Queensland Premier Campbell Newman

LNP Government To Cut Corporate Boxes

Victor P Taffa

Corporate hospitality boxes will be relinquished or hired to private users under the LNP Government, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said today.

Premier Campbell Newman said that as part of his plan to cut waste and save Queensland taxpayers money, he had directed Cabinet Ministers at the first meeting of the Newman Government Cabinet that the government will not retain corporate hospitality boxes.

Mr. Newman said this included hospitality at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Metricon Stadium, Skilled Park, Dairy Farmers Stadium, The Gabba, Queensland Sports and Athletic Centre and the Queensland Tennis Centre.

Mr. Newman said the boxes, held by both the state government and Government Owned Corporations, would be relinquished or hired to private users.

“We will make no apologies for saving money right across the Government, because my team’s top priority is to ease cost of living pressures for Queensland families and to do this we need to get the state’s finances under control and get money back to frontline services.” Mr. Newman said.

“From what I have already seen, the finances of Queensland are in a bad way and we’ll continue to make sensible decisions to get our budget back in the black.

“I know that like the Premier’s Literary Awards, many people will be upset by this decision, but my message to Queenslanders is we will do everything we can to spend your money more wisely.”

The directive yesterday came on top of the commitment by the LNP Cabinet to a Lower Cost of Living for Families Package, which included:

• Freezing or lowering the standard domestic electricity tariff and showing the cost of the Commonwealth’s carbon tax on electricity bills;
• Reducing the cost of water for families in South East Queensland;
• Freezing family car registration fees for the next three years;
• Halving the two scheduled increases in public transport fares and making the 10^th and any additional journey each week on the go card free;
• Abolishing the waste levy from 1 July 2012;
• Re-introducing transfer duty concessions for the principal place of residence.

Queensland Minister for Police and Community Services David Gibson

Assistance Activated For Far North Queensland

Victor P Taffa

The State and Federal Governments today activated disaster relief funding for more far northern communities following major rainfall and flooding last month.

Minister for Police and Community Services David Gibson said Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements had been activated for Hope Vale Aboriginal Council, Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council, Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council, Wujul Wujul Aboriginal Shire Council, Aurukun Shire Council, Isaac Regional Council and Tablelands Regional Council.

Mr. Gibson said the arrangements have been made available after severe weather and flooding on 15 March to assist local communities with recovery costs.

“Both Commonwealth and Queensland Governments are committed to supporting affected councils and communities to ensure they can recover and restore regional services as soon as possible.” Mr. Gibson said.

Mr. Gibson said at this stage the total damage bill for the region was still being assessed, but local and district disaster management groups would continue to monitor the situation with the support of Emergency Management Queensland.

Queensland State Election 24 March 2012

Queensland Electoral Commission

Victor P Taffa

Queensland Shadow Minister for Agriculture Andrew Cripps

Ag Industry Applauds LNP Policy Commitments

Victor P Taffa

Liberal National Party (LNP) Shadow Minister for Agriculture Andrew Cripps said the agriculture industry had widely applauded and welcomed the CanDo agriculture policies released during the election campaign.

“Growing Queensland’s Agriculture sector is a major part of the LNP’s plan to build a stronger four pillar economy, alongside Tourism, Construction and Resources.” Mr. Cripps said.

“Our comprehensive Agriculture Strategy to double production by 2040 and a number of policies to back that Strategy have received strong endorsements from peak industry groups during the election campaign, and they are filtering through to the grass roots.”

“Our policies to undertake the most comprehensive Land Audit ever in Queensland and provide an additional 15 Biosecurity Officers, for example, attracted strong industry interest.”

“Growcom CEO Alex Livingstone acknowledged that:

‘…while the problem also needs to be addressed through education and training, and by promoting agricultural sciences as a worthwhile career path, an increase in biosecurity staff is a good first step’.

“CANEGROWERS CEO Steve Greenwood said:

“… the increased resourcing of vital biosecurity services and prioritisation of a reassessment of strategic cropping and land use – correspond directly to CANEGROWERS election policy platforms.”

“Our policies to provide an extra $3 million for targeted Agriculture R&D, and a better skilled Agriculture workforce were also strongly supported.” Mr. Cripps said.

“AgForce’s Brett Finlay welcomed it as:

‘encouraging seeing a focus on agricultural R&D from the LNP’ and said AgForce ‘will continue to push for greater investments in this critical area’.

“On the LNP’s policy to provide an extra $3 Million to improve awareness of agricultural careers and to better target training through schools, agricultural colleges and universities, AgForce’s Mr. Finlay said:

‘This is a critical area of need to alleviate the shortage of skilled farm workers and agri-professionals, and again we will send a message to all parties of the need for ongoing funding injections of this calibre to make a real difference.’

“Growcom warmly welcomed the commitment by the LNP of $500,000 for the Horticulture Workforce Plan as part of our $3.5 Million workforce planning and training package, and our policy to provide $4.6 Million over four years to fund sugar research by the BSES has strong support in the sugar industry.” Mr. Cripps said.

“CANEGROWERS CEO Steve Greenwood said:

“…it certainly is a big step in the right direction and I congratulate the LNP for demonstrating its understanding and support for our industry.”

“Australian Sugar Milling Council Chairman Quinton Hildebrand welcomed it as:

“…a clear commitment by the LNP to the future of the Australian sugar industry. It would provide some much needed certainty around ongoing investment for the sector while providing additional impetus for the industry to achieve its targeted sustainable growth in production to 36 Million tonnes”.

“Only the LNP has a strong plan to double Queensland food production by 2040.”

“It’s time for a change. It’s time to get Queensland Back on Track.” Mr. Cripps said.

Queensland Shadow Minister for Transport Scott Emerson

Online Train Site Down For Election

Victor P Taffa

LABOR’S Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk has been called to explain why QR’s online train tracker has been down for nearly two weeks of the election during commuter service chaos and when a string of stations have been closed for maintenance.

Liberal National Party (LNP) Shadow Transport Minister Scott Emerson said Anna Bligh and the Minister need to honestly explain what’s going on.

“QR’s online performance tracker that’s supposed to update southeast Queensland commuters on how trains are running has been down since March 8.” Mr. Emerson said.

“During all the commuter chaos of the past couple of weeks there’s been no updates.”

“We haven’t heard a word from the Transport Minister – it seems more than just a coincidence that the site’s been idle during all the chaos on the southeast network – power blackouts, boom gate malfunctions, problems with water and other issues that have cancelled and delayed many services.” Mr. Emerson said.

“The commuter advocacy group Rail Back on Track is questioning the government whether the failure to update the site is deliberate during a couple of shocking weeks on the rail network.”

“We need some straight answers from the Minister.”

Mr. Emerson said only the LNP was committed to improving frontline services and providing lower fares for southeast commuters by making travel free after nine go card journeys in a week.

“We will also cut Labor’s 15 % fare hikes in half – bringing real relief to commuters.”

“Queenslanders should not forget that Labor hid its plan to increase the cost of public transport from voters until after the last election.” Mr. Emerson said.

“A vote for local Labor Members in Brisbane and southeast Queensland on March 24 is a vote to increase public transport fares by another 15 % in 2013 and again in 2014.

“After 20 years Labor’s only plan is to increase the cost of living for commuters and deliver reduced service reliability.”

“The LNP’s public transport policy is passenger focussed.” Mr. Emerson said.

“It’s time for a change. It’s time to get Queensland back on track.”

Queensland Shadow Treasurer Tim Nicholls

Labor Focuses On Itself, LNP Focuses On Queensland

Victor P Taffa

The tired, 20 year old Labor Government is focussed on getting its election campaign back on track while the Liberal National Party (LNP) has a plan to get Queensland back on track.

Deputy Opposition Leader and LNP campaign spokesman Tim Nicholls said the different focus of the two parties couldn’t be starker.

“Over the past week and a half, all Anna Bligh has talked about is fighting for her own political survival while ignoring the fight Queenslanders have every day to make ends meet as a result of Labor’s constant cost of living increases.” Mr. Nicholls said.

“Today Anna Bligh is talking about how keen she is to have Kevin Rudd cheerleader Bruce Hawker back on her election campaign team, fresh from his meddling in Federal Labor’s leadership soap opera.”

“While Labor talks about itself and plays politics, the LNP will focus on Queenslanders and our positive plans to get Queensland back on track by growing a four pillar economy and lowering the cost of living by cutting waste.” Mr. Nicholls said.

Mr. Nicholls said Anna Bligh had been keen to portray herself as a victim of the Federal Labor leadership woes, but it was Queenslanders who were the victims of 20 years of Queensland Labor failures and mismanagement.

“If Anna Bligh was serious about ‘restarting her campaign’, she should start with an apology to Queenslanders for 20 years of Labor waste, broken promises, distractions and scandals.” Mr. Nicholls said.

“After 20 years, Labor is a broken record and the song is always the same.”

“Anna Bligh doesn’t need a re-boot, she needs to be given the boot by Queenslanders on 24^th March.”

“It’s time for a change. It’s time to get Queensland back on track.” Mr. Nicholls said.

Queensland Shadow Minister for Transport Scott Emerson

Commuter Chaos Under Labor

Victor P Taffa

ANNA Bligh and her trademark hard hat were nowhere to be seen this morning as commuters suffered chaos with no trains running to the CBD.

Liberal National Party (LNP) Shadow Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the peak-hour chaos had shut down trains into the city.

“Today Brisbane commuters awoke to another prime example of Labor’s waste and mismanagement with the Brisbane train system in meltdown.” Mr. Emerson said.

“Anna Bligh and her hard hat and the Transport Minister Anastacia Palaszczuk won’t be seen anywhere near this mess.”

“Commuters trying to get to work and travellers trying to get to the airport have been left totally in the lurch.”

“This government has embarked upon a massive increase in fares to commuters claiming it will improve services.” Mr. Emerson said.

“But for the average commuter all they see is very expensive travel costs and deteriorating services – they’ve been left to bear the full brunt of Labor’s debt.”

“This lazy, tired Labor government has let our public transport system decline and today we have a near collapse in the entire train system.” Mr. Emerson said.

“Let’s hope QR engineers can quickly establish the cause of the shutdown and fix it, because all Anna Bligh and Labor are focussed on is saving her own jobs.”

“Labor has had 20 years to get this right. They’ve had their time.”

“It’s time for a change. It’s time to get Queensland back on track.” Mr. Emerson said.

Queensland Shadow Minister for Transport Scott Emerson

LNP’s Answer To Looming Inner-City Rail Crisis

Victor P Taffa

The LNP’s Building Queensland’s Future Together discussion paper proposes a commonsense solution to Brisbane’s looming inner-city rail crisis. Crunch time is now, to avoid a capacity crisis in 2016.

Shadow Transport Minister Scott Emerson said while the inept Labor government was running away from the crisis, the LNP’s (Liberal National Party) infrastructure paper outlined a plan to upgrade the South Brisbane and Southbank railway stations to provide extra platform capacity and more operational flexibility.

“This would provide up to an extra five years capacity over the Merivale Bridge and give us valuable time to put longer-term solutions in place.” Mr. Emerson said.

Mr. Emerson welcomed the support of RAIL Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow who said:

“Cross River Rail will take some time so it is pleasing to note some effort has been made to propose steps to maximise the utility of existing infrastructure with incremental improvements. We have long suggested such steps will be necessary.”

Mr. Emerson said despite the crisis point of 2016 being warned about for at least six years, and Premier Bligh declaring a solution was “desperately needed” – Labor’s Cross River Rail project remained unfunded.

“It would not be built in time to meet the capacity constraint deadline.” Mr. Emerson said.

“The LNP recognises that this public transport problem is rapidly approaching – and taking no action is not an option.”

Mr. Emerson said Labor’s failure to redress Brisbane’s rail crisis was just one part of a larger $150 Billion unfunded infrastructure deficit around the State, on top of Labor’s $85 Billion debt.

“The Bligh Government’s Environmental Impact Study (EIS) released this week no longer has any references to the inner city rail capacity crisis deadline.”

“In a piece of political trickery – Labor has even scrubbed all mention of 2016.”

“We must deal with the crisis before we look at longer-term solutions to increase capacity- and that will include the current Cross River Rail proposal.”

“A CanDo LNP Government will plan for the future not live for the moment. Campbell Newman is an engineer, one thing he really knows how to do is build infrastructure.” Mr. Emerson said.

Queensland Shadow Minister for Transport Scott Emerson

Labor’s Public Transport Fare Hikes Push Brisbane Tourists Away

Victor P Taffa

Brisbane’s tourism market is doing it tough and the Bligh Government isn’t helping by making public transport too expensive for tourists, the State Opposition said today.

Shadow Minister for Transport Scott Emerson said the Bligh Labor Government should be encouraging River City tourists with affordable public transport options, not turning them away.

“More than six million tourists visit South East Queensland every year and Labor’s solution to help boost Brisbane tourism is to increase public transport fares.”  Mr. Emerson said.

“Under the Bligh Labor Government, public transport fares have gone up and will continue to rise by 15 % each year for the next three years.”

“Labor’s ever-increasing public transport costs are hardly attractive to tourists.”

“Backpackers especially cannot afford to pay almost $4 every time they jump on a bus, train or ferry.” Mr. Emerson said.

“Expensive public transport fares could mean visitors to our River City instead travel elsewhere.”

“The Liberal National Party (LNP) believes a tourist product that will meet the specific travel needs of short-term visitors needs to be developed in an effort to attract more travellers to the South East corner.”

“A CanDo LNP Government will work hard to improve our public transport system and encourage tourists to Brisbane.” Mr. Emerson said.

Queensland Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Queensland Andrew Cripps

Australia Integral To Indonesia Adopting Humane Slaughter Practices

Victor P Taffa

AUSTRALIA must play a leading role in promoting humane slaughter practices in Indonesia.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Queensland Andrew Cripps told State Parliament this week Australia and the cattle industry needed to move quickly to redress the cruelty issues exposed by the ABC’s Four Corners program.

“The Liberal National Party (LNP) deplores cruelty to animals and we supported the decision to suspend the supply of Australian cattle to the particular abattoirs using these inhumane practices.

“But we believe Australia is best placed to promote humane practices in Indonesian abattoirs and those improvements are integral to our live export trade.” Mr. Cripps said.

“The efforts of the Australian live cattle export industry have led to the introduction of stunning in some abattoirs. There is a long way to go to see the wider use of stunning in Indonesia, but there would not have been any progress had the Australian industry not been involved.”

“No other country exporting live cattle spends money raised by levies on domestic producers to educate their customer in the humane treatment of animals.” Mr. Cripps said.

“The only reason the Australian live export industry has any influence is because it’s a preferred supplier due to the quality of the product. The LNP believes the live cattle export industry and the Federal Government needs to continue to make the promotion and adoption of stunning a priority in Indonesian abattoirs.”

Mr. Cripps said the live export of cattle was a major economic driver in North Queensland.

“The ban has serious ramifications on cattle producers, employees on properties, transport operators and businesses supplying and servicing the industry.”

He said Federal Agriculture Minister Ludwig was wrong in forcing the cattle industry to compensate itself by directing its industry body to use funds accumulated from voluntary levies collected for marketing and promotion and redistribute them to affected producers.

“The Gillard Government should accept responsibility for its decision and compensate cattle producers for the loss of this market. The Gillard Government must also announce and outline an immediate plan to re-establish a controlled trade with Indonesia that makes cattle identifiable and traceable from the property boundary in Australia to the abattoir in Indonesia.” Mr. Cripps told Parliament.

“There are abattoirs in Indonesia that meet Australia’s expectations and there are producers in North Queensland capable of monitoring the movement of their cattle through the supply chain.”

The extent of the Bligh Government’s response has been to set up a task force, supposedly to identify alternative markets. It is very disappointing that the Bligh Government has made plan B its priority. Rather than admit defeat, the Bligh Government should stand up for North Queensland cattle producers and demand that the Gillard Government re-open a controlled export trade to Indonesia.

“There are too many livelihoods at risk in this industry for this to be the best the Gillard and Bligh governments can offer. The live cattle export trade is a significant part of North Queensland’s economy.” Mr. Cripps said.

“The impact of an ongoing export ban will be enormous. The livelihoods of everyone working in this industry are in jeopardy. Premier Bligh and the state Minister for Agriculture should be fighting for the livelihoods of these Queenslanders.” Mr. Cripps said.