in Australia.

I want to thank my family—my wife, Jacki, and the kids. We are involved in a great project together where we have three fantastic kids and we—

An honourable member: A joint merger? Mr POWER: That is maybe not the right word. Together we are a great family! We often discuss

how our world is going and what challenges we face. We get great feedback from the kids, who are just as interested in where we are going as we are as their parents.

I want to thank my mum, Mary, who is part of the reason I have such a passion for social justice and for advancing our country. I know that whenever she was not helping me she was trying to ensure the member for Mermaid Beach was not elected. She won on one and lost on the other, but I think there is always next time. I also recognise John Mickel, a former Speaker in this place and the former member for Logan. He is always there as a sounding-board to help us understand what our task is in serving the people of Logan and pushing people to discover the services needed and how we deliver them.

I have a list of people I wish to thank. It is a very long list so I will pick out just a few. Firstly, I thank Jim Chalmers, the local federal member. I thank Dani, who on pre-poll kept me together in my nervous moments. I thank Ben and Brendan, who learned so much but also taught me so much. I want to thank so many people, but I will particularly mention Terry and Joan, Terry and Trish and also, of course, Bev, who is a special friend of mine and the member for Jordan. Firstly, Bev has fantastic advice for us all and has great insight and, secondly, this was the last election at which she would help the member for Jordan and me as she is moving with her grandkids down to a terrible place called New South Wales. We really will miss her because she is very special, particularly in giving us advice.

I also thank Teresa Lane, who worked for me and gave me special insight into how you serve people—how, when people come to you in a difficult fashion, you try to find respect and understanding of where they come from. She has taught me a lot and continues to make a great contribution to the community that she holds very dear.

We heard early on in the COVID pandemic—we hear it less now—that there were two courses of action we needed to follow. They were the economic course and the health course. During the committee hearings on the COVID-19 we heard it best from our Premier, who said— Let me make this very clear: you cannot have a strong economy unless you have the right health response. We are dealing with twin crises. It is very, very complex. It is about getting that balance right. We will do everything we can to address cases as they come up, but at the moment it is absolutely critical that we continue to listen to the Chief Health Officer’s advice.

Our Premier has been a guiding light for Queenslanders—steady and secure. She has been taking the advice of professionals and guiding us. That is why we have such a strong economic response and why we have such a strong health response. For that reason, I recognise her leadership of this state. On behalf of the people of Logan, I thank her for all she has done in the past three years. I will continue to working with her. I endorse the Governor’s speech.

Ms SIMPSON (Maroochydore—LNP) (4.30 pm): In rising to speak in the address-in-reply I want to start on a fairly sober note—the Queensland road toll. It is devastating because it is more than just a number. There have been 275 deaths on our roads throughout Queensland in the last year. There has been a tragic spike of 56 more than the year before. That number represents not only 275 families but also a multitude of friends and relatives and communities that will never forget losing loved ones. There are many others who have been injured—sometimes for life. This is devastating. Queensland has had one of the worst road tolls since 2012. There will be analysis as to why that has occurred. As I understand it, this is contrary to what has happened in all other states. I believe the ACT, which is not a state, has had an increase. We should not lose focus on this.

While there will be analysis as to the reasons for this, we know that in many of our areas the thin blue line—the traffic police—was a lot thinner in the last 12 months because of the extraordinary work the police were doing during COVID. We always commend and applaud our emergency services. The

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situation was that the police were undertaking a lot of COVID duties. They were making sure people adhered to the requirements and the laws that applied during these extraordinary COVID times. As I understand it, there was sometimes only one car on the whole of the Sunshine Coast doing traffic duty. This is a region of more than 340,000. That is replicated across all other regions. It does not help to lose that blue line on our roads.

I want to speak out about this and the things we need to do to ensure our road toll goes down and more families do not experience this bereavement, injury and economic loss. They carry devastating grief for the rest of their lives. We must stand up for our traffic police officers and ensure that they are properly resourced so that they can be a visual presence on our roads in our communities. This is vitally important. I was horrified when I heard that some days last year there was only one traffic police car on the road on the Sunshine Coast. That is something that we need to call out. I think that has contributed to the numbers we have seen in the last 12 months.

The address-in-reply is traditionally an opportunity once the election has been held to respond to the Governor’s speech which essentially is the agenda of the government presented at the opening of parliament. We can speak about our return to this parliament and our vision for our electorates. Many of us have had the opportunity to address many of the issues during the budget debate. It is a quirk of parliament that the address-in-reply is as late as it is.

I want to raise a number of issues for the Sunshine Coast and specifically for my electorate of Maroochydore. I am passionate about the Sunshine Coast. I grew up on the coast, going to local primary schools—Cooroy and Yandina—and then Nambour State High School. I like to remind people that there are other politicians who have come out of Nambour State High School other than just a former Labor prime minister.

I am passionate about the Sunshine Coast. Many people are moving into our beautiful region. I am passionate about ensuring we get the balance right when it comes to growth and livability and the services needed to ensure our economy is able to grow and people can keep the amenity in our environment that they so love. The last year has been extremely challenging for so many in our state and nation and globally due to the COVID pandemic. I am committed to working with the Sunshine Coast community and particularly our small businesses and family enterprises to help them grow and create jobs so that people have not only a lifestyle but also a livelihood.

One of the things that stood out last year when it came to the impacts from the first round of shutdowns and grappling with the devastation of the pandemic was small business people who probably would never before have needed to seek help from someone being chopped off at the knees. We saw people who were independent, self-starters, who created their own lifestyles and businesses without taking a dime from government in situations where they did not know how they were going to pay staff or whether they would have their business tomorrow. It was extraordinary to see an onslaught of people in desperate situations, reaching out and needing help.

I recognise what the federal government did by implementing JobKeeper. That was very important because it ensured that a number of businesses did not go under through those uncertain initial phases. We know that that will not be the story for everyone because the story of COVID is still unfolding. I will be fighting for the small businesses, family enterprises and other businesses on the Sunshine Coast that have a vision and a capacity to grow and create the jobs that we need.

I will also be fighting for the right infrastructure. Queensland has had a deficit when it comes to infrastructure investment as a proportion of the budget when compared to most other states. It is vitally important that there is this investment. I talked about the road toll before. We need safe roads constructed so people stay alive on our roads.

I turn to the Mooloolah River interchange. We have talked about this business case in here. It seems to be the never-ending business case. It is still going on. The government had it in QTRIP for 2017-18. There were some works done in 2017-18. In QTRIP there is about half a million dollars this financial year for this $7½ million business case which is still to be completed. For goodness sake, just start this project.

I talked about lives. This interchange at the nexus of the Nicklin Way and the Sunshine Motorway near Mooloolah River has claimed lives. It is a bottleneck. It is a safety issue. It is also an economic issue as people find they cannot move north or south, east or west when this interchange is in gridlock. It is about time the works were started. When the LNP was in government a number of years ago we started the process of acquiring most of the properties that were required for part of that alignment. The works need to start. This business case has gone on for too long. It is time for the works to start. The preloading on that soil needs to start because it is not an easy soil type. Lives need to be protected and that is done by having the right infrastructure.

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It is the same with the Sunshine Motorway. Once again, we have seen too many lives tragically lost on this two-lane arterial road. Those who die may not be the ones who made the mistake. However, with a two-lane, high-speed arterial road with high volumes of traffic, there is always a greater risk that people will make a mistake and take somebody else’s life. That is unfortunately an increasing risk. This important arterial road needs to be upgraded, and we need to see the work done and plans put in place to bring that about.

There is a lot of controversy over the mass transit scheme on the Sunshine Coast. The state government has thrown in planning money to match the Sunshine Coast Council to investigate mass transit options between Caloundra and Maroochydore. Council were heavily focused on this being light rail. Their initial business case envisaged a high level of density with an increase in population between Maroochydore and Caloundra over and above what the town plan had previously envisaged.

Now with this new drop of funding for a new business case—yes, another business case—it is not supposed to focus just on light rail, but we do know that that has been a key focus of the council. Quite frankly, it is putting the cart before the horse when this plan has no intention, as I understand it, to even look at not only the traffic impacts or the integrated transport needs of that corridor but also how it fits within the greater transport network. There has to be a Sunshine Coast public transport and integrated transport plan. It is just dumb to be studying a so-called mass transit option that does not take into account how much extra traffic congestion there will be if you take lanes of traffic out of those corridors. How stupid can that be as a method of investigating the right infrastructure for a growing area! Please, stop wasting money on dumb projects like this. Put it into the right planning and get on with building the right infrastructure. When dollars are so tight, it is about time this was done right.

I did hear that rather illuminating address of the member for Mermaid Beach. While I will not pick up on all the strands, I will pick up on one—and that is the issue of cycleways in beach areas. The transport minister was pretty gung-ho about dropping in money to council once again for this, but it would create a barrier to our beaches in some areas. Again, it was not about looking at all users in these areas.

I support safer bikeways and safer pedestrian pathways, but I do not support the arrogance in the way this project was being pushed through until the community rightly said, ‘Hang on a moment. We do not want this barrier of concrete and metal between us and the beach when we have literally thousands of people using this area. Listen to us first so we can ensure that the right infrastructure keeps our amenity, allows people to use these spaces and is done without the arrogance of people lauding a very unpopular and badly designed plan over them, taking out car parking and disrupting people’s access to this beautiful area.’ In this case we are talking about the beach between Maroochydore and Alexandra Headlands. We want to ensure that the right infrastructure supports our amenity and our growth and that people are listened to. It is in everyone’s interest to ensure that we maintain our environment and our amenity and that we listen to the people.

I want to address the Mooloolaba Harbour entrance. A number of years ago we were successful in putting pipelines in place to connect to dredges to help in the maintenance process of keeping the harbour entrance open. In the last five years there has been an increasing amount of shoaling near the entrance of the harbour that has made it increasingly difficult for the dredges that have been operating to keep on top of it. Obviously there are times of the year when the weather is worse and it is difficult anyway.

Mooloolaba Harbour is one of the jewels in the crown of Queensland’s seafood industry. I am a big fan of Mooloolaba prawns and all the other wonderful seafood that comes in and out of this port, but we need a safe harbour entrance. We need it not only for the fishing industry but also for the recreational fishing industry and for the yellow pilot boats that take the big ships in and out of Moreton Bay. They operate out of Mooloolaba Harbour. Those pilot boats enable big freighters to come in and out of Moreton Bay safely.

Unfortunately, Mooloolaba Harbour has become increasingly dangerous, and what was working in the past has in recent times not been as effective. A study has been undertaken, and I acknowledge that. I understand that it was supposed to be released before Christmas but additional works have been done. I am calling on the transport minister to ensure that that report is available as soon as it is finalised so that we can go into bat for the right solution. They are looking at a number of options, I understand. If it involves an extension of the breakwater, that process would have to be appropriately worked through in terms of the environmental considerations.

Currently, this harbour entrance is dangerous. It has become more dangerous. Why is there more sand drifting to the north? That may not, in fact, be correct, but that is what some pundits claim—that it is not just the weather but that there has been a worsening in the way the sand has been shoaling

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and the movements along our coastline. We do need to be very careful though. When you are dealing with beautiful beaches—or even if they are not beautiful beaches—you have to be very careful. We do have beautiful beaches. When any works are done, we have to ensure that there are no unintended consequences for the beaches to the north or, in fact, for the surfers who also have an interest, as does anybody who loves our beautiful maritime environment in this area.

I want to address another issue, and that is Mooloolaba Spit. A lot of the Mooloolaba Spit along Parkyn Parade is state land once you get past the freehold property and accommodation. At the end of the spit there are a number of operators in the fishing industry and community organisations such as our coastguard, who I am proud to be a patron of. The end of the spit is an area where there are old government buildings, some of which that are on the way out need to be knocked down. They are derelict. There is a need to have the right service buildings there to service our recreational and fishing industry. However, the state government has not been up-front about the investigation of commercial opportunities and partnering with the commercial sector to potentially redevelop the end of the spit.

Why on earth would they go out to market and seek expressions of interest in regard to what could be done—I have copies of some of those documents—if they were not serious about considering some of those options? At the end of the day, I am calling on the government to release all of the documents—release this information—and ensure that the intention of the original Mooloolaba master plan of keeping as much public open space as possible is maintained and that this area is not developed for commercial activities such as the potential for medium-rise commercial developments. You can argue what is high-rise and medium-rise, but anything that increases the density of construction in that area would be to the detriment of not only the amenity but also the services that operate there.

The last thing we want is someone making a deal with government and saying, ‘I’ll put accommodation at the end of the spit.’ The next thing is that that will be in conflict with the fishing industry, the water police that operates from there, the maritime services, the shark nets—everything. We need to ensure that we protect not only the amenity but also those critical services and that we do not compromise them with backroom deals for potential commercial development that is inappropriate for this location. Let us save Mooloolaba Spit and protect public spaces and the local environment.

I want to briefly touch on another very serious issue. I cannot talk in detail because there is legislation before the House. The issue of hooning and the safety of people in our streets has really exploded. I spoke before about the road toll spiking last year in Queensland and the tragedy of the 275 people who have lost their lives. Incidents of hooning have also spiked. I am calling on the state government to reinstitute the combined operations between transport officers and police. I know that resources have been tight as police have been pulled off frontline duties in our area, but we need this because it is about safety, as well as the amenity, of our local residents. We are hearing this story around Queensland.

In the few minutes that are left on the clock I want to thank all of my wonderful volunteers, LNP members and the many who believe in the vision that we have for the Sunshine Coast—making it a better place and building a better Sunshine Coast. I want to thank my staff, Summer and Robyn, for the magnificent way you look after people. There are so many I could individually name, but I do want to say that I have never seen the sort of housing crisis we have now. Day in, day out my staff deal with people who are in distress—social housing is just not available for the majority, even a rental house—and try to help people who never expected they would find themselves in such dire situations. My staff deal with people with great sympathy, empathy and they are very helpful, but we need better solutions to deal with people’s distress. There needs to be more public housing available, and we particularly need to help the private sector unlock those opportunities for people.

Ms PUGH (Mount Ommaney—ALP) (4.50 pm): I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather today and thank them for their 60,000-odd years of continued custodianship. We are so lucky to live in a country with the oldest living culture in the world. I think it is wonderful that we are able to pay tribute to that in the people’s house every single morning.

I have to say that my three years as the member for Mount Ommaney has gone by in the blink of an eye; however, our community has certainly packed a lot into that time. Upon reflecting on what I have delivered in my first term I have to say that the greatest outcomes, both big and small, for the electorate of Mount Ommaney have been driven by the community first and foremost. From the smallest thing, like the extension of the Jindalee school zone, to the largest, like the Sumner Road overpass, community is at the heart of every meeting that I have and every budget bid that I make.

As a candidate all the way back in 2015, the Sumner Road overpass was a huge issue for those living in the Centenary and Darra communities. Indeed, every house I doorknocked in the southern Centenary area raised it with me. The Sumner Road overpass, promised by the Premier at the last

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election in 2017, is now almost complete. I still get a thrill every time I drive over it and watch progress being made. When we made that commitment it was a four-lane bridge; however, it was subsequently upgraded in the plans to six lanes, which is cutting travel times even further. This upgrade meant some access challenges for local businesses at 28 Sumners Road and gave me a wonderful opportunity as the local member to work with these businesses and lobby the minister to tweak the designs and improve access. I thank the member for Miller and Minister for Transport and Main Roads for listening to these concerns and helping to make those changes where possible.

Now, of course, my focus has shifted to the Centenary Motorway. Last year I made it a point to campaign for the Centenary 2020. The Palaszczuk government, I am pleased to say, is delivering alongside the federal government. This is a $112 million commitment from both levels of government for a total project cost of $244 million. The first $20 million was committed in the last year’s budget. This response typifies the consultative approach that I love so much about the Palaszczuk government—a government I am deeply proud to be serving a second term in.

For the last three years I have been proud to organise the Mount Ommaney Small Business Awards, but of course they would be nothing at all without the involvement and participation of our amazing Mount Ommaney community. Last year, well in excess of 5,000 votes were cast for hundreds of local businesses. Our business community has always been well supported by the Mount Ommaney locals, but during COVID this took on a whole new level of importance and support. The Mount Ommaney community has been nothing short of amazing in their support of our local businesses during COVID, and I thank them for that.

As I said in my speech yesterday, COVID has deeply touched every single Queenslander. Weddings and birthdays were postponed and funerals were limited at times to just a handful of people. During the height of COVID I stood up our ‘Seniors Stalwarts’, a crack team of volunteer callers who worked alongside me for months making calls to seniors. I think we made well over 5,000 in six months. They were kind and reassuring to our seniors, checking in to see how they were going. Eventually I think we were able to reach out to each of our seniors at least once and at least leave a message. This was absolutely vital in connecting our community at a time when people were lonely, vulnerable and they may have been a bit afraid. While I was incredibly happy to hear that the vast majority of our local seniors were cared for by family and friends, it also uncovered some need in the community that we would likely never have found had it not been for the amazing efforts of these volunteers.

One year on we can see the light at the end of the tunnel thanks to the strong actions of the Premier, the CHO and the Queensland community. While other nations are gripped by hospitals that have been overwhelmed and unimaginable fatalities, we are looking at the light at the end of the tunnel. This parliament can look forward and plan for the future.

There is much I want to achieve in my coming term, but one issue I am particularly keen to tackle is coercive control, an insidious form of domestic violence. It is a form of domestic violence that can be much more easily hidden, and therefore it is all the more important to get to it early and stamp it out. I am sure that each and every member of the House agrees with me on this critical issue.

We cannot tackle issues big or small without our electorate staff. Once again my campaign and office were run by the amazing Rachel Hoppe. She has had a massive year. Last March at my urging she ran for council herself. Then she was straight back in the office after having taken leave to respond to the ongoing threat of COVID and then running the campaign for Mount Ommaney. I have said it before in this House and I will say it again: she is an amazing woman and I am so proud to call her my friend. She is a campaigner and office manager who is second to none. I know that she is a proud mentor to many electorate office staff around Queensland and she is friends with many electorate officers on both sides of the House. She pours her heart and soul into caring for our community. She has an incredible future in front of her.

In my office I also have Kiki and Karen. Karen is a new addition but Kiki has been there pretty much since day one. Karen has been a wonderful addition to the team. Her kind nature and generous ear for our community is a perfect fit for the role. Kristen comes from a retail background and her unflappable kindness towards everyone makes her a joy to be around. My children and hers are similar ages and my son once made the observation, ‘Mum, you’re a great mum but I think Kristen might be the best mum ever.’ I was slightly miffed, but I did manage to argue that as a single mum at the time I was entitled to some bonus points.

In the last three years we have run the office to respond as quickly as we possibly can, and I know from the feedback I get from locals that my team does an amazing job looking after the community. I have lost count of the number of people who have stopped me in the street or at the supermarket to tell me how well my team looked after them. They are exceptional and I cannot thank them enough for

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what they do. There are many and varied teams of Team Mount Ommaney—or the ‘Pugh Crew’, as my son calls us. Since I was first preselected in 2013 for the 2015 election our team has grown mightily and is full of local community champions, Labor stalwarts and all-round amazing human beings. What I love about my branch is that it is full of amazing and diverse people and their support is the reason I am here today.

There are so many members of my amazing branch and probably about 50 very active volunteers. After the last election I decided that I could not do their contributions justice with a brief mention in a speech, so after the last election I wrote a card to each of them to thank them for their help and support during the election because I wanted each and every one of them to know how much I appreciate them. It took me seven hours to thank them all and I got a very sore hand, so I am really glad that I do not have to thank them all here today. We are like a big family, and their delight in my growing family last year brought us all even closer. Truly, I have the greatest volunteers and supporters and we are an amazing team, of which I am humbled to be but a small part.

I want to thank my federal members. Milton Dick is the gold standard of an active local member. He makes an already enjoyable job extra fun. Thanks also to the wonderful Graham Perrett, the member for Moreton. Graham is a fantastic local member but he is also a wonderful dad. I know that when it comes to walking the walk of being a good parent and a good local MP he is the real deal. He often takes his kids to events with him. We need more Grahams doing the same.

I want to thank my electoral neighbour, the Premier of Queensland. She is an amazing woman who has been a wonderful leader for Queensland and an inspiration to every woman I know. As the thrice-elected Premier of Queensland she has blazed the trail for many and set a wonderful example for young women because you cannot be what you cannot see.

It is with her positive example in mind that I reluctantly mention the conduct of some on our pre-poll, particularly the opposing candidate. At seven months pregnant I was subjected to many sexist comments about my looks by LNP volunteers and their candidate, and I know that I was not the only female Labor MP who experienced this from their opponent. I saw a number of little boys and little girls walking into the polling booth—

Mrs Frecklington: You had an obligation to report it. Ms PUGH: I did. I saw a number of little boys and little girls walking into their polling booths with

their parents and I decided that something needed to be said. I know that people in my community do not agree with objectifying women, but it needs to be said. For those in any doubt whatsoever, it is not right and it is not smart to refer to women as a pretty face in any context. In a workplace setting, it is absolutely appalling and in any modern workplace you would be shown the door. This is a leadership issue, and I was saddened that nobody called it out during the election and I am doing so today, having reported the matter to the relevant authorities.

I am pleased to say that it is not an issue for my union, the United Workers Union, which boasts an impressive number of female members and some wonderful blokes too. I want to thank the UWU team for their advice and support during the election and right throughout my first term. I am so proud to be part of a union that stands up for workers like cleaners, teacher aides and hospo workers. I thank their whole team and in particular Connor for being my point person.

I turn to my amazing community. Wow! What a special place I have the honour of representing. Our small businesses form the heart of our community, regularly supporting and hosting charity events. Our 4074 page is so much more than just a Facebook page. It unites the community with events and common causes. I spent my first term highlighting individual people and community groups in this place, and I will spend my next term highlighting even more. I have made some absolutely amazing friends in the community and I have been blown away by the support some of our community members quietly provide without ever asking for recognition or applause. I will continue to shine a light on these amazing people. The trust that they have placed in me is deeply touching and I will strive every day to be worthy of it.

Finally, I thank my amazing family, all of them. My family has grown a lot since I last gave an address-in-reply speech. Last time I was a single mum with my awesome babies, Heath and Allegra, and I got heaps of help from my mum and dad, Paula and David. Now I am married to an amazing man and I am still getting lots of help from my mum and dad—some things never change. My mum and dad are awesome parents and partners in this role. I cannot say enough for all that they do for me. I have also got two wonderful in-laws, Julie and David, who are a wonderful help with my now increasingly independent children, who walk themselves to school every day and never cease to amaze me with their kind hearts and unique perspectives on life. In fact, David is standing right out there holding the baby because she is ready for a feed.

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People say my daughter Allegra, who is now in her final year of primary at Middle Park, is my mirror image, and she is the kindest person I know. Every day I see more of myself in you, Allegra, and I am both terrified and happy to think that if I set a good example for you I can play a small role in showing you the way. Heath, on the other hand, is the spitting image of his dad, Hugh, although he absolutely has my stubborn streak. He was one year old when I became a candidate and he is now nine—smart and strong and the best and most caring big brother. He is learning to change nappies under the watchful eye of Allegra and he takes his role very seriously.

Hugh has been really helpful in working with the demands of my job and I thank him for that. In fact, he has just bought a house in the Mount Ommaney electorate, so I will be hitting him up for a sign site next election. I am very proud of our co-parenting relationship and the fact that we can celebrate Christmas as a family under one roof. Having a blended—not broken—family can pose some unique challenges but I tell you what: it is absolutely worth it. I encourage everyone to stop using the outdated term ‘broken family’ and consider the impact it has on children who do not live in nuclear family households. I also thank Hugh’s mum, Kathy. She is an amazing nana to Heath and Allegra and was a lifesaver during lockdown when she tutored my kids so I could occasionally get some work done. They say the penalty for divorce is two mothers-in-law; instead, I have hit the jackpot not once but twice.

I am incredibly lucky with my family. Earlier last year during the COVID lockdown, my husband, Talbot, and I were able to have a little family lockdown wedding in our backyard. I know that many Queenslanders had to change their plans due to COVID, and I hope that their wedding day was as special as mine. My husband, Talbot, is my rock. He is my backstop, my other half in juggling this job and being a mum. It takes a pretty special person to be a partner to someone doing this job, and I could not ask for a better or stronger supporter than I have in him. I suppose I should thank fate in the form of chief whip Don Brown for assigning me to the natural resources committee last term. It was not my first choice, that is for sure, but it was during my time on this committee that I crossed paths with Talbot, so I believe it was kismet that it turned out this way. I had an absolute blast with my fellow committee members, and special thanks to Uncle Anthony, as he is now known, for giving his blessing.

Talbot has been amazing right from day one with my kids and my whole family, and this January our family welcomed a new addition—baby Elyse Annastacia Speechley Pugh. She is already a familiar face around parliament thanks to my in-laws, David and Julie, who have made the trip from Beerwah to look after her—hopefully, every parliamentary sitting. I feel really lucky to have not just a village but the whole community behind me every step of the way with my new addition.

Elyse was such a blessing for my family. In the words of my daughter Allegra, she completes our beautiful family and she has brought us all closer together. We found out we were expecting on Easter Sunday, a day that symbolises new life, and she was born on New Year’s Day, which is also a day that symbolises a new start—or, in my husband’s case, it is cricket season. He lobbied tirelessly over many months to name our daughter after cricketing legend Elyse Perry, arguing that she is a strong woman. I thought that was a fair sentiment and I decided that Annastacia was a fitting tribute to her political roots that brought her parents together. Also, Annastacia means ‘resurrection’, the meaning of Easter. It is a perfect name for the best baby girl—‘Best’ being a family name as well. So I have the community to thank for not only the job that I love but also for playing a role in introducing me to the love of my life. Like I said, I think I have the best electorate in Queensland.

I have been so incredibly touched by the support I have received from my beautiful community, including with handmade baby rugs and hand sewn clothes. It has been absolutely incredible, and I am truly humbled that my community is supporting me not just as a local member but as a human being and a mum too. As I said, it is just one of the many reasons that I think Mount Ommaney is really special and why I am so very lucky to be their member of parliament.

Mr MANDER (Everton—LNP) (5.06 pm): I am proud to rise in this address-in-reply after being re-elected in the seat of Everton for the fourth time. It is something that I am proud of. This seat had traditionally been a Labor seat leading up to 2012. In the 30 years before that, there had only been one term with a Liberal Party member in the seat of Everton so it was great to be re-elected. It has been an interesting journey over those four elections. The margins have changed a little bit over that time. I was first elected in 2012 with a 13.2 per cent margin. I openly admit that Humphrey B Bear could have won that seat had they had the LNP brand next to them.

My greatest accomplishment was actually winning in 2015 when the tide went back out again. Since then, it has been great to establish myself even further in an area that I grew up in. It is an area where I went to school and an area where my family was brought up. My mother still lives in a retirement

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village there and my dad is buried in that electorate. My family has been totally invested in that area for basically all of my life so it is a great privilege to be able to represent that area and continue to be the local member there. I acknowledge that there was a small swing against me.

Mr Furner: Yes, 2.7. Mr MANDER: It was 2.7 per cent. I will take that interjection, and because this was a COVID

election— Government members interjected. Mr MANDER: Let us just call it for what it was. It was a COVID election where we had members

on the other side of the House and the government being elected when they did not live in the electorate and in fact I do not know if they live in the same region, and where nobody knew them from a bar of soap—

Mr Furner interjected. Mr MANDER: I will take that interjection from the member for Ferny Grove who does not live in

Ferny Grove. Mr Furner: That’s right and I’ll admit that. Mr MANDER: What is your point? Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Krause): Member for Everton, address your comments through the

chair. Mr MANDER: Thank you for the direction, Mr Deputy Speaker. There was a small swing against

me. I know that the Labor Party candidate who ran against me has actually got this false encouragement and she thinks she is going to come back and win this seat. I notice her around the corridors of power here. Where do all failed Labor candidates go? They go to ministerial offices. I have two working in ministerial offices at the moment—this one and the one before. The one previously did not have the courage to come back. I think this one might. She actually thinks it was because of her that there was a small swing against me but we all know that it is because they scared the living daylights out of the older people in our electorates.

Those older people will come back to us. If we look at the seat of Nicklin, the current member will not be there again; there is no doubt about that. Marty Hunt is waiting to come back. There are a few other examples of that as well. We look forward to that happening in 2024.

I want to thank my volunteers because we do not win elections without having a body of volunteers behind us. I want to thank those people who were booth captains who manned the pre-polling booths. I ask the government if they have any influence to please stop those ridiculous hours for pre-polling when there are two men and a dog there at seven o’clock at night. It is such a waste of money. We need to have more truncated pre-polling times. It is important; I totally support it, but we have to have realistic hours as well. I want to thank those people who manned those pre-polling booths as well as the booths on election day. I thank the letterbox droppers and those who manned the sign sites. Thank you very much for the support.

I want to make special mention of a couple of people who were magnificent: Chris and Brian Kennedy and Alan Hird who looked after pre-polling. That was a huge commitment and I thank them for that as well as Daniel Lane who helped with sign sites. There is also ‘Bronco Bruce Hooker’ who is infamous in my area. He sits on the corner of the Jinker Track and Old Northern Road from about three o’clock on a Saturday morning making sure that his Labor opponent does not beat him there. I thank Annette Tidbury as well.

I want to thank the executive members of my branch: Alex, Michael, Kristen and Camilla. I will not give their last names because there is a chance of retribution from those on the other side if they know who they are.

Ms Pease: That is ridiculous. An honourable member: Seriously? Mr MANDER: Some of them work in government and the last thing they want anybody to know

is their identities. I also want to thank the staff in my office— Government members interjected. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Krause): Order! Members on my right. Your interjections are not

being taken.

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Mr MANDER: I want to thank the staff in my office as well who are just unbelievable: Sarah, Tarryn and Beth. They did a great job maintaining my office whilst I was not there which was, unfortunately, quite often with the role I was in. They provide a professional, friendly service. That is our little motto: we serve our electorate. That is what they have done magnificently and they are a big reason why I have been re-elected.

Of course, I want to thank my family. As has already been mentioned by a number of people in these speeches, we cannot give the time that is required without the support of our family. I thank my wife, Gayle, very much for the support she gives me. My children are now grown up and have moved out. We had three grandchildren born in the three months leading up to the election. One, Peaches, was born on election day. That was one good thing about election day. It is great to be a grandfather of five grandchildren.

Mr Hart: I highly recommend it. Mr MANDER: I take that interjection from the member for Mermaid Beach. Mr Perrett: Burleigh. Mr MANDER: Burleigh, sorry. Mr Hart: You need glasses. Mr MANDER: I do. The member is too far away. It is a new dimension and dynamic to life. I am

very privileged to have that as well. I want to go back to what I briefly mentioned earlier. The 2020 election was a COVID election. It

will go down in history as a COVID election. In two weeks time we will see in WA the same impact—in fact, an impact far worse than what happened here in Queensland. This is because when a government is in power, when they govern through a crisis, they are in total control. They are on the news every day. They are controlling government expenditure, which we knew was used under the guise of advising people about what was happening but it was really a publicity stunt for the government. Millions and millions of taxpayers’ dollars were spent to promote the government and now it has stopped—funny, that—after the election. Suddenly everything is all okay again now.

An opposition member interjected. Mr MANDER: That is exactly right. I take that interjection. Those things are a fact. In fact, the

new Labor sitting members admitted this in their maiden speeches. They all admitted it. They said everybody came up to them and said, ‘Thank you for keeping us safe. Who are you?’ ‘I’m on Annastacia’s side.’ That was the major criteria. They did not even use their own names. They managed to scare the living daylights out of people; they thought that was the only side of politics that would keep them safe. I give them credit; they were successful.

They were successful in scaring the living daylights out of people, but that will not last long. When that is taken away over the coming months and over the next four years, people will see this government for what they are, which is economically incompetent with the highest unemployment rate on average in the country last year. We had the highest unemployment before COVID, we had the highest unemployment during COVID and now, again, we are battling one other state to see who will have the worst unemployment rate. We continue to be beaten comprehensively by New South Wales and Victoria. Considering what Victoria has gone through, it is quite incredible that they can still be rated above us. Whether it is in business confidence, bankruptcies or unemployment, we are lagging at the bottom of the ladder.

The private sector, the business sector, are aghast that they will have to put up with this government for the next four years. Yes, they will come out to the government’s press conferences and they will say what they have to say because they know this is the government of the day and they have to work with it. However, if they come into the boardrooms when we speak to them afterwards, they will tell them what they really think about this government. They are worried sick about our economic future and the ability of this government to navigate our way out of this. It is something to be seen.

I predict that over the next four years we will see something similar to that which happened in the four years leading up to the 2012 election. Gradually over that period those opposite will become absolutely toxic. Who could forget the Anna Bligh days with the health system that she herself said was an absolute basket case? They were her words. Who could forget the asset sales after promising they would not happen? But they did happen. Who could forget the health payroll disaster?

Ms Bates: Jayant Patel. Mr MANDER: I take that interjection from the member for Mudgeeraba. Who could forget the

Patel controversy?

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Ms Bates: The Tahitian prince. Mr MANDER: Who could forget the Tahitian prince? Mr Perrett: And the failed Traveston Dam. Mr MANDER: I take that interjection from the member for Gympie. The failed Traveston Dam

project again scared the living daylights out of people. These types of things will happen again and there will be a tsunami of support for us. These people think they are safe on eight and nine per cent, but we will have a tsunami of support come our way once again when people realise how bad this government is.

Honourable members interjected. Mr MANDER: Mr Deputy Speaker, I am finding it hard to hear myself over the din on the other

side. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Everton, I highly doubt that. Mr MANDER: During the last term I was proud to be the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. I was

proud to work with the then opposition leader, the member for Nanango. I was proud that we were thought leaders; we came out with policies that these people have never even thought of. If it were not for the opposition—

Government members: Ha, ha! Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members on my right. Mr MANDER: We were an opposition that led and the Labor government followed. There is no

greater example of that than the air conditioning in schools policy. What an absolute classic backflip. We knew this was something that the metropolitan and South-East Queensland schools wanted and parents wanted. We championed that despite the ridicule we were put under by the government: it was unrealistic, it was unaffordable, it was ridiculous and all that type of thing. We kept with it and what did they do? They carried out the greatest backflip since the Adani backflip. That is what they did.

There was real-time fuel price monitoring. There were swimming lessons in schools that the government backed down on after we championed the issue.

Mrs Frecklington interjected. Mr MANDER: There were many. What galls me is that, as we start talking about serious issues

of youth justice and protecting DV victims, the government is now looking at the policies that we championed over the past 12 months. Everything this government raises in terms of coercive power, GPS trackers and so on were championed by us 12 months ago. Members of the government now come out and try to pretend it is their idea. They are always followers. They cannot lead on anything. I am proud of our record with regard to policy development and what we now have forced this government to consider. It has been quite a feat.

I am also really happy to be back in the portfolio areas of housing and public works and sport and racing. I was the minister for housing and public works. A lot needs to happen with regard to reform. I mentioned housing when speaking to the estimates committee report. This government is great on rhetoric but terrible on delivery. The result is that our most vulnerable people struggle to get accommodation, be it in social housing or affordable housing.

In public works, the QBCC unfortunately once again is a basket case under this government. I do not know how many people have approached either the former shadow minister, the member for Burleigh, or me just beside themselves with regard to the incompetence of the QBCC. I cannot begin to talk about it. It needs a broom to be swept through it. One very worrying issue is the impact of the Minister for Public Works, Minister de Brenni, on the QBCC. We want to talk more about that in the future, but that is a very worrying thing.

I am quite concerned about the sports portfolio. Something requires further investigation. I remember what I promised for my electorate with regard to sporting clubs. I wanted to give the Albany Creek Excelsior Football Club $350,000 for a multipurpose room, the Everton Park Bowls Club $300,000 for a shade over its bowling green, the Everton Park Wolves AFL club $200,000 to refurbish its canteen, the Mitchelton Football Club $400,000 for new female dressing rooms, Pine Hills Football Club $100,000 for a lighting upgrade, and the Wantima Golf Club $230,000. I list them all because, unfortunately, those needs are still unmet. We had the example at the last election of the former sports minister coincidentally getting a lot of his projects approved. I am sure it is a coincidence. When we look at the sports grants that were allocated, apparently the department did not know what it was doing

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and made mistakes so the minister had to intervene and advise it of what it did wrong. Obviously it did not give enough money to Labor electorates! After intervention by the minister, the percentage of grants awarded to ALP electorates suddenly increased from 44 per cent to 68 per cent. Isn’t that amazing? In contrast, the percentage of money going to LNP seats decreased from 43 per cent to 28 per cent. If there is something that does not stink about that, there are lots of questions to be answered by the former sports minister.

It is very convenient in the estimates process, when we are talking about last year’s expenditure and expenditure moving forward, that the minister is not there to answer questions. The current minister says, ‘That wasn’t me; that was the previous bloke.’ We then cannot question them. That is another joke in terms of the estimates process.

I look forward to getting stuck into that, to continuing to work for my electorate, to keeping this government accountable and to exposing them for what they are—frauds. Members of the Labor government are frauds. They deserve to be exposed, and they will be exposed by this opposition. I look forward to that. I congratulate our new opposition leader and deputy opposition leader.

Government members interjected. Mr MANDER: Unlike the Labor Party, our leaders and cabinet are not decided by factions. We

have a true democratic process. There are some people in this cabinet who would not be there if it were not for factional support. There are some people sitting in those seats opposite—

Honourable members interjected. Mr MANDER: Just look at them! Who would employ them? It is embarrassing. They are only

there because they got factional support. For the member for Pumicestone, it was her third attempt. They just go anywhere to get a job, because of their union factional support. It is all about, ‘Right, it’s your turn. You’re the left, you’re the right, you’re the middle, you’re the old guard or the mudguard or whatever you are.’ It is an absolute joke. The longer I sit in this House—

Mr WALKER: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order on unparliamentary language. Mr SPEAKER: No, I did not hear any unparliamentary language. Mr WALKER: He called people ‘mudguards’. Mr SPEAKER: I am happy to review Hansard at the appropriate time. I will obviously endeavour

to check that there has not been any unparliamentary language. I did not hear it. Did you take personal offence to any matter?

Mr WALKER: I did take personal offence. Mr SPEAKER: Was the comment directed at you? Mr WALKER: The member was pointing at this side of the House, calling us mudguards. Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Please resume your seat. I ask the member to ensure

that his comments are being directed through the chair as has been the general guidance to members in the House.

Mr MANDER: Thank you for your guidance, Mr Speaker. With six seconds to go, it is great to be back. I am not dead yet. We will keep this government accountable over the next four years.

(Time expired) Mr SPEAKER: Member, you may not have expired but your time has. Debate, on motion of Mr Mander, adjourned.

COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Portfolio Committees, Reporting Dates; Referral of Auditor-General’s Reports Hon. YM D’ATH (Redcliffe—ALP) (Leader of the House) (5.27 pm): I seek to advise the House

of the determinations made by the Committee of the Legislative Assembly at its meeting today. The committee has resolved, pursuant to standing order 136, that the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee report on the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill by 9 April 2021. In addition, on 10 February 2021 the Committee of the Legislative Assembly resolved to extend the reporting date on the Nature Conservation and Other Legislation (Indigenous Joint Management—Moreton Island) Amendment Bill 2020 from 12 February 2021 to 8 March 2021.

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The committee has resolved, pursuant to standing order 194B, that the Auditor-General’s report No. 9 of 2020-21 titled Water 2020 be referred to the State Development and Regional Industries Committee; Auditor-General’s report No. 10 of 2020-21 titled Transport 2020 and the Auditor-General’s report No. 11 of 2020-21 titled Energy 2020 be referred to the Transport and Resources Committee; Auditor-General’s report No. 12 of 2020-21 titled Health 2020 be referred to the Health and Environment Committee; Auditor-General’s report No. 13 of 2020-21 titled State entities 2020 be referred to the Economics and Governance Committee; and Auditor-General’s report No. 14 of 2020-21 titled Responding to complaints from people with impaired capacity—Part 2: The Office of the Public Guardian be referred to the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee.

PRIVILEGE

Tabled Paper, Withdrawal and Replacement Mr SPEAKER: On Wednesday, 24 February 2021 the member for Whitsunday tabled a

document which contained names of individuals. While the document contains some unparliamentary language, it does not otherwise offend any standing orders. However, the member has requested that the names of those individuals named be redacted. Once a document has been tabled it cannot be altered or otherwise interfered with unless the House otherwise orders, as the document is in the possession of the House. I therefore seek leave of the House to remove and replace tabled paper No. 5721T185 with a redacted version which removes individuals’ names, other identifiers such as positions held and unparliamentary language. Is leave granted?

Leave granted.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY Resumed from p. 287.

Mr MELLISH (Aspley—ALP) (5.29 pm): I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet here today and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and those of the area that I represent. It has been just over a year since Queensland recorded its first case of COVID-19 and the Palaszczuk government declared a public health emergency. Since that time over 1.7 million tests have been conducted and over 1,200 people have recovered from COVID-19 infections in Queensland. It has been an unprecedented global pandemic, with repercussions to global trade, culture and population movements for decades to come. Queenslanders did put in an extraordinary effort to contain the virus which means that we are now enjoying a relatively open economy and lifestyle.

A strong health response has meant that Queensland has had the strongest population growth in the nation, the largest rise in jobs in December and the strongest growth in housing finance commitments of any state. While the world is still battling COVID-19 and as we wait for the Commonwealth’s vaccine rollout to speed up, we cannot afford to forget the unpredictable nature of the virus. We all need to keep up social distancing, hand hygiene and, most of all, keep looking after each other. We are investing in Queensland businesses to keep Queenslanders in jobs and I am proud to be part of a government that is continuing this in my second term. Earlier this week it was great to see the first vaccine jab in Queensland with nurse Zoe Park on the Gold Coast and it was great to see that this had been followed up by the PA Hospital yesterday. I look forward to seeing this continue.

Locally last term we achieved a lot in Aspley. My notes go over a page, so I will try to summarise them pretty briefly. In the first term we secured money for the Beams Road overpass—something that has been wanted for more than 20 years. There is funding on the table now from all three levels of government and it will be great to see construction start later this year. Construction starts very soon on the diverging diamond interchange at Strathpine Road and Gympie Arterial Road. The member for Pine Rivers spoke about this earlier, but this is a great project that the whole of Bald Hills will benefit from in terms of people getting in and out of the suburb. It is going to be great once that is completed.

There has also been funding for noise barriers in Aspley, and work will start soon. I was very pleased at the recent election to secure funding for additional noise barriers in Bald Hills. Often when I visit that area people bring up the issues of mosquitoes—there is not enough funding by council for mosquito control—and noise from the road. Sometimes in Bald Hills it is like being at the ocean but not quite.

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Last term it was great to see the Northside Indoor Sports Centre open. This is a new five-court facility in the heart of Zillmere in a disused shed that is going to be great for generations to come. It will be the new home for the Northside Wizards. It is already in use, but many other sports will be able to use it and this is a great use of this precinct. It is 100 metres from the Zillmere train station right in the heart of Zillmere, an area that needs jobs. Whilst that is great to see, next door to that we put the Jabiru Community College into another disused shed. This is a great community college that had to move thanks to council renovating a library. It did not have anywhere to go, but we were able to secure it a funding grant to move in there. It is great to see the work that it has done and it really is a fantastic little precinct that has been set up in that area.

We also saw an additional 70 parks at the Geebung park-and-ride, and that is great for Geebung locals whose streets were blocked by cars. The nearby Geebung Bowls Club got an upgrade, and that is great to see. That is such a good community club that helps out in ways above and beyond. For example, it is the new home of the Queensland Blind Bowlers’ Association and it is great to see it look after them every week. In the first term we also had the brand new Carseldine sports precinct which is a great local win that, again, will be there for generations to come. I was really pleased to work with local sporting clubs such as Aspley Devils Rugby League, the Bracken Ridge cricket club and the Bridgeman Baptist football club about the use of these fields going forward. The way that they came together and negotiated how they will use these fields going forward was great. They are a great community asset.

Nearby we have the footbridge that we put over Cabbage Tree Creek, and that is great news for Aspley State High students in particular. Previously they would have to cross a creek—a dirty old stormwater drain—to get to and from Carseldine if they were going there from the north side. We were able to put a footbridge there which is a great initiative that means that the kids can get around a lot more easily and will benefit the future connectivity of Zillmere, Aspley, Carseldine and the broader area. We saw lights go in at the Aspley Hornets so they can host a higher level of games. It is a great club. I was also very pleased to secure funding for it to move into the national second tier competition this year. It really is a club that is going from strength to strength.

This term I look forward to Beams Road continuing, the installation of noise barriers in Bald Hills and the new Craigslea volleyball centre of excellence for which we secured $10 million in the last election. That is something that Craigslea has been after for many years. It is the best volleyball school in Queensland, and that is not just me saying it because it consistently is. It is good that it will have the facilities to match its excellence going forward. We look forward to seeing what we can do to make Queensland the volleyball capital of Australia, and I am sure that the Olympics bid will help in that regard.

I am very pleased that this term I have additional responsibilities given to me by the Premier regarding veterans. There are a lot of important issues. One of them is that the Brereton report from the federal government needs to be dealt with quickly and competently. I have met with many veteran support groups already and many are advocating for this to be dealt with by the federal government in a timely manner. It needs to ensure that these issues are dealt with thoroughly and promptly. The last thing many veterans want is this issue remaining unresolved for many years. This week it was great to see that the Premier could announce that Anzac Day is going ahead in 2021 as per normal. It is a great thing for veterans to get out there and for the community to see them out there and to continue what they do every other year except for 2020. Let us keep our fingers crossed for that.

With regard to trade, there is no doubt that this is a very challenging time globally. Economic connectivity has been dealt a massive blow over the last year for obvious reasons. Many supply chains are struggling to remain intact and the cost of doing business overseas for exporters and importers alike has dramatically gone up in almost all sectors. It is clear that COVID has caused a massive rethink of what we make here and what we import. It has been fantastic to see the gearing up of local PPE manufacturers, for example, and the retooling of industries to different purposes.

I thank the Premier, the Treasurer and the Deputy Premier for our strong health response and our strong economic response over the past year. At the end of the day, that was what the election was fought on. So many times in here we have these esoteric debates about issues such as whether a road project is coming this month or next month, but people saw that there was a real issue which affected their health, affected their job and affected the economy and they saw that we had a much better plan and a much better approach, and any calls that say that that was as a result of anything else—it was a broader narrative—are misguided. They saw the issue, they saw that we had a better approach of dealing with the issue and they rewarded us.

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On the health front we are the best performing state in the country in the best performing country in the world. Not to throw stones, but New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia have all had their much publicised recent outbreaks and issues. We have not had that at that level and we have dealt with it swiftly where we have.

I congratulate all re-elected members in this House. I congratulate Mr Speaker for his reappointment to the chair. I congratulate all temporary chairs and the member for Greenslopes for the Deputy Speaker position. I congratulate my neighbours—the members for Sandgate, Nudgee and Pine Rivers. I was even going to congratulate the member for Everton as my other neighbour, but he was being a bit rude earlier so maybe I will not. I particularly congratulate my new neighbour, the member for Stafford. He will make a great contribution in this place in years to come. I also pay tribute to Dr Anthony Lynham, the former member for Stafford. I will sincerely miss his camaraderie and his fantastic stories that he would tell at community events. Some of the stories were also true!

I sincerely thank my electorate office staff who have worked long hours over the last three years to support me in my role as the local member and, more importantly, to support the community. Rosemary, Chris and Bella as well as tall Chris, Paul, Jack, Georgia, Belle and Louen all made fantastic contributions. When the lockdowns were starting in March and April last year, we shifted what we did entirely. Our office set out targets to contact as many vulnerable people in the community and offer support where we could. I thank those in my office and volunteers for helping our community throughout this crisis. Whenever we called for food donations and the like, the generosity of our community was really great to see.

I would particularly like to thank Rosemary Hume, my electorate officer, who is retiring tomorrow. Rosemary has given decades of service to members of parliament, some more difficult than others. She does not tell me where I fall on that spectrum, but hopefully it is at the better end. She has given decades of service to the great Australian Labor Party in particular. She has helped me personally and Labor in Aspley win two elections and I will miss her calm presence in the office greatly, as will our team and the countless community groups and constituents she interacts with on a daily basis. She has been a great mentor to myself, to many other candidates and she is a great promoter of young women in the party in particular.

My 2020 campaign team are too numerous to mention and I have thanked them in other forums. We really had the hardest working, smartest, most agile and most disciplined team that one could imagine. We were winning all the metrics and hitting all the targets that we gave ourselves. We did not even have to cook the metrics this time when reporting back to party office—we did that well! Thanks to my whole team, but in particular to my campaign manager Bisma. She always kept me on track, always ran a fantastic team and I cannot thank her and the team she led enough. We had three booths this election. I think we were one of the only Brisbane seats to have three booths. It was a lot of work so thanks to everyone who helped out on those really late nights where there was about one person every 20 minutes.

I also thank my local senator, Senator Anthony Chisholm, my local federal MP, Anika Wells, and my local councillor Jared Cassidy for their help with the campaign, and also former treasurer and member for Lilley Wayne Swan for launching my campaign. I also thank Jules Campbell, Zac Beers and Mitchell from party office. I thank Chris Gazenbeek from the SDA, Peter Biagini from the TWU, Gary O’Halloran from the plumbers union and Steve Baker from the AWU for their help on the campaign. There were also plenty of local hospital staff from the Together union helping our campaign, so also thanks to Alex Scott.

I thank my wife and our young fella Oscar, who got in more campaign photos in the first four months of his life than most people do in a lifetime, and my many non-political friends who helped out. I thank my broader family, particularly my parents and parents-in-law. My parents-in-law babysat all day on election day and could not come to the party. They did a stellar job. My parents did a lot of pre-poll. They sat out at one of the smaller sites and did a really great job.

Continuing on a personal level, it has been a big year. I have had two throat surgeries. I was unable to speak properly for a few months last year. We had a newborn during the election campaign. It was a massive year. I know many in our community had a much more difficult year so I am not complaining. I look forward to continuing to work hard every single day for our local area and for the state more broadly.

Primarily I thank the people of the Aspley electorate. I will never take their support for granted. I will work hard every day. I will fight for results that we can get locally. I am really pleased to be able to help deliver for them, to be able to help contribute to our local area, for another four years.

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Mr LISTER (Southern Downs—LNP) (5.42 pm): I rise to make my contribution to the address-in-reply. I acknowledge His Excellency’s speech at the opening of parliament and confirm my continuing allegiance to the Crown, this parliament and to the people of my state, country and, in particular, my electorate of Southern Downs. I thank the people of Southern Downs for rewarding me with the opportunity to be their representative again. It is a great privilege and honour that is held in the hands of the people of Southern Downs. I thank them one and all for the privilege of being their member.

I was very pleased to see that there was a 10.5 per cent primary vote swing to me in the electorate. I hope, but cannot be sure of course, that at least part of that was because of the hard work that my staff and I have put in over the last three years. Southern Downs is a large electorate and the people there are accustomed to having a fairly intimate relationship with their member of parliament. They want to see them around the place. They want to be able to meet me in my office in Stanthorpe or in Warwick and to have me to go to the events and the happenings around Southern Downs that are important in the life of the communities there.

The result that I achieved could not have been possible, however, without the help of those who have supported me in the LNP and those who are not members of the LNP but nevertheless helped in my campaign. I would like to first acknowledge some of them. Of course, I cannot possibly mention everybody who helped because we had about 35 or 40 booths in Southern Downs and the task of putting up signs and handing out how-to-vote cards all over the place is a very big one. The core of my campaign were Councillor the Hon. Lawrence Springborg, whom most in this chamber are very familiar with. Thank you, Lawrence. Thanks must also go to Councillor Lachlan Brennan, Dawn and John Scrymgeour, Councillor Vic Pennisi, the Mayor of the Southern Downs Regional Council, Les and Dorothy Keable, Brian Duddy, Joy Phillips, Betsy Turner, Helen Piedle, Melinda and Councillor Andrew Gale, Dell and Maurie Thompson and Ryan Burton-Ree. I make special mention of Jacque Kruger, Annemi Kruger and Andrew Todd, Leisha and Allan Stanton and the Reverend Alan Colyer.

The people of Southern Downs have been remarkably accepting and kind to me as the member for Southern Downs and to my family. It is a job where you are constantly in the public eye, as we would all know. I would like to thank the people for accepting me for who I am and for getting on board with my efforts to make the electorate the best place that it can possibly be.

I need to give particular thanks to my wife and family. Belinda Lister is a Trojan. I think I heard a member on the other side, it might have been Ms Boyd, say that her partner did everything and I can say the same thing in my case. Belinda was essential in doing all of those things that convert the campaign committee’s work into something constructive. I say thank you to my wife and express my undying love for her and for our two small boys, Jeremy and William.

The Southern Downs electorate is a largely rural one. It has a remarkable landscape and many communities spread throughout it. Each one has its own specific characteristics, its own bakery and gun club, its own hall and its own culture and life. Getting around the electorate for the last three years has given me some insight into the diversity of society that we have in Southern Downs. Naturally as a rural electorate we are composed economically of primary production, with some service industries as well. We produce wheat, cotton and grains, as well as beef, sheep, wool and myriad other things—fruit and vegetables in particular on the Granite Belt. We also produce wines, which provide a remarkable tourism experience, and manufacturing in areas such as meat processing. We have the vinegar factory, Australian Vinegar, in Stanthorpe and many others. We do, however, need infrastructure.

The electorate of Southern Downs being a large one does require good roads and good water for us to be able to provide the services and the produce that we are so good at. I have mentioned at length in this House the conditions of the roads in Southern Downs. We have the Cunningham Highway, the Gore Highway and the New England Highway in Southern Downs. Unfortunately in many places the roads do need a great deal of work. I have had positive engagement with the minister and also with the regional director for the Department of Transport and Main Roads in Toowoomba. I thank them for that.

It is no secret that the roads do need money spent on them. Constituents particularly talk to me about the Cunningham Highway between Yelarbon and Goondiwindi where we have quite severe undulations in the road which are made worse by the passage of large trucks which push them in further. Many of the heavy transport operators have told me about the damage that these roads do to their suspension and so forth. That adds costs to businesses and ultimately costs jobs. Throughout this term I will continue to work as constructively as I can with the government to ask for additional funds to make sure that roads like that are fixed.

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The Gore Highway, in particular between Goondiwindi and Millmerran, also needs to be fixed. Cunninghams Gap is a bit of a bottleneck. It is an important access for Brisbane through to the highways down to Melbourne and in some cases Sydney. Many, many trucks and travellers use that road. Whenever there is a fire, a flash flood or a rockfall Cunninghams Gap gets closed, sometimes for weeks at a time. When that happens it impacts quite savagely on the businesses in Warwick and nearby that depend on the traffic on the Cunningham Highway.

Most people would know the Fisher Park roadhouse, operated by Frank and Jenny Orazio. It is the first service station you come across after you cross Cunninghams Gap. They lost weeks of business when Cunninghams Gap was closed last year. Bestbrook Mountain Resort, also on the Cunningham Highway, is run by my good friend Ray Vincent. He was affected very savagely by the lack of passing traffic when Cunninghams Gap had to close, as were many others. Over the coming years I will be advocating for a real improvement to Cunninghams Gap. We need a solution that will involve placing the road off the side of the mountain. I believe that is the way to get the road connected and to stop rock falls, fires and floods from cutting off my electorate from the rest of South-East Queensland. If Toowoomba can have a second range crossing then I think Warwick can have a third range crossing.

Mr Stevens interjected. Mr LISTER: I heard a slight titter from my honourable friend the member for Mermaid Beach. I

know that he fully supports me in that and that he would be happy to sacrifice any infrastructure on the Gold Coast to let me have it.

Mr Stevens: I wish you the best of British luck. Mr LISTER: Of course he does and I thank him very much. I turn to COVID-19, which obviously

was the defining event of the past 12 months. In my electorate of Southern Downs I was able to deduce that the people were not interested in opening the borders. They wanted the borders closed where necessary according to medical advice and I supported that all along. However, the government did bungle a number of moves, specifically in my electorate. On some occasions the closure of the borders had to be done at short notice and without much planning or consultation, and I get that. However, there were other closures and restrictions imposed that hurt my electorate needlessly. On that point my beef with the government is that I was not consulted and the mayors in my electorate were not consulted about some of the impacts that we might experience because of the closures and so on.

There were examples of iniquitous decisions. For example, coastal Queensland had a ban on access to waterways and fishing overturned within a day or two when the government changed its mind. I tried, without avail, to get the then minister for natural resources, mines and energy to reverse the same decision or get Sunwater to reverse the same decision for the inland lakes in my electorate of Southern Downs, such as Coolmunda Dam and Leslie Dam. That did not happen.

For weeks, without explanation, small businesses that depend on the tourist trade and the fishing trade—selling tackle, accommodating people and so forth—were disadvantaged. Wineries that offer wine tastings were subjected to the same restrictions as pubs. I can understand that, at short notice, a decision might have to be made that pubs and licensed establishments have to be restricted or closed. However, it took way too long for the government to recognise that the act of wine tasting is very distinct from operating a pub, a disco or something like that. The hardworking small businesses in my electorate that are involved in wine production, wine tasting and associated accommodation and retail sales were hurt.

All of those small businesses work very hard. Their owners invest their own money with no certain outcome in order to create wealth, to grow a business, to make a living for themselves and their families, to provide employment for the people who work in their businesses and also to raise taxes—the taxes they themselves pay and the income taxes that their employees pay. We in this House should not forget that those taxes pay our salaries and they pay for police, nurses, teachers and hospitals. They pay for roads and so forth. We need to remember where the money comes from. If a government needlessly disobliges those who are working hard to create wealth for our society, it is doing the whole of Queensland a disservice.

I ask that, in future, whenever a decision regarding restrictions to do with COVID or border closures is being contemplated, unless it is an urgent matter, there be some consultation with myself and other affected local members, such as my honourable friend the member for Currumbin. It is very difficult to represent your people when they find out from Twitter or a Courier-Mail feed, before you do, that something is going to happen. There were many cases of people who had needless economic

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costs imposed on them and were subjected to stress and inconvenience because decisions were made that could have been different had they consulted people with local knowledge, such as the local member for parliament and the local mayors.

The other night I gave an assurance to the House, and I am prepared to repeat it now, that, should the government consult me in advance for anything that it wishes to do, I will not politicise the matter, I will not use the information against it and I will cooperate to the best of my ability. However, I would appreciate it if the government would extend to me, as the duly elected member for Southern Downs, the courtesy of consultation—the same consultation and access that they provide routinely to Labor Party members of parliament, especially on a matter as overwhelming and comprehensive as lockdowns.

Like many other Queenslanders, the people of Southern Downs have sacrificed a great deal in the fight against COVID. When the borders were shut there were great distances between checkpoints. I have written to the state government and the Premier and asked for more border crossings to be opened, staffed with police and Australian Defence Force personnel to be sure. I have never received a satisfactory answer on that. As a result, my constituents and the many New South Wales people who share a community interest with the people of Southern Downs were potentially denied ambulance, police and fire brigade services if they were needed. There can be no doubt about that. If an ambulance, fire truck or police car has to travel an additional 20 kilometres each way to reach a checkpoint, a person can die in that time.

If there are any further border closures I urge the government to ensure that, whatever the cost, people’s safety is taken into account and that there are adequate crossings, not just for safety but also to ensure that the folk good and true of Southern Downs and the communities south of the border near my electorate are able to get to the shops and get their kids to school. We have to make sure that farmers can tend their fields without having to put their tractors on low-loaders for a 200-kilometre round trip to harvest their cotton on the other side of the border.

In my electorate the fight against COVID has been beneficial in some ways, particularly for the Granite Belt. Although initially hit hard by the local lockdowns, the tourism industry flourished once Queenslanders were able to travel. I thank the people of Queensland for coming to the Granite Belt in particular, and to other places in my electorate of Southern Downs, to experience what we have to offer. Their visits and their patronage have injected much needed funds into an electorate that, over the past three years, has suffered the ravages of drought, bushfires and now COVID.

Mr Hinchliffe: Hear, hear!

Mr LISTER: I thank the Minister for Tourism for that acknowledgement. It has been a particularly hard couple of years, so it is nice to see that the economy is improving around the Granite Belt. God willing, we will get some more rain and the agricultural economy elsewhere in Southern Downs will improve.

I cannot speak about the agricultural economy without mentioning water. Water is very important to us on the Southern Downs and not just in terms of the supply of drinking water in the towns. I acknowledge the state government’s generous commitment to trucking water from Warwick to Stanthorpe to keep the town of Stanthorpe supplied with drinking water. This is also about irrigation infrastructure. The only real project on the go at the moment is Emu Swamp Dam, which I know members here will be familiar with because on most occasions last year it was the reason I was thrown out of the chamber.

I thank the state government for coming to the party and providing its share of funding at $13.6 million, along with the federal government’s $47 million and $23 million from the growers to build Emu Swamp Dam. We are not there yet, but when we are the dam will provide a 20 per cent boost in production on the Granite Belt. It will result in 700 additional full-time jobs across all industries. It will provide certainty to enable the farmers, most of whom are small family operators, to invest and to plant crops knowing that if it gets dry they will still have enough water from the Granite Belt Irrigation Project to finish off those crops and fulfil their contract obligations with the supermarkets and whoever else is purchasing their produce. I hope to see Emu Swamp Dam completed during this term. I will be very pleased to be present on the day when some fortunate person manages to cut the ribbon.

I acknowledge the work of local government in my electorate. The Southern Downs Regional Council, the Goondiwindi Regional Council and parts of the Toowoomba Regional Council cover my electorate, which runs from the Great Dividing Range to about 140 kilometres west of Goondiwindi.

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The mayors—Paul Antonio, Lawrence Springborg and Vic Pennisi—are fighting for the things that are important for their communities. They have joined together in an alliance of councils along the New South Wales-Queensland border, on both sides, to argue for improved water infrastructure and to secure our future not only for irrigation but also for the towns. I will be writing to the Minister for Water in due course to commend to him the efforts of those councils to achieve water security for their towns, and I request that the government give them every possible assistance in doing so in order that the towns, communities and industries of my electorate of Southern Downs can continue to grow.

The councils do a great deal of work. It is no small thing to provide municipal services in today’s environment where the rates bases of these councils are relatively low and there are a lot of onerous requirements that councils must fulfil, many of which originate from state government. I would ask the state government to, wherever possible, administer local government in the most efficient way possible.

I would like to express my misgivings over the reforms that occurred last term to local government inasmuch as it seems to have paralysed some councils. Councillors and their followers are able to use complaints mechanisms anonymously to frustrate debate, to exclude people from chambers, to conduct a political war with those with whom they disagree politically or personally. That has been a poor step. I have spoken to many local government people around the place who have given me that view.

Local government does best when it is open and the people are able to judge what councillors are up to. Whilst not at all diminishing the concerns which led to the Belcarra reforms—there were some outrageous acts by former local governments—I think it does local governments and the communities no good service when they are hogtied and always chasing their shadows.

I would like to sum up by saying that I wish every member of the house of parliament a successful term. I enjoy a lot of interesting and fun banter with members from all sides. I hope that that will continue and that while each of us do our jobs in this chamber, however pugnacious that may need to be, we can still always have a beer and a yarn afterwards, because that is something that I really appreciate.

I wish you all well. I hope that your families see as much of you as possible. I share, I know, with every other member in this House in thanking my own for letting me be the member of parliament for Southern Downs, leaving them fending for themselves generally five nights a week. Thank you very much.

Debate, on motion of Mr Lister, adjourned.

ADJOURNMENT Chatsworth Electorate, Rotary Club Centenary

Mr MINNIKIN (Chatsworth—LNP) (6.02 pm): I rise this evening to honour an outstanding milestone for an organisation present in not only Chatsworth but also throughout Australia and New Zealand. This year Rotary in Australia and New Zealand celebrates 100 years of dedicated service helping communities within our electorate and indeed the world. What an incredible milestone to reach. From small beginnings in 1921, four Rotary clubs were created in Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington and Sydney. Now 100 years on, Rotary has more than 1,000 clubs in Australia and New Zealand.

My local club, the Rotary Club of Carindale, held its 20th birthday changeover dinner only last year. I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank all Rotarians in Chatsworth for what they have achieved over the last two decades. I want to thank Carindale Rotary for helping to start many traditions which continue to bring people in our Chatsworth community together. My favourite event of the year is the Brisbane Billycart Championships. It is one of our local traditions in Chatsworth. It is priceless watching everyone have a laugh at us pollies in billycarts during the Political Mayhem Race. On top of this, Rotary is instrumental in hosting the Brisbane Kite Festival at Murarrie showgrounds and runs the Adopt-A-Road program to help clean up our area one road at a time.

If I can say one thing about Rotary Carindale it is that it is no stranger to a sausage sizzle. It has held many community barbecues over the years to support numerous local charities and events. I want to mention the extraordinary fundraising effort by Rotary Carindale recently as part of its Run, Walk or Wheel for Remembrance 2020 event. It raised $15,000 for the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation—an incredible effort for a local service club.

Carindale Rotary really understand the essence that it is the little things that count and are always willing to roll up their sleeves to help community groups with things that might require a bit of people power. Recently they had a working bee to help spruce up Lillian’s Place, a community centre for women and children. They made sure the centre received a fresh lick of paint, did planting and assembled a new shed for them as well.

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When I read the Carindale Chronicle, the Rotary Club of Carindale’s monthly newsletter, I always notice the slogan: ‘More than just a service club’. Aside from the amazing things Rotary Carindale have achieved, it is extraordinary to see the friendships that are formed through people coming together to create a common legacy. The best example of this is the outstanding work Rotary have done worldwide towards eliminating polio—a great job.

As we celebrate Rotary’s 100th birthday, I want to acknowledge the Rotarians who have made an influential impact on our community in Chatsworth. In the chamber tonight, I would like to thank Secretary Kay Resnick, Treasurer Gerard Briody as well as Kell Cotter and Ken Howatson, longstanding members of the club. In his absence, a special note to the current President Ross Stewart. On behalf of all parliamentarians, I wish Rotary a happy 100th birthday.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Kelly): Thank you, member. They even managed to twist my arm into the run for the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, so well done.

Kangaroo Point, Detainees Ms BUSH (Cooper—ALP) (6.05 pm): I rise to speak about an issue that is impacting on the

people in my electorate right now and one which offers insight into the morality of some of our most senior leaders and decision-makers in this country. As we speak, around 65 refugees are being held in a makeshift detention centre in Kangaroo Point. These people, mostly men, are being held for various reasons. Some of these people are asylum seekers, including people from Manus Island and Nauru, brought to Australia for medical treatment. Some are refugees and some are yet to have their status determined. Some have been held for up to eight years.

This story is harrowing and many people in my electorate have raised their disgust with the federal government’s inhumane decision to not settle them into community. One of these is Peter Edwards, a 12-year-old student in my electorate who was so disturbed by the stories of these men that he organised a petition at his school, Kelvin Grove Secondary College. Peter and his mum, Camille, and his dad, Ian, join us today in the gallery. I would like to thank them for their activism and for working with me on this issue.

Peter’s petition quickly gained the support of 323 of his peers; however, the federal government unfortunately refused to accept the petition as it was not laid out according to their standards. I would like to put on record the voices of Peter and his peers. I table this nonconforming petition and speech notes that Peter has provided me which he developed in conjunction with some of the men held in this makeshift detention centre and their advocates. Tabled paper: Nonconforming petition regarding detention of persons in Kangaroo Point Motel [202].

I want to again acknowledge Peter and the young people in the electorate of Cooper who do outstanding work standing up for our vulnerable people. I would like to read from Peter’s petition and speech notes directly. It states— We are opposed to how these men are being treated and we demand their release. Their human rights are being ignored and made worse with the COVID situation. They are not allowed to leave the motel, they cannot have visits from relatives, they cannot isolate, and they have limited access to masks and hand sanitiser.

These people have not committed a crime by seeking refuge and are being wrongfully detained.

Many of them have not even received the medical treatment they were brought over to receive. And many are dealing with PTSD from the experiences they faced in their home countries.

The Morrison government has kept people in indefinite detention for up to eight years and has not explained its plans for these people. Nor has it explained whether it has considered community detention for people who do not pose a risk to the public. During this challenging time, I believe it is imperative for us to look after all people in our community, including those who have sought Australia’s protection.

When these men in Kangaroo Point are released, it will be because of the relentless efforts of people like Peter Edwards who have continued to turn up and bear witness to what is going on for these men just five kilometres from where we sit tonight.

Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association Mr LISTER (Southern Downs—LNP) (6.08 pm): I rise to speak about the Isolated Children’s

Parents’ Association of Queensland. I was pleased to meet with Wendy Henning and Louise Winten at Parliament House today to discuss issues of concern to them. The ICPA is a great group—

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Mr Stevens: Hear, hear! Mr LISTER: Thank you for that, member for Mermaid Beach. They do great work in advocating

for the parents of children in areas where education is a real challenge. They came to me and asked me to emphasise a number of points to the House.

One of the problems is that the former School of the Air system has evolved into a distance education program. That program is now accessed by children from all over, not just those in areas that would have been remote enough to have the School of the Air. That means that there is pressure on facilities and access to teachers in the one week of term that these children from isolated properties attend. I would ask the education minister to look into that. I know that the president of the ICPA did speak with her about this today to see if more resources can be provided to make sure that children from isolated areas are not disadvantaged.

I was amused to find out from them today that the Regional Performing Arts Touring program no longer exists. I remember fondly as a young child having the Queensland Arts Council visit our school periodically to do plays and dramatic art. That was fantastic. It seems that if we were to judge the support of the arts by Bjelke-Petersen in those days against what we see in schools today there is a bit of disparity. I would ask the Queensland government to consider bringing that program back in to make sure that kids in isolated areas have an artistic experience and have some colour in their lives when they are at the school.

Lastly—and this is a federal government matter but I feel it is worth mentioning to the House—the financial assistance that the federal government provides under the Living Away From Home Allowance Scheme is very important. There are eight shires in Queensland alone where there is no high school. That means that the parents of those children on bush properties out west have to send their kids to a boarding school. There are three residential schools in Queensland operated by the government, but two of them are for Indigenous students only. The other one is at Dalby. That is not enough.

It is not any surprise that many parents from the bush, with the help of government subsidies, send their children to boarding schools in places like Toowoomba and Brisbane. I urge the government and the House not to interpret that as being a display of wealth or extravagance. It is a necessity. I would ask all levels of government to do what they can to support parents in providing education for their children away from home.

I have a copy of the report that I was given today. I will table that for the benefit of the House. I will be writing to the minister to summarise what I have said tonight. Tabled paper: Brochure from Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association Queensland titled ‘Access to equitable education: Strengthening rural & remote communities through education’ [203].

Hervey Bay Electorate, Jetstar Flights Mr TANTARI (Hervey Bay—ALP) (6.12 pm): I take this opportunity to inform the House that

because of the Palaszczuk Labor government’s strong health response, which has kept those in the Hervey Bay electorate safe, and its strong regional economic recovery plan, the people of the Hervey Bay electorate are moving towards a faster return to work and normalcy. This situation has only come about because the Palaszczuk Labor government has had a strong plan, and it has stuck to it.

One of the outcomes from this strong recovery has been the return of flights from Sydney to Hervey Bay, announced by the Minister for Tourism Industry Development this week. This is a great outcome that is as a result of the Palaszczuk government’s Aviation Recovery Fund, a great outcome from a forward-thinking government. Minister Hinchliffe along with the Minister for Small Business, Minister Farmer, recently spent time on the ground in Hervey Bay taking advice from our local small businesses and tourism sector leaders about their needs and their aspirations. The ministers took on board their comments and have listened to the local people and they have responded.

Let us not underestimate what we are talking about here. Hervey Bay, through the work of the Palaszczuk Labor government and in conjunction with the Fraser Coast Regional Council, has once again been able to secure direct flights from Australia’s largest city directly into Hervey Bay. This is a massive bonus for our regional city—for our tourism, for our small business owners and for the Hervey Bay community—at a time when it is most needed. This outcome is estimated to stimulate our local economy to the tune of around $8 million annually and create a further 67 jobs. Hervey Bay will be exposed to the biggest potential Australian market with an estimated 50,000 people per annum moving between the two cities. Given the safe health response to COVID on top of the booming drive market, this outcome means one thing, and that is jobs, jobs and more jobs.

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The other great aspect of this decision by Jetstar is that it once again gives residents of Hervey Bay who have family and friends in Sydney access to Sydney. That is not all: it allows the volumes of people from around Australia who are champing at the bit to come and participate in the best whale watch experience, may I say, bar none in the world today, to come to Hervey Bay. It is and continues to be one of the major attractions to experience in the Hervey Bay region, along with many other worthwhile ventures.

The further knock-on effects of this outcome will no doubt be welcomed across the Fraser Coast region. I am sure the member for Maryborough will acknowledge that these flights are good for his electorate of Maryborough as well. I also acknowledge and thank the council for the work they have done, in particular its outstanding leader, Mayor George Seymour, who has clearly shown what can be achieved when state and local governments work together in the best interest of our community, instead of being negative at every turn like the federal member for Hinkler. The mayor and I will certainly be working together to knock Cairns off its No. 1 wotif.com spot in the Aussie Town of the Year stakes next year.

By negotiating this outcome and delivering for the people of Hervey Bay, the Palaszczuk Labor government is showing the rest of Australia and the world that Queensland is the place to be. It is good to go and we are keeping the Hervey Bay electorate safe and strong.

Health Services Mr MOLHOEK (Southport—LNP) (6.15 pm): I rise to take a few minutes to talk about some of

those areas that fall under my new responsibilities as the assistant shadow minister for mental health and drug and alcohol treatment. Over the course of the last month I have had the privilege of meeting with Tamsin, Kelsie and Rachel from Alive, which is a community driven organisation based in Logan. They are working with young people around youth suicide. The mentoring support they are providing to young people is absolutely commendable. I will be speaking more about that in the coming months.

Last week I had the privilege of travelling with Ros Bates, the member for Mudgeeraba and shadow minister for health, out to Chinchilla and Dalby to visit some of our regional health and hospital services. Sadly, the watermelon festival in Chinchilla was postponed until further notice. There was no watermelon to be had. We did get to meet with the primary health network in Chinchilla on Wednesday evening last week. It is always a privilege to meet with people who are working on the front line in health and emergency services. They are an incredibly committed group of people in Chinchilla. A few from Dalby came down to join us for the evening. I am constantly blown away by the dedication and commitment of those who work in health service across the state.

We had the privilege of spending some time at the Chinchilla Hospital. The following day we went and visited Dalby Hospital. We talked with the staff at these frontline services and heard stories of how they have been dealing with the pressures of the last year and the challenges that have come as a result of COVID—although they have seen too many COVID cases out west. There are some incredible people working in some of our regional areas around Queensland.

The other place we visited was the Goondir Health Services in Dalby. We had the pleasure of catching up with CEO Floyd Leedie and chair Gary White. They are two remarkable people who are so committed to providing services. One of the things that blew me away was the innovation that they have driven. They have found ways to reach out during the lockdown. They have found ways to reach vulnerable patients in isolated communities by providing bluetooth connected tablets with heart monitors, scales, pulse oximeters and blood glucose monitors. The results are sent back by Telstra Purple to a monitoring centre where specialists can provide support, reminders and arrange crisis responses where necessary.

All About Living Hon. SJ HINCHLIFFE (Sandgate—ALP) (Minister for Tourism Industry Development and

Innovation and Minister for Sport) (6.18 pm): Most communities have them—and I know your community does, Mr Deputy Speaker, and certainly in Sandgate we have them—and that is quiet achievers who get on with their quest to help those in need without much applause or fanfare. In Sandgate, in the 4017 postcode, All About Living is one of those quiet achiever organisations—a highly respected and valued not-for-profit provider of support services to the elderly and disabled, particularly those living in our community without supports around them.

298 Adjournment 25 Feb 2021

On a separate but aligned story, we had a great experience back in September 2017 when it was with pleasure that I announced the securing of $6 million for a new state-of-the-art fire and rescue station at Bracken Ridge which was opened in August last year. That was to replace the Sandgate fire and rescue station, which was constructed in 1970 on the same site as the former station on Brighton Road. The reality is that this left that facility empty after serving our community so well for so long.

Back in 2017 the then—and now again—emergency services minister, Mark Ryan, agreed wholeheartedly with the proposition I put to him that the old Sandgate fire and rescue station should remain a community asset for the benefit of the whole community. I thank the member for Morayfield for putting in place the actions that recently saw All About Living named as the successful tenderer, among a strong field of community groups interested in taking over the old Sandgate fire station. This was a great result, with All About Living receiving this property freehold.

Congratulations to president Darryl McNamara and CEO David Worsnop who have wasted no time with their team in getting started on fitting out the building to support All About Living’s important community nursing services work with the aged and those living with disabilities. All About Living also recently received almost $91,000 under the most recent round of Skilling Queenslanders for Work for their Carers Consortium 4.5 project. Once trained, just about all of the trainees transfer to being staff members of All About Living and work in the community. It is a great example of the way in which the Palaszczuk government has acknowledged and supported our community organisations that do so much work particularly for the vulnerable in our communities.

Toowoomba North State School Mr WATTS (Toowoomba North—LNP) (6.21 pm): I rise to talk a little bit about one of my schools

and let the House know it is travelling. Toowoomba North State School is a great primary school in my electorate. In the time that I have been a member of this House I have seen the school grow. It has nearly doubled in size in that time. It now has just over 200 students. It is right in the heart of the city. It is a very old school. It is 152 years old this year. I was fortunate enough to be at the 150-year celebration a couple of years ago in 2019 when we opened a time capsule which was particularly interesting. Many of the old photographs and information about the school were presented. It has a very proud history.

I was very fortunate to be there the other day at the leadership badge ceremony when I had the opportunity to present some solid pathways in STEM that were achieved last year by three students. These students have worked really hard to get the recognition and the qualifications to get certificates in the STEM subjects.

There is something about the school that the House should know. It has a multicultural population. It has a lot of Yazidi students who are newly arrived Australians. The one thing it does not have is an indoor sports hall. In fact, it does not have any enclosed area where the children can play sport. When we gathered in the library—on that particular day everybody had brought their teddy bear to school as well—it was absolutely crowded. Parents could not all get in without standing at the back to be able to see the leadership badge presentation. The library area has to be cleared and all the furniture moved so that the school can gather together.

There is a hall that was covered a number of years ago. If they could get this hall enclosed, they would have an area that would allow the children to gather in the middle of winter. I can assure you if you come to Toowoomba in the middle of August when the wind is blowing you will be looking for a covered area to gather at lunchtime. It would be inexpensive to achieve, but it would make a world of difference to this very hardworking school with a population that does not have the same resources that many other schools in this state have.

I will be writing to the minister about it. I have spoken to her, so it is not a surprise. I am not trying to be overly political. I just think the school deserves to have its hall area enclosed so that they can have assemblies together and celebrate together and so that the school community, as it grows and revitalises in the heart of Toowoomba, has somewhere to keep them out of the wind and the rain in the middle of winter.

Morayfield Electorate, Infrastructure Hon. MT RYAN (Morayfield—ALP) (Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for

Fire and Emergency Services) (6.24 pm): There are certainly a lot of construction sites in the Morayfield state electorate at the moment as a result of the Palaszczuk Labor government’s commitment to infrastructure, service improvement but also jobs. As we unite and recover together, we are seeing the results of that commitment in the Morayfield state electorate.

25 Feb 2021 Adjournment 299

There are some major projects underway. The Caboolture Hospital redevelopment is massive. It is a $400 million redevelopment, essentially doubling the hospital precinct. It will deliver hundreds of construction jobs but also hundreds of extra health jobs once the project is completed. We are very excited about that project.

The Morayfield bus station upgrade is also underway. This is a project I have been working on for a number of years. It is a great partnership between the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the owner of the local shopping centre where the bus station is located. It is about accommodating the growth that our community is experiencing. It is a good project. Hopefully it will be done by Christmas so all those shoppers can get to the shops by public transport, get their presents and get home.

The Morayfield State High School hall project is also well underway. This is a well-needed project for that school community. They are very excited about what that project will allow the school to do once it is completed. It will allow the school to host more events locally. It will allow them to have sporting activities undercover, as well as supporting performing arts. It is a very exciting opportunity.

In my remaining time I wanted to particularly focus on the road projects which will benefit the broader Caboolture region—and we do have significant investment in that space. We are coming towards the tail end of the Morayfield Road safety upgrade. This is upgrading a number of intersections throughout Morayfield Road. It is almost $30 million worth. These projects are not only improving safety by improving traffic lights, widening roads, having dedicated turning roads and improving pedestrian facilities but also delivering on that outcome of efficiency. If you are able to improve safety, you have fewer traffic incidents, you are able to move traffic quicker and people will be able to get home faster, so it is a good project on that front.

A project which is also very dear to the heart of the member for Bancroft, the member for Kurwongbah and myself is the upgrade of the Deception Bay Road overpass bridge. This is important because it was a project that we fought hard for in a previous government. It was cut by the Newman government. This was a project that was funded. It was going to happen and the Newman government cut it. They pulled the money from the project. We had to fight to get that money back, and we have. The project is now underway. It is a massive overpass bridge upgrade. It just goes to show that Labor governments invest in infrastructure.

Julia Creek Hospital Mr KATTER (Traeger—KAP) (6.27 pm): I rise to talk primarily about the Julia Creek Hospital,

which in November was downgraded from a level 2 to a level 1 facility. It is a new hospital. The government invested $7 million in rebuilding that hospital a couple of years ago, so it is a brand new building that was downgraded because they could not find the staff.

There are a lot of reasons for that. COVID was one. We have also become reliant on locums from overseas and interstate which is not a sustainable model. That is not a new problem. It has been a problem for a long time, yet it remains unaddressed and it hurts us in remote areas the most. These towns are struggling for survival. The repercussions are that once you lose doctors or nurses or services people leave town and then you have fewer teachers and fewer children at school. The problem then self-manifests. It is a very big deal to have services downgraded. It is absolutely devastating to the town.

The mayor, Philip Curr, and deputy mayor, Janene Fegan, have been working very hard trying to get a meeting with the minister to resolve this. The CEO of the North West HHS, Karen Murphy, has been doing a terrific job trying to hold things together. As most people probably would not know, Mount Isa is an anomaly when it comes to hospital funding. It is activity based funding, where most western or remote hospitals such as hospitals in the cape are all block funded. Mount Isa has a much bigger advantage. The North West HHS struggles to keep all of this together. It needs extra support and it needs effort from government. We need to look at the training and the skill set that is commensurate with remoteness. We need to be flexible in the skill set and the level of training that we would accept in those areas such as recognition of overseas skill sets for nurses and doctors. It needs effort.

We are struggling to keep things alive. I do not want to hear about billions of dollars going to a pitch for the Olympic Games. Nurses and doctors need incentives. The dialysis unit in Mount Isa is a disgrace. It looks like downtown Mumbai. We have 10 chairs and Alice Springs has 70, but that is not a priority because we are going to embark on new pieces of social infrastructure and aspire to host the Olympic Games. How about we fix this stuff first? This is very important. Without health infrastructure these places do not survive. That is a priority; these other things are not. Along with incentives for nurses and recognition of skills there is a lot of work that can be done in this space and it needs

300 Attendance 25 Feb 2021

attention. Elderly people who wanted to live and die in Julia Creek have had to move from town. At the very least we can have nurses there to keep those two elderly people from being displaced and at least adequate medical services in a new medical building.

Samford Road, Safety Upgrades Ms BOYD (Pine Rivers—ALP) (6.30 pm): For the last few weeks consultation has been open on

the Samford Road safety upgrades between Camp Mountain and the Lomandra picnic area. This is a known crash location and the department has secured funding under the Targeted Road Safety Program to make improvements. As I said, consultation has been open for some weeks on a plan, and the community’s feedback is coming in thick and fast.

Works proposed include: resurfacing, guardrails, shoulder widening, wide centre line treatments to separate through traffic and reduce the potential for head-on and loss-of-control crashes, drainage improvements, lighting, signage and pavement rehab. This section of road has seen too many serious injuries with head-on and run-off crashes. A couple of weeks ago in the wet on a single day it was the site of three separate crashes.

I want to update the House on the feedback I am hearing from my community loud and clear. Residents want this road improved. They are embracing the resurfacing. They are so keen to see the Camp Mountain Road intersection upgraded, but they are vehemently opposed to the removal of the 750-metre westbound overtaking lane.

I want to assure the community that I am hearing your feedback. I am reading every email, which are now in their hundreds. I understand your feedback. Today the member for Ferny Grove and I met with high level staff at TMR. This is the third meeting I have had with the team this month where we have discussed this project. We know that along this stretch speed is a large contributor to the crash data. Generally, vehicles, including heavy vehicles heading to Samford, travel the 70 kilometre an hour speed limit. In the overtaking lane motorists are exceeding 80 kilometres per hour. For a fortnight four speed counters along the stretch recorded vehicles travelling at speeds of over 137 kilometres an hour. I table for the benefit of the House a crash history and westbound speed data. Tabled paper: Queensland government map titled ‘Samford Road safety improvements project’ [204].

Today I called on TMR to provide an alternative to removing the overtaking lane. I have proposed that resurfacing, safety upgrades through this stretch and point-to-point speed cameras be installed as an alternative to removing the overtaking lane. This should be in conjunction with better cyclist signage to direct them to the dedicated cycleway, which will eliminate the issue with cyclists in this stretch climbing up the hill. This will also help with the speed issues that our community faces.

Community feedback on this proposal remains open until Friday, 5 March. I strongly encourage locals to share their views by submitting feedback via my website. Please have your say. I am committed to being a strong advocate for a workable solution for all.

The House adjourned at 6.33 pm.

ATTENDANCE Andrew, Bailey, Bates, Bennett, Berkman, Bleijie, Bolton, Boothman, Boyce, Boyd, Brown, Bush,

Butcher, Camm, Crandon, Crawford, Crisafulli, D’Ath, Dametto, de Brenni, Dick, Enoch, Farmer, Fentiman, Frecklington, Furner, Gerber, Gilbert, Grace, Harper, Hart, Healy, Hinchliffe, Howard, Hunt, Janetzki, Katter, Kelly, King A, King S, Knuth, Krause, Langbroek, Last, Lauga, Leahy, Linard, Lister, Lui, MacMahon, Madden, Mander, McCallum, McDonald, McMahon, McMillan, Mellish, Mickelberg, Miles, Millar, Minnikin, Molhoek, Mullen, Nicholls, O’Connor, O’Rourke, Palaszczuk, Pease, Perrett, Pitt, Powell, Power, Pugh, Richards, Robinson, Rowan, Russo, Ryan, Saunders, Scanlon, Simpson, Skelton, Smith, Stevens, Stewart, Sullivan, Tantari, Walker, Watts, Weir, Whiting

Record of Proceedings (Hansard) -  25 Feb 2021 (2024)
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