Media Releases

Labor not listening to the children

Cairns youth crime crackdown must be backed up by tougher sentencing

It’s time to celebrate Disability Action Week

Labor widens the health gap

Mackay, Bowen, Proserpine hospitals short-changed $42m

Gold Coast hospitals short-changed $77m

Sunshine Coast – Wide Bay hospitals short-changed $85 m

Darling Downs – West Moreton hospitals short-changed $92m

Barbara told to try a homeless shelter

Time to think about the children

Kiwis need help

Labor keeps at-risk families in the dark

Moody’s confirms lower credit rating

Mandatory reinjection needed to protect Condamine Aquifer

Commuters slow to take-up free tickets

Questions raised over Nanango Hospital’s future

Gold Coast water price rises should be capped

Feel-good Phil’s spin attempt falls flat

SEQ water price rises should be capped

Homeless soar as Minister goes coastal solar

Sunshine Coast water price rises should be capped

Medical staff turnover at crisis point

‘Two faced’ Townsville MPs back privatisation

‘Two faced’ Hoolihan backs privatisation

Health Minister must apologise over cheap ‘metho’ line

‘Two faced’ Miller backs privatisation

Labor abandons protection for police and emergency services officers

Treasurer still spinning economic growth

Labor has no idea on school asbestos

Make graffiti vandals remove their mess

North Queenslanders want asset sales scrapped not just a Bligh visit

Culture to blame for doctor shortage

Labor red-faced over prison work camp scams

LNP: Bring back Beaudesert maternity services

Labor policies failing Queenslanders

Connecting SEQ 2031 …more like Congestion SEQ 2031

Local government warned about new voting system

Labor gives kindys unkindest cuts

Mount Isa residents ignored on asset sales

High-speed diversion as Caucus silences asset sales critics

Bligh’s a hypocrite on high-speed rail

Mackay and Whitsunday residents ignored on asset sales

Attacks on Gold Coast police show need for tougher laws

Hoolihan whimper silenced by caucus

Rockhampton residents ignored on asset sales

North Qld residents ignored on asset sales

Nolan heads for boning room

Walk a day in QR safety boots

Bligh’s critics silenced by caucus

Labor gags debate on BER school waste

CSG communities need investment now

Nolan heads for boning room

Bligh’s Crisis Caucus Meeting Puts “Listening” Claim to the Test

Toowoomba out in the cold over assets sale

Ipswich had been bypassed by the Bligh Labor government’s determination to sell off Queensland state assets, the LNP said today.

Bligh’s booze plan ignores regional centres

Gold Coast needs more police as well as higher standards

Where’s Betty Kiernan on privatisation as other Labor MPs speak out?

Where’s Jan Jarratt and Tim Mulherin on privatisation as other Labor MPs speak out?

Where’s Kerry Shine on privatisation as other Labor MPs speak out?

Where are Far North Labor MPs on privatisation as others speak out?

Calls for flexible fares for Go Card

Report confirms link between child abuse and youth crime

Bundaberg needs solutions not stunts

Scrapping privatisation plans or holding referendum would show Bligh really listening

Labor adopts LNP policy to protect prime farm land

Minister finally getting CSG basics right

Labor playing catch-up in protecting prime ag land

Sunshine Coast Emergency Department chaos continues

Emergency Department report shock

Townsville Emergency Department report shock

Gold Coast Emergency Department chaos continues

Logan Emergency Department chaos continues

Caboolture Emergency Department chaos continues

Longman a ‘special win’

Bligh stays out of sight as faceless union leaders decide her future

Congratulations to new Herbert MP

LNP secures largest swing of any state or territory in Australia

We can’t trust Labor on water prices

Comments underline long-term Labor arrogance

Bligh must explain why Labor candidates won’t use Labor brand

Process to re-appoint Police Commissioner a joke

Labor charges $407 for land worth $110

Businesses come to their Sensis over Labor

Labor ignores need for grains research

Labor forces brothels on regional Queensland

Sex offender laws not strong enough

Labor’s secret deal to shut down commercial fishing and tourism

Bligh and Labor abandon rape victim

LNP will help FNQ dialysis patients

Bligh squibs it on privatisation debate

Queensland going broke under Bligh

Queensland Health workers won’t get back pay

Grandparent carers need rights not tokenism

More police needed to stop train violence

Kindys face closure under flawed plan

Greens no solution to protecting prime ag land

Fishing/shooting under threat from Greens

Malone calls for bushfire risk update

Greens deal will hit Gold Coast fishing and tourism

Kate Jones in denial over illegal turtle and dugong trade

Labor directionless on ASD mapping

Schwarten should read the fine print on NBN

Gillard Labor government a threat to Queenslanders health

Tougher penalties for animal torture supported

Water bills make the best ‘how-to-vote cards’

Take your water bills to the ballot box

Bligh Labor treats parliament with contempt

Queensland lags other states again

Jobs and services better boost for regions than one off cash handouts

Jails at flashpoint under Roberts

Gold Coast crime blitz welcome but more police needed

Not even smoke let alone firefighters

Not even smoke let alone firefighters

Gillard blames Bligh for bad polls: then sack Bligh as President

FNQ jobless remains highest under Bligh and Labor

Seniors Week a time for positive action

Gold Coast unemployment continues to rise under Labor

Sickest patients continue to suffer longer

Sickest patients continue to suffer in Bundaberg

Armed robber’s release shows bail law flaws

More time to pay but pain stays

Another Labor solar promise fading away

Battlers feel pain from Labor’s bulk water charges

More water dramas for bungling Bligh Labor

Labor’s fuel tax adds to cost of living pressures

Bligh has no idea on land rent rip-off

‘Nudie run’ case shows need for police discipline overhaul

Hundreds of deaths ‘unresolved’ in Coroner’s late report

Labor cranks-up Crown Land rip-off

Tougher penalties needed for alcohol-fuelled violence

Dick’s failure to act an international embarrassment

No urgency with ‘non-urgent’ police number

Graffiti vandals should clean up their mess

Time to come clean on NAPLAN cheats

Closer ties with India are welcome

Get the Kiwis to come

Queensland should host AFL grand final

Sick children to miss out on hydrotherapy pool at QCH

Bligh should get behind Gabba grand final

LNP backs Coalition Ag policy

Labor’s AFL snub shows Bligh Government has lost its way

Report highlights school building waste

Magistrates send wrong message on police abuse

Health Minister out of touch with VMOs

Labor ignores criminals to crack down on toy guns

Labor hates gun owners but loves their fees

Labor can’t be trusted on ICT

Community kindergartens under threat

Bligh confirms state nursing homes at risk of privatisation

Justice reforms will cripple Magistrates Court

Country pubs fold under Bligh tax grab

Labor silent as Fraser holds Townsville to ransom

Bligh in denial over business investment crash

Queensland Health pay system remains in a coma

Greens can’t be trusted on gas, ag land, water or anything else

Labor's Straddie tourism plan runs aground at Toondah

Bligh’s environmental priorities all wrong

National Missing Persons Week

It’s Bligh Labor déjà vu all over again

No get-out-jail card for paedophiles

Labor’s policy of closing small schools ‘madness’

Fraser losing cool over business sentiment

Community needs certainty about underground coal gas trials

Sink the float of Queensland Rail

Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser: Work Choices is dead

Queensland suffering long-term ‘Laboritis’

75,000 Motorists have their say against driver’s licence hike

LNP offers Gold Coast welcome tourism boost

Maximum penalties alone won’t deter graveyard vandals

Bligh Labor an accountability free zone

State business confidence plunges under long-term Labor

State business confidence plunges under long-term Labor

Child neglect case highlights system failure

Slashed contracts threaten dairy’s future

Bligh Labor becoming isolated on rail sale

Mt Isa taken for granted by long-term Labor

Leaked Cabinet comments a real worry for seniors

Gas Commissioner not a quick fix

Where the bloody hell’s Martin…and Pete?

Where the bloody hell’s Martin…and Pete?

Where the bloody hell’s Martin…and Pete?

Where the bloody hell’s Martin…and Pete?

Westpac delivers third strike to Queensland economy

Confusion reigns over Palm Cove Trinity Park public housing

Queensland back of the pack: Access

Queensland suffers from long-term Labor

Passengers at risk while QR dithers

Bligh Labor secrecy over friable asbestos in schools

No strategy to tackle child sex abuse in indigenous communities

Security at Townsville jail a joke

Scalpers Sell “Free” Go Cards on eBay

Bligh should tell truth on QR sale costs

Bayside domestic violence victims short changed

Carbon off-set uptake woeful

Illegal dugong trade thriving under Labor

Vicious railway slasher walks free and allegedly stabs again

Red tape strangling Meals on Wheels

Make driver training available to all

Key ATSI programs stalled

Downs and South-West get disability crumbs

Downs and South-West get disability crumbs

Minister ignores disability housing problems

Police get cheap words not real rise

Commissioner reappointed – details sought later

Women’s Infolink faces disconnection

Minister changes the way he counts Rural Fire volunteers

Minister misleads on funding for Surf Life-Saving Queensland

No idea on retirement village addresses for Fire Service

Accountability farce under Bligh and Labor

Bligh must ‘end uncertainty’ with QR

Sneaky Minister reverts to personal attacks over rescue choppers

Forced council amalgamations cause debt spiral

Bligh asset sales looking shaky

Whitehaven Beach gong proves eco potential

Fraser spouts drivel to distract from ‘toxic’ Bligh

Gas monitoring boost long overdue

Child pregnancy in care goes unchecked

Volunteers face amalgamation or the axe

Road plans left rubbery in SEQ blueprint

Community rescue choppers secretly handed to Health

Attorney-General gags CMC chair at Estimates

Roberts red-faced over Facebook escapee

Mines Minister must do more than talk tough

Sentence cut for paedophile sends wrong message

The case of the missing multicultural awards

Bligh and Labor’s environmental hypocrisy axes mangroves

LNP forces school mobile phone backdown

Lucas delays key patient safety report

TRANSCRIPT OF THE HON. TONY ABBOTT MHR ADDRESS TO THE LNP CONFERENCE

Tony Abbott addressed the Liberal National Party's Annual Conference in Brisbane on Saturday 17 July, 2010. Click "Read More" to see the full speech.

STATEMENT ON WORKPLACE RELATIONS

An incoming Coalition government will not seek to change the Fair Work Act for the three years of the next term of parliament.

Mental health bed numbers increase by only seven in two years

Bligh's back-flip sinks Broadwater hopes

Payroll disaster hits Ambos

Toll hikes …no one believes you Minister

Bligh and Labor fail Gold Coast mums

Far North Queensland jobless rate rises

Government pays $50 million to “cartel”

Wallace backs Abbott on Toowoomba bypass

Drug-drivers undetected and undeterred

How many people does it take to order some play equipment?

Minister lets Kingaroy down over coal-to-gas trials

Water Commission lacks expertise to protect Great Artesian Basin

More ‘tree police’ than mine inspectors

Bully-boy Bill buys in for Betty

Emergency department reporting a ‘sham’

Bligh tried to hide extra asset sale costs

Queensland pays the price for indigenous housing failures

No studies were done before dumping Straddie jobs

Bligh’s husband gets title for ‘consistency’

Troubled youth deserted by Bligh and Labor

Queenslanders warned to brace for soaring water charges

Fraser Coast youth deserted by Bligh and Labor

Sex predators free to roam at will

Cattle train fee hike means more trucks

Schwarto tries to dodge the blame again

Triple-0 hoax calls could cost lives

Vicious railway slasher walks free

Bligh and Labor’s asset giveaway

Sex predator release questioned

Nurses not impressed with Lucas cop-out

Schwarten toxic schools shock

Labor turns on worker protesting privatisation

Bligh and Labor adopt LNP Gold Coast Waterways policy

Let NSW pick up the tab for partygoers

Mining industry hamstrung by rail/port failure

Tolerating speeding fails safe driving test

Look at this announcement, not the reports

Premier fails honesty and accountability test

Bob betrays builders for bureaucrats at QBuild

Minister clueless on Child Safety services

Great Artesian Basin must be protected

Back them or sack them: LNP police discipline overhaul announced

Minister must reveal what Child Safety knew of risks from Rockhampton mother

LABOR’S Child Safety Minister Phil Reeves must reveal to the community if early warning signs were ignored by his Department in the tragic child-mother deaths in Rockhampton this week.

LNP Shadow Minister for Child Safety Jack Dempsey said Anna Bligh and Labor had a sad history of covering-up failures to act on early warning signs with Child Safety clients.

Bowen needs your support after seedling poisoning

LNP Member for Burdekin Rosemary Menkens has called on Queenslanders to support Bowen growers and community that has been devastated by the poisoning of seven million seedlings.

“This is a huge blow for the people of Bowen, with at least 30 farms set to lose a large part, if not all of their income for a whole season,” Ms Menkens said.

Bligh and Labor must come clean on secret deal at Aurukun

BLIGH and Labor need to come clean on their secret negotiations surrounding the extension of the Aurukun bauxite mining lease to Chinese-owned Chalco.

LNP Shadow Mines Minister Jeff Seeney said the dogs were barking that a deal had been done under the table at ‘mates’ rates’.

FNQ motorists left waiting for detailed solutions

Far North Queensland motorists are continuing to be treated like second-class citizens, with Premier Bligh and Labor’s so-called ‘visionary’ transport blueprint offering little but hot air.

Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Transport Fiona Simpson said the Bligh Labor Government had a very poor record when it came to delivering details on promised infrastructure read more

Bligh Labor weak on sex offender sentences

ONE third of all convicted sex offenders were avoiding any prison time under Bligh and Labor’s weak sentencing laws*, the LNP said today.

Deputy LNP Leader and Shadow Attorney-General Lawrence Springborg said Bligh Labor’s weak sentencing laws for sex offenders were sending the wrong message and putting the community at risk from re-offenders.

“The community expects the law to protect it from violent sex offenders and those who prey on children,” Mr Springborg said.

Northern Gold Coast jobless tripled

The Gold Coast has recorded the state’s biggest rise in unemployment thanks to Bligh and Labor’s economic mismanagement and neglect, the LNP said today.

State Opposition and LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the Gold Coast had received a double whammy with massive increases in both unemployment and cost of living delivered by Bligh and Labor’s incompetence.

“Tourism is a major economic driver on the Gold Coast yet Treasurer Andrew Fraser has slashed the tourism budget for 20010-11 by 20 per cent,” Mr Langbroek said.

Tableland dairy farmers deserve local support

THE dairy industry was vital to the Tableland economy and deserved strong local support, LNP Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth said today.

Mr Knuth urged North Queensland consumers to support the buy local campaign to counter Woolworths and Parmalat selling milk sourced from southern states.

Cairns builders need red tape cut

WITH new housing starts in Far North Queensland flat lining, the State Opposition has called on the Bligh Labor government to cut red tape.

LNP infrastructure and planning spokesman David Gibson said the latest Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) figures were a real worry for FNQ and Cairns in particular.

Battling families hit by Bligh’s new taxes

Bundaberg families battling increasing rents faced further pain from Bligh and Labor’s economic mismanagement and incompetence, the LNP said today.

LNP Member for Bundaberg Jack Dempsey said families struggling to pay rent will have to find hundreds of dollars more to pay the household bills as a result of Bligh Labor Government decisions.

National Foods must bring back Malanda label

Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth has renewed his calls for National Foods to bring back the Malanda label.

Mr Knuth said National Foods should be labelling its Tableland milk as Malanda-sourced so North Queensland consumers could easily choose locally-produced milk.

Bligh’s taxes drive up motorists costs

QUEENSLAND was now the most expensive state in which to own and operate a motor vehicle, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Transport Fiona Simpson said fuel-price monitor MotorMouth* showed Brisbane again had the highest average price for unleaded fuel of all capitals in June – 144.9c/l, an increase of 21.4c/l since February.

“Bligh and Labor’s financial mismanagement and incompetence have driven the cost of owning and operating a motor vehicle through the roof,” Ms Simpson said.

Culture of cover-up alive and well at Qld Health

LABOR’S culture of cover-up was alive and well at Queensland Health with the government refusing to release hundreds of pages of documents relating to financial misconduct despite a whistleblower calling for the documents to be made public.

CMC in danger of undermining Police Service

BLIGH LABOR incompetence has led to the current situation where the Crime and Misconduct Commission was in real danger of undermining confidence in the Queensland Police Service.

Fitch rating confirms Labor’s economic failure

Today’s confirmation that Queensland remains the only state in Australia to lose a AAA credit rating was further proof of Bligh Labor’s hopeless economic policies.

LNP Shadow Treasurer Tim Nicholls said Queensland had once proudly worn the badge of strong economic management with public sector superannuation liabilities fully-funded and its cherished AAA credit rating in place.

Imports a threat to Granite Belt growers

MEMBER for Southern Downs Lawrence Springborg has called on State Labor to lobby the Federal Government to scrap its decision to allow imports of Chinese apples.

Mr Springborg said he shared the concerns of Granite Belt growers that the risks were too great.

Investment guru questions Qld Rail sale

Thousands of Queensland students in oversized classes

Figures released by the Education Department showed 12,000 Queensland children in Prep to Year 3 were in oversize classes, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Education and Training Dr Bruce Flegg said the figures were disturbing.

Police ‘Flying Squad’ should go to Bowen

THE Brisbane-based Police ‘Flying Squad’ should immediately be sent to Bowen to investigate the mass poisoning of tomato and vegetable seedlings which threatens national food supplies.

Unemployment figures show Qld trailing WA

Western Australia’s economic recovery is powering ahead while Queensland is just sputtering along, Labour Force statistics released today reveal.

Rego increases drive up freight costs

BLIGH Labor’s savage increases in heavy vehicle registration costs were hitting Queensland consumers in the hip pocket, the LNP said today.

LNP Shadow Minister for Transport Fiona Simpson said transport companies had few options but to pass on the increased costs or cut staff.

No local consultation on Eagle Junction station ‘upgrade’

Police get raw deal over pay

Bligh and Labor had offered hard-working Queensland Police a raw deal with a miserly pay offer less than the rate of inflation, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Police & Corrective Services Vaughan Johnson said Bligh and Labor clearly thought it was more dangerous to deal with unruly school children than violent thugs and criminals.

“Offering hard-working police who deal every day with the dregs of society a miserable 2.5 per cent when teachers have been given 4.5 per cent proves Bligh and Labor hold Queensland Police in contempt,” Mr Johnson said.

NAIDOC Week: It’s time to close the gap

The LNP has urged Queenslanders to get involved in NAIDOC Week celebrations and join the journey to practical reconciliation.

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Howard Hobbs said the week was a time for celebration and a great opportunity for all Queenslanders to learn about and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

Auditor-General gives Schwarten ‘F’ for effort

Truant Minister Robert ‘Rocky’ Schwarten should spend less time asking people to step outside’ and pay closer attention to running his portfolio, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Information and Communication Technology Jann Stuckey said Minister Schwarten’s annual report card from the Auditor-General showed he hadn’t been paying attention and fully deserved the fail mark from the A-G.

Decision to delay go card release leaves free fares on the shelf

The decision to delay the handout of 400,000 free go cards has left the Bligh Labor Government with approximately 260,000 cards that no-one wants, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Transport Fiona Simpson said it was a sad state of affairs when Translink couldn’t even give away free public transport fares.

Palm Cove/Trinity Park public housing – for bus drivers?

PUBLIC housing projects in Palm Cove/Trinity Park were being built even though the Bligh Government was yet to work out who was going to use them, the State Opposition said today.

LNP Shadow Minister for Communities Rosemary Menkens said housing projects at Palm Cove and Trinity Park were going ahead despite widespread concern and heated opposition from local residents.

“The Bligh Government can’t justify why the accommodation is needed,” Mrs Menkens said.

Children left on ramps at overcrowded emergency department

Almost two-thirds of children arriving at Mater Children’s Hospital emergency department in May were forced to wait in ambulances because of overcrowding, the LNP said today.

Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle said Queensland Health’s ‘Emergency Departments – Monthly Performance Report for May 2010’ revealed 64 per cent of children languished on a stretcher for more than 15 minutes because the emergency department was full.

Super Mine Tax: Bligh must release economic modelling and legal advice

Premier Anna Bligh has been challenged to release the economic modelling she used to give the green light to the Federal Government’s new Mineral Resource Rent Tax, which will see $10.5 billion of dollars in revenue, virtually all from Queensland and Western Australia, sent directly to Canberra without any commitments in return.

Townsville Hospital emergency patients suffer longest wait for beds

Townsville Hospital reported Queensland’s worst case of access block in May with more than half its emergency patients forced to wait over eight hours for a bed, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Health Mark McArdle said Queensland Health’s ‘Emergency Departments – Monthly Performance Report for May 2010’ also revealed more than a quarter of patients were forced to wait more than 12 hours in the Townsville Hospital Emergency Department for a bed.

Bundaberg Hospital emergency patients wait longer for beds

Bundaberg Hospital Emergency Department recorded its worst case of access block in May when almost half its patients waited over eight hours for a bed, the LNP said today.

Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle said Queensland Health’s ‘Emergency Departments – Monthly Performance Report’ for May 2010 revealed 45 per cent of patients were forced to wait more than 8 hours to be admitted to a bed in May, up from 33 per cent in April.

“The health crisis is not over in Bundaberg, it is clearly getting worse”, Mr McArdle said.

No State project ready to go

BLIGH Labor has dropped the infrastructure ball putting much –needed State projects on the back-burner, the Opposition said today.

LNP infrastructure and planning spokesman David Gibson said the latest update from Infrastructure Queensland* was a damning indictment on the Bligh Government.

Local GP confirms Emerald mums at risk

LONG-SERVING medico Ewan McPhee’s resignation confirmed Emerald mums were at risk from Bligh and Labor’s neglect of obstetrics services at Emerald Hospital, the State Opposition said today.

LNP Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle said Dr McPhee’s resignation from the hospital and his reasons stated publicly could not be ignored.

Paperwork, not protection, is the aim of new reef regulations

North Queensland farmer’s mailboxes have been swamped this week with the introduction of the State Government’s new onerous farm reporting obligations, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Glen Elmes said the new reporting obligations force farmers to fill out countless pages, forms and records, instead of making real and effective changes to their practices and won’t help the environment.

300 school expulsions per day under Bligh and Labor

An increase in suspensions and expulsions proved Bligh and Labor talked tough but acted soft on school discipline, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Education & Training Dr Bruce Flegg said this year's figures for suspensions and expulsions showed an alarming increase in numbers of students requiring severe disciplinary action.

Patel sentence must be appealed

The State Opposition has described the sentence of seven years jail handed down to Dr Jayant Patel as “manifestly inadequate” and called on the Attorney-General to appeal.

LNP Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle said the sentence handed down to Jayant Patel would not meet community expectations and should be appealed.

Tax time nightmare for Health workers begins

Queensland Health’s long running payroll nightmare has slipped from fiasco to farce with the Department forced to knowingly produce end of financial year group certificates, riddled with errors, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Health, Mark McArdle said Queensland Health in a message to all staff*, will issue 3 documents to help them understand their group certificates, including;

Gold Coast specialist appointments frozen

The waiting list for the waiting list on the Gold Coast was so long there was a virtual freeze on the offering of appointments to referred patients, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Health Mark McArdle said figures obtained by the LNP* revealed an absolute failure by the Bligh Labor Government to keep up with demand for specialist appointments– even for Category 1 patients where it was clinically recommended they be treated within 30 days.

“What is particularly concerning in this report is, for some in-demand specialties such as neurosurgery, cardiology, gastro and hepatology, there have been no appointment dates offered to referred patients for more than two years due to the backlog,” Mr McArdle said.

Bligh and Labor ignore problems with compulsory prep

Bligh and Labor’s proposal for a compulsory prep year ignored evidence voluntary prep year had higher attendance rates than any other years of school, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Education & Training Dr Bruce Flegg said making prep year compulsory was fraught with problems and would require some policy rethinking by the State Government.

Bligh and Labor hiding true BER costs

Bligh and Labor had hidden the true costs of the disgraced BER program behind a sanitised and restricted report, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Education and Training Dr Bruce Flegg said the Price Waterhouse Coopers report into BER spending in Queensland was another effort by Bligh and Labor to avoid disclosure of the true costs and processes of the program.

RSPT: The great Queensland Sell Out

Sold out!: Queensland will be at the financial mercy of Canberra like never before, following today’s renegotiation of the Super Mining Tax, that has given away Queensland’s wealth, the LNP said.

The LNP demanded to know why, despite Queensland’s large stake in the super tax negotiations, Premier Bligh did not ask to be and was not present at the negotiating table.

Gold Coast ‘waiting list for the waiting list’ disgrace

New figures providing a detailed breakdown of the ‘waiting list for the waiting list’ revealed many Gold Coast Hospital outpatient clinics were simply unable to cope with demand, the LNP said today.

LNP health spokesman Mark McArdle said figures obtained by the Opposition revealed an absolute failure by the Bligh Labor Government to keep up with demand – even for Category 1 patients where it was clinically recommended they be treated within 30 days.

Factional overlords escape Ministerial Responsibility

Anna Bligh’s fear of factional overlords has stopped her from sacking the Minister responsible for spending almost a billion dollars on the failed CorpTech driven Shared Services Initiative, the LNP said today.

Information and Communications Technology spokeswoman Jann Stuckey called on the Premier to stand up to factional bully-boys and sack the Minister who championed the now abandoned CorpTech Shared Services Initiative.

“In March this year, Robert Schwarten boasted ‘substantial progress’ had been made by the Shared Services Initiative.

Cost of living rises from today thanks to Labor

Queensland families will have to find hundreds of dollars more to pay the household bills as a result of Bligh Labor Government decisions taking effect from today.

State Opposition and LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the start of the new financial year heralded a raft of cost of living increases largely brought on by Bligh and Labor’s economic mismanagement.

Housing projects given the thumbs down by bureaucrats

Controversial social housing projects proposed in the Cairns region were rejected by local officers and the department as being inappropriate for the area, the LNP said today.

LNP Shadow Minister for Community Services and Housing Rosemary Menkens said Right to Information documents, obtained by the LNP, showed a clear trail of Communities staff concluding the projects at Trinity Park and Palm Cove would not serve housing clients well, and would be damaging to the community.

“Yet, somehow, Minister Struthers allowed these projects to proceed against the advice of her own staff and knowing they would cause anxiety and anger in the communities,” Mrs Menkens said.

Statement by the Opposition Leader - Jayant Patel verdict

The LNP welcomes the guilty verdicts for Jayant Patel.

We sincerely hope this helps victims on the path to bringing about some form of closure to what has been a living nightmare… a living horror.

It should not ever be forgotten that this Labor Government never brought Jayant Patel to trial.

Instead this Labor Government bought Jayant Patel his business-class get-away ticket.

Winton forum to hear regional needs

ALL western roads will lead to Winton for the LNP’s Public Policy Forum this Saturday, July 3.

State Opposition and LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the Forum, starting 8:30am at Winton’s Shire Hall, would give western Queensland a great opportunity to raise issues for LNP policy development.

Mr Langbroek said every Queenslander deserved a say in the running of government and service delivery.

“Anna Bligh and State Labor have seriously neglected western Queensland,” Mr Langbroek said.

Trucks will rat run to avoid Bligh Labor toll hike

TRUCK and commercial vehicle drivers would rather rat run through the suburbs than pay massive new toll price increases, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Transport Fiona Simpson said motorists’ were fed-up with being cash cows for the cash-strapped Bligh Labor government.

Lucas must go over health payroll debacle

The State Opposition has demanded Health Minister Paul Lucas be sacked following the release of a damning audit report confirming $100 million and counting has been squandered on the health payroll debacle.

N.B. Key quotes from report included at bottom of media release.

State Opposition and LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said Premier Bligh needed to show she was not controlled by Australian Worker’s Union boss Bill Ludwig and finally take action against Paul Lucas.

Sunshine Coast commuters get bleak rail deal

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DESPITE being hit with 40 per cent fare increases, Sunshine Coast to Brisbane rail commuters experienced the worst services on the City Train network, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Transport Fiona Simpson said Sunshine Coast commuters were being ripped off by the Bligh Labor Government’s mismanagement and neglect of public transport.

“The Bligh Labor Government urgently needs to improve services on the North Coast line,” Ms Simpson said.

Bligh Labor budget abandons northern tourism

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North Queensland tourism has been abandoned by the cash-strapped Bligh Labor government, the LNP said today.

Leader of the Opposition John-Paul Langbroek said projected allocations in the budget for the tourism portfolio were $15.1 million less than 2009-2010.

“Actual spending in 2009-2010 in the tourism portfolio was $78.8 million,” Mr Langbroek said.

Early intervention the focus of LNP child safety discussion paper

Early intervention services that improve family relationships and better protect children from abuse are a key focus of an LNP child safety discussion paper released today.

Bligh's false job pledge dealt another blow

‍‍Premier Anna Bligh’s false pledge to create 100,000 new full-time jobs had been dealt yet another blow by Kevin Rudd’s proposed mining tax, the LNP said today...

June 2010 Campaign Update - LNP Members rally against Rudd

Across Queensland, LNP members are hard at work preparing for the upcoming Federal Election.

CMC chief reveals Bligh lied to Parliament

Premier Bligh must urgently recall State Parliament to explain why she lied about the reappointment of the Police Commissioner, the State Opposition said today.

In State Parliament last week, Ms Bligh claimed the State Government had ‘secured the agreement’ of the Crime and Misconduct Commission chairman prior to the reappointment of Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson.

Dr Bruce Flegg Releases Education Newsletter June 2010

‍If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. These are comments by a noted American educationalist and certainly have not been taken into account in the framing of this budget. The total spend on education is miserly, to say the least. This year’s education budget has risen by only $260 million from the budget delivered 12 months ago. That is a mere 3.6% increase. This is in the context of a total budget that has grown by 6.25%. Education spending is clearly a low priority for this government and has certainly contracted as a proportion of the Queensland budget.

Same area for controlled-burns – only dearer

State Labor’s bold announcement today that controlled-burns on state lands would match last year, but cost near-20 per cent more was proof-positive it had no idea how to rein-in spending when delivering any sort of service.

LNP emergency services spokesman and volunteer rural fire-fighter Ted Malone said the announcement proved Bligh Labor was clueless.

Bligh and Labor failing children at risk

The Department of Child Safety’s Systemic failure to engage with troubled children was placing lives at risk, the LNP said today. Shadow Minister for Child Safety Jack Dempsey said a coroner’s finding into the suicide of a 15-year-old girl ‘significantly’ known to Child Safety was a damming indictment of the department’s resourcing.

Health workers still in the dark about tax impacts of pay debacle

Queensland health workers still have no idea when and whether they will get accurate group certificates this year and what impact the health pay debacle will have on their tax, the State Opposition said today.

Falling passenger numbers cost taxpayers more

Expensive tickets, unreliable and infrequent services and regular faults have left Queenslanders footing a bigger bill for public transport, the Opposition said today.

Gillard Should Stop Counting Caucus Numbers to Count the Cost of Threatened Industrial Action

Ms Gillard has a duty, both as would be Prime Minister and Minister for Workplace Relations, to immediately condemn the threatened strike by the CFMEU over prosecution action faced by one of its members, Ark Tribe.

Education a blank page in budget

‍Bligh and Labor’s education budget is setting a new standard in ensuring parents and the community have no access to performance measures of our education system, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Education and Training Dr Bruce Flegg said the 2010-2011 budget papers failed to include satisfactory performance measures, discontinuing virtually every useful reporting statistic.

“There is no transparency from Education Queensland, and any measures that reflect badly on the performance of the department invariably get the chop,” Dr Flegg said.

Labor's white elephant Superclinic

“The failure of the Rudd Labor Government to deliver the ill-conceived GP Superclinics again highlights how this Government is big on promises but doesn’t have the skills to oversee the delivery of its promises or take into account how they may harm the community,” Liberal Senator for Tasmania, David Bushby, said today.

Super Funds advertising campaign in support of the resource super profits tax unlikely to be permitted by APRA

Following questioning at Budget Estimates by Senator David Bushby, Chairman of the Coalition Economics Committee, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) stated that any superannuation advertising campaigns supporting the Government’s resource super profits tax would be unlikely to meet the sole purpose test under which superannuation funds operate.
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Coalition commits for PET scanner for Townsville

A Coalition Government will invest $2.5 million to deliver a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner to Townsville, supporting better health care services for Townsville, Thuringowa and the region.

Budget delivers debt, deficit and a new tax

‍The 2010/11 State Budget is a ‘typical Labor budget’ that delivers more debt, more deficits and a new tax on Queensland businesses, the State Opposition said today.

State Opposition and LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the Budget confirmed Government debt continued to soar with Queensland’s debt now $18,772 for every man, woman and child.

“Treasurer Andrew Fraser has tried to claim debt is coming down but that is just another Labor lie. The Budget papers confirm debt rose from $43 billion in 2008/09 to $52 billion in 2009/10 and will keep growing to nearly $84 billion,” he said.

“Despite this, Bligh and Labor still have no debt repayment strategy.

Strong labour force results signal need to wind back stimulus

‍We are now at the point where there is a very real risk of overheating the economy unless policy settings are returned to a neutral stance – that is, neither expansionary nor contractionary.

The Government should heed the words from Dr Gruen of Treasury in Estimates last week that “if you were to engage in discretionary fiscal stimulus at a time of full employment then the implications of that would be that monetary policy would likely offset it with higher interest rates”(page E26 Senate Economics Legislation Committee Estimates of Wednesday 2 June).

Health pay disaster to continue for at least 12 months

HEALTH Minister Paul Lucas all-but admitted today in parliament the Queensland Health payroll disaster would continue for at least 12 months.

'Green jobs' not 'green pens' key focus for LNP

The spaghetti mess of environmental bureaucracy under the Bligh Labor Government will be consolidated into one body under an LNP Government with savings to be directed into employing additional park rangers.

During a wide ranging Budget reply speech today, State Opposition and LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the LNP was committed to an overhaul of the environmental bureaucracy.

Restoring credit rating and debt repayment key priorities for LNP Government

‍Regaining the AAA credit rating and putting in place a repayment strategy to pay off Labor’s $83.5 billion debt will be the key priorities of an LNP Government.

Mr Langbroek said this week’s State Budget reconfirmed two things in the minds of Queenslanders – Labor isn’t listening and Labor can’t be trusted.

LNP to ease cost of living pressures

‍Electricity rebates for seniors will be increased by 30 per cent and vehicle registration fees will be frozen for an entire term under an LNP plan to ease the cost of living pressures on Queenslanders.

Delivering a wide ranging Budget reply speech today, State Opposition and LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the cost of living for Queenslanders was spiralling out of control under the Bligh Labor Government.

More Rudd waste - this time in health

‍The Coalition today slammed the Rudd Government for its ongoing incompetence and mismanagement of the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme.

It joins the failed pink batt insulation program and school halls waste as yet another example of the Rudd Government’s inability to manage money or programs.

Rudd mining tax impact bad as GFC

‍Kevin Rudd’s big new mining tax has been as bad for Queensland’s business confidence as the Global Financial Crisis, the LNP said today.

Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Employment and Economic Development Tim Nicholls said Anna Bligh’s failure to take the fight to Rudd over the impact of the tax on Queensland’s economy was both cowardly and irresponsible.

“In one month since the announcement of this tax business confidence in Queensland has plummeted to its lowest level since the GFC,” Mr Nicholls said.

Schwarten's 'special green award' for recycling

PUBLIC Works Minister Robert Schwarten deserved Labor’s ‘special green award’ with so many of his budget capital spending announcements recycled from last year, the Opposition said today.

LNP public works spokeswoman Jann Stuckey said not only was Minister Schwarten’s budget chock full of recycled announcements from last year, but overall spending on capital works was down by half.

LNP Government to restore small business confidence and government transparency

‍Mr Langbroek said an LNP government would work to restore small business confidence through creating crucial infrastructure projects and a transparent, open tendering process.

Bligh Labor makes environment a budget desert

‍Bligh Labor’s environmental green hype has only delivered a bare desert of results, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Glen Elmes said the 2010-2011 budget would simply be a continuation of Bligh and Labor’s record of promising big but spending little.

“The 2010-11 budget shows the Bligh Labor government has continued its record of failing to deliver on promises with a litany of unfulfilled commitments,” Mr Elmes said.

Budget confirms Labor’s privatisation fast tracked

‍Despite polls showing 85 per cent of Queenslanders oppose their privatisation plans, the Bligh Labor Government is fast tracking the sale of Queensland’s railways, ports, motorways and forests.

State Opposition and LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said Bligh and Labor still weren’t listening to Queenslanders, with Treasurer Andrew Fraser confirming the sell-off would proceed even faster than he claimed last year.

‍Question marks over Rudd health ‘reforms’

‍A variety of the nation’s major medical groups today questioned whether the Rudd Government’s so-called health reforms would meet the many promises made by the Prime Minister.

The AMA told a Senate Inquiry into the COAG agreement on health and hospitals that the states could remain firmly in the “driver’s seat” in health.

Growth announcement admission of planning failures

‍The Bligh Labor Government’s announcement today is an admission their planning failures and infrastructure inaction have been the biggest road blocks to sustainable growth and development in Queensland, the State Opposition said today.

LNP Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Planning David Gibson said the proposed development sites had been mooted for years and it was the Bligh Labor Government that had held up the projects.

Gate-crashing laws must be strengthened

Vaughan Johnson MP
Shadow Minister for Police & Corrective Services
LNP Member for Gregory
8 April 2010

Tougher gate-crashing laws were needed in Queensland in the wake of yet another wild incident in Mackay, the LNP said today.

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Payroll debacle a glimpse of the future

Jann Stuckey MP
Shadow Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology
Member for Currumbin
8 April 2010

The on-going disaster that is unfolding in Queensland Health is a chilling glimpse of the future under Minister Schwarten’s whole-of-government human resources and payroll project, the LNP said today.

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Health pay bungle must be fixed immediately

John-Paul Langbroek MP
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the LNP Shadow Minister for the Arts
Member for Surfers Paradise
8 April 2010

A belated apology from Health Minister Paul Lucas has “meant nothing” with thousands of nurses and other Queensland Health staff now facing their second and third fortnight without full pay, the State Opposition said today. read more

Outdated data puts bushwalkers' lives at risk

Glen Elmes MP
LNP Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability
LNP Member for Noosa
8 April 2010

Bushwalker’s lives are being put at risk from out-of-date information on popular Queensland walking trails, the LNP said today.

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Queensland motorists under the pump from Bligh’s lies

Tim Nicholls MP
Shadow Treasurer
Shadow Minister for Employment and Economic Development
Member for Clayfield
7 April 2010

Queensland has gone from having the lowest petrol prices in Australia to the highest since the Bligh Labor Government’s fuel tax was introduced, the State Opposition said today.

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Bligh and Labor flog off the farm

Ray Hopper MP
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries & Fisheries Rural & Regional Queensland
LNP Member for Condamine
7 April 2010

THE sale of agricultural college land at Dalby and Burdekin was another example of Bligh and Labor’s ability to take a successful enterprise and turn it into a disaster, the LNP said today. read more

Doubts raised over Cairns oncology centre services

Mark McArdle MP
Shadow Minister for Health
LNP Member for Caloundra
7 April 2010

Federal Labor Member for Leichhardt Jim Turnour has cast doubt over when the new oncology facility in Cairns will be up and running and what services will be actually be provided, the LNP said today.

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Valley police station 'late and over budget'

Vaughan Johnson MP
Shadow Minister for Police & Corrective Services
Member for Gregory
7 April 2010

The redeveloped Fortitude Valley police station officially opened today was supposed to open 18 months ago and cost $3 million less, the State Opposition has revealed. read more

Novice Wallace Dishonest

Federal Member for McPherson Margaret May has been scathing of the performance of Queensland Main Roads Minister, Craig Wallace.

The comments have been brought on by Mr Wallace blaming delays for the upgrade of the M1 on lack of funding from the former Howard Government.

20 Years under Labor

Queensland politics has been poisoned by one party’s longevity in power and refusal to heed the lessons of the Fitzgerald inquiry

WE didn’t know it then, but 20 years ago conservative politics in Queensland was on the cusp of almost two decades of electoral oblivion. As a 21 year old, I was campaigning to enter state parliament for the then National Party, which had governed Queensland for 30 uninterrupted years. We had built the moden Queensland, secured the most solid financial base in the nation and offered employment and lifestyle opportunities that made us the migration bud of the continent.

But the odour of corruption was overpowering, and on December 2, 1989, Wayne Goss took his Labor Party to electoral victory while I took my seat in parliament in a reduced and deflated opposition. It’s ironic then that 20 years later the same issue now confronts the Labor Government in Queensland led by Anna Bligh. By thumbing its nose at the lessons from corruption royal commissioner Tony Fitzgerald after such a long time in power the Labor government has allowed itself to be infested by a culture of corruption. read more