Queensland is facing a “horror budget”, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said today. The shock statement came as Mr Seeney was announcing a pilot program to give mining royalties to regional communities. “This is going to be a horror budget. There’s not a lot of money available,” he said. “But I think it is important we […]

Opposition leader Tony Abbott called for responsible conduct by social media site Facebook over anti-Aboriginal comments on a controversial page. “I am strongly in support of Facebook and other social media sites acting in a responsible manner,” he said. He said he was speaking in advance of a trip to North Queensland to visit Aurukun […]

Politicians got their hands dirty at the weekend as they helped plant 1500 native trees in Ashgrove. Premier Campbell Newman, state MP Saxon Rice and federal MP Jane Prentice joined more than 80 volunteers in the mass planting at Dawn Street, Ithaca Creek. Planet Ark, SOWN (Saving our Waterways Now) and Greening Australia contributed tree […]

A plan to rebuild the Mary Valley following abandonment of the Traveston Dam was announced in Parliament this week by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney. Mr Seeney said there had been more than a hundred inquiries about buying properties or being involved in projects. As a result of the previous government’s purchase of land to be […]

The Opposition this week sought to embarrass Premier Campbell Newman by quoting statements to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission by Queensland Commission of Audit Commissioner Doug McTaggart. Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin referred to Dr McTaggart’s statement to the QIRC that the projected State debt by 2014-15 of $85 billion was “manageable”. “Will the Premier […]

Job reductions in the public sector will threaten thousands of jobs in the private sector, according to the Queensland Opposition. Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk told Parliament Premier Campbell Newman’s “slash and burn” approach to government was “not only costing thousands of government jobs but also threatening thousands of jobs in the private sector”. Mr Newman […]

Independent MP Peter Wellington says he is disappointed his notice of dissent on the TV cameras ban in the Queensland Parliament has been ruled out of order by Speaker Fiona Simpson. The ban on TV stations’ cameras for nine sitting days was announced by Ms Simpson last week. Mr Wellington tried to move dissent from […]

Celebrity hairdresser Stefan Ackerie was reprimanded in Parliament yesterday by the Speaker, Fiona Simpson, after taking photos from the public gallery. Although not named by Ms Simpson, her warning to the gallery came in response to Stefan’s flamboyant visit to the state house for yesterday afternoon’s question time. Stefan, accompanied by veteran LNP MP Howard […]

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman publicly criticised senior minister Bruce Flegg yesterday over the controversial appointment of a party official to audit the government printing service. “I have expressed some concerns about the choice of the particular individual due to the position he holds and the perception that such a choice may attract,” Mr Newman said […]

Livelihoods will be destroyed by the carbon tax according to Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, who yesterday labelled the tax a “job killer”. Mr Newman said in Parliament job losses in the “real economy” would impact on Queensland, not recent public service cuts. “What about the job losses in the real economy – the productive economy […]

The government will not liberalise indigenous communities’ alcohol management plans in in any way that will put women and children at risk, Queensland Parliament was told yesterday. The Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs, Glen Elmes, said revised plans needed to ensure women and children were not bashed or neglected. In […]

The Queensland Teachers Union leadership was criticised by Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek over their role in negotiations following last month’s protests outside Parliament House. Mr Langbroek said in Parliament today the QTU didn’t directly involve themselves in negotiations over the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement either before or after the protest. “There was a rally outside the […]

Health Department staff will not be paid until 10 days after their roster, instead of the current three days. The change, to take effect in October, was announced in Parliament yesterday by Health Minister Lawrence Springborg. Mr Springborg said employees would be given loans to cover the one-off gap in pay periods. “In October, Queensland […]

The Australian government will pay most of the costs for the G20 summit to be hosted in Brisbane in 2014. Queensland premier Campbell Newman has told parliament Queensland could not afford to contribute a significant amount to costs of the meeting of world leaders. “As this event is clearly a Government Commonwealth responsibility, an agreement […]

With the carbon tax in force and electricity prices reaching sky high records, Queensland premier Campbell Newman has urged Queenslanders to shop around for the best deal. Mr Newman said he had changed his own energy provider after comparing costs. Mr Newman said he was surprised when his power bill from Origin Energy showed a […]