PT WEIR SPEAKER

NJ LAURIE CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENT

JM MATHERS CHIEF HANSARD REPORTER

ISSN 1322-0330

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Hansard Home Page: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/hansard

Email: hansard@parliament.qld.gov.au Phone (07) 3553 6344

FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-EIGHTH PARLIAMENT

Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Subject Page ABSENCE OF MEMBER ....................................................................................................................................................... 705 REPORT................................................................................................................................................................................ 705

Auditor-General ................................................................................................................................................. 705 Tabled paper: Auditor-General of Queensland—Auditor-General Auditing Standards, April 2025. ........................................................................................................................................ 705

SPEAKER’S STATEMENTS ................................................................................................................................................. 705 Matters of Privilege, Apologies and Retractions of Statements..................................................................... 705 Photographs in Chamber .................................................................................................................................. 706 Release of Committee Documents ................................................................................................................... 706 Visitors to Public Gallery .................................................................................................................................. 706

NOTICE OF MOTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 706 Weather Events, Response .............................................................................................................................. 706

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................... 706 Western Queensland, Weather Events ............................................................................................................ 706 Knife Crime, Jack’s Law ................................................................................................................................... 707 Knife Crime, Jack’s Law ................................................................................................................................... 707 Knife Crime, Jack’s Law ................................................................................................................................... 708 Gold Coast Light Rail ........................................................................................................................................ 709 Energy System .................................................................................................................................................. 710 Resources Industries, Safety and Health ........................................................................................................ 710 Wacol Youth Remand Centre ........................................................................................................................... 711 Tourism Industry ............................................................................................................................................... 712 Construction and Manufacturing Industries, Training and Skills .................................................................. 713 First Nations, Services and Infrastructure ....................................................................................................... 713

MOTION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 714 Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders .............................................................................................. 714

Table of Contents – Wednesday, 2 April 2025

PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 714 Comments by Member for Murrumba, Retraction and Apology ..................................................................... 714 Comments by Member for Inala, Retraction and Apology .............................................................................. 714

NOTICE OF MOTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 715 Queensland Redistribution Commission, Appointment ................................................................................. 715

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE .......................................................................................................................................... 715 Nuclear Energy .................................................................................................................................................. 715 Nuclear Energy .................................................................................................................................................. 716 Speaker’s Ruling, Question Out of Order ........................................................................................................ 716 Community Safety ............................................................................................................................................. 716 Drugs, Testing ................................................................................................................................................... 717 Community Safety ............................................................................................................................................. 718 Health Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................................... 718 Youth Crime, Data ............................................................................................................................................. 719 Share the Dignity ............................................................................................................................................... 720 Victims of Crime ................................................................................................................................................ 721 Hospital Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................... 721 Youth Crime ....................................................................................................................................................... 722 Drugs, Testing ................................................................................................................................................... 723

Tabled paper: Document, dated March 2025, titled ‘Queensland Health: Queensland Drug Warning—Clinical Alert’. ................................................................................................................... 723

NAMING OF MEMBER .......................................................................................................................................................... 724 MOTION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 724

Suspension of Member for Miller ..................................................................................................................... 724 Division: Question put—That the motion be agreed to. ..................................................................... 724 Resolved in the affirmative. ............................................................................................................... 724

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE .......................................................................................................................................... 725 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Delivery ....................................................................................................... 725

Tabled paper: Document, undated, titled ‘Labor’s Games Plan’. ....................................................... 725 Tabled paper: Queensland Government: Report titled ‘2032 Delivery Plan’. ..................................... 725 Tabled paper: Extract from social media, undated, depicting a comment by the member for Cooper, Ms Jonty Bush MP. ............................................................................................................. 725

Home Ownership ............................................................................................................................................... 725 POLICE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (MAKING JACK’S LAW PERMANENT) AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL ............................................................................................................................................................... 726

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 726 Tabled paper: Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. ..................................................................................................... 726 Tabled paper: Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, explanatory notes. ....................................................................... 726 Tabled paper: Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, statement of compatibility with human rights. ............................... 726

First Reading ..................................................................................................................................................... 729 Referral to Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee ................................................................... 729

MOTIONS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 729 Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders............................................................................................... 729

Division: Question put—That the motion be agreed to. ..................................................................... 729 Resolved in the affirmative. ............................................................................................................... 730

Olympic and Paralympic Games, Delivery Plan .............................................................................................. 730 Division: Question put—That the amendment be agreed to. ............................................................. 741 Resolved in the negative. .................................................................................................................. 741 Non-government amendment (Ms Fentiman) negatived. ................................................................... 741

PRIVILEGE ............................................................................................................................................................................ 741 Alleged Reflections on the Chair ...................................................................................................................... 741

YOUTH JUSTICE (MONITORING DEVICES) AMENDMENT BILL ....................................................................................... 741 Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................ 741

MOTION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 743 Queensland Redistribution Commission, Appointment ................................................................................. 743

Tabled paper: Letter, dated 24 March 2025, from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, Hon. Deb Frecklington, to the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Steven Miles, regarding the appointment of a Chairperson and a Commissioner to the Queensland Redistribution Commission............................................................................................ 744 Tabled paper: Document, dated 27 March 2014, submitted by Mr GE Fitzgerald, titled ‘Crime and Misconduct and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 Submission to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee’. ......................................................................................................... 744 Tabled paper: Letter, dated 31 March 2025, from the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Steven Miles, to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, Hon. Deb Frecklington, regarding appointments to the Queensland Redistribution Commission. ...... 744 Tabled paper: Article from the Courier-Mail, dated 2 April 2025, titled ‘Qld politics: Labor pushes back at John Sosso move to QRC’. ............................................................................ 746 Tabled paper: Article from the Courier-Mail, dated 19 March 2015, titled ‘Opinion: Justice director-general John Sosso’s dismissal is not without precedent and long, bitter memories’. ............................................................................................................................... 746

Table of Contents – Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Tabled paper: Letter, dated 21 September 1972, from the State Secretary and Queensland Campaign Director, Australian Labor Party 1972 Nation Campaign, Mr BR Lourigan, to Master John Sosso, regarding his enquiry in connection with joining the Young Labor Association. . 754 Tabled paper: Letter, dated 14 September 1972, from the then Leader of the Opposition, Mr Jack Houston, to Mr John Sosso, regarding his interest in joining Young Labor. .......................... 754 Division: Question put—That the amendment be agreed to. ............................................................. 754 Resolved in the affirmative................................................................................................................ 755 Amendment agreed to. ..................................................................................................................... 755 Division: Question put—That the motion, as amended, be agreed to. ............................................... 755 Resolved in the affirmative................................................................................................................ 755

PRIVILEGE ........................................................................................................................................................................... 755 Comments by Member for Stafford, Withdrawal and Apology ....................................................................... 755

MOTION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 755 Weather Events, Response .............................................................................................................................. 755

YOUTH JUSTICE (MONITORING DEVICES) AMENDMENT BILL ....................................................................................... 761 Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................ 761 Consideration in Detail ..................................................................................................................................... 765

Clauses 1 and 2, as read, agreed to. ................................................................................................ 765 Clause 3, as read, agreed to. ............................................................................................................ 766

Third Reading .................................................................................................................................................... 766 Long Title ........................................................................................................................................................... 767

HEALTH PRACTITIONER REGULATION NATIONAL LAW AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL ................. 767 Second Reading ................................................................................................................................................ 767

Tabled paper: Health, Environment and Innovation Committee: Report No. 1, 58th Parliament—Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024, government response. ................................................................................... 767 Tabled paper: Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024, explanatory notes: Erratum. .......................................................................... 767

ADJOURNMENT ................................................................................................................................................................... 770 Mansfield Electorate, LNP Election Commitments ......................................................................................... 770 Maryborough Magic Basketball ........................................................................................................................ 771 Ipswich, Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure ............................................................................... 771 International Women’s Day; Ambrose, Ms LA ................................................................................................. 772 Ipswich Regional Sports Academy .................................................................................................................. 772 Dodt, Mr L .......................................................................................................................................................... 773 Ramadan ............................................................................................................................................................ 773 Burleigh Bears Junior Rugby League Football Club ...................................................................................... 774 CopperString; Gas Reserve Policy .................................................................................................................. 775 Dance for Daniel ................................................................................................................................................ 775

ATTENDANCE ...................................................................................................................................................................... 776

2 Apr 2025 Legislative Assembly 705

WEDNESDAY, 2 APRIL 2025 ____________

The Legislative Assembly met at 2.00 pm. Mr Speaker (Hon. Pat Weir, Condamine) read prayers and took the chair. Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I acknowledge the Aboriginal people and Torres Strait

Islander people of this state and their elders past, present and emerging. I also acknowledge the former members of this parliament who have participated in and nourished the democratic institutions of this state. Finally, I acknowledge the people of this state, whether they have been born here or have chosen to make this state their home and whom we represent to make laws and conduct other business for the peace, welfare and good government of this state.

ABSENCE OF MEMBER Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have received advice that the member for Algester will

be absent from the House on 2 and 3 April 2025. The member’s notification complies with standing order 263A.

REPORT

Auditor-General Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have to report that I have received from the

Auditor-General a report titled Auditor-General auditing standards. I table the report for the information of members. Tabled paper: Auditor-General of Queensland—Auditor-General Auditing Standards, April 2025 [285].

SPEAKER’S STATEMENTS

Matters of Privilege, Apologies and Retractions of Statements Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, previous Speakers in considering matters of privilege

often requested or provided an opportunity to members to make an apology and/or retraction or clarification in the House when it was clear they had made factually incorrect statements in the House which may not have reached the threshold for referral to the Ethics Committee. This was usually facilitated in an informal manner by the Speaker’s office contacting the member to seek an apology, retraction or clarification.

What eventuated was that members often added such apologies, retractions and/or clarifications to the end of speeches that had no relevance to the original matter and often received little, if any, attention or recognition. Apologies, retractions and clarifications were also often qualified or oblique. It is my belief that this practice may have promoted bad behaviour. It is possible members anticipated that they would be able to speak mistruths in the House with the knowledge that an apology, retraction or clarification at an opportune moment would be the only consequence. I advise that I intend to formalise the process.

I will formally write to the member foreshadowing the possible referral of the matter and provide the member the opportunity to apologise, retract and/or clarify the matter in the House. I will also note that any such apologies, retractions or clarifications should occur during matters of privilege at the commencement of the sitting day or during personal explanations in preliminary business. This will mean that nearly all members are present to hear the apology, including the originally aggrieved member, and it will place more weight on the apology, retraction or clarification.

I will expect apologies and retractions to be unqualified and done within a time set out in my correspondence. I also expect members who take the initiative to apologise and retract matters in advance of my formal notification to make them during matters of privilege at the commencement of the sitting day or during personal explanations in preliminary business. They should also be unqualified.

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It is my desire that, if members know that they will have to make an unqualified apology or retraction at a highly visible time, it may act as a preventive measure and improve the accuracy of debate in the House.

Photographs in Chamber Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I have approved for staff of the Parliamentary Service to

take photographs in the chamber today during preliminary business for use in the parliamentary social media. Photographs will be taken from the rear of the chamber.

Release of Committee Documents Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, today in accordance with standing order 20 the Legislative

Assembly will release to the public previously unpublished minutes of committees from 1994 that have been in the custody of the Clerk for over 30 years. This is the seventh proactive annual release of committee documents. The 94 sets of minutes being released today detail the business during 1994 of the Committee of Subordinate Legislation, the Parliamentary Committee for Electoral and Administrative Review, the Public Accounts Committee, the Public Works Committee and the Travelsafe Committee.

A few of the items of interest referenced in these minutes include: the winding up of the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission in 1993, which was the genesis of our unique portfolio committee system, and its focus on scrutiny; the recommendation to implement speed cameras in Queensland to reduce road fatalities, and they were subsequently introduced in Queensland in 1997; the sale of an Australian Friesian Sahiwal dairy herd, with the crossbreed being developed by the Queensland government to thrive in tropical climates and later exported to South-East Asia, Central and South America and the Indian subcontinent. The committee minutes released today and information about the parliament’s publication scheme are available on the parliament’s website.

Visitors to Public Gallery Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members, I wish to advise members that we will be visited in the

gallery today by students and teachers from Sherwood State School in the electorate of Miller and Faith Christian School of Distance Education in the electorate of Nicklin.

NOTICE OF MOTION

Weather Events, Response Hon. DF CRISAFULLI (Broadwater—LNP) (Premier and Minister for Veterans) (2.06 pm): I give

notice that I will move— That this House: 1. acknowledges the damage caused by flooding across widespread parts of Western Queensland; 2. extends support for those who have suffered injury and those who have lost their homes, property, livestock and personal

possessions; 3. records its appreciation for the hard work of all emergency service personnel, frontline responders, local, state and federal

agencies, community members and volunteers, and members of the Australian Defence Force who are supporting Queenslanders and will continue to support them through the recovery; and

4. pledges to support all Queenslanders, including those still recovering from recent severe weather in both the north and south of the state, to ensure that Queensland recovers from this disaster, with a focus on increasing resilience for future events.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Western Queensland, Weather Events Hon. DF CRISAFULLI (Broadwater—LNP) (Premier and Minister for Veterans) (2.07 pm):

Western Queensland is still struggling with the impacts of once-in-a-generation flooding. This morning I visited Longreach to see firsthand the impact of the devastation. Locals are reporting that heavy rain fell again around large parts of the region in the last 24 hours. For our farmers, rain is usually welcome, but with flooding already covering such a large part of the state, more rain means the creeks and rivers are swelling once again. Nine rivers and creeks are now experiencing major flooding, including record

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flooding in the Bulloo and Paroo rivers. Towns like Thargomindah, Eulo, Hungerford, Jundah and Quilpie remain isolated. Some properties have become islands, completely surrounded by water. Many Queenslanders will not be able to return to their homes for days or weeks. This morning I met some of those brave Queenslanders.

Minister Perrett and I were able to survey some of the damage from the air this morning. As of yesterday afternoon, more than 3,500 kilometres of fencing has been destroyed due to the floods. Over 4,700 kilometres of private roads have been damaged; that is more than the drive from Brisbane to Perth. Almost 150,000 cattle, sheep and goats have been lost—a devastating loss for Queenslanders whose livelihoods are built on livestock. Sadly, that number will rise further.

Planes and private helicopters continue to work on resupplying fuel and fodder, and they are doing a mighty job. These efforts are critical. Our graziers need support and, above all, they need hope. We have already activated disaster grants for our primary producers to help with the cost of replacing equipment, buildings and livestock. Primary producers are the backbone of Western Queensland. This funding will help them get back on their feet.

Later today the government will move a motion which will acknowledge Queenslanders who are suffering, as well as those who have assisted in the response and recovery. We will be with them every step of the way, just as we did in the north and just as we did in the south. We are here for the long haul.

Knife Crime, Jack’s Law Hon. DF CRISAFULLI (Broadwater—LNP) (Premier and Minister for Veterans) (2.10 pm): Our

government is working tirelessly to restore safety to our communities. Under this government, police will have the resources and laws they need to keep Queenslanders safe. Today we will take another important step in strengthening police powers by introducing amendments to Jack’s Law. Jack’s Law is named after Jack Beasley, who was senselessly and tragically killed in December 2019 during a night out with mates on the Gold Coast. Today is Jack’s birthday. He would have been 23. I can think of no better way to honour Jack’s legacy than by making sure no person ever has to endure the senseless violence that took his life.

Jack’s Law gives Queensland police the power to use handheld scanners in safe night precincts and on all public transport, including stations. The changes our government is introducing today will allow police to use those handheld scanners to detect deadly weapons in all public places. We will also make Jack’s Law permanent. These changes will take dangerous weapons off our streets. That means more lives protected and more lives saved.

I thank Jack’s parents, Brett and Belinda Beasley, who, despite their grief, have ensured Jack’s legacy lives on through positive change. I also want to acknowledge the member for Bonney, who has helped drive the change from the tragedy that emerged within his community. Our police officers, who are so integral to protecting our communities, deserve our support. Expanding Jack’s Law and making it permanent does just that and it means that in future police can act before tragedy strikes.

Knife Crime, Jack’s Law Hon. DG PURDIE (Ninderry—LNP) (Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (2.11 pm):

Today marks another important milestone in the fight by the Crisafulli government to tackle the crime crisis that has developed over the past decade. In particular, we propose to strike another blow against the scourge of knife crime that continues to endanger lives, devastate families and rip apart communities throughout the state. In short, through amendments to be introduced this afternoon, it is proposed that Jack’s Law be made permanent through a repeal of the sunset clause due to expire next year.

The House is aware of the genesis of Jack’s Law. As the Premier just highlighted, in 2019, Jack Beasley, who was only 17 years old at the time, died as a result of a vicious knife attack on the Gold Coast. From that day, his parents, Brett and Belinda Beasley, worked tirelessly to bring about legislative change. This was to ensure that no other parent would have to go through the trauma, grief and distress that they suffered because of Jack’s death. I pay tribute to the work of the Beasleys and the Jack Beasley Foundation for their fight to make real progress to combat knife crime. Their determination, perseverance and dedication are examples to us all. From tragedy, a significant social and legal reform has emerged which will have a long-lasting impact.

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I do not have to remind the House that, despite the changes that have been made, our community is still confronted by the hideous consequences of knife crime. Only last year, Vyleen White was struck down and killed in a knife attack that defies explanation. Knife crime remains a significant blight on our state. It is sobering to reflect that in 2023 there were 3,235 victims of robbery recorded in Queensland, marking a 17 per cent increase from the previous year. Notably, 26 per cent of those robberies included the use of a knife resulting in 847 victims.

As a government and a parliament, we have a responsibility to help keep the community safe. We have observed how Jack’s Law has operated since its introduction in 2023. We have heard from our police and from communities throughout the state about what could be done to make the law more effective. Consequently, we announced last year that in government we would make Jack’s Law permanent. I am privileged to bring the formal process to do that today. At the crux of our proposed legislation is the removal of the sunset clause from Jack’s Law and expanding it to all public places.

I have seen firsthand the impact weapons have on our community. This has hardened my resolve to extend the fight against knife crime and to make Jack’s Law permanent. At the same time we will introduce a range of amendments to simplify the processes our police are required to undertake before authorising the use of a handheld scanning device. These amendments will ensure the intent of Jack’s Law will be delivered in a more effective and timely fashion.

Jack’s Law is a testament to the efforts of his parents and their supporters. Our support for these amendments will demonstrate that their efforts have not been in vain.

Knife Crime, Jack’s Law Hon. ST O’CONNOR (Bonney—LNP) (Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for

Youth) (2.15 pm): On Friday, 13 December 2019, Jack Beasley and his mates caught the tram into Surfers Paradise. This was something these typical Gold Coast teenagers had done many times before, but on this trip they had no idea just how much their lives would soon be turned upside down. It was a warm summer night in our city at the start of our busy school holiday season. They were excited, heading to an apartment party in Q1, looking forward to their lives ahead after recently graduating from Pacific Pines State High School, with Jack working as a flooring apprentice.

Another group of teenagers also headed into Surfers that night, but these young men were not looking to celebrate like Jack and his mates were; they were looking for trouble. These young men made a choice to bring a knife with them on their night out. This was not a kitchen utensil; it was a hunting style knife. As Jack and his mates walked past them in the Cavill Mall, these young men had found their targets. They sprinted down the Surfers streets and confronted Jack and his mates. A 15-year-old pulled out the knife during this random attack. Jack was stabbed in the heart and his best mate, Ariki, was badly wounded. The attackers fled the scene, leaving Jack bleeding to death on a footpath in the middle of our nation’s tourism capital. The streets were packed with holiday-makers. It was barely 8 pm at night.

Jack’s murder devastated his family, traumatised his friends and sent shock waves across my community. As we came to terms with what happened, we searched for a solution. Barely a week after saying their final goodbye to their youngest son, Brett and Belinda Beasley reached out to me as their local MP. They wanted to do all they could to stop any other family going through the pain they and Jack’s older brother, Mitch, and everyone who knew and loved Jacko were feeling. They did not just accept what happened to Jack as normal. They wanted to do something about it.

We started with a petition for action out at our local light and heavy rail station in Helensvale based around a simple idea: detect knives, save lives. It was about giving police the ability to not just find knives but to deter young people from even thinking about taking one on a night out. From there, we created the Jack Beasley Foundation, the centrepiece of our community-driven campaign for change. In the wake of a senseless random act of violence which destroyed their lives, Brett and Belinda Beasley have created a legacy in their son’s name which will now continue without an end date, thanks to the new laws we are introducing today.

Over 1,000 weapons have been taken off the streets of Queensland because of the Beasleys. Versions of Jack’s Law are now in place in New South Wales, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and, just yesterday, the Beasleys were in the Tasmanian parliament to see police knife detection powers introduced there as well. They have taken their advocacy to the national level, too, with federal LNP leader Peter Dutton committing to give the Australian Federal Police these powers and to support states and territories to implement uniform knife laws if elected.

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But we know laws alone will not fix this. We need to change the culture. The JBF’s education program has seen Belinda share her story with thousands of students, alongside a talk from police about the dangers of knives, at over 60 schools, with more than 40 booked in this year alone. Through sharing their story, the Beasleys are creating the change. They are the strongest people I know, and I am proud to call them friends.

On behalf of my community, I thank the Premier for backing a permanent and expanded Jack’s Law. I thank the police minister for listening to the feedback from officers on the ground to deliver commonsense changes to the way these police powers operate, and I thank everyone who has backed the Beasleys on this journey. Our new laws, strengthening and enshrining permanent police knife detection powers, will mean Jack Beasley’s name will never be forgotten.

Gold Coast Light Rail Hon. JP BLEIJIE (Kawana—LNP) (Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development,

Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations) (2.19 pm): The days of the state government railroading local communities are over. The Crisafulli LNP government has made it clear to all Queenslanders that, unlike our predecessors, we are actually interested in listening to the views and concerns of communities right around the state. This commitment extends to residents of the southern Gold Coast whom Labor ignored when it came to consultation on the Gold Coast Light Rail stage 4.

Let me make the government’s position abundantly clear: the people of the Gold Coast deserve a world-class public transport system and the Queensland government will deliver it. We are, however, extremely concerned that residents of the southern Gold Coast were not provided with the full scope of information by the previous Labor government when they conducted their sham public consultation on this project. In the interests of transparency, the new government revealed figures that were hidden by the former Labor government which outlined the extent of the impact on the southern Gold Coast if Light Rail stage 4 was to proceed in its current form. This included the resumption of 235 properties and the potential loss of 1,000 local car parks along the corridor—key information relevant to local residents.

The people of the southern Gold Coast should have been informed of these figures to allow them to submit their feedback in good faith with the former state government. Queenslanders, however, voted in October for change and the LNP made a commitment to respect taxpayers’ money. We intend to keep this promise and find a transport solution for the southern Gold Coast which meets the community’s expectations when it comes to cost. I note for honourable members: the TMR report that was released last year suggested that stage 4 of the light rail project could now reach a cost of $7.6 billion—up from $4.46 billion. As usual, Labor were not interested in genuine community consultation and instead, opted for secrecy. I am pleased to advise the House that since the new state government reopened community consultation regarding Gold Coast Light Rail stage 4—ready for this?—more than 2,700 submissions have been received in less than two weeks.

Mr Crisafulli interjected. Mr BLEIJIE: I take the interjection from the honourable Premier: finally the residents of the

southern Gold Coast are being listened to. This shows how keen the residents of the southern Gold Coast are to finally have their say. Community consultation will run for six weeks and conclude on 2 May. I will be travelling to Palm Beach with the new member for Burleigh and the member for Currumbin, Minister Gerber, on Wednesday, 9 April for a town hall with members of the community at Palm Beach Share-N-Care. I look forward to receiving the feedback of the community which will strongly inform the public transport solutions that the government will proceed with in this region. The member for Gaven, as the most senior former minister from the Gold Coast at the time, betrayed her own community because she was in cahoots with ‘no-show Bailey’, the member for Miller who was the transport minister at the time.

Mr SPEAKER: Use correct titles, please. Mr BLEIJIE: The member for Miller. Yes, Mr Speaker. Mr de BRENNI: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Yesterday I rose on a point of order in

relation to the intent of standing orders allowing ministerial statements. It is clear the Deputy Premier has forgotten about that. I would ask you to remind him of the intent of that standing order and request that he withdraw the unparliamentary remarks and use of incorrect titles.

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Mr SPEAKER: I have addressed the incorrect use of titles. I believe the Deputy Premier was talking about infrastructure, which is part of his portfolio.

Mr BLEIJIE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I know infrastructure may be a little hard for them to understand but we are going to deliver infrastructure in this government now. I understand why they would be so offended by a government talking about infrastructure because they did the talk but not much ‘walking’ with infrastructure.

As I was saying, the former minister—it is important to make this point—did not even bother to show up to a community consultation for stage 4 Light Rail. I remember at the time there were posters going around the southern Gold Coast ‘wanted for questioning over the Queensland state government’s destructive light rail plans’ with a photo of the member for Miller. I want to commend the member for Burleigh as well as the member for Currumbin, my cabinet colleague, for their strong advocacy on behalf of their respective communities. I know they have both fought hard, and will continue to fight, to make sure their communities and their constituents are adequately consulted on decisions by the state government which affect their residents. Residents who are interested in making a submission are encouraged to do so by going to www.qld.gov.au/futuretransport. I look forward to working with both of our colleagues, as well as the Gold Coast City council, the residents of the southern Gold Coast and mayor Tom Tate to find the best public transport solution that meets the needs of the residents of the southern Gold Coast.

Energy System Hon. DC JANETZKI (Toowoomba South—LNP) (Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Minister for

Home Ownership) (2.25 pm): We are a government that listens and consults, and that is exactly what we are doing in relation to Queensland’s energy future. Recently I was joined by representatives from across the sector at our first energy round table. Invitees included the Queensland Renewable Energy Council, Shell, Origin, Windlab, Alinta and the Energy Users Association of Australia. We discussed at this round table our energy priorities and how we can work together to navigate and secure the future of Queensland’s energy landscape. The round table emphasised the importance of long-term stability to support investor confidence and ensure Queensland has the right settings for social licence and community acceptance for new energy infrastructure.

After a decade of Labor chaos, the sector and public are craving stability. Round table participants reflected on several of Queensland’s competitive levers and advantages in facilitating greater energy supply, including the role of government owned corporations in generation, transmission and distribution. Unlike the former Labor government, which would have burdened a generation of taxpayers with debt to fund flawed and fanciful projects like Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro, the Crisafulli government is committed to delivering an affordable, reliable and sustainable energy system to support Queensland’s economy and to put downward pressure on energy prices. Together with industry, we are taking action to develop a new energy road map for Queensland. Our approach to the energy system will be based on economics and engineering, not ideology.

We will be transparent with Queenslanders on costs, impacts and timeframes on all projects. We will establish clear expectations for projects, ensuring local knowledge informs decision-making and that our communities share in the benefits. Our energy road map will respect Queensland taxpayers’ money and will boost market confidence and investment. Our electricity maintenance guarantee will give us greater oversight of our generator’s maintenance and performance, ensuring our assets can operate reliably and safely. Long-term policy stability and a clearly communicated plan will ensure investor confidence in Queensland. Government cannot do it all when it comes to our energy transition to net zero by 2050 and there will be a role for private investors to help deliver long-term energy security. Over the coming months we will continue broad stakeholder engagement with more round tables, with new invitees at each meeting to ensure every voice is heard and that the path forward for energy under our government will be affordable, reliable and sustainable.

Resources Industries, Safety and Health Hon. DR LAST (Burdekin—LNP) (Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for

Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development) (2.28 pm): Today I am pleased to announce two important steps we are taking to restore integrity, leadership and accountability to Queensland’s resources safety framework. Firstly, I am initiating a comprehensive review into Resources Safety & Health Queensland and the regulatory model that underpins it. Secondly, I have appointed Mr Ken Singer as the Interim Commissioner for Resources Safety & Health. The former

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Labor government left the position of resources safety and health commissioner vacant for nearly a year. Then when they finally filled the role their appointee resigned within weeks, putting the safety of resource workers in limbo. I want to remind Queenslanders of the timeframes we are talking about.

The former commissioner, Kate du Preez, left that position in November 2023. That was over 16 months ago. Then the former Labor government announced her replacement in—wait for it— September last year. Forty-four weeks—that is what Labor thought of worker safety. They left workers hanging for 44 weeks, but it gets worse. Having left mineworkers in the lurch for 44 weeks, the person Labor appointed on 19 September, Heidi Roberts, resigned on 9 October. Just 14 working days—you could count it on your fingers and toes. That is not a serious appointment process; that is chaos, and it put worker safety and public confidence at risk.

Queenslanders elected the Crisafulli government to fix the failures of the former Labor government, and filling this position has been my priority since day one. Unlike those opposite, the Crisafulli government has conducted a thorough and diligent appointment process to restore stability at the top of RSHQ. Ken Singer brings almost four decades of experience in the mining sector, from underground coalmines to senior regulatory and safety leadership roles. He has served as deputy chief inspector of coalmines, chaired industry forums and advised governments across Australia and internationally on mine safety and regulatory practice. Ken is highly respected across both industry and the workforce, and his appointment puts experienced, credible leadership at the helm.

Alongside this appointment, we are getting on with the job of reviewing the broader resources safety and health regulatory model to make sure it is working as effectively as Queenslanders expect. The review will be led by Professor Susan Johnston, who has worked for more than 25 years in Australia and overseas to improve mine safety outcomes. The review will examine whether RSHQ, the commissioner and the supporting advisory committees are structured and functioning in a way that delivers the best safety outcomes for workers in the resources industry. It will look at the role of the regulator and whether any modifications to the existing model or any alternative model would be more effective in ensuring and improving resources safety and health outcomes. It will hear from industry, safety experts, government agencies and unions. I expect to receive an interim report before the end of the year, followed by a final report with clear recommendations, timelines and accountability measures.

Every worker deserves to come home safe; that is not negotiable. The Crisafulli government will deliver a regulatory model that is modern, accountable and laser focused on outcomes. This is an important reset that puts safety, credibility and trust back at the heart of our resources safety system. We are proud of the drillers, the diesel fitters, the engineers and the mineworkers of this state—the high-vis heroes who keep the lights on in Queensland. With this appointment and review those workers can have confidence that the Crisafulli government is doing the hard work to keep them safe— responsibly, transparently and with real results.

Wacol Youth Remand Centre Hon. LJ GERBER (Currumbin—LNP) (Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister

for Corrective Services) (2.32 pm): I am really pleased to update the House today that the Crisafulli government has opened the Wacol Youth Remand Centre. The youth remand centre is a 76-bed facility operating like a detention centre where the community can be kept safe from youth offenders and those youth do not have to be in an adult watch house. They can be provided with the support, education and rehabilitation they need including our Detention with Purpose plan. There are nurses onsite 24 hours a day, allied health practitioners and mental health clinicians as well as teachers and vocational trainers, all dedicated towards turning the lives of these youth around.

I can advise that 15 young people are being moved into the facility today. That is 15 fewer youth languishing in our watch houses alongside adults without the rehabilitation or support they need to get back on the right track. Right now, as I speak, those youth are attending compulsory education. Over the coming days, many more young people will be going into the Wacol remand centre, out of our watch houses and on a path towards rehabilitation.

The previous Labor government created a youth watch house crisis in this state. In 2018 Labor transferred 17-year-olds into our youth detention centres and in 2023 they changed the laws so that youths could be held for weeks in adult watch houses. They did all this while youth crime spiralled out of control and they failed to build the infrastructure needed to deal with it and keep the community safe from these youth offenders. The previous Labor government watched as our youth detention centres reached breaking point and they failed to take action when action was needed.

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The Crisafulli government has acted immediately to deliver the Wacol Youth Remand Centre after Labor broke their promise to Queenslanders and failed to deliver this centre when they said they would. We make no apologies—

Honourable members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Members, the noise level is rising. We will have silence before we continue. Ms Mullen interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Jordan, did you hear what I just said? Good. Mrs GERBER: We make no apologies for locking up youth offenders, but detention should not

breed better criminals. That is why each youth offender in the Wacol remand centre will receive detention with a purpose, a laser-like focus on rehabilitation with compulsory education, zero tolerance for violence and clear consequences for actions, for both good behaviour and bad behaviour. Our Staying on Track rehabilitation program, which is currently out to tender, will also be implemented in the youth remand centre.

The Crisafulli government is serious about turning the tide on youth crime. We are serious about delivering consequences for actions and we are serious about giving these kids the best chance at turning their lives around.

Tourism Industry Hon. AC POWELL (Glass House—LNP) (Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister

for Science and Innovation) (2.36 pm): Despite the weather throwing us challenges right around the state, Queensland is open for business and ready for the upcoming Easter holiday period. We are in for a great couple of weeks, with April school holidays kicking off this weekend through to the Easter long weekend. Our beautiful beaches are open, recovering quickly and ready to continue welcoming visitors after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The latest data from STR indicates the recent natural disasters have not soured the taste for a Queensland holiday, with forward bookings tracking at levels similar to before ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. In fact, for the Easter long weekend we are tracking ahead of where we were at the same time last year.

The fact that we are on track to exceed school holiday bookings from last year is brilliant news for the 65,000 tourism businesses in this state. With Easter falling much later this year than in previous years, we are hoping this will help Queensland tourism operators reap the rewards and make the most of visitation to our glorious state. In fact, new data I have received from Tourism and Events Queensland, TEQ, just this afternoon shows a whopping 18 per cent of Australians—that is Australians, not Queenslanders—intend to visit a Queensland destination this Easter. That is more than any other state. That includes one in five residents from New South Wales. They are so convinced Queensland is the best they might as well hand us the State of Origin trophy right now!

TEQ is putting the increased demand down to cheaper airfares, with more than half of those visitors intending to travel by air. This is proof that the Crisafulli government’s immediate action in the wake of natural disasters has given the industry the boost it needs to be in fighting form for Easter. Thanks to our funding support, travellers have accessed and will be able to access airfare deals from Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas designed to encourage bookings to both South-East and regional Queensland destinations.

These airfare campaigns are being rolled out in waves across different travel periods including pre and post the Easter long weekend. Jetstar was first, launching a snap three-day Easter airfare sale urging Aussies to nab their next affordable Queensland holiday, with 14,000 fares starting from just $54. Virgin Australia followed that up with a huge Queensland focused sale with fares starting at just $45 and Qantas—

Mr Minnikin: Just $45? Mr POWELL: Just $45. Qantas will be next to complete this trio of airfare sales, with more news

to be shared on that imminently. When people book those flights, they are also jumping on queensland.com to book a deal. Since we saw the back of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, queensland.com has generated 91,861 leads, another huge boost for our tourism industry.

Our marketing campaign promoting those holiday deals is running across digital and social channels, encouraging visitors to lock in their next getaway and explore the best of this state. There is no doubt that it has been a tough start to the year for everyone in Queensland, particularly those

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impacted by the natural disasters, but we are resilient and we want to show off our beautiful cities, our attractions, our natural wonders and everything that makes Queensland so special. Tourism is an industry that brings $96 million a day into our economy. It is a vital economic pillar and continuing to drive visitation to Queensland is so important. We will continue to let everyone know that Queensland is open for business. Our beautiful state is an incredible holiday destination, and there is no better time than the Easter school holidays to book a trip to experience all that Queensland has to offer.

Construction and Manufacturing Industries, Training and Skills Hon. RM BATES (Mudgeeraba—LNP) (Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and

Training) (2.40 pm): I rise to update this House on the progress of the Crisafulli LNP government’s efforts to tackle Labor’s skill shortage by backing Queensland’s construction and manufacturing industries. We on this side of the House know just how critical these industries are to Queensland’s future. The construction industry is not only our state’s third largest employer but is also the industry responsible for the delivery of our housing stock. Moving forward, this industry will also be critical to our state’s ability to build the infrastructure and legacy projects needed for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Within the construction industry, Construction Skills Queensland is empowered to deliver the training needed to create a pipeline of skilled workers across all trades. I am pleased to advise that the Crisafulli LNP government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to improving productivity and training in Queensland and renewing the board of Construction Skills Queensland with the appointment of Ms Sue-Ann Fresneda as chair. As a long-serving director of CSQ and deputy CEO of Master Builders Queensland, the new chair is well placed to drive the reforms Queensland needs to grow our skilled workforce of the future. Construction Skills Queensland will also welcome two new directors— Adrian Gabrielli and Kate Raymond, who bring a wealth of experience at the coalface of the construction industry, including an owner-operator and a peak body leader and industry advocate. These are experienced individuals who understand the complexities of the industry and who are well placed to help shape it as we progress to 2032.

Turning to the manufacturing industry, which employs almost 180,000 people across Queensland, the Crisafulli LNP government is delivering on its commitment to maximise the industry’s true potential by repairing the skills shortage caused after a decade of neglect by the former Labor government. A refreshed Manufacturing Skills Queensland board will see a significant increase in manufacturing know-how, with a combined 70 years of industry expertise now added to the board. Employees within the industry will be well represented by the incoming directors who have built their businesses around manufacturing innovation, operational excellence and the skills development of young workers. The board will be led by industry advocate Ms April Kavanagh, who brings significant experience in governance and has a background in the manufacturing industry, finance, technology and agribusiness.

I look forward to working closely with each of these boards to deliver a fresh start for Queensland’s construction and manufacturing industries as we create the pipeline of skilled workers needed to build Queensland’s future. I am proud to be part of a Crisafulli LNP government which has gotten straight to work on fixing Labor’s mess, including making sure the right people are in the right positions to deliver for Queensland. Unlike those opposite, I will continue to work closely with the manufacturing and construction industries—not just the unions—to ensure the boards have the people and the resources that they need to get on with the job of a fresh start for Queensland.

First Nations, Services and Infrastructure Hon. FS SIMPSON (Maroochydore—LNP) (Minister for Women and Women’s Economic

Security, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Multiculturalism) (2.44 pm): Today I want to share a significant milestone in our state’s history and pay tribute to the elected leaders, past and present, in our rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities. Forty years ago, on 30 March 1985, councillors were elected to form autonomous Aboriginal and Torres Strait councils in Cherbourg, Doomadgee, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Napranum, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, the Torres Strait outer islands, which were amalgamated in 2008, and Woorabinda. At about the same time many of these councils took over trusteeship of their land from the Queensland government. I have met most of the current mayors and CEOs and have seen firsthand the determination, passion and dedication they collectively share. They are not all fans of the Closing the Gap policies of past governments—as one mayor told me, there is not a gap; there is a hole—but they have a very committed passion to changing that.

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With this in mind, I am pleased to provide an update on the Crisafulli LNP government’s Closing the Gap Priorities Fund, taking action to help repair the neglect of Labor’s out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach and bring back into plain sight the prioritisation of infrastructure and essential services. The Closing the Gap Priorities Fund, with an investment of $108 million over three years, will support essential infrastructure and services in remote and discrete communities across Queensland. In this day and age we should not have communities that are in fear of running out of water within 24 hours not because of a cyclone but because they do not have the infrastructure to deliver safe, secure water. That is what has been happening, and Aurukun was an example of this just recently. This fund is a significant step towards ensuring that funding is directed where it is needed most.

We have already allocated the first tranche of funding of over $19 million for three critical infrastructure projects that will improve water supply in Aurukun and Kowanyama and an education facility at Cherbourg. Consistent, clean drinking water is an essential service for our Queenslanders, and those communities deserve it. We are committed to engaging and partnering with leaders of our remote and discrete Aboriginal communities to help address their key needs around health, housing and education, recognising the multiple layers of disadvantage these communities face, including lower rates of home ownership, poor access to basic amenities and services and lower life expectancy. The Closing the Gap Priorities Fund represents a fresh start with a focus on practical measures. We are focused on getting on with the job, fixing Labor’s mess, delivering real projects to help reduce disadvantage in our remote and discrete First Peoples’ communities across Queensland and addressing what is not just a gap but a hole—in the words of one of those mayors—as they deserve to have their concerns listened to and actioned.

MOTION

Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders Dr ROWAN (Moggill—LNP) (Leader of the House) (2.47 pm), by leave, without notice: I move—

That, notwithstanding anything contained in standing and sessional orders, the notice of motion given by the Premier and Minister for Veterans in ministerial notices of motion regarding floods in Western Queensland be debated at 7.30 pm this evening, with the following time limits to apply to the debate of the motion—

• 3 minutes for each member;

• total time before question put—30 minutes.

Question put—That the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS

Comments by Member for Murrumba, Retraction and Apology Hon. SJ MILES (Murrumba—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (2.48 pm): On 18 February when

talking about important health care for Queenslanders, in particular in Townsville, I made reference to perinatal mental health beds being scrapped. It has been brought to my attention that my statement was incorrect. I retract the statement and apologise for the inadvertent error.

Mr Bleijie: Interjected. Mr SPEAKER: It is not an opportunity for others to speak.

Comments by Member for Inala, Retraction and Apology Mrs NIGHTINGALE (Inala—ALP) (2.49 pm): On 19 February, when talking about important

funding for MND Queensland, I made reference that under the Crisafulli LNP government the funding had been cut. It has been brought to my attention that my statement was incorrect because the funding for MND Queensland was a Labor election commitment and there was no funding to be cut. I retract the statement and apologise for the inadvertent error.

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NOTICE OF MOTION

Queensland Redistribution Commission, Appointment Hon. SJ MILES (Murrumba—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (2.49 pm): I give notice that I will

move— That this House: 1. notes the history of gerrymandering electorates under previous Liberal National Party governments—

Government members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! Let us hear the motion in silence. You will have your chance to speak to

it later. Members to my right! Mr MILES: I give notice that I will move—

That this House: 1. notes the history of gerrymandering electorates under previous Liberal National Party governments. 2. notes that redistribution of electoral boundaries by an independent authority was a key outcome of the Fitzgerald inquiry

and the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission. 3. condemns LNP Attorney-General Frecklington for proposing to appoint partisan Director-General John Sosso to the

independent Queensland Redistribution Commission.

Mrs Frecklington interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I said I would hear the motion in silence. Mr MILES: Further—

4. notes that John Sosso has been a member of the Liberal Party and cannot be considered independent. 5. notes Tony Fitzgerald’s submission to a parliamentary committee on crime and misconduct legislation that stated in

respect of his 1987 inquiry the then “... Attorney-General appointed one, John Sosso, as Secretary to the Inquiry. Sosso didn’t last long in that role but returned to the Justice Department which, as the Inquiry’s report notes, did little willingly to assist the Inquiry’.

6. calls on the LNP Crisafulli government to ensure appointments to the Queensland Redistribution Commission are truly independent and beyond reproach and instructs LNP Attorney-General Frecklington to not progress with the proposed appointment of John Sosso to the Queensland Redistribution Commission.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Mr SPEAKER: Question time will end today at 3.51 pm.

Nuclear Energy Mr MILES (2.51 pm): My question is to the Minister for Energy. In relation to nuclear reactors,

the South Australian Premier said he did not know why any state government would support Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan. Will the Treasurer stand against Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan?

Mr JANETZKI: The Leader of the Opposition’s geography is even worse today than it was yesterday. The Leader of the Opposition has asked a question that is not just irrelevant to Queensland; he has landed in South Australia in addition to Canberra. We could not be any clearer in relation to our position: that is a decision for Canberra and we are focused on what is important here in Queensland. Here in Queensland we will deliver an energy system that is affordable, reliable and sustainable. That is the position of this government and we could not be any clearer.

Mr McCallum interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Bundamba, you are first on the list. You are warned. Mr JANETZKI: What we have been left with by those opposite is a mess. It is a record of fiscal

vandalism from those opposite. When it comes to energy policy, the record of those opposite stands all on its own: there is only one energy project—Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro. There is no other way to answer this question than to talk about Pioneer-Burdekin. Pioneer-Burdekin is their edifice to economic and energy mismanagement in this state. Pioneer-Burdekin started at $7 billion, then it went to $12 billion and then it was $36.8 billion once we got into government and we released the final project.

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Those opposite were ready to burden the balance sheet of generations of Queenslanders with $36.8 billion in an absolutely hoax project that was more about a glossy brochure than ever delivering a project that would deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy in Queensland. Those opposite can ask any energy questions they want, but their credibility is shot. They have no credibility to ask any questions in relation to energy because with Pioneer-Burdekin their record stands condemned all on its own: a $36.8 billion project that would not have delivered any affordable, reliable or sustainable electricity and would have burdened generations of taxpayers.

Nuclear Energy Mr DICK: My question is to the Minister for Water. A single nuclear power plant consumes

between 30 million and 84 million litres of water each day. Does Queensland have an adequate supply of water to operate two nuclear power plants?

Honourable members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: I will have silence before we go any further. Ms Boyd interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Pine Rivers, did you hear me? I said we will have silence before we

proceed any further. Dr ROWAN: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. In relation to the question asked by the member

for Woodridge, the deputy leader, I would submit to you it is seeking an opinion and I would ask you to consider that matter.

Honourable members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am taking a point of order. Mr J Kelly interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Greenslopes, did you hear what I just said?

Speaker’s Ruling, Question Out of Order Mr SPEAKER: Members, the question may have been about water, but it is about some

proposed facility that is hypothetical and may never get built so I am going to rule the question out of order.

Community Safety Mr CRANDON: My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the House on how the

Crisafulli government is ensuring safety for Queenslanders, and is the Premier aware of any alternative approaches?

Mr CRISAFULLI: I thank the honourable member for Coomera for his question—an excellent question. It is an excellent question for two reasons. The first is that it was not ruled out of order, which is always a great starting point for a question.

Mr Dick interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Woodridge! A government member interjected. Mr CRISAFULLI: Twice. It is time to go back to Tuvalu to learn how to structure some questions.

The second reason it is an excellent question is that it is a question that relates to this parliament; it is a question that relates to the things that the 93 members in here have control over.

Opposition members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Members, I am sure the member for Coomera would like to hear an answer. Mr Dick interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Woodridge, I will not call you again. Mr CRISAFULLI: What it shows is that the member for Coomera is a fighter for his region, not a

patsy for Canberra. He has come in here today asking a question about what we are doing in the space of law and order. Today is an important day, because today is the day that a great law is made permanent: Jack’s Law. It is in honour of a bright young boy. I want to thank the member for Bonney for his excellent contribution. I also want to thank the member for Coomera for what he has done in

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pushing a very strong view about the need to do more in this space. I have seen the work the member for Coomera has done with a number of the early intervention people in his area—people like Esuarve. I also want to thank the member for Coomera for raising this. It is important that we expand this to public places across the board. In the end, there is no excuse for someone to be going out with a machete— there just is not one. We have to do all we can to make our community safer. Today would have been Jack’s birthday, and what a fitting honour for this legislation to be tabled in the House today.

The member for Coomera asks me about alternative views. I do not think members opposite are going to expect me to say this, but today I am not focusing on their view; I am focusing on an alternative view from the United Nations. Overnight I heard some commentary from the United Nations about what we are trying to do in this state to turn around Labor’s youth crime crisis. I say to the United Nations with the greatest respect that this place will govern its laws, this place will determine how we keep Queenslanders safe and this place will be accountable to Queenslanders, not United Nations boffins. That is what will happen in this place.

When I talk of human rights, I talk about the rights of someone to put their child to bed at night and know they are safe. When I talk of human rights, I talk about the rights of someone to get in their car in the morning and go to work to earn a living. When I talk about human rights, I talk about the ability for young offenders to turn their lives around. Those are the human rights that we are focused on. On this side of the House we stand up for Queenslanders, not unelected officials who are a long way from this place.

Drugs, Testing Mr J KELLY: My question is for the Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Youth.

What advice has the youth minister given the health minister about the importance of pill testing clinics, particularly for young Queenslanders, ahead of their closure this Friday?

Dr ROWAN: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order on whether the question relates to the minister’s portfolio responsibilities. I ask you to consider that matter with respect to the question as asked by the member for Greenslopes.

Mr de BRENNI: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. If it assists you in your consideration of the point of the order of the Leader of the House, I understand that the minister has addressed this matter in his ministerial statements. It is also contained within his charter letter.

Mr SPEAKER: Minister for Youth, I will allow the question. Obviously cabinet confidentiality is a different issue. I will allow the question as asked.

Mr O’CONNOR: As the Minister for Youth, I do not provide advice to the health minister on health matters. He well and truly receives that from his department. However, I do of course advocate for young Queenslanders, which is something that was lacking in this state for several years because the former government, most members of which sit across from us, did not have a minister for youth. That role did not exist under the former government, which shows the disdain they had for young Queenslanders. They did not bother to appoint a minister for youth—for whatever reason; I am not sure. Maybe they just forgot it in one of their many reshuffles, but they did not have a minister for youth.

As part of the Youth portfolio, our Safer Schoolies Gold Coast Response is one part of the services that we provide to keep young people safe at that important time of their lives. In fact, just this morning I met with Red Frogs to discuss our ongoing schoolies response. That is a great value-for-money harm reduction measure that is making a difference at that major event not only on the Gold Coast, where of course the vast majority of our school leavers travel to, but also across the state. We are going to continue to support them to do that.

The Youth portfolio is very broad and I understand that. It is fantastic that those opposite have finally shown an interest in this portfolio. Again we have a youth minister in this state and I am very proud to be in this role.

Our message across government has been very clear in relation to illicit drugs: there is no safe way to take drugs. That is the message that we are sending to young Queenslanders. Of course, there are alternative messages getting out there. I note that the Leader of the Opposition visited schoolies late last year and promoted an alternative message to ours, but as a government we are crystal clear. The health minister has made his decisions around the trial and he has commented extensively on the trial.

Ms Linard interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Nudgee, you are now warned.

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Mr O’CONNOR: The health minister did not deem it to be something that would go forward. There is no safe way to take drugs. That is the clear message from this government. It is the message that we have been sending across all the portfolios. It is something that the health minister has sensibly canvassed. I thank the member for the question.

Community Safety Ms DOOLEY: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Will the minister

explain how the Crisafulli government is giving police the powers they need to keep Queenslanders safe and is the minister aware of any differing approaches?

Mr SPEAKER: Before I call the minister, I understand that a former member, Steve Davies, is in the gallery. He is welcome here. His work with Red Frogs is well known.

Mr PURDIE: I thank the member for the question, firstly because it does relate to saving lives as opposed to the ridiculous question we heard previously. I also thank the member because I know that she is passionate about community safety, as is her community. She and her community have seen firsthand the dire consequences of the current youth crime culture with people using knives. I thank her for introducing me to Ben Beaumont and Michelle Liddle, who lost their son Angus in 2020 only a few months after Jack’s life was lost in similar circumstances, as outlined by the member for Bonney just recently. I thank her for her advocacy for these laws and others. I want to let the member know that I exchanged a message with Ben this morning and he is awfully supportive of our laws.

I am very proud to hold this position and I will be very proud to table my first piece of legislation in the House later today, which will introduce tougher laws and give police the powers that we promised to give them before the last election. At schoolies last year, shortly after getting this job, I was lucky enough to do a shift on the front line with the Beasleys. It was a wanding operation and I saw firsthand the benefit of it, which the statistics also reveal. Over 100,000 people have been wanded, over 1,000 weapons have been taken off the streets and only two complaints have been made about the police.

The trial started in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach and 266 weapons were taken off the streets. Subsequent to that, as I saw firsthand and as police have explained to me, every time the former government expanded the prescribed location, as they had to do after poor Vyleen White was stabbed, they added another layer of safeguards that precluded police from using the trial in many different circumstances. For example, there was an objective test in which they had to prove that a knife crime had been committed at that location within the past six months, which precluded them from using it at places such as the Gold Coast 500. When drafting legislation, the ethos of the former government was that their job was to protect criminals from the police.

Our ethos is to protect innocent Queenslanders from violent criminals and that is what this legislation does. I am proud to be the police minister who introduces this legislation and I call on those opposite to support it. I call on the shadow attorney-general, who I understand went to the same state school as Jack Beasley, Pacific Pines State High School. I understand she has never stood in the House to support such legislation. I call on her and those opposite to support our legislation and to trust our police with the legislation that they need. We know this is lifesaving legislation. We are proud to expand it to public places and reduce the onerous burden that was placed on the police every time they wanted to do a wanding operation. I call on those opposite to support it.

Health Infrastructure Ms BOURNE: My question is to the Minister for Health. In a committee hearing this week, the

health department said that the capacity expansion program was proceeding in full as planned while yesterday the Premier said that the pipeline was undeliverable. Can the minister confirm whether it is the department or the Premier who has misled parliament?

Mr NICHOLLS: I thank the member for her question. I thought yesterday was April Fools’ Day. Nonetheless, today confirms that it is always ‘All Fools’ Day’ when it comes to the Labor opposition in this place. They cannot ask a question relevant to the governance of Queensland. Both today and yesterday they have asked questions about everything except that. Not only do we have the deputy leader not able to ask a question, full stop; we have another attempt to peddle an ongoing mistruth with respect to the capital expansion program, even after we have heard two apologies to this House today for mistruths.

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If there is one word that sums up the opposition in question time this week and the previous two weeks—in fact, since they became the opposition—it is ‘underwhelming’. They have been in this place for 10 years. If we take away the staff, the officers from the departments, the ministerial cars, the drivers and the gold medal treatment they were used to, what are we left with? We are left with dross and lead.

Mr de BRENNI: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order on relevance under standing order 118(b). Debating the question is not answering the question. I would ask the minister to answer the question that has been put to him.

Mr SPEAKER: The question related to the capital expansion project. You have one minute and 20 seconds left, so I expect you to come to the question before you conclude.

Mr NICHOLLS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also note that there was a coterie of Labor members at the Ipswich Hospital, where construction is currently underway—we are delivering all the beds that were promised to the people of Ipswich. The coterie were out there in the drizzle, in the rain. It looks like a bit of a set-up because we have the Leader of the Opposition with a Channel 9 umbrella and the shadow minister with a Channel 7 umbrella strolling down the street in front of the Ipswich Hospital peddling another lie, peddling another mistruth.

Mr de BRENNI: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Earlier this week, your ruling was very clear in relation to answers being relevant. We are not asking for the answer to be delivered in a particular way; we are asking for the answer to be relevant to the question. So far, the minister has not gone anywhere near being relevant to the question that was put to him.

Mr SPEAKER: As I said to the minister, the question asked about the capital expansion project. The minister has 35 seconds to wrap it up.

Mr Bailey: Who’s telling the truth? Mr NICHOLLS: I heard the member for Miller say, ‘Who’s telling the truth?’ The member for Miller

would not know who is telling the truth. He has lost track of what the truth is. Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I take personal offence at that abuse and I ask

that it be withdrawn. Mr SPEAKER: The member has taken personal offence. I ask you to withdraw. Mr NICHOLLS: I withdraw. The capacity expansion program is designed to deliver 2,200 beds.

The capacity expansion program was never deliverable under Labor, as the Premier said yesterday. The capital expansion program is being saved by the LNP. We will deliver 2,200 beds throughout this state. We will do it better than Labor ever could because under Labor it was never going to be delivered.

Mr Bailey interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Miller! Member for Miller, you are warned.

Youth Crime, Data Mr HUTTON: My question is to the Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for

Corrective Services. Newly released figures have revealed the true extent of Labor’s youth crime crisis. Can the minister update the House on what this data means for Queensland?

Mrs GERBER: I thank the member for Keppel for his question. His community has suffered terribly under Labor’s youth crime crisis, and his advocacy in Keppel has rewarded him with a voice in this parliament on behalf of his community. I want to thank him for everything he is doing for his community to restore safety to where people live.

Yes, the Queensland crime report was released this morning and it is a damning indictment. It is a report card on Labor’s youth crime crisis that exposes a shocking trajectory of youth crime in this state. The report reveals that for the last 10 years—between 2014 and 2024—the number of stolen vehicles in this state increased 91 per cent, robbery increased 100 per cent and armed robbery increased 82 per cent. The number of youth offenders charged with stealing cars and robbery tripled under Labor. The number of youth offenders charged with break and enter and assault doubled.

To put it all into perspective, the number of youth offenders charged with stealing cars has skyrocketed, from 2,155 in 2014 to more than 7,000 under Labor. Unlawful entry charges soared, from 5,138 in 2014 to more than 10,000 under Labor. What is more, the crime report reveals that the average age of these youth offenders is now just 15 years.

720 Questions Without Notice 2 Apr 2025

This bombshell report confirms everything that Queenslanders have been living through—what every family who has woken up to find the sanctity of their home violated already knows, what every small business that has been robbed knows and what every copper on the front line who has had to deal with the revolving door of youth crime knows. Every single victim who has had to deal with the trauma of Labor’s youth crime crisis knows this already.

This is Labor’s report card and it confirms that there were no consequences for action in this state—that Labor presided over a generation of untouchable offenders and, ultimately, created thousands more victims in this state. This report exposes how youth crime was exploding under Labor and how they had absolutely no plan to fix it. It will take time for us to unwind that decade of the youth crime crisis, but the Crisafulli government is committed to consequences for action, to rehabilitation and to restoring law and order in this state.

Share the Dignity Ms ASIF: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Youth.

Share the Dignity is an organisation in my community that does important work for Queensland women and girls. Has the minister advocated on behalf of young Queensland women and girls to ensure Share the Dignity can deliver free period products?

Dr ROWAN: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I would ask you to consider whether the question as asked by the member for Sandgate is directly related to the minister’s portfolios.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Sandgate, both the Clerk and I had a little difficulty in hearing the question. You do not have a very strong voice. Could you repeat the question for me, please?

Ms ASIF: I can be louder. Share the Dignity is an organisation in my community that does important work for Queensland women and girls. Has the minister advocated on behalf of young Queensland women and girls to ensure Share the Dignity can continue to deliver free period products?

Mr O’CONNOR: Quite a number of members on our side of the House have supported this organisation for a number of years.

Ms Grace interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for McConnel, you are warned. Mr O’CONNOR: One of them is sitting in front of me: the Attorney-General. The Minister for

Finance as well has advocated for this organisation. It is something we will continue to support. Mr Minnikin interjected. Mr O’CONNOR: The member for Chatsworth is interjecting that he has a collection point within

his electorate office. Mr Purdie interjected. Mr O’CONNOR: The member for Ninderry does as well. The education minister is— Mr SPEAKER: Order! Members to my right, I cannot hear the minister because of the noise to

my right. Mr O’CONNOR: The education minister is informing me that he has 695 within his schools and

that number will continue to grow. We will continue to support this organisation. Once again, I am quite confused by this line of questioning from the opposition. I know they are

new to this and they are having a few issues with their strategy and cohesion within their caucus, but I have many different topics around housing that I would love to talk about if any of the members opposite would like to ask me some questions around that.

Ms Fentiman interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Waterford, you are now warned. Mr O’CONNOR: Please ask me about our homelessness response. Mr Butcher interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Gladstone! Mr O’CONNOR: Please ask me about how we are cleaning up the mess— Mr SPEAKER: I wanted to be clear you could hear that you are joining the list as well, member

for Gladstone.

2 Apr 2025 Questions Without Notice 721

Mr O’CONNOR: Please ask me about how we are turning this state around from having the lowest rate of home ownership in the nation to the highest within the decade. Please ask me about how we are fixing the system for the nearly 50,000 people those opposite left languishing on the social housing waitlist. Please ask me about what we are doing to fix the housing crisis we inherited, the lack of funding we saw for specialist homelessness services that we are correcting and the lack of funding that we saw for temporary refuge accommodation that we are correcting.

Honourable members interjected. Mr Whiting interjected. Mr SPEAKER: The level of noise has been way too high. Member for Bancroft, that was a bit

over-the-top. You are joining the list. Mr O’CONNOR: The government strongly supports that organisation and we will continue to do

so, as members have for many years. That is what we are doing. It is bizarre questioning from an opposition that has no idea what they are doing.

Victims of Crime Mr LISTER: My question is to the Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for

Corrective Services. Can the minister inform the House about how the Crisafulli government is committed to putting victims first, and is the minister aware of any alternative approaches?

Mrs GERBER: I know the member for Southern Downs has been a fierce advocate for victims of crime in his community. In fact, I think it was yesterday that I heard the member for Southern Downs give a voice to a victim of crime in his contribution to the debate on the bill before the House. He spoke about Aileen Norman, who, under Labor’s youth crime crisis, has suffered immensely.

The member for Southern Downs advised this House that Aileen from Goondiwindi has had her home broken into by youths three times, she has had her car stolen and now she is terrified in her own home. It was a shocking and sobering account. I thank the member for Southern Downs for raising Mrs Norman’s voice in this House. I am proud to stand here as the victims minister and advise that victims like Mrs Norman are at the heart of everything the Crisafulli government does in relation to victims.

That is why in the first tranche of our Making Queensland Safer Laws we changed the law so that the court must give primary regard to the impact of youth crime on the victims—putting the rights of victims before the rights of offenders. We have also made it easier for victims of youth crime to receive information. The onus will no longer be on them to have to register on the victims register. It will be automatic. This is another way the Crisafulli government is prioritising the rights of victims. On top of that, we are delivering a professional victims advocate service—a one-stop shop for victims of crime to help them navigate the system and to provide them with the support they need. The Premier and I recently held a round table with stakeholders, victim advocates and other support organisations to discuss how best to support victims through this professional victims advocate service.

All of this work is in stark contrast to the way those opposite treated victims in this state. When members like the member for Southern Downs raised victims’ stories in the House those opposite told us we were making it up. Those opposite denied the voice of those victims in this House. They put the rights of youth offenders before the rights of victims. They weakened our youth justice laws to the point where we have a generation of young offenders and a generation of untouchables. The communities of Southern Downs, particularly Goondiwindi, have suffered under that immensely. They have seen the effects of Labor’s youth crime crisis. I commend the member for being such a strong advocate for his community in this House.

The Crisafulli government will always put the rights of victims first. Our professional victims advocate service will be a one-stop shop for victims. Our strong laws will ensure victims are at the heart of everything we do. We continue to give victims a voice in this House because victims deserve to be heard. They will always be prioritised under the Crisafulli government.

Hospital Infrastructure Dr O’SHEA: My question is to the Treasurer. The Premier committed to delivering 2,200 new

hospital beds by 2028. Will the Treasurer confirm that the upcoming state budget will deliver the funding needed to deliver all 2,200 new hospital beds by 2028?

722 Questions Without Notice 2 Apr 2025

Mr JANETZKI: I thank the honourable member for the question. We have been left a mess by those opposite when it comes to preparing our budget. We have been disclosing those things to the people of Queensland since the election took place. The health minister has expanded on those over the last five months we have been in government. Those opposite left a plan that could never be delivered by them. That is what the health minister has said and what the Premier has said.

I thank the honourable member for the question, but I really wish that it was asked by the member for Waterford because the member for Waterford, the now shadow treasurer, as health minister oversaw the blowout in the hospital capacity expansion program. That is the truth of what happened. Initially, that expansion program was going to be $9 billion. Last we heard it was going to be at least $6 billion more and potentially more. All that was delivered under the leadership of the member for Waterford.

That was that blowout. Then there is the blowout in operational expenses left by those opposite. It is not just the member for Waterford who was responsible. If we look at their frontbench, they are all still there—the former health minister the member for Murrumba, the former health minister the member for Woodridge and the former health minister the member for Waterford. They are all the guilty parties for their failure to deliver operational capacity to Queensland Health. They are all still there. All of the guilty parties who oversaw the failures to deliver the capital expansion program on budget and on time are all still there. The member for South Brisbane may ask the question, but the guilty parties are all at the front over there.

The Premier and the health minister have been clear: the budget will deliver the plan. We will save the hospital capacity expansion program and we will deliver the beds that those opposite would never have delivered under their plan.

Youth Crime Mr FIELD: My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney update the House about how

the Crisafulli government’s tough approach to youth crime is making Queensland safer, and is the Attorney aware of any alternative approaches?

Mrs FRECKLINGTON: I really do thank the member for Capalaba for his question. As everyone in this chamber knows, the question is really close to the member for Capalaba’s heart.

Before I turn to the member for Capalaba’s question, I would like to acknowledge a statement I made earlier today. I have today instructed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to lodge an appeal against a sentence that was handed down in the Childrens Court of Queensland on 13 March 2025. The sentence was in relation to an attack on a man at Alexandra Hills in December 2023. In my view, the sentence fails to meet community expectations. A notice of appeal will be lodged with the Court of Appeal registry on my behalf by the Director of Public Prosecutions. My thoughts are with the victim and his family.

After all, that is why we are in this chamber—because of victims. It is the victims that the Crisafulli government is standing up for. We have the Minister for Victim Support—the first ever minister for victims, and what a great job the Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support is doing. It is important that we do what we set out to do, which is protect the rights of victims in this great state.

Those opposite have made a clear choice through their actions and through their words that they do not stand on the side of victims. They stand on the side of these kids who are running rampant through our streets. We in the Crisafulli government say that enough is enough. Just like the Premier said, the human rights we stand up for are those of victims—like the lady from Goondiwindi we have just heard about, like the friends of the member for Capalaba. They are the people and the human rights we stand up for.

Again today we see another report—a report by the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office, the Justice report, Queensland 2023-24. It is damning of the former Labor government. No wonder all their heads are down—a decade of hardcore repeat juvenile offenders. The report says— The total number of convicted charges in the Childrens Court has tended to increase over the past decade ...

We know that—the number of charges has jumped 12.6 per cent in the last year alone—yet those opposite said we were scaremongering. We say: enough is enough. Stand on the side of victims. We must protect the victims in this state—all Queenslanders. That is why we will keep them safer.

(Time expired)

2 Apr 2025 Questions Without Notice 723

Drugs, Testing Mr BERKMAN: My question is to the Premier. Just last week the Department of Health circulated

a clinical alert that warned about the risks of newly detected nitazenes—a strong, deadly new opioid. I table a copy of that alert. Tabled paper: Document, dated March 2025, titled ‘Queensland Health: Queensland Drug Warning—Clinical Alert’ [286].

With this knowledge, does the Premier stand by the government’s decision to close the state’s only fixed-location drug-checking facility, which is crucial in screening for these novel dangerous drugs and preventing future deaths from nitazene overdose?

Mr CRISAFULLI: I thank the member for the question. It is the first question I have received today from anyone opposite. I thank the member for taking the time.

Opposition members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: All right! We will have silence. Mr CRISAFULLI: I say to the honourable member: our views on this differ entirely, but I respect

very much your right and your belief in asking the question. You asked about whether or not I believe the presence of that drug in water testing shows that we should be allowing testing to occur. I take the opposite view: it strengthens my resolve not to allow drugs to be used.

I know about the danger of that drug. I have seen images from the streets of Philadelphia about that drug. When I see that and when I see what it does to young people who use it for the first time— there are people who have tried that drug and never left the street corner of Philadelphia. I read a story about a young man and it moved me. He was on his way to work. His partner had separated from him that morning. He chose to stop on that street corner and he never left—he never left.

Whilst I genuinely believe that the member has the right intentions in asking the question—and I do believe that—we could not be more miles apart on our views. I think the moment you send the signal—

Mr Bailey: It’s based on evidence. Mr CRISAFULLI: I am sorry— Mr SPEAKER: Order! Government members interjected. Mr CRISAFULLI: I am sorry, Mr Speaker: there was a member who was warned who was

interjecting, and I take the interjection.

Government members: Miller! Mr SPEAKER: If he did, I missed it. Premier, you have the call. I will be watching who is doing

the interjecting.

Mr CRISAFULLI: I take the interjection from the member for Miller. I say to the honourable member—

Mr Power interjected. Mr SPEAKER: You are warned, member for Logan. Mr CRISAFULLI: I say to the honourable member: what testing does is send a message that there

is a component of drugs that is safe to do, and there is not. Today, by the interjections, those opposite prove that they are on a unity ticket with the Greens on this matter. The difference with the Greens is that they are ready to nail their colours to the mast. We are a long way away from them, but I respect the member for Maiwar for that. As for those opposite, I do not because they walk both sides of the street. They pretend like they are pro law enforcement and then they walk across the road and say, ‘It’s okay to do drugs.’ They pretend like they are tough on crime but then—

(Time expired)

Mr SPEAKER: Before I go to the member for Caloundra, it has come to my attention that the member for Miller did interject, so I ask you to leave the chamber for a period of one hour.

724 Motion 2 Apr 2025

Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, to that—I responded. I did not respond in a way that was interjecting. I naturally responded to what he was saying.

Dr ROWAN: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order.

Honourable members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will have order. Otherwise, there will be more than one leaving. Ms McMILLAN: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. It was me who interjected. Mr SPEAKER: The information I have received has said that it was the member for Miller, and

he basically agreed. Member for Miller, you will leave the chamber for a period of one hour. We will have some silence, please.

Mr Bleijie: And bow on your way out! Mr SPEAKER: We will have silence, please. Whereupon the honourable member for Miller withdrew from the chamber at 3.37 pm.

Dr ROWAN: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. My point of order relates to the member for Miller. As he departed the chamber, he did not comply with the etiquette of this chamber. I submit to you that that is being grossly disorderly to you as the chair. I also submit to you, in relation to him making a statement following your direction given to him, that that is also grossly disorderly conduct and discourteous to the chair. I would ask you to consider that matter.

Interruption.

NAMING OF MEMBER Mr SPEAKER: I now name the member.

MOTION

Suspension of Member for Miller Dr ROWAN (Moggill—LNP) (Leader of the House) (3.38 pm): I move—

That, in accordance with standing order 254, the member for Miller be suspended from the service of the House for a period of two sitting days.

Mr de BRENNI: Mr Speaker, I rise in relation to the motion moved by the Leader of the House. It occurs to me and other observers in the House that the Deputy Premier interjected during your ruling on this matter.

Mr SPEAKER: That is not what I am dealing with at the moment. Do you want to talk about the motion that the Leader of the House moved?

Mr de BRENNI: That is what I am addressing, Mr Speaker. Mr SPEAKER: No, you are not. Talk about the motion. Division: Question put—That the motion be agreed to.

AYES, 49:

LNP, 49—Baillie, Barounis, Bates, Bennett, Bleijie, Boothman, Camm, Crandon, Crisafulli, Dillon, Doolan, Dooley, Field, Frecklington, Gerber, Head, Hutton, Hunt, B. James, T. James, Janetzki, G. Kelly, Kempton, Kirkland, Langbroek, Last, Leahy, Lee, Lister, Mander, Marr, McDonald, Mickelberg, Minnikin, Molhoek, Morton, Nicholls, O’Connor, Perrett, Poole, Powell, Purdie, Rowan, Simpson, Stevens, Stoker, Watts, Vorster, Young.

NOES, 33:

ALP, 32—Asif, Bourne, Boyd, Bush, Butcher, de Brenni, Dick, Farmer, Fentiman, Furner, Grace, Healy, Howard, J. Kelly, King, Linard, Martin, McCallum, McMillan, Mellish, Miles, Mullen, Nightingale, O’Shea, Power, Pugh, Russo, Ryan, Scanlon, Smith, Sullivan, Whiting.

Grn, 1—Berkman. Pair: Krause, Pease.

Resolved in the affirmative.

2 Apr 2025 Questions Without Notice 725

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Resumed from p. 724.

Olympic and Paralympic Games, Delivery Ms MORTON: My question is to the Deputy Premier. Can the Deputy Premier update the House

on the Crisafulli government’s games delivery plan, including how Sunshine Coast residents will benefit from this plan, and is the Deputy Premier aware of any alternative approaches?

Mr Mellish interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Aspley, you are joining the list. We have not even started the

response. Mr BLEIJIE: I thank the member for Caloundra for the question. Yes, I can. Queensland now

has a 2032 Delivery Plan. Finally, Queensland has a plan. Compared to the Labor Party’s back-of-an- envelope plan—

Mr SPEAKER: Deputy Premier, no props! Mr BLEIJIE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will table this. This was Labor’s plan: a billion dollar

Gabba. A bit of a paint job, a knockdown, 2.7—scratch that out; 3.4—scratch that out; temporary facility, 1982 QSAC—scratch that out—let’s not talk about it now—all under the guise of a $1.6 billion failed leader, failed minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games. Then they scratched the $1.6 billion for QSAC. Can you believe this was all they did in three years? They were going to spend $1.6 billion on a temporary stadium. That is what the Leader of the Opposition’s plan was. As we have just revealed, it is not $1.6 billion: it is now $2.2 billion on a temporary stadium. I have been dying to get a question about the games for so long from the opposition and I have not. I formally table Labor’s 2032 delivery plan. Tabled paper: Document, undated, titled ‘Labor’s Games Plan’ [287].

I also table the LNP’s 2032 Delivery Plan, which is a real plan with real results no matter where you live in Queensland, particularly on the Sunshine Coast. Tabled paper: Queensland Government: Report titled ‘2032 Delivery Plan’ [288].

Mr Speaker, don’t just ask about the excitement in Queensland. While the Premier and I were announcing our plan, the Leader of the Opposition was tweeting how bad it was. That was tone deaf in a room, I might say, of people who were enthusiastic about the plan. As the Leader of the Opposition was tweeting how bad the plan was, Jonty Bush, the member for Cooper, was tweeting how good the plan was. She said, ‘Let’s just get on with it.’ She also said— … I accept that two independent reports have found this to be the solution and we now need to move forward and make sure we have the best possible Games ...

I agree with the member for Cooper and I table her social media post. Tabled paper: Extract from social media, undated, depicting a comment by the member for Cooper, Ms Jonty Bush MP [289].

Stop chastising the member for Cooper, Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Respect her ability to have her own views without you being a misogynist and telling her what to say in this place.

Last night in other breaking news I saw that, quite concerningly, the Parole Board has been raided by the Crime and Corruption Commission. The former minister for corrections has a lot of questions to answer. Did she know about the CCC raid? What did she know at the time? Has the member for Pine Rivers been contacted by the Crime and Corruption Commission? These details need to be known by all Queenslanders, member for Pine Rivers—

(Time expired)

Home Ownership Mr MILES: My question is to the Minister for Housing. The member for Oodgeroo described the

Help to Buy scheme as ‘really dangerous’. Will the minister rule out repealing the former government’s Help to Buy legislation that allows Queenslanders to benefit from the scheme?

Mr O’CONNOR: The member was in this House last year when the Liberal National Party supported the shared equity scheme. In fact, the member may recall that the Liberal National Party took its own shared equity scheme to the election, Boost to Buy, which the Treasurer, as the nation’s first Minister for Home Ownership, is progressing.

726 Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2 Apr 2025

I am very pleased to update the House on my advocacy to the federal Labor government and the changes that has resulted in. Late last year I wrote to the federal housing minister asking for that scheme to be expanded—something the former government failed to do. We know that they have trouble standing up to their mates in Canberra. There was no advocacy to their mates in Canberra to make that scheme more fit for purpose for Queensland.

I am very pleased to update the House to say that the scheme has now expanded and that Queensland will now get better access to it. In fact, the eligibility thresholds were raised in line with my advocacy. I am very pleased that the federal government has achieved that. It is something that we took to the election, and we will be delivering it. We want more young Queenslanders to not have to rely on the bank of mum and dad. We know that the legacy of those opposite is our state having the lowest rate of home ownership in the nation.

We have committed to turn that around and we are working hard as a government to achieve that. We have the Deputy Premier with his Residential Activation Fund. He is resetting the planning partnerships with local government alongside the Minister for Local Government and the Treasurer and Minister for Home Ownership. Together we are the Cabinet Housing Ministerial Taskforce and we are working hard to make sure that the dream of home ownership is something young Queenslanders can once again attain. Part of that is shared equity schemes, as the member was outlining.

We are in a crisis and it will take time to turn this around. We know that that is the legacy of those opposite. We know that construction was nowhere near what it should have been. A big part of that is the chaos in our building and construction industry.

Ms Camm interjected. Mr O’CONNOR: We had the least productive job sites in the nation—and I will take that

interjection from the member for Whitsunday, because that is where I was getting to. The Productivity Commission is now re-established. They are undertaking a major piece of work to put forward solutions to our government to reform building and construction sector policy in this state. We are not wasting any time, though. We need to get these homes built, and that is why our Building Reg Reno is well and truly underway. These are the reforms that we outlined a couple of months ago that will cut red tape for tradies so they can focus on getting on with the job and building the homes that Queenslanders need. We have already seen changes that have reduced paperwork for 97 per cent of small operators, which is around 50,000 individual licensees. We will very soon have legislation in this House to progress our reforms at the QBCC to fast-track digital licensing. That will help tradies to get on with the job and get building the homes that we need.

Mr SPEAKER: The period for question time has expired.

POLICE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (MAKING JACK’S LAW PERMANENT) AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL

Introduction Hon. DG PURDIE (Ninderry—LNP) (Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (3.53 pm): I

present a bill for an act to amend the Marine Rescue Queensland Act 2024, the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, the State Emergency Service Act 2024 and the Terrorism (Preventative Detention) Act 2005 for particular purposes. I table the bill, the explanatory notes and a statement of compatibility with human rights. I nominate the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee to consider the bill. Tabled paper: Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 [290]. Tabled paper: Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, explanatory notes [291]. Tabled paper: Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, statement of compatibility with human rights [292].

The Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 meets the Crisafulli government’s commitment to restore community safety and security by delivering legislative change that supports our frontline police to combat and remove dangerous weapons from Queensland streets and protect our community. This bill builds on the foundations of Jack’s Law, named in honour of Jack Beasley, whose tragic death at just 17 years of age emphasised the urgent need for stronger laws to combat knife related crime. The tireless advocacy

2 Apr 2025 Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 727

of Jack’s parents, Brett and Belinda, has been instrumental in shaping this legislation. They have driven change. Their determination has not only led to life-saving reforms in Queensland but has also influenced similar legislative changes in other jurisdictions in Australia such as New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

It is also appropriate to acknowledge the work of the Jack Beasley Foundation. This week Brett and Belinda Beasley are in Tasmania, where legislation similar to Jack’s Law is being passed through the Tasmanian parliament. The Beasleys, the foundation and other local Tasmanian advocates have worked hard to ensure the protections offered by this type of law are available to Tasmanian families.

The foundation has a clear objective: to make a difference by educating youths and driving change around youth violence. Its website outlines its motivation— We are driven by a simple but powerful goal: to ensure that Jack’s legacy leads to positive change, and that no other family has to endure the pain of losing a loved one to knife crime.

This bill and the legislation that it amends are a testament to the determination of Brett and Belinda Beasley to ensure that no other family has to go through the trauma and sense of devastating loss that they endured when Jack lost his life in December 2019. It is both distressing and inspiring that today would have been Jack Beasley’s 23rd birthday. That a young life was cut short by an act of senseless violence makes these amendments even more significant. The government has supported these laws every step of the way. We now seek to make them more effective so that the terrible circumstances confronting the Beasley family are not repeated.

Knife crime has become an increasingly concerning issue in Queensland. Recent statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal a disturbing trend. In 2023, there were 3,235 victims of robbery recorded in Queensland, marking a 17 per cent increase, or 476 victims, from the previous year. Notably, 26 per cent of these robberies involved the use of a knife, accounting for 847 victims. The number of youth offenders aged between 10 and 17 years proceeded against by police in Queensland rose by six per cent, or 574 offenders, in 2022-23, totalling 10,878 offenders. Youth offenders constituted 13 per cent of total offenders in Queensland during this period. These statistics are alarming and emphasise the urgent need for decisive action to combat knife related crimes in our state.

Every act of violence leaves a lasting impact on victims, their families and communities. The tragic death of grandmother Vyleen White at a Redbank shopping centre last year is yet another devastating reminder of the impact of knife crime. This government will not stand idle while more innocent lives are lost. We will act decisively and protect Queenslanders. We will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to violent crime.

One of the key provisions of this bill is the removal of the sunset clause for Jack’s Law. This will ensure that Jack’s Law is a permanent tool in Queensland’s policing framework and sends a clear message that unlawfully carrying a knife in public will not be tolerated. This legislative reform provides our police with the certainty that this government supports the good work they do in enforcing this policing initiative. I have always supported Jack’s Law. I have seen firsthand the harm dangerous weapons can have on the community. Jack’s Law leads the nation in proactively addressing knife crime.

Under the current Jack’s Law framework, senior police officers must conduct an onerous and complex authorisation process fulfilling an evidentiary and subjective test before an authority may be granted allowing handheld scanning powers to be used. The evidentiary test requires a senior police officer—who is at least of the rank of a senior sergeant—to determine that certain offences have occurred within a relevant place in the previous six months and consider a range of factors before granting police officers the authority to conduct handheld scanning in a specific relevant place for 12 hours. After the evidentiary test is completed, a senior police officer must consider the subjective test, where consideration must be given to the impact the use of handheld scanners had on unlawful activity at the relevant place and if previous handheld scanning operations resulted in offenders being located with knives or weapons.

These tests may be criticised as they may inadvertently prevent police officers from using handheld scanners in the public places where their use is most needed, such as where police have received credible intelligence that a knife crime will occur at a location but no prior offence has yet taken place. Further, this authorisation process can take on average 30 minutes to complete and must be completed for every relevant place where handheld scanning is to be conducted, irrespective of the locations’ proximity to each other. For example, within the Gold Coast area, a safe night precinct may border on a licensed premises and a shopping centre complex. Currently under Jack’s Law, a number of specific authorities would need to be granted for these relevant places rather than an authority for a more generalised area. This is an inefficient and time-consuming process that diverts police resources

728 Police Powers and Responsibilities (Making Jack’s Law Permanent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2 Apr 2025

away from frontline crime prevention. In 2024, there were 5,369 authorities that were issued by a senior police officer. This represents a significant resource impost carried by a small cohort of senior police officers who otherwise would be dedicated to other operational duties. The bill removes the need for our senior police officers to complete the evidentiary and subjective tests for legislatively defined relevant public places.

Further, the current Jack’s Law framework does not consider public places outside of relevant places. Statistics provided by the Queensland Police Service demonstrate a rise in the number of reported offences involving knives in a public place since 2021. Statistics from the QPS indicate that knife crime is rising in areas outside of the current legislatively defined relevant places. Between 2021 and 2024, under the Labor government, offences against a person involving a knife as the main weapon increased by nearly 35 per cent.

The bill expands Jack’s Law to enable handheld scanning in public places that are not currently prescribed relevant places. These may capture areas that are categorised by factors such as high pedestrian density, a predominance of licenced premises, a location where there is an elevated concentration of people in an area due to an event taking place, or where police have received criminal intelligence about the use of a weapon in the place. This will provide our police with the tools they need to keep Queenslanders safe.

With the expansion to other public places, a senior police officer must be satisfied the use of handheld scanners in the area is likely to detect or deter the commission of an offence involving the possession or use of a knife, prior to authorising handheld scanning in these public places. The authorisation can be for a period of 12 hours. An example of where this may be utilised is during a weekend sporting event at a local park where police have received criminal intelligence that knife crime may take place. The bill will ensure that legislative safeguards that apply to the use of handheld scanners will be maintained. For example, a person may only be stopped under Jack’s Law for the period of time reasonably needed to exercise this power.

The balance between safety and civil liberties remains paramount. The bill finds the appropriate balance between individual rights and community safety and security. We will always do our utmost to protect the human rights of Queenslanders.

Currently, there is a requirement that the commissioner publish a notice on the QPS website information about a handheld scanner authority, including the day and time the authority started and ended, the name of the relevant place, and information about the senior officer’s considerations when conducting the subjective and evidentiary tests. Additionally, the commissioner must include in the QPS annual report information on handheld scanning, including the number of handheld scanner authorities issued in the past financial year, the number of people who were required to submit for a scan, the number of weapons detected, the number of times a power to search was exercised, and the number and type of charges made as a result of the use of handheld scanners.

The bill removes the requirement for the commissioner to publish notices on the QPS website within two months of an authority being issued. This is unnecessarily onerous on police and duplicates similar information that is required to be published within the QPS annual report.

The bill also removes the requirement for police to provide a handheld scanner information notice, or to notify a manager or occupiers of a licensed premises, retail premises, shopping centres, sporting or entertainment venues that handheld scanning is being conducted by police. These obligations are time-consuming and delay the timely execution of police duties.

It is our intention that the objectives behind the original legislation are not immersed in what may have seemed at the time to be essential administrative arrangements but which, over time, have become onerous and self-defeating.

If this legislation is to combat the scourge of knife crime, it must meet changing circumstances. We cannot allow ineffective procedures to act as obstacles to the very important objectives we are seeking to achieve. Arrangements which add little to the fight against this scourge should be removed in the interests of public safety.

The success of this legislation is evident for all to see. By extending its reach, limiting its unnecessary constraints and allowing our police to act in the public interest, we will make it even more effective. This government takes a zero-tolerance approach to knife crime, and making Jack’s Law permanent just makes sense. It has worked effectively since 2023, and this legislative change will make it more effective.

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In addition to strengthening Jack’s Law, the bill also amends the Terrorism (Preventative Detention) Act which provides for the detention of a person for a short period to prevent a terrorist act from occurring or to preserve evidence about a terrorist act. This act is scheduled to expire on 16 December 2025. The bill, by extending the act for another 15 years, will ensure that Queensland aligns with other Australian counterterrorism legislation which is critical to our national security.

Recent emergency service reforms have established Marine Rescue Queensland—MRQ—as a statewide marine rescue service for our state. Critical to establishing MRQ is the transition of assets or funds from volunteer marine rescue organisations such as the Volunteer Marine Rescue Association of Queensland and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association of Queensland which operate as charities. The bill will make a clarifying amendment to remove any doubt that MRQ may receive funds from any source, including charitable institutions.

Other recent emergency service reforms transitioned the State Emergency Service—SES—from the responsibility of the commissioner under the then Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 to the Police Commissioner. A review of the appointment process of SES members has identified potential concerns with the validity of the appointment of SES members when they were operating under the then Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Our SES members are an invaluable part of our emergency services. It is important that they perform their duties without any concern about the lawfulness of their appointment or about the ramifications that may arise if their appointment was to be considered to be invalid. The bill will address this concern by amendments that confirm that any previously made appointments of persons as SES members will be valid.

In conclusion, the bill represents a decisive step forward in addressing violent knife related crime and serious threats to community safety and security. The bill protects Queenslanders, supports our police and ensures our laws are fit for purpose, evidence-based and shaped with consultation from experts. It represents the fulfilling of a further commitment we made last year to the people of Queensland. We are determined to deliver on the promises we made to keep the Queensland community safe. Again, I wish to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of Brett and Belinda Beasley, whose relentless advocacy has driven this vital reform. I also commend the dedicated officers of the Queensland Police Service for their unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe. With Jack’s Law, we are taking firm, proactive and assertive action in combating this community concern. I commend the bill to the House and urge all members to support its passage.

First Reading Hon. DG PURDIE (Ninderry—LNP) (Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (4.07 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 Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr McDonald): In accordance with standing order 131, the bill is now

referred to the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee.

MOTIONS

Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders Dr ROWAN (Moggill—LNP) (Leader of the House) (4.08 pm), by leave, without notice: I move—

That, notwithstanding anything contained in standing and sessional orders, the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations be allowed to immediately move a motion without notice with the following time limits to apply to the debate of the motion—

• 3 minutes for each member;

• total time before question put—1 hour.

Division: Question put—That the motion be agreed to.

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AYES, 48:

LNP, 48—Baillie, Barounis, Bennett, Bleijie, Boothman, Camm, Crandon, Crisafulli, Dillon, Doolan, Dooley, Field, Frecklington, Gerber, Head, Hutton, Hunt, B. James, T. James, Janetzki, G. Kelly, Kempton, Kirkland, Langbroek, Last, Leahy, Lee, Lister, Mander, Marr, McDonald, Mickelberg, Minnikin, Molhoek, Morton, Nicholls, O’Connor, Perrett, Poole, Powell, Purdie, Rowan, Simpson, Stevens, Stoker, Watts, Vorster, Young.

NOES, 32:

ALP, 32—Asif, Bourne, Boyd, Bush, Butcher, de Brenni, Dick, Farmer, Fentiman, Furner, Grace, Healy, Howard, J. Kelly, King, Linard, Martin, McCallum, McMillan, Mellish, Miles, Mullen, Nightingale, O’Shea, Power, Pugh, Russo, Ryan, Scanlon, Smith, Sullivan, Whiting.

Pair: Krause, Pease.

Resolved in the affirmative.

Mr SPEAKER: I remind the House of those members on a warning. They are the members for Bundamba, Nudgee, McConnel, Waterford, Gladstone, Bancroft, Logan and Aspley.

Olympic and Paralympic Games, Delivery Plan Hon. JP BLEIJIE (Kawana—LNP) (Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development,

Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations) (4.14 pm): I move— That this House supports the Queensland government’s 2032 Delivery Plan.

Queenslanders called for a plan to sort out the chaos and crisis of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I want to thank all honourable members, because we achieved in 150 days what the former Labor government could not do in 1,400 days. We had failed minister after failed minister—the member for McConnel, the member for Murrumba and the former treasurer, the member for Woodridge, could not come up with an Olympic and Paralympic Games plan. We have. The Premier tasked me to set up a Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority. We did it by the end of last year. We changed the legislation. They got to work immediately. I thank the panel members, who endured defamatory comments by those opposite about the hard work they were doing. As I explained in the speech I gave when we announced our delivery plan, that did not stop those opposite from getting in selfies with a GIICA member at the Property Council lunch—when it suited their political purposes. Those opposite were out defaming GIICA members but getting selfies with them when it suited them.

No matter where people are in Queensland, this is a delivery plan that matters. As we promised, it will matter to regional Queensland. I know that the honourable member for Maryborough was about to ask me a question, but the time for question time expired. I want to say: archery is coming to Maryborough. Member for Maryborough, you are the cupid of Maryborough. We salute you! It is not only Maryborough. Rockhampton is getting rowing. I despise hearing comments from people that Rockhampton is too far away. We promised that the games would be delivered throughout Queensland and that everyone in Queensland would benefit. Whether you are in South-East Queensland or in regional, rural and remote Queensland, you matter to this Crisafulli LNP government—no matter where you are. I look forward to the contributions to this debate.

Incidentally, yesterday I heard the former treasurer, the member for Woodridge, say that it is time to just get on with it and that we have to stop focusing on the glitz of the Olympics. Oh my God! That describes their 1,400 days of plan. It was all glitz and glamour from the Labor Party—a disgraceful attempt. Look at the shemozzle the opposition leader created when he said that they would spend $2.25 billion on temporary stadiums. We do not want to be embarrassed on the world stage. That is why I was so proud to join the Premier to announce our 2032 Delivery Plan. It is a plan for every Queenslander, in every corner of Queensland. It is going to be great. Let the games begin!

(Time expired) Hon. SJ MILES (Murrumba—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (4.17 pm): I have never for one

second doubted that the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be a fantastic event. Brisbane, Queensland will put on a fantastic event. As the member for Kawana noted, I did go to the Courier-Mail event at which the government released their delivery plan. What I found in that room was an overwhelming sense from people that they wanted all of us to quit the politics and get on with delivering the games. What we saw with the disgusting speech the member for Kawana made at that lunch is that he is not interested in quitting the politics and getting on with it. We see that again with this motion. If they were serious about wanting bipartisan support to get on with the games, they would give notice of the motion. Why bring it on as a surprise if they were not motivated by the desire to continue to politicise the games? I, for one, think that is a shame.

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Let me turn to the government’s delivery plan itself. For me, the greatest disappointment was the exclusion of the arena venue. I have seen the government indicate that they intend to run a market-led proposal for that and we hope that is successful. I note that the existing arena proposal had been through various market-led proposal assessments and all of them had found that it required an injection of significant funds and/or the transfer of significant public land. Of course, public land has a value and that value needs to be incorporated. The Premier is fond of saying that this new plan will be within the $7.1 billion funding envelope—without the arena, that is, and without the transport and other arrangements that will be needed for Victoria Park. The government has changed the delivery plan. That is their right; they are the government. The opposition will continue to seek to hold them to account to the budget and the plan they have outlined. Overwhelmingly, my message to the Leader of the Opposition is: get on with the job.

Hon. AC POWELL (Glass House—LNP) (Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation) (4.20 pm): I rise to support the motion moved by my good friend the Deputy Premier, the member for Kawana. I start by reflecting on how the Leader of the Opposition commenced his contribution. He said that not for one moment was he ever concerned that Brisbane would not host an exceptional 2032 games. I have to say, there were plenty of moments when I was concerned that we were not going to host a brilliant 2032 games. I do not know whether it was when we saw the on-again off-again saga about whether to knock down the Gabba and the East Brisbane State School, or, potentially, the hugely embarrassing decision to say that the games would be hosted with a more than $1.5 billion investment in temporary seating at QSAC. I was embarrassed. Those opposite lost the social licence to operate and own the games. They strayed so far from the original intent of the then South-East Queensland council of mayors when they pitched for the games. It was all about transformational infrastructure for our existing and future populations in South-East Queensland and across the state and it was about securing a pipeline of tourism opportunities and then a legacy for a decade or two after.

We now have the plan and it is a plan not just for venues, not just the glitz and glamour that so captivated those opposite. It is about the generational infrastructure that I spoke about. I wish I could spend my entire contribution talking about what it is going to mean for the Sunshine Coast. We are not only going to take the duplication from Beerburrum to Beerwah; we are going to take heavy rail to Birtinya and then we are going to take it all the way to Maroochydore airport.

Mr Mellish interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Aspley, you were on a warning. You can leave the chamber for a

period of one hour.

Whereupon the honourable member for Aspley withdrew from the chamber at 4.21 pm.

A government member interjected. Mr SPEAKER: I do not need any help. Mr POWELL: We are delivering more than we promised for the Sunshine Coast and that does

not even start to touch on the stadium, the cultural centre, the athletes village and the rest. The real opportunity now is that green and gold runway. We can focus on preparing our tourism operators, those fantastic 65,000 businesses—

Mr Healy interjected. Mr SPEAKER: That is enough from you, member for Cairns. Mr POWELL:—the length and breadth of this great state that are preparing with the

government’s assistance for when the world’s spotlight will be on them. We want to make sure we are ready with a pipeline of events, a pipeline of products and a marketing strategy so that when the world looks at us when they come here for the sport, they do not just come for the sport but they stay for the state and they keep coming back, they bring their kids back, they bring their grandkids back and they continue to holiday in the best state in this nation and in the world. We have the plan. We are going to get on and deliver it.

Hon. CR DICK (Woodridge—ALP) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (4.23 pm): All members of this House should be absolutely clear about this motion, which panders to the egos of the Premier and the Deputy Premier. That is all this stunt is about. It is about pandering to the egos of the Premier and the Deputy Premier, and did we not see their egos on full display at the launch of the pretty brochure with the pretty pictures, the so-called delivery plan. There they were. The Deputy Premier was giving a

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speech that 400 people in that room universally decried as embarrassing, low rent, low rate, base politics. In front of 400 leaders of this state at a time when we should be lifting the state up, ambitiously looking to 2032, all the Deputy Premier could talk about was politics. He debased himself.

It was an absolute embarrassment, but he was beaten only by the Premier, who when the time came, sat on the big media table. There he was in the middle with the microphone as if he had won a gold medal at the Olympics. All of those true Queensland champions, all of those real Queensland achievers, were sitting next to him and he was basking in the reflected glory of true champions trying to claim credit for himself.

The most surprising person there was the Minister for Sport, the member for Everton. He was the most surprised, the person who had been leaking out of CBRC all of the decisions about the Olympics. He was shocked that we would even be there. He was happy to smile and get the photos as well.

In the 150 days since he took power, the Premier has not shut up about the Olympics because he loves the glitz, he loves standing with the sporting champions to get the reflected glory because that is the sort of person he is. The reason we are spending one hour of the parliament’s time on a motion to satisfy the Premier’s and the Deputy Premier’s ego is that this government has no agenda, no ambition and no answers for the people of Queensland on the things that really matter. I only hope that the LNP—

Government members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Order on my right. Member for Coomera. Mr DICK:—can stop talking about themselves and the Olympics and start talking about

delivery—delivering on the things that matter for Queensland: reducing crime in this state, which was their No. 1 election commitment; delivering more houses, not stopping the delivery of houses, which is what they have all done from the Premier down. I hope they focus on the single biggest issue facing every Queenslander in the budget this year, cost-of-living relief, because this government has said absolutely nothing about cost-of-living relief for Queenslanders. Members should be under no illusion that this is a stunt pandering to the egos of the Premier and the Deputy Premier and wasting this House’s time when we should get on to more urgent matters—

(Time expired) Mrs KIRKLAND (Rockhampton—LNP) (4.26 pm): The games were awarded on 21 July 2021

and it has taken the Crisafulli government to finally deliver on an Olympic plan for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The delivery plan ends over 1,300 days of chaos and crisis. It was informed by over 5,800 public submissions to our expert-led 100-day review and, more importantly, it remains within the $7.1 billion funding and balances, maximising the use of existing spaces while critically delivering the new venues that are needed.

Whilst I am here as the member for Rockhampton I wish to draw attention to the fact that previously the Olympic Games were not delivering to the regions of Central Queensland. We were the big gap. Nothing was happening in Central Queensland, but now because of the Crisafulli government delivery plan, Rockhampton is hosting the rowing and we are excited.

Rowing has been touted as the sport that put Australia on the map for sport. That is because of a gentleman named Edward Trickett who in 1876 was the first Australian recognised as a world champion in any sport. His achievement inspired the nation and inspired Rockhampton, whose athletes have been rowing since then on Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River. Every day our families and our children get out on the course at the crack of dawn with their aspirations of representing the nation in this sport. In fact, we have had several representations as Olympians from the Rockhampton region who grew up rowing on that course.

Government members: Hear, hear! Mrs KIRKLAND: Amazing, isn’t it? In fact, over 10,000 people lined the banks of the Fitzroy River

rowing course when Mr Trickett challenged his rival back in 1884, so we are no stranger to rowing in the Rockhampton region. In fact, in 2005 we hosted the Australian Masters Rowing Championships just before the Beijing Olympic Games. We are so excited because finally rowing and the Olympics are going to come to the regions, delivering infrastructure projects for a generation. After this it is going to be legacy infrastructure—legacy infrastructure that benefits regional Queensland.

(Time expired)

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Hon. G GRACE (McConnel—ALP) (4.29 pm): With regard to this plan for the Olympics in 2032, I can honestly say that there is nobody on this side of the House or in this parliament who would ever contemplate Queensland not putting on an excellent games—just like we did with the Commonwealth Games. We now have this motion to pander once again, as the member for Woodridge said, to the egos of the Deputy Premier and the Premier. This has been the worst kept secret in Queensland’s history. No-one in my electorate believed for one second that those opposite were not going to build a stadium at Victoria Park, despite the now Premier and then opposition leader trying to dupe my electorate on numerous occasions into believing that Victoria Park was not going to proceed. In fact, another candidate made the accusation during the election campaign that it was a Labor scare campaign.

Mr Dick interjected. Ms GRACE: No, a Labor scare campaign because we were saying that those opposite were

going to build a stadium in Victoria Park. It was the worst kept secret and what we found out to be the truth—and there were those opposite, in all of their glitz and glamour. They talk about glitz and glamour. The Deputy Premier, with his tie matching his little kerchief in his suit, got up and made an absolute mockery of things. Not one person in that room who spoke to me afterwards did not find it cringe-worthy when he stood up.

Mr Dick: They all looked down. Ms GRACE: They all looked down; you could read the body language. You could feel that this

was the most inappropriate thing to do at a lunch like that. As the member for Woodridge said, instead of bringing everyone together, all we get from those opposite is politics and division—the glitz and the glamour. However, there are concerns in my electorate. It is now going to have a new stadium destroying park and First Nations historical sites. It is going to have an aquatics centre that was not mentioned before the election. It is now going to have an athletes village at the RNA, where there are traffic issues. The electorate of McConnel is going to have a warm-up track, and other areas in the electorate will also be looked at for facilities—a significant impact on McConnel. Those opposite talked about no consultation for light rail; there has been no consultation with the community in McConnel. I am going to demand that a community reference group be established and that it be consulted on what the government has put forward.

(Time expired) Hon. ST O’CONNOR (Bonney—LNP) (Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for

Youth) (4.32 pm): I think the Deputy Premier is having some regrets about all of the things he has now promised to deliver for McConnel, because we just saw the ultimate NIMBY—‘not in McConnel’s backyard’. I think we have our answer on whether those opposite will be supporting this motion, and it will be a no.

Ms GRACE: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. That is not what I said. I take offence and I ask that it be withdrawn.

Mr SPEAKER: The member has taken offence. I ask you to withdraw. Mr O’CONNOR: I withdraw, Mr Speaker. I am proud to rise in support of our 2032 Olympic and

Paralympic Games delivery plan—a plan which recognises the role the Gold Coast can play and one that sets our state on a clear path to 2032 and beyond. Our 2032 Delivery Plan has put the games back on track. After over 1,300 days of chaos, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver what is needed for our state’s future. There is investment in transport and infrastructure, tourism and grassroots sporting facilities.

After the Gold Coast was ignored by the former government’s games plan—if you can call it that; I do not think ‘a plan’ is what anyone would refer to it as—we are delivering. In my electorate, the Gold Coast Hockey Centre in Labrador has been confirmed to host the hockey competition. Again, that is a real legacy—in stark contrast to a plan by the former government for a temporary facility at Ballymore. This venue will be upgraded to Olympic standard, providing a world-class home for a sport that already has deep roots in our Labrador community. This is not just a win for elite athletes; it will be a boost for our juniors, for our volunteers and for all of the local Gold Coast hockey clubs that share in this facility and keep the sport alive every weekend.

The plan delivers so much more for our city, though. We are set to host a wide range of Olympic events including the triathlon and marathon swimming in our iconic Broadwater Parklands. We will benefit from a new Gold Coast Arena in the middle of Southport, upgrades to the convention centre and major transport investments including the Brisbane to Gold Coast faster rail and the next stages of

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the Coomera Connector. Importantly, one of the three major Olympic athletes villages will be built on the Gold Coast, accommodating thousands during the games but transitioning to permanent housing to deliver a legacy for our city as we deal with a growing population. Our community will also share in the $250 million Games On! initiative, delivering upgrades for grassroots sporting clubs and facilities across Queensland, including the Labrador Tigers, which will be supported to build a new undercover viewing area.

As the Premier has rightly said, this is a plan that builds for Queensland’s future and ensures that the Gold Coast and our entire state are ready not just to host the world in 2032 but also to thrive in the decades that follow. These truly will be the Queensland games, and the Gold Coast is ready to deliver its share. I commend this plan for its focus, its legacy and its vision for the future, and I would urge those opposite to support our simple motion. People are sick of the politics. They are sick of the fighting. We are debating this because we do not know the opposition’s position. Let us get on with the job.

(Time expired) Mr Healy interjected. Hon. GJ BUTCHER (Gladstone—ALP) (4.35 pm): That was some great advice from the member

for Cairns: just get on with it. This motion speaks volumes about what is happening with the LNP in Queensland—grandstanding about something that it knows is important to Queensland—and my advice to it is: just get on with it. The people of regional Queensland are seeing what is happening down here in South-East Queensland. The people of regional Queensland want to see some of this legacy delivered for them. I am glad that when the plan came out there was something for regional Queensland, but I want to talk about the rowing in Rockhampton.

I made comment on 4CC in the Gladstone region about Rockhampton getting the rowing on the Fitzroy River. I said that I was happy for Rockhampton to get that infrastructure and the works that will come, but I say to the member for Rockhampton: I am not confident that it will ever happen in Rockhampton. The member for Kawana has made a commitment to take it to Rockhampton to appease the people of Rockhampton with a new member in Rockhampton, but what I can see happening is him coming out and saying, ‘Oh, no, we’ve made a mistake. We can’t actually host it here, so we’re going to have to move it somewhere else. Unfortunately, we tried our hardest to get the rowing in Rockhampton,’ knowing all along that it was never going to happen.

One of the big concerns and questions that I and many other people have is: when you build large infrastructure like this in places like Rockhampton, who is going to pay for it after the Olympics have gone? Who is going to pay for this rowing infrastructure and these other assets and maintain them—the power et cetera? I can just see the Rockhampton Regional Council—and I acknowledge that the member for Rockhampton was a councillor of the Rockhampton Regional Council—and Mayor Tony Williams saying, ‘We’re not going to pay for it.’ Who is going to pay for it? Who is going to pay for the infrastructure when it is left behind? You have to maintain these assets. We have seen what happens when the floods come down the Fitzroy River: first the weeds come through and then the logs come through and then everything else comes through. Who is going to pay to fix it when it is broken?

One of the big things I am passionate about is infrastructure legacy, not only for South-East Queensland but for the whole of regional Queensland. When are we going to start to see some of the infrastructure that has been talked about being delivered to regional Queensland so councils can go out and talk to participating countries about where they can practise their sports? Can the swimming squad from New Zealand come over and train in Gladstone? Will there be some facilities so they can train in Bundaberg? These places have been left off the list of infrastructure builds in this plan. All I can say to the LNP is: get on with it. Make sure the people of regional Queensland, particularly Central Queensland, get some funding for infrastructure that they can use into the future.

Mr BAILLIE (Townsville—LNP) (4.38 pm): I am excited that, in just 150 days, thanks to the Crisafulli government, the Brisbane 2032 Olympics has grown into the Queensland 2032 games. The people I represent in the proud electorate of Townsville are excited, because the city of Townsville will be an Olympic city in 2032. The 2032 Olympics will be Queensland’s games and Townsville will have front-row seats. The sailing events will be shared between the jewels in Queensland’s tourism crown— Townsville and the Whitsundays—and we will be hosting football games in our world-class stadium.

The Queensland 2032 Olympics acknowledges that there is more to Queensland than the south-east corner. It recognises that regions contribute to Queensland and provide an opportunity for us to participate in the biggest sporting event on the planet. It recognises what the regions contribute to the Queensland economy by way of resources, agriculture and tourism. Five billion people tuned into

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the Paris Games. Imagine 10 billion eyes looking at Townsville. Our stunning natural landscapes of Magnetic Island and Pallarenda, as well as our city’s popular Strand, will capture the hearts and minds of those watching at home and promote even more tourism to our great part of Queensland. Whilst hosting the Olympics is exciting, perhaps even more significant for North Queenslanders is the investment opportunities this brings. If we are to host the games, athletes and spectators need to be able to get to our region and we look forward to the Bruce Highway upgrades as part of the $9 billion investment between Brisbane and Cairns. Once visitors get there they will be looking to do something and that is why we will be leveraging the 20-year tourism plan for new offerings and local businesses, from hospitality to retail, set to benefit from a significant economic uplift.

After we invest in the games, we want our community to enjoy the investment and benefits for years to come and that is why local grassroots community clubs stand to benefit from the share in the $250 million Games On! program. Townsville hits well above its weight when it comes to sporting excellence. Investment in grassroots clubs means we will continue to do so for years to come as we look to 2032. Athletes like Tori West and Nash Lowis continue to inspire and underscore Townsville’s role as a breeding ground for champions. The Crisafulli government is a government focused on getting things done. We promised to sort out the Olympics. We promised to do the work. We promised a detailed plan. We promised to fix the mess. We promised our games would deliver a legacy for future generations. We promised to deliver a plan for all Queenslanders and that is just what we have done so let us get on with it.

Mr J KELLY (Greenslopes—ALP) (4.41 pm): That was exciting! That was almost as exciting as a video by the member for Mackay. I am going to be watching that one on the playback later on. I will tell you what else was exciting: watching the member for Bonney, a man who got a hat-trick for not being able to—

Mr BAILLIE: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I take personal offence and I ask him to withdraw.

Mr J KELLY: I withdraw. I will tell you what was exciting: the member for Bonney, the man who got a hat-trick for not being able to answer a question in question time without ending up on the front page of the Courier-Mail, paying sycophantic homage to his mate, the chief NIKBY of Queensland— not in Kawana’s backyard. Has he not got form for that? He loves talking about infrastructure, but, ‘Don’t come near Kawana’—

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Greenslopes! Mr J KELLY:—‘with any infrastructure. We don’t want infrastructure in our back’— Mr SPEAKER: Member for Greenslopes, if you had spoken through the chair you might have

seen that I was trying to call you to order. Nothing that you have mentioned so far I have seen in this motion. I would ask you to come back to the Olympics.

Mr J KELLY: With respect, I was responding to statements by the member for Bonney in relation to calling another member on this side of the House a NIMBY. I thought it was appropriate to respond to that. I will move on for the benefit of the House.

Tonight in this very House we already have an Olympic gold happening. We have an Olympic gold for wasting parliamentary time. It goes to the LNP. I do not like to declare winners, but I am going to declare winners tonight. I have had to sit through two bills now that have exactly two provisions in them. Maybe you should have put them into an omnibus bill and brought them before this House. All you are doing is wasting parliamentary time. That is exactly what you are doing with this tonight— wasting parliamentary time.

I will not let history be rewritten by the LNP. Let us have a look at the history. If the LNP had won in 2015 we would not be having this debate right now because there would be no Olympic Games. Every single member on this side of the House supports the Olympic Games. Be in no doubt of that, members on that side of the chamber. Every single member on this side of the House supports the Olympics. We got the Olympics. We backed the South-East Queensland Council of Mayors and we got the Olympics. We were building the infrastructure. If it was down to the members on that side of the House, they would not have been building any of the infrastructure. We created jobs, we got through COVID and we were creating a clean energy future—all of the things that contributed to this state being awarded the Olympics. If it had been down to those opposite, if they had been here in 2015, they would all be sitting around in 1 William Street—which would be the only thing they had ever built—looking at each other and saying, ‘I wonder why we missed out on the Olympics. Maybe because we sacked all the public servants, destroyed the economy, called COVID a hoax and didn’t believe in climate change. Maybe that would be the reason we didn’t get the Olympics.’

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This side of the House absolutely supports the Olympics. People in my electorate are saying stop the politics, stop the nonsense of this motion, and get on with the job. We are going to deliver a fantastic Olympics in this state. It will be a legacy for our state going forward.

Hon. AJ CAMM (Whitsunday—LNP) (Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence) (4.45 pm): I think the member for Greenslopes, along with the member for Woodridge, is auditioning to be the next leader of the opposition. I have never seen anything more embarrassing. I am proud to be representing Mackay and the Whitsundays. I want to thank the Deputy Premier, the Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Premier for the way in which they have worked to deliver an incredible plan for our state, a plan that those opposite in over 1,300 days could not deliver.

This evening we have heard a lot of talk from those opposite in regard to the Olympic Games, but they had zero plans and there was zero delivery. We have done what we have said we would do. We have taken into account that we are a big state and the Olympics is for the entire state. It is a whole- of-Queensland Olympics. I am very proud to be representing the Whitsundays, which will host the sailing along with Townsville. What an iconic location to host the Olympics. We will do what those opposite could not with the Skyway Project, which will be an iconic tourism infrastructure program as a legacy from this Olympics. We will do what those opposite did not, which is invest in the Bruce Highway as part of the Olympics to connect each of our regional centres.

We talk about there being no politics. Those opposite played politics with the Olympic Games from the moment it was announced. They delivered zero and continued to play politics while people in regional Queensland were missing out on vital infrastructure. We have got down to business. We have delivered the first tranche of our Making Queensland Safer Laws. We are focused on rebuilding the health system. We are focused on the things that matter to Queenslanders. Those opposite have zero credentials when it comes to delivering for Queenslanders.

I want to congratulate the Whitsunday Regional Council, Mayor Ry Collins and his councillors. I want to congratulate Terry Archer and the Whitsunday Sailing Club. I want to congratulate Harrup Park’s Adrian Young and Terry Doolan for the Great Barrier Reef Arena stage 2 infrastructure that we will partner with them to deliver to ensure regional legacy. I am very proud of the Crisafulli government. I am very proud of the delivery plan that our government has formed in 150 days. We are very proud of the engagement and the consultation that we have had with regional communities across our state. All I have heard from those opposite is sour grapes and politicking. To have an hour dedicated to recognising the hard work of the Crisafulli government and the partnerships that we have forged in regional Queensland is something I am proud to be part of.

Mr KATTER (Traeger—KAP) (4.48 pm): I do not really have a problem with the delivery plan, although I have not really educated myself too much on it, because I disagree with the whole premise of the Olympics. The KAP has had a strong position on this from the start. I listened quite intently to the member for Townsville’s contribution saying everyone supports it. Not everyone does. I frequent Townsville quite often. I have many friends there. A lot of people in Brisbane do not support the Olympic Games. I am glad that the member for Greenslopes did not say we won the Olympics. You do not win it when no-one else applies for it.

I am yet to meet anyone from the Gold Coast who says how wonderful the Commonwealth Games was and how the economy boomed as a result of it. You do get infrastructure and, of course, infrastructure is fantastic. I get that the government owns the budget, but in this parliament collectively we have the responsibility to ask how we navigate this. Do we have a problem in Queensland now? Do we have underfunding in hospitals, roads, schools and all sorts of other areas? We certainly do in North Queensland. We need to ask: if that is a problem, what is the best way to address it? How do we fund it? How do we pay for it? Are we saying that the best way to address that is by having an entertainment event or a sports event in 2032 into which we sink all of our money?

There is no magic pudding here. We are going to go into debt for this. If you are going to spend money on it, you have to pull it from something else. There will be a counterpoint here. The Charters Towers Hospital is 100 years old and they are looking for a new one. People are already saying, ‘Nothing is going to be built out here.’ It will be very hard for the next five to 10 years, or at least until the Olympics is done. People go on about the Bruce Highway, and it will be great if the money does hit the road there.

The other day an ABC interviewer asked, ‘What about the regions?’ I said, ‘Define “regions”.’ The interviewer said, ‘Toowoomba?’ I said, ‘Exactly!’ That is not what I mean when I talk about regions. What about Quilpie, Urandangi, Mount Isa and the Peninsula Developmental Road? Let’s see how the

2 Apr 2025 Motions 737

funding to finish the PDR goes over the next five years. The Flinders Highway is a mess at the moment; the Port of Townsville is operating under capacity, which is embarrassing; the rail line from Mount Isa to Townsville is an embarrassment; and four mines have closed in the past six months, but we are talking about hosting the Olympics and having a party. Do members know what the Romans did before Rome fell? They built a colosseum so that they could have more parties and distract people. We are building more sports stadiums than social infrastructure. In the industrial areas where we live, we desperately need to reinvigorate infrastructure right now to make more money so that you can buy things in the future. We cannot do that if you spend our money now on all of this fun stuff.

Mr WHITING (Bancroft—ALP) (4.51 pm): I start by once again pointing out that the LNP said there would be no new stadiums. Not once, not twice but countless times the Premier assured Queensland that there would be no new stadiums. However, after their election win they announced that there will be new stadiums built and they will proceed at the expense of vital services for Queenslanders. I repeat: they will proceed at the expense of vital services for Queenslanders.

We all support the Olympics and, as the member for Greenslopes said, we want everyone to get on with it, but I point out that we have already seen infrastructure projects stalled under this government. That includes hospital projects such as the new Queensland Cancer Centre, to be located at the RBWH—a life-saving service—which has been delayed for at least three years. We do not even know if it will eventually proceed. The LNP are undermining support for the Olympics within Queensland because of their health cuts.

My constituents have said a lot about the Olympics, especially when I talk about the halt to the Redcliffe Hospital expansion. I want to read out some social media posts. One states, ‘They can spend $3.8 billion to build Olympic villages but they take away the possibility of improvements to our vital healthcare facilities.’ Someone else states that they think health is more important than sport. Another states, ‘Typical Liberals, got to pay for the Olympics stuff now.’ Someone else says, ‘Looks like they may have halted all the hospital works to pay for the new Olympics stadium.’

Government members: Oh! Mr WHITING: It is Queenslanders who are saying these things so do not blame me. These are

Queenslanders who are watching what you have done. Someone states, ‘To get the Olympics they need to get people to care; their priorities are all wrong.’ Another resident states, ‘Well, they needed to cut the health budget so they could afford to build the stadiums.’ Another resident states, ‘The LNP are going to ruin hospitals, taking more money for their ridiculous Olympics.’ I want the Olympics to go ahead, but this is what people are saying.

I end with this point: with the 2024 Paris Olympics we talked about inclusion. In the 2024 Olympics, our able-bodied athletes picked up 53 medals and our Paralympic team picked up 63 medals. Our able-bodied Olympic team comprised 459 athletes. We sent 160 Paralympic athletes and our Paralympians won more than three times as many medals. This strategy is doing absolutely nothing to support all of the Paralympians in their quest.

Mr BAROUNIS (Maryborough—LNP) (4.55 pm): Mr Speaker, I stand before you today with immense pride and excitement as I share incredible news for my electorate of Maryborough and the entire Fraser Coast region. Last week we received an announcement that sent a wave of enthusiasm through our community: archery will be hosted in Maryborough as part of the 2032 Olympic Games.

First and foremost, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Crisafulli government and the Olympic committee for selecting our community to host this remarkable event. This is a gift that we will cherish for years to come. The people of Maryborough and the Fraser Coast are absolutely overjoyed by the opportunity to showcase our beautiful region to the world. This event will bring athletes from across the globe, but it is not just the competitors who will be visiting us. The media coverage, the tourists and the spectators will shine a spotlight on the Fraser Coast like we have never seen before. We are ready to embrace this influx of visitors with open arms, and I know that our community will make them feel right at home.

There is a personal connection for me with this announcement. As members may know, I am of Greek heritage so it seems particularly fitting that the sport of archery has been awarded to the very electorate I represent. Archery has deep roots in Greece as it was one of the earliest and most celebrated sports in ancient Greek culture. Apollo, the god of archery, is one of the most famous Olympians in Greek mythology. Philoctetes was another Greek hero who was involved in the Trojan War and a very skilled archer. Like Apollo and Philoctetes, the member for Hervey Bay, David Lee, and I are going to work together as a powerful pair, collaborating and planning for the spectacular archery event on the Fraser Coast in 2032.

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I am so excited about what this means for our community and I would like to share with the House our new name: ‘Olympic-borough’. Thank you all, and let’s get ready to make the 2032 Olympics a truly unforgettable experience here in Queensland and on the Fraser Coast.

Mr POWER (Logan—ALP) (4.58 pm): Recently, the member for Algester, the member for Woodridge and I attended the Browns Plains Little Athletics end-of-year celebrations. It was fantastic because in Little Athletics the kids spend all year with each other, so as soon as the second prize was announced they knew who the winner was. I gave out the bronze medal first and when the silver medallist was announced there was a frisson of excitement because they knew who had won the gold medal.

Things will be different on the government front bench because they all want to be congratulated. They all want to be covered with gold medals, even though they have constructed nothing for Queenslanders. They are thick with self-congratulations but they do not get it. The Olympics is not about them, even though the member for Whitsunday said that we should be spending an hour congratulating them. It is the Olympians who will make this Olympics special. In 2032 in Brisbane, we are going to witness an extraordinary explosion of talent and fantastic performances. That is what I am excited about. I am not excited about self-congratulatory motions introduced by this government, who think it is all about them and not the athletes. That is what is so ridiculous about this debate.

I also note that there was some disappointment in our area that the rowing in Wyaralong Dam in the Scenic Rim was cancelled. The member for Gladstone expressed some legitimate concerns about some of the technical aspects of the rowing competition being held in the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton. I hope that those concerns are not realised. We all hope that because Rocky is a great place. The Scenic Rim is a great place too and we feel that they have taken away our little bit of the Olympics. Wyaralong Dam will always be there. It is the home of Queensland rowing. It is a fantastic place. It does not have any of the currents that the Fitzroy River can have, which is a great place too.

I just want them to get on with it and do it right. There are serious questions to answer, and Wyaralong Dam is there. I notice the member for Scenic Rim has been silent about this. Obviously, they have taken away Olympic events from his regional area. We want it to be a great Olympics, and that is why we are asking them to get on with the job and to stop the self-congratulations. They put forward their master plan. Now it is entirely theirs to actually get beyond—

(Time expired) Mr WATTS (Toowoomba North—LNP) (4.59 pm): Mr Speaker, congratulations must go to you,

to the Treasurer and to Damon Phillips, the CEO of the Royal Agricultural Society. Mr Speaker, the Olympics is coming to your electorate. It is coming to our town of Toowoomba—saddle up, Toowoomba and the south-west! We are really excited to have it.

They talk about regional Queensland. Where do you think the horse floats will be coming from? The equine centre in Toowoomba, we are told, will possibly open in 2028. Forget about a green and gold runway, we will have that built and delivered by 2028 in Toowoomba and we will be able to start hosting events. For the first time Queensland will be able to have its own championships. This is a great legacy. We will have some pre-events. Queensland Country Tourism is already excited about what it means for our town.

We know that, on an annual basis, this facility will bring a $6.8 million economic benefit to our region. We will be able to have horse events week after week throughout the year. At the Toowoomba show, I spoke to thousands of people from regional Queensland and they were so excited about this facility being in Toowoomba and that they would be able to come. We have already held the biggest horse show in Australia in the last 12 months, so imagine what will happen when we have an international facility of the calibre that will be built for the Olympics.

It is so exciting to know that we will be hosting Queensland championships, national championships and international competitions at the gold medal arena that will be set up at the Toowoomba showgrounds. There are a lot of people to thank, but I particularly want to thank Damon Phillips because, through the dark days when it looked like we were never going to get this up, he was speaking to me, to you, Mr Speaker, and to the Treasurer and he was lobbying hard because this is a great legacy for regional Queensland. I thank the Deputy Premier, the sports minister and, of course, our leader, the Premier, for bringing this to regional Queensland.

The whole of the south-west will be able to use this facility for a long time. Not only will it be good for the Olympics; it will be fantastic for the Olympic champions from Australia who will train there for the next 30 or 40 years. It will also bring great economic benefit to our region before the Olympics because

2 Apr 2025 Motions 739

it will allow people to hone their skills so they can compete. I look forward to the council, the federal member, the university and everybody getting on board the Games On! funding so that we can build an athletics facility in Toowoomba because that is what we need.

(Time expired) Hon. BA MICKELBERG (Buderim—LNP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (5.03 pm):

Labor turned the Olympics into a five-ring circus. Unlike Labor, the new LNP Crisafulli government are focused on getting on with the job. We are getting on with the job of delivering a plan—the 2032 Delivery Plan—for generational transport infrastructure and for projects like the Logan to Gold Coast faster rail, which is something that those opposite could never deliver. They say, ‘Get on with the job.’ Last week, I was pleased to join the member for Bonney and the member for Theodore to announce that we are awarding a contract to get on with the job of delivering the Logan to Gold Coast faster rail project. It is a project that they spoke about but which we are delivering.

Those opposite play games when it comes to the Olympics and they play games when it comes to infrastructure here in Queensland. Those opposite did nothing for three years and seven months. We had three years and seven months of talkfests and of ill-fated plans like QSAC. QSAC would have resulted in a four-kilometre long traffic jam of buses. That is their legacy.

We are focused on getting on with the job. Let’s look at some of the infrastructure projects that are captured in this plan. The Tiaro bypass in the member for Maryborough’s electorate is much needed. Too many Queenslanders have lost their lives on the Bruce Highway at Tiaro. We will deliver the bypass to support the games, and we will deliver it before 2032. We are getting on with the job of delivering the Coomera Connector project, which they hopelessly mismanaged from the start. We are delivering it. In my part of the world, Labor cut the Mooloolah River interchange and we will deliver it prior to 2032 because that is what Sunshine Coast residents deserve. That is what Sunshine Coast residents want to see with the Olympics. Labor promised that they would deliver transport and infrastructure upgrades for all Queenslanders and they delivered none. None—not one.

We are focused with getting on with the job and we will deliver those much needed transport infrastructure projects right across the state, whether it is in Rocky, in Townsville, in Cairns, in Maryborough, on the Sunshine Coast, on the Gold Coast or here in Brissie. We are getting on with the job.

Let’s look at the Wave project. We will deliver a public transport capability all the way to the Sunshine Coast airport. That has never even been countenanced by those opposite. They could not build heavy rail all the way to Birtinya. They could not do it. They do not like it. We will deliver a mass transit solution all the way to the Sunshine Coast airport. I know my community and they are incredibly thankful that we are getting on with the job after a decade of Labor’s failure. We had a generation of Labor’s failure. Those opposite should hang their heads in shame. We are getting on with the job because those opposite could not do it because they are not up to it.

(Time expired) Hon. SM FENTIMAN (Waterford—ALP) (5.06 pm): David Crisafulli is obsessed with the Olympics.

For the past four weeks, he has spoken about nothing but the Olympics. While Queenslanders are struggling with the cost of living—

Ms SIMPSON: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. The member is not using appropriate titles in this House. I draw your attention to the standing orders and the conventions.

Mr SPEAKER: That is correct. I will ask the member for Waterford to use the correct titles. Ms FENTIMAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Queenslanders are struggling with the cost of living, with

ambulance ramping and with housing shortages, yet this Premier has spoken endlessly about the Olympics. He is completely obsessed. He has blown his budget on advertising. In his schmick high-production campaign video, he even forked out for Rupert McCall to write a poem, but there is absolutely no detail, especially around costings.

The Premier has said that he would stay within the $7.1 billion funding envelope, but the Premier has also said he needs the federal government’s $2.5 billion for the new colosseum at Victoria Park. He has also said that he wants the private sector to chip in for Victoria Park. He has had more answers on how he will fund this delivery plan than creditors left out of pocket by his training company. It is absolutely outrageous that he cannot answer simple questions about how this delivery plan will be funded.

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If the private sector does chip in for Victoria Park, what will Queenslanders have to pay the private sector in return? I note this was actually mentioned in the GIICA review report, and I trust that the government will remain faithful to the review’s advice when it comes to the funding envelope. It states— GIICA acknowledges the Queensland government advice that any such private sector participation will be treated as government debt. It will therefore not increase the size of the available funding envelope.

The Premier has also said that we will give away the Goprint site in Woolloongabba to a developer if they build the arena. As the Leader of the Opposition has said, it was disappointing to not see the much needed arena in this plan. How much will the government have to chip in for the arena? As the Leader of the Opposition has said, every proposal has stated it needs government funding to be viable. How much will Queenslanders get in return for handing over two pieces of prime real estate? How much will Queenslanders have to pay in an ongoing lease to keep the arena afloat?

The Premier also announced that Sunshine Coast heavy rail would not go to Maroochydore as promised. We were all deafened by the member for Buderim’s contribution, but I note he did not talk about the broken promise. I will tell members who is going to get a gold medal in these Olympics. It will be the Premier for breaking promises. That is what has happened here. The member for Caloundra must be most put out about this as she said— We absolutely must take the heavy rail all the way to Maroochydore. We cannot afford this not to happen.

I move the following amendment— After ‘Plan’ add ‘and commits to support the development of Queensland and Australian athletes and para-athletes.’

Mr BLEIJIE: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Time had expired before the motion had been finished so there is no amendment.

Ms Fentiman: No, I had put the motion well within the time limit. Mr Bleijie: Your time was up. The amendment cannot be moved. Mr SPEAKER: There will be no quarrelling across the chamber. The member started to move

the amendment before the time had expired. You will have a vote on it.

Hon. TL MANDER (Everton—LNP) (Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games) (5.10 pm): In making my contribution, it is very difficult to go past the Deputy Leader of the Opposition’s contribution. His main focus was on ego. When it comes to ego, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a subject expert. He leaves Donald Trump, Kanye West and even Kevin Rudd in his wake when it comes to ego.

I have a role for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition when it comes to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I suggest that we bring out the Binna Burra bell that he found and polished following the fires at Binna Burra and we take it to Victoria Park and he ring it on the last lap of the 1,500 metres— ting-a-ling-a-ling! That will be the role that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition can play at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

One of the key elements of the delivery plan is the Games On! program that is funding community sports all over Queensland. There have been around 150 commitments.

Mr Head interjected. Mr MANDER: Yes, the member for Callide will be getting something. In fact, I feel like Oprah:

everybody is going to get a prize. I see the member for Hinchinbrook in the chamber. The member for Hinchinbrook is critical of the games, but he is getting $973,000 for the Ingham tennis courts under the Games On! program. The member for Hill wants a swimming pool at Ravenshoe. The only chance he has of getting that is through the Games On! program. I say to the Labor Party members who have been wasting their time writing to me about the commitments: don’t waste your time because you are getting every one of them. Every commitment made by the LNP during the last election will be delivered, whether we won a seat or not, because we recognise how important community sport is. We want to make sure that no matter where people live in this state they can point to a clubhouse, to a field, to a court, to some floodlights and say, ‘We’ve got that because of the 2032 games.’ We will deliver the community sports facilities that Queenslanders deserve and that will produce the champions of the future.

(Time expired)

2 Apr 2025 Youth Justice (Monitoring Devices) Amendment Bill 741

Division: Question put—That the amendment be agreed to. AYES, 31:

ALP, 31—Asif, Bourne, Boyd, Bush, Butcher, de Brenni, Dick, Farmer, Fentiman, Furner, Grace, Healy, Howard, J. Kelly, King, Linard, Martin, McCallum, McMillan, Miles, Mullen, Nightingale, O’Shea, Power, Pugh, Russo, Ryan, Scanlon, Smith, Sullivan, Whiting.

NOES, 48:

LNP, 48—Baillie, Barounis, Bennett, Bleijie, Boothman, Camm, Crandon, Crisafulli, Dillon, Doolan, Dooley, Field, Frecklington, Gerber, Head, Hutton, Hunt, B. James, T. James, Janetzki, G. Kelly, Kempton, Kirkland, Langbroek, Last, Leahy, Lee, Lister, Mander, Marr, McDonald, Mickelberg, Minnikin, Molhoek, Morton, Nicholls, O’Connor, Perrett, Poole, Powell, Purdie, Rowan, Simpson, Stevens, Stoker, Watts, Vorster, Young.

Pair: Krause, Pease.

Resolved in the negative.

Non-government amendment (Ms Fentiman) negatived.

Question put—That the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

PRIVILEGE

Alleged Reflections on the Chair Dr ROWAN (Moggill—LNP) (Leader of the House) (5.19 pm): Mr Speaker, I rise on a matter of

privilege suddenly arising. It has been brought to my attention that the member for Stafford may have been reflecting on your ruling whilst matters were being dealt with with respect to the member for Miller. As such, I request that the parliamentary recording and the Hansard record be reviewed and any appropriate action taken.

YOUTH JUSTICE (MONITORING DEVICES) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading Resumed from 1 April (see p. 698), on motion of Mrs Gerber—

That the bill be now read a second time.

Mr SPEAKER: I call the— Mr Sullivan interjected. Dr ROWAN: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. The member for Stafford just interjected with

respect to the matter of privilege that I raised and I would ask you to consider that.

Mr SPEAKER: I heard the interjection just as I was calling the member for Burnett. You are warned, member for Stafford.

Mr BENNETT (Burnett—LNP) (5.20 pm), continuing: In a change of pace, we will go back to the Youth Justice (Monitoring Devices) Amendment Bill. What a great piece of legislation. Members can stay as I think it is important that members listen to my contribution. As I was saying at nine o’clock last night, these changes are important.

The bill expands the list of prescribed indictable offences to include specific offences involving violence and threats of violence. The LNP wants to see a meaningful and comprehensive evaluation. The Crisafulli government will conduct a thorough review because we have seen the potential of electronic monitoring to reduce reoffending, to provide offenders with an opportunity to be re-engaged with education and employment, and to improve community safety when it is applied correctly. Half the young people who were subject to EMD orders did not reoffend. That has been spoken about a lot in this debate. It is a really important point to emphasise. When these things are done right, they have a great outcome for our community. This comprehensive review will inform government decisions about electronic monitoring for youth offenders. We make no apology for doing what needs to be done to improve community safety and reduce victims of crime in this state.

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The Crisafulli government is committed to restoring safety in our communities and reducing victims of crime. By extending this electronic monitoring trial and allowing time for a meaningful and comprehensive review, we are prioritising community safety. It means that our courts will continue to have an option to make an electronic monitoring condition for youth offenders in our community. It will continue to help ease the pressure on local police resources.

We speak about police resources because we know they are stretched in the regions. Electronic monitoring can serve as a proactive tool to reduce reoffending. Wouldn’t it have been exciting for our police officers to be given that level of respect over a long period? How many times in this place have we called out the fact that police have been wanting those resources and that we should give them the respect and support that they have needed over a long period. When senior police can allocate resources more effectively in our communities, they can deal with the other rampant crime issues that are now part of our community—and we wish them all the best.

I want to talk about police data. New police data since the Crisafulli government’s landmark Adult Crime, Adult Time was introduced suggest that the stronger laws are beginning to deter youth crime. The latest figures from 1 December 2024 to 28 February 2025 reveal 453 fewer stolen vehicles across the state when compared to the same period the previous year, as well as 1,033 fewer break-ins. The early data points to the impact of the laws as a deterrent for youth offenders, following a decade of Labor’s youth crime crisis with skyrocketing crime across Queensland. Between 1 December and 28 February, compared to the same period the previous year—and these are really important statistics— we had an 8.2 per cent reduction in stolen cars; an 8.4 per cent reduction in break-ins; a 4.8 per cent reduction in robberies; and a 16.9 per cent reduction in woundings.

Under Labor’s weak laws with fewer police, youth crime continued to grow year after year, with the number of stolen cars jumping more than 101 per cent under Labor and break-ins up 44 per cent. Today I want to expose again just how out of touch Labor was. Some statistics that were released earlier by the minister in this House deserve to be repeated for the sake of the House when we talk about what youth crime and youth preventive strategies should look like. The figures for break-ins increased by 28.3 per cent; stolen vehicles increased by 91 per cent; robberies increased by 100.9 per cent; armed robberies increased by 82.3 per cent; kidnapping increased by 82.2 per cent; arson increased by 28.5 per cent; and rape and attempted rape increased by 92.2 per cent.

Ms FARMER: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Yesterday in my contribution to the debate the Deputy Speaker sat me down for making statements which are outside the long title of the bill. I seek your ruling on relevance of the content of the member’s speech.

Mr SPEAKER: We had a long conversation about this at the Speaker’s meeting this morning. As I said to the Deputy Speakers who were working last night, anything that is contained in the committee report is obviously relevant to this debate. Anything that is contained in the statement of reservation—that is, anything that is contained in the dissenting report—and any evidence given at committee hearings is all relevant. There was some confusion about the scope of this bill, but anything that is contained in the committee report is relevant. Member for Burnett, because I was talking a bit, can you inform me what you were addressing just then?

Mr BENNETT: Crime statistics that have been openly disseminated. They were in the media. Mr Speaker, I am happy to move on for the sake of the House. Everyone really wants this bill to pass.

Mr SPEAKER: You have the call. Mr BENNETT: Our Making Queenslander Safer Laws are more important than argy-bargy across

the chamber. I have only been warned once. If you get warned multiple times and you do not listen, that is when you deserve to be sat down. I will move on.

I want to finish with some statistics. Across the decade, the number of juveniles charged with stealing cars went from 2,155 to 7,000 and the number of young offenders charged with breaking and entering doubled from nearly 5,000 to 9,000.

In closing, I want to make sure that I recognise the minister in this space. When I first met the minister some years ago, I saw a strong person who was passionate about law and order. She brought that passion to this place. Here we are debating some really important laws that are reflective of not only her passion but the government’s passion to making sure our Making Queensland Safer Laws are a reality. We could not be more delighted to be able to go back to our electorates and talk about being strong on crime; Adult Crime, Adult Time; youth reoffending; and, more importantly, reconnecting our youth with opportunities to go forward and make our communities a better space.

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I want to thank everyone involved in bringing this legislation forward. The fact that we have been able to push this debate into a second day is really important. With a minute to go, I hope we can close it out. I congratulate the minister. I commend the bill to the House.

Hon. LJ GERBER (Currumbin—LNP) (Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services) (5.26 pm), in reply: I take this opportunity to thank all members for their contributions to the debate on the Youth Justice (Monitoring Devices) Amendment Bill. I want to reiterate from the outset that, after a decade of Labor chaos and crisis, this government, the Crisafulli government, is committed to a calm, methodical and evidence-based approach to tackling the youth crime crisis. We are resolutely and unapologetically committed to putting the rights of victims first. We are going to make sure that the legal system is listening to those people who should be listened to— that is, the victims.

The Crisafulli government is committed to making Queensland safer by restoring community safety and ensuring there are fewer victims in this state. Extending this electronic monitoring trial by one year, as proposed by this bill, is one tool in the toolkit to do that. As we heard yesterday, section 52AA of the Youth Justice Act allows a court, in certain circumstances, to impose a condition that a youth offender must wear a monitoring device while released on bail. However, the court’s ability to impose this condition is a trial. Under the Labor government, it is set to expire this month—on 30 April 2025—with no proper evaluation because those opposite set it up to fail. While the bill is simple, it extends the trial for 12 months to allow for electronic monitoring to be meaningfully and comprehensively evaluated. A number of members have raised issues during the debate.

Firstly, the member for Bulimba during her contribution told this House that all of Labor’s programs were working: ‘There’s nothing to see here.’ Despite the youth crime crisis that was tearing through Queensland under the former Labor government and under that former Labor minister’s watch, the former youth justice minister stood up in this House and in her contribution to the bill said, ‘All of Labor’s programs are working and there’s nothing to see here.’ The member for Bulimba then went on in her contribution to try to peddle the same rubbish that she spoke about at the committee hearing, talking down the Crisafulli government’s investment in early intervention and rehabilitation. Labor’s legacy was a generation of hardcore repeat offenders who knew their rights came before the rights of victims, who knew there were no consequences for their actions, and Labor want to continue on the same old path that led us to where we are today—with even more victims of crime than ever.

To the member for Bulimba I say that we need to do things differently. Queenslanders voted for change. What Labor was doing was not working. That is why the Crisafulli government is delivering the Making Queensland Safer plan. The member for Bulimba also discussed the need for a balanced and independent evaluation. I can advise the member that our review will assess whether electronic monitoring deters reoffending, how electronic monitoring can be integrated with wraparound supports, and the role of electronic monitoring in reducing the number of victims of crime and improving community safety.

Debate, on motion of Mrs Gerber, adjourned.

MOTION

Queensland Redistribution Commission, Appointment Hon. SJ MILES (Murrumba—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (5.30 pm): I move—

That this House: 1. notes the history of gerrymandering electorates under previous Liberal National Party governments. 2. notes that redistribution of electoral boundaries by an independent authority was a key outcome of the Fitzgerald inquiry

and the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission. 3. condemns LNP Attorney-General Frecklington for proposing to appoint partisan Director-General John Sosso to the

independent Queensland Redistribution Commission. 4. notes that John Sosso has been a member of the Liberal Party and cannot be considered independent. 5. notes Tony Fitzgerald’s submission to a parliamentary committee on crime and misconduct legislation that stated in

respect of his 1987 inquiry the then “... Attorney-General appointed one, John Sosso, as Secretary to the Inquiry. Sosso didn’t last long in that role but returned to the Justice Department which, as the Inquiry’s report notes, did little willingly to assist the Inquiry’.

6. calls on the LNP Crisafulli government to ensure appointments to the Queensland Redistribution Commission are truly independent and beyond reproach and instructs LNP Attorney-General Frecklington to not progress with the proposed appointment of John Sosso to the Queensland Redistribution Commission.

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Queenslanders expect truth, trust and transparency from their government. It is fundamental. The Crisafulli LNP government belaboured that point in this chamber and in the media time and time again. Integrity was supposedly at the core of the Premier’s platform for election. He said— When governments give up on integrity, they give up on governing in the interests of Queenslanders.

The Premier has already broken a litany of promises that he made to Queenslanders, and it seems that today we add one more. This is not a government that has any respect for Queenslanders or the independence of processes at the core of our electoral system. Anyone with any understanding of Queensland’s political history would know how critical it is that we have fair electoral boundaries determined by people who are not only impartial but also perceived to be impartial. The appointment of Mr John Sosso to the Redistribution Commission is far from impartial. I table the letter from the Attorney-General recommending this appointment. Tabled paper: Letter, dated 24 March 2025, from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, Hon. Deb Frecklington, to the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Steven Miles, regarding the appointment of a Chairperson and a Commissioner to the Queensland Redistribution Commission [293].

This act flies in the face of governing with integrity and it flies in the face of the Fitzgerald inquiry. It is well documented that our state has a tarnished history, one that Fitzgerald shone a light on. What we saw during the days of Sir Joh was a government playing God. The LNP manipulated electoral boundaries in a way that would ensure the premier would continue to win and stay in power, at the expense of his government’s integrity. It is thanks to Fitzgerald exposing this practice that we now have an independent Queensland Redistribution Commission. Its independence is crucial so that Queenslanders can have faith that the level of corruption which has historically marred this chamber and this state is never seen again.

It seems that this Premier wants to drag us back to the 1980s—back to the days of the moonlight state, the darkest days of Queensland politics—but we will not go quietly. The LNP is sneakily attempting to undermine the independence and integrity of the commission by appointing Director-General Sosso to this position. John Sosso’s links to the Liberal Party run very deep, and it is these deep political roots that make him an unacceptable choice for this position. It is widely reported that he was a member of the Liberal Party. That alone should be enough to exclude him from consideration. It is already a level of political influence. In parliament, lobbyist Santo Santoro thanked Mr Sosso and a long list of Liberal luminaries for their service to the Liberal Party.

Tony Fitzgerald criticised Mr Sosso for deliberately interfering in the Fitzgerald inquiry. I table Mr Fitzgerald’s submissions. Tabled paper: Document, dated 27 March 2014, submitted by Mr GE Fitzgerald, titled ‘Crime and Misconduct and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 Submission to the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee’ [294].

It was that inquiry that kickstarted the biggest legal and political reforms in our state’s history. Why would this man stand in the way? It makes him entirely inappropriate to be a member of the commission recommended by that inquiry. As if that were not enough, Mr Sosso came up under the Newman government and was the right-hand man of the worst attorney-general this state has ever seen. Alarmingly, during that period he played a significant role in the scrapping of the PCMC in the dead of night—another commission that was the result of the Fitzgerald inquiry. It is little surprise that he is now back at the side of the member for Kawana as his director-general. The boys are back together again, ready to pull the puppet strings of this government. We know they are in charge of this government. Ministers tell stakeholders they cannot do anything without talking to the member for Kawana or his director-general. It goes too far to put the member for Kawana and his director-general in charge of drawing this state’s electoral boundaries. They do not want a gerrymander; they want a ‘Jarrod-mander’ in this state. They want to take us back to the bad old days when the votes of Queenslanders were not equal, when elections were deliberately rigged.

We cannot support this appointment. I table my letter to the Attorney-General outlining our reasons. This appointment is entirely inappropriate. Tabled paper: Letter, dated 31 March 2025, from the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Steven Miles, to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, Hon. Deb Frecklington, regarding appointments to the Queensland Redistribution Commission [295].

(Time expired) Hon. DK FRECKLINGTON (Nanango—LNP) (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and

Minister for Integrity) (5.35 pm): I move the following amendment— That all words after ‘That this House’ be omitted and the following paragraphs inserted: ‘1. notes the history of gerrymandering in Queensland, initially introduced by the Hanlon Labor government in 1949.

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2. notes that redistribution of electoral boundaries by an independent authority was a key outcome of the Fitzgerald inquiry and the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission.

3. condemns the member for Murrumba for defaming a public servant who has served for multiple decades under both Labor and LNP.

4. notes the former Labor government’s efforts to corrupt the electoral process by changing the voting system in defiance of Fitzgerald era recommendations and their installation of a financial gerrymander that favoured their union donors.

5. notes the makeup of this committee of a judge, a director-general and the Electoral Commissioner is the same as that appointed by Labor in 2017.

6. notes the LNP Crisafulli government has ensured appointments to the Queensland Redistribution Commission are truly independent and beyond reproach.’

Mr Sosso has spent 41 years in both the state and the Commonwealth Public Service. Our government is miles and miles ahead of this Miles. Seriously, it is like overtaking a parked car. This opposition leader has already given up. We have now heard where it came from. I heard it came straight out of the caucus. Here is the leak, the one that completely disrespects everyone in this chamber. This is a man who served for 2,268 days—six years and two months—under which premier? Wayne Goss, the one who cleaned up issues during the Fitzgerald inquiry. His head is down now. Mr Sosso instructed the drafting—

Honourable members interjected. Mr SPEAKER: I cannot hear the Attorney-General. Mrs FRECKLINGTON:—of key pieces of integrity legislation for whom? The Goss government.

During Mr Sosso’s time as a public servant he was well respected by the Labor Party, the Criminal Justice Commission and the Queensland Electoral Commission; that is his history.

Let’s look at the directors-general those opposite appointed. In 2006 there was a director-general of Education, Rachel Hunter. What would she know about electoral redistribution? Let’s remember what the CCC said: ‘That’s the one Cameron wants.’ Let’s go to the director-general appointed by the Labor Party in 2016.

Ms GRACE: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order regarding proper titles. That is all. Mr SPEAKER: Minister, if you are using props, we do not use props. Ms Grace interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Sorry, I misunderstood you. You said proper titles. Mrs FRECKLINGTON: When he was the former treasurer and the CCC reported, it was

‘Cameron’; thanks for highlighting it though, member for McConnel. Let’s look at who the Labor Party appointed for the electoral redistribution. It was their

director-general, Liza Carroll. What was she the director-general of? That is right; the Leader of Opposition Business’s public housing. Let’s see about Liza Carroll and her connections to the Labor Party. I will table this article, where it talks about the QBCC awarding more than $400,000 in contracts to a consultancy firm linked to the minister’s former director-general over seven months.

This is who the Labor Party put on the electoral redistribution back in 2016. I think the Leader of the Opposition needs to get some staff in his office and stop leaking to the Courier-Mail about a consultation process involving a respected public servant who has spent his entire life serving the people of Australia and Queensland.

The Leader of the Opposition has already tabled the letter back to me. He has already given up on his job as opposition leader. Who does he want me to consult with? Legislation says it is the leader of the opposition; he wants me to consult with his shadow attorney-general. Are we learning something here tonight? Is this already the appointed next leader of the opposition?

(Time expired) Hon. SM FENTIMAN (Waterford—ALP) (5.41 pm): I rise in support of the motion moved by the

Leader of the Opposition. This Premier talks about transparency, openness and respect for the Westminster system and then his government proposes to appoint John Sosso to the Queensland Redistribution Commission. The hypocrisy of the Premier had me questioning whether this was a poor attempt at an April fools’ joke. The Premier is making decisions that reek of arrogance, hubris and complete disregard for our democracy.

Almost 40 years since the Fitzgerald inquiry, the LNP is back trying to rig elections by moving electoral boundaries that suit them. It goes to show the LNP have not learnt a thing. Mr Sosso is not independent, he is not bipartisan and he is not fit for this position. Mr Sosso certainly has a colourful

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history; it is very blue and yellow. This appointment is a shameless attempt by the Premier and his deputy to throw our state back to the 1980s, back to the dark days of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen—a time, let’s not forget, when Queensland politics and the Public Service was infested with corruption, nepotism and cronyism. It was a time when the old boys’ club was running the show. Well, the boys’ club is back. The Minister for Education himself even calls it ‘da boys’ club’.

The people of Queensland should be terrified because this boys’ club wants to recreate the halcyon days of the 1980s. It was a time when the government used its unbridled power to redefine electoral boundaries to win elections. Democracy was just a dream in Queensland until the Fitzgerald inquiry, but of course Sir Joh and his boys’ club did not want to play along, so what did they do? They sent Mr John Sosso to nobble the Fitzgerald inquiry. He was actually placed there by the Joh Bjelke-Petersen government to run interference with the Fitzgerald inquiry.

Mrs Frecklington interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Nanango, I have cautioned you many times. You are now warned. Ms FENTIMAN: You do not have to believe me, member for Nanango. In fact, Fitzgerald himself

mentioned Mr Sosso when writing to a parliamentary committee. He said— When the Inquiry was established in 1987, the National Party Attorney-General was advised and influenced by a small ambitious group of Justice Department bureaucrats. The Attorney-General appointed one, John Sosso, as Secretary to the Inquiry. Sosso didn’t last long in that role but returned to the Justice Department which, as the Inquiry’s report notes, did little willingly to assist the Inquiry.

As reported in the Courier-Mail just today, which I table, Mr Fitzgerald found Mr Sosso was susceptible to influence. Tabled paper: Article from the Courier-Mail, dated 2 April 2025, titled ‘Qld politics: Labor pushes back at John Sosso move to QRC’ [296].

Let’s not forget that John Sosso was a member of the LNP, and the LNP have looked after Mr Sosso just as he has looked after them. I table an article from Terry Sweetman from 2015 which outlines his extensive partisan history working for every conservative government since Joh. Tabled paper: Article from the Courier-Mail, dated 19 March 2015, titled ‘Opinion: Justice director-general John Sosso’s dismissal is not without precedent and long, bitter memories’ [297].

This man actively tried to run interference so that Joh Bjelke-Petersen could continue gerrymandering here in Queensland. Not content with those efforts, he was then deputy director-general in the Borbidge government when they launched the much maligned Connolly-Ryan inquiry which was seen by many as an attempt to completely discredit the Fitzgerald inquiry—

Mrs Frecklington interjected. Mrs Gerber interjected. Ms GRACE: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I think you did notice that the Attorney-General

interjected and she is on a warning. I think consistency applies.

Mr SPEAKER: You were on a warning, member for Nanango. I am going to have to ask you to leave the chamber for an hour.

Whereupon the honourable member for Nanango withdrew from the chamber at 5.44 pm.

Ms FENTIMAN: I think the member for Currumbin might want to listen to a bit of this history. He was deputy director-general in the Borbidge government when they launched the much maligned Connolly-Ryan inquiry which was seen by many as an attempt to discredit the Fitzgerald inquiry reforms. He was of course the director-general of Justice and Attorney-General in the Newman government when the member for Kawana was the attorney-general. What happened when the member for Kawana was the attorney-general and John Sosso was the director-general? That is right; they appointed Tim Carmody as the chief justice and commenced world war III with the judiciary. This is the history of the individual they want to put on the independent Redistribution Commission.

If John Sosso is appointed to the Queensland Redistribution Commission, will he gerrymander to appease his new boss, his old boss, his good friend and the party that he worked so hard to get into government? Remember, he worked on their incoming government plan. He was helping them before they even were in government. Do we really want to go back to the days when the LNP ran riot, using their positions to silence women, isolate minorities, destroy the environment, disadvantage our First

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Nations people and line the pockets of their mates? That is where it is headed—back to the 1980s. Any redistribution of seats must be independent and it must be done in a fair and democratic way where Queenslanders have a voice. John Sosso should have absolutely nothing to do with the redistribution. Tony Fitzgerald did not trust him and Queenslanders sure as hell should not either.

Hon. TJ NICHOLLS (Clayfield—LNP) (Minister for Health and Ambulance Services) (5.47 pm): Having listened to the member for Waterford, you would think that a meteor is about to hit the earth, the sun is about to explode and gravity is about to go upwards. There is absolutely nothing that you can believe about the member for Waterford and her commitment to making sure that there is a fair process in place. When I hear the member for Waterford utter the words ‘susceptible to influence’, I think back to people who might be susceptible to influence. I think back to whether they had gone on a skiing trip to Whistler. I think back to an estimates where the member for Waterford could not answer a simple question about how much taxpayers were paying to defend her friend Jackie Trad and who has to write not one but two letters to correct the record—

Mr de BRENNI: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order on relevance. The matters that the minister is referring to are not contained within the motion or the amendment. I would ask you to draw him back to the detail of the motion or the amendment.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Clayfield, you know what is stated in the motion and the amendment. I ask you to talk to one or the other or both.

Mr NICHOLLS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I reflect on the comments that have been made by the member for Waterford in the debate, as I do with respect to the words ‘truth, trust and integrity’ when they are used by the member for Murrumba. When I think about truth, trust and integrity and the member for Murrumba, I think back to the renaming of the Lady Cilento hospital to the Children’s Hospital. Members would all remember the survey and the member for Murrumba having the staff bots going in his office, changing the name down there. That was a real example of truth, trust and integrity in the exercise of the Westminster system that he referred to and the member for Waterford referred to.

We have heard a litany of mistruths in the character description of a hardworking public servant. It is a character description that is entirely undeserving of Mr Sosso, who has served both sides of politics, has served on native title tribunals and other Australian tribunals, and has also worked in the department of consumer affairs. They conveniently overlooked the time he worked in the period of the Labor government in consumer affairs, the department of emergency services, including as acting commissioner of consumer affairs, and many other jobs as well, including the first internal ombudsman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

More than that, what those opposite do is impugn the integrity of the other two commissioners. They seem to say, by focusing on Mr Sosso, that the other two commissioners are going to be puppets of Mr Sosso, and that is a disgrace. They are the Electoral Commissioner, an independent person, independently appointed, and Judge Koppenol, a highly respected judge. What they do, and what the Labor Party always do, is besmirch the reputation of those who cannot fight back—no-one more so than the former member for Greenslopes and now member for Woodridge.

What they say now is that Mr Sosso, irrespective of his commitments, is going to overrule and override the decision of a former judge of the Federal Court and the commissioner in charge with administering the Electoral Act. That is what Labor say. They say clearly that all three of those people are unfit to carry on their job. That is exactly what the Labor Party will have the people of Queensland believe. They will say the whole three are able to be swayed by Mr Sosso. What a disgrace!

They come in here and use the privilege of this place, entirely inappropriately, to besmirch the name of a hardworking public servant. That is the nature of the Labor Party. They conveniently brush over their own record. They brush over the record of 2016, when they came in here on 18 minutes notice and changed the voting system—without any consultation, without talking to anyone—for their own political gain. They brush over their changes to the Electoral Act that prohibit people from making donations but keep their union paymasters firmly in their pocket, paying the way. The motion is a disgrace. The amendment should be supported and the Labor Party should be condemned.

Ms GRACE: Mr Speaker— Mr HEAD: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. There was a bit of chatter in the chamber and

the member for McConnel was interjecting. I rose to a point of order to bring to your attention another member on a warning.

Mr SPEAKER: There was a lot of noise. I am not picking up everything, I will grant you. Member for McConnel, you have your chance to talk now.

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Hon. G GRACE (McConnel—ALP) (5.52 pm): This is a motion that I support, moved by the Leader of the Opposition. Our democracy here in Queensland is precious. It has been not even 150 days and the government are at it again. It does not take long for them to go back to the future, and that is why we have moved this particular motion.

In his contribution the Minister for Health misled the House in saying that Labor has problems with all of the appointees. That is far from the truth. Our letter clearly states that we have a problem with Mr John Sosso. I just want to make that clear in the House.

This state’s democracy is especially precious because we fought hard to preserve the integrity of our democratic traditions. Notions like ‘one vote, one value’ were not always honoured in the fabric of our democracy. I myself fought very hard for that. Instead, perversely manipulated electoral boundaries were formulated to create a gerrymander to benefit one side of politics. The perversity, corruption, cronyism and outright criminal behaviour that became entrenched in this state had to be rooted out. That task fell to the redoubtable Tony Fitzgerald. Tony Fitzgerald has gone down in history as the saviour of Queensland’s democracy. His inquiry was a tumultuous and painful period in Queensland’s history. No-one can deny that. The revelations of corrupt and criminal behaviour that his inquiry uncovered were truly shocking, but Queensland is a better place today because of Tony Fitzgerald’s forensic exposure of the rotten core at the heart of Queensland’s then government.

We never want to revisit the corruption of the pre-Fitzgerald era. We never want to go back to the distorted electoral boundaries that were inherently and deliberately unfair. I do not want to see this. My electorate in particular was part of that gerrymander, with huge numbers having to vote for one member—as opposed to those in Western Queensland. Queenslanders do not want to see us go back. We have to ensure the integrity of the electoral system is maintained.

Now we face the prospect that we are going backwards. We face the risk of a return to the moonlight state. The Crisafulli government have signalled they are ready to slide down a slippery slope, with dangerous implications for our state. The government are proposing to appoint a figure from the Fitzgerald era to the Queensland Redistribution Commission.

A government member interjected. Ms GRACE: John Sosso was identified by Tony Fitzgerald—and I take that interjection—and

criticised for his actions, which in essence were designed to thwart the work of the Fitzgerald Inquiry. He clearly said he was ‘doing little willingly to assist’ and he was subject to influence. We know whose influence he is subject to. I thought the Attorney-General displayed just a little bit of overreach in his contribution, because we know who is giving the marching orders in here: the Premier and the Deputy Premier. I do not blame the Attorney-General; I do not think she had any choice. She would have been directed to appoint John Sosso and, of course, she had to do what her leader said.

John Sosso was a member of the Liberal Party. He has a history of clearly partisan political alignment. I have nothing against John Sosso—in fact, I do not think I have ever met him—but, clearly, there are issues in relation to this. Remember, the fish rots from the head. If this appointment were to proceed, it would stink. Such an appointment would stink to high heaven! We cannot allow Queensland democracy to go backwards. This motion is all about ensuring fair electoral boundaries, and we will fight to the death for it.

Mr LISTER (Southern Downs—LNP) (5.57 pm): This is a shameful act by the Labor opposition in Queensland to besmirch the reputation of a fine public servant in Queensland. The implication is that somehow the appointment of Mr Sosso should be different from, say, judicial appointments. The previous government is on record as having appointed magistrates and judicial officers who had been failed Labor candidates or who were related to serving MPs and ministers at the time. I listened to the member for McConnel and those who spoke before her. If that is the standard they felt was appropriate in terms of independence, bipartisanship and inability to be influenced, how could they possibly have any problems with Mr Sosso, who has, as far as I am concerned, an unblemished record?

What those opposite choose to put forward as a snippet of a process which they say is critical of Mr Sosso is very misleading. It was mentioned earlier—I think it must have been the member for Waterford—that the attorney-general at the time, the Hon. Paul Clauson, appointed Mr Sosso. They also besmirch the government of which Mr Clauson was a part and Mr Clauson himself. I will remind the House that Mr Fitzgerald was complimentary of the cooperation he did get from the National Party government during the course of the Fitzgerald inquiry. It was called by the Bjelke-Petersen government. Every single request that the commissioner made for alterations or amendments to the Commissions of Inquiry Act were done without question and every single indemnity that was sought by

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the commissioner from the government was approved without rancour—in fact, even without an assessment of the details, such was the arm’s length approach that they took. I did not see the Labor Party institute a commission of inquiry into corruption when they were in power earlier.

As previous members have said, the zonal system was introduced in 1949 by the Hanlon government. At that time you had four zones: south-east, coastal, western and northern. There was a difference between the electorates that Labor felt they could not win and the electorates that they aspired to win or held of three to one—12,000 in some and 4,000 in another. That was a Labor design, and for members of this House to ignore the origin of the zonal system is very one-sided and is part of this obscene attempt to besmirch the reputation of Mr Sosso.

Mr Head interjected. Mr LISTER: I take that interjection from the member for Callide. The member for Waterford talked

about lining the pockets of mates—that must be rebutted. Talk about lining the pockets of mates—the Labor Party made an art form of that! The number of union bosses and spouses of union bosses and mates to whom they owed favours because they did not get a good preselection or because they did not win who found themselves on statutory authorities, in judicial appointments and in other influential jobs—sometimes making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year—is a matter of public record. I have not seen anything in the government which I support to suggest that we are into that kind of thing; it is the Labor Party that have made an art form of looking after mates. It has enriched the union movement and the bosses and given them almost unchallenged power through the amendments that they made in this place around industrial relations legislation and to the appointments that they made to various instrumentalities.

I might say, I remember the member for McConnel arguing with me that it was not inappropriate to appoint a union boss or a former union boss to conduct a review of industrial relations legislation in this place. Let’s be clear: what Mr Sosso is accused of is nothing. For his reputation to be besmirched in this place is a disgraceful stunt designed so that the mere appearance of impropriety will somehow discredit the forthcoming redistribution. There is no suggestion that the Electoral Act will be altered to require a differential in enrolments other than what we already have now. What are they talking about? This is just another attempt to smear and to create the appearance of impropriety so they can direct mail our letterboxes and create trouble.

Mr RUSSO (Toohey—ALP) (6.02 pm): I rise to support the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition. The Crisafulli government is travelling down a dangerous path—a dangerous path to a time when the seedy underbelly ruled and reached the highest office in this state. As the member for McConnel said, the fish rots from the head. Tony Fitzgerald, the man who changed the very fabric of the political and legal system in this state, proved that nearly 40 years ago. Believe it or not, I was around then. I was working in the courthouse as the Fitzgerald inquiry played out and I watched as politics and the law changed in Queensland for the better. All this is at risk with the appointment of the LNP aligned John Sosso to the Queensland Redistribution Commission.

In the past fortnight, this LNP government have spoken a lot about the future of this state—the opportunities, the legacies—but what they did not mention was their plan to drag Queensland back into the shadows—back in time to the moonlight state, a time of the bagman and gerrymandering. It is deeply concerning, then, that this LNP government, led by Premier Crisafulli, seeks to return to this time through the appointment of Mr Sosso to this position. The move risks undoing the work of corruption buster Tony Fitzgerald. The Premier says he wants to govern with integrity, yet he seeks to undermine the electoral system through the Attorney-General’s proposed appointment. As the Clerk would attest, the electoral system is at the heart of any parliamentary democracy.

Let me tell you, the Premier has no integrity—absolutely none. If he did, he would not be entertaining this idea. There are absolutely no question marks over Mr Sosso’s ties to the Liberal National Party. He was a member of the LNP. He served as director-general under former premier Borbidge. He served as director-general in the department of justice under Newman, and who could forget Mr Sosso’s role in the LNP’s bungled boot camps—a legacy of Queensland’s worst attorney-general, the member for Kawana. But the member for Kawana did not mind: he brought him back as his right-hand man to serve as his director-general. Mr Sosso is acting like the member for Kawana’s new-age bagman—the political bulldozer brought in to do the LNP fixing.

Let’s not forget: Mr Sosso was an active player in the Fitzgerald inquiry. He was appointed as secretary to the inquiry but, as has been stated, he was not there for long. Mr Fitzgerald said— Sosso didn’t last long in that role but returned to the Justice Department which, as the Inquiry report notes, did little willingly to assist the Inquiry.

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This is the very inquiry the Queensland Redistribution Commission comes from and which Fitzgerald said should be ‘conducted by a person or group of people of undoubted integrity whose judgement will be acceptable to all political parties and the general community’.

Mr Sosso was recently included in an article outlining the likely powerbrokers of the incoming Crisafulli government. He was the political appointment on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by former Liberal senator George Brandis. This is a political appointment through and through. The very idea of this appointment is rotten—rotten to the core, like this Crisafulli LNP government.

Hon. BA MICKELBERG (Buderim—LNP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (6.07 pm): I rise to speak against the opposition’s motion and in support of the Attorney-General’s amendment. This is the act of an opposition that is desperate, floundering and without ideas. This is an opposition that is bereft of policy and has taken to playing the man—someone who cannot come in here and defend themselves, I might add. They are so bereft of integrity that they will not actually talk about ideas, policies and the contest of ideas, which is what this place should be about. I speak in support of the amendment.

Mr Dick interjected. Mr MICKELBERG: I can hear the interjections from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition—and

long may he stay the deputy opposition leader, because he is not up to the job. He is a man who has a glass jaw; he wants to come in here and dish it out but he cannot take it. He cannot take it. He cannot ask a question. He should sit there and listen occasionally. Maybe he might learn something.

I speak to the amendment, which talks of Labor’s history of gerrymandering in Queensland. It talks about it being introduced by the Hanlon government in 1949. Indeed, it was in 1949 that the Hanlon Labor government sought to introduce a gerrymander, but Labor’s history when it comes to gerrymandering in Queensland actually goes back a lot further. In fact, I quote from an article in the Sydney Morning Herald from 18 May 1923. I do not know if anyone in this House was alive then. Some may have been—maybe the member for Toohey. The article states— Labour is in a strong position in the new single-Chamber Parliament of Queensland because of the gerrymandering of the State on the occasion of the last electoral redistribution.

It goes on to say that, based on the number of votes for each party, Labor should have won 37 seats, with anti-Labor parties winning 35. Instead, under Labor’s gerrymandering in 1923—a fair while ago— they got 44 seats compared to 28.

Labor have a strong track record when it comes to rigging the electoral system. Who can forget when they came into this House and amended the Electoral Act with 18 minutes notice? They amended the Electoral Act to benefit themselves, so they could cosy up with the Greens. There was no consideration by committee and no consultation with the community. They just slid it into this House in the dead of night to suit their own political agenda, to solidify their own political power. That is Labor’s record.

It is hypocritical for Labor to come in here and attack a man who has served both LNP and Labor governments. When she was reading out Mr Sosso’s biography, the member for Waterford conveniently missed the seven years he served Wayne Goss. He worked for seven years as a senior member of the Goss government—an honest public servant who served Labor. They conveniently forget that. They conveniently missed that off the list, and that tells us everything about Labor’s motivation here tonight. Labor are seeking to smear a man who has served Queenslanders for many years—a man who is well qualified, a man who helped draft amendments to the Electoral Act in his service to governments of both sides and a man who is well fitted to this role to which we seek to appoint him.

I have a question for those opposite. Who would they have us appoint? Maybe Dave Hannah— Mr Mander: Michael Ravbar. Mr MICKELBERG:—Michael Ravbar— A government member: Jade Ingham. Mr MICKELBERG:—Jade Ingham and Mike Kaiser? Who can forget that impartial arbiter, Mike

Kaiser? I did not hear them squealing too much when he was appointed to run the government under those opposite. He was hand-picked by the now opposition leader. An admitted vote rorter was tasked with administering the opposition of the state at that time—a man whose political ties run deep and are unquestionable. They did not apply this standard back then.

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This is nothing more than cheap political pointscoring by an opposition that is not up to it and an opposition leader who is not up to it. Long may the people of Queensland remember that this mob are not fit to govern.

(Time expired) Hon. MAJ SCANLON (Gaven—ALP) (6.12 pm): Talking about people who are not up to it, all

the member for Buderim could reference were actions taken over a hundred years ago. He asks what policies on integrity of the electoral system the Labor party wants to put forward. When the Premier, the Deputy Premier and the Attorney-General sat in this House, how did they vote on banning developer donations? They did not agree with that. How did they vote on lifting the disclosure threshold so Queenslanders could see who was donating to political parties? They were not so big on transparency then, were they?

I rise to support the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition because trust in our electoral system matters. Queenslanders deserve to know that their democratic system is not being gerrymandered, that the government of the day will not use its powers to game a system to their benefit and their interests and, frankly, the interests of their benefactors. Appointing John Sosso to the independent Queensland Redistribution Commission does not pass the pub test and it also does not meet the expectations Tony Fitzgerald set out. While I may not have been around during the Fitzgerald inquiry, I know how significant that moment in history was in reforming this state for the better.

Mr Dick: Every Queenslander should. Ms SCANLON: I take the interjection—every Queenslander should—but what is clear is that

members of the government have not taken those recommendations seriously. Those expectations resulted in recommendations establishing a periodic review of the number of parliamentarians and boundaries to be undertaken by an independent authority. That is the key word here: ‘independent’, not influenced or controlled in any other way.

John Sosso is someone who, by his own admission, was a member of the Liberal National Party. He has a long history of working for LNP governments: Bjelke-Petersen, Borbidge, Newman and now Crisafulli. He has been personally thanked in parliament by former senator Santoro as well as by the member for Clayfield. Mr Sosso served as the director-general for the member for Kawana overseeing some very questionable decisions. I know that many of those have been laid out by former speakers. Surprise, surprise: Mr Sosso has loyally followed the LNP to 1 William Street to serve as the Deputy Premier’s right-hand man without a merit-based selection process. We heard a lot about merit-based selection processes when they were in opposition, although they are a bit quiet about them now.

Unfortunately, time does not permit me to outline the many questions that this appointment and Mr Sosso’s connection with the member for Kawana spark, but there are many, particularly given some of the comments made by those opposite when they were in opposition. What is really clear is that John Sosso has a political past and, as such, this is a partisan appointment. If his appointment goes through, it will be like putting the member for Nanango in charge of integrity, frankly, because we have not seen a lot of integrity from the so-called Minister for Integrity. We have not seen cabinet documents.

Mr Mickelberg interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Buderim, you are now warned. Ms SCANLON: Now, clearly, they are trying to influence the outcome of the next election by

appointing people they know will serve their political interests. This is a complete and utter farce and it is really concerning for Queensland. The appointment of Mr Sosso to the independent Queensland Redistribution Commission cannot proceed. If Premier Crisafulli had a shred of credibility, like some of the former premiers in this state, he would admit that they got it wrong and look further afield across government to a wealth of directors-general and chief executives who would be able to fill this position and who are beyond reproach.

Mr Minnikin interjected. Mr SPEAKER: Member for Chatsworth, there will be no quarrelling across the chamber. Ms SCANLON: ‘I would prefer the appointment process have the bipartisan support of a

committee representative of all parties.’ Those are not my words; those are the words of the independent Clerk of this parliament, Neil Laurie, in a submission regarding an LNP bill in respect of the Redistribution Commission, and I agree with that sentiment. The positions on this committee should be bipartisan and, as such, I and the Queensland opposition cannot support the LNP government’s appointment of John Sosso.

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Hon. FS SIMPSON (Maroochydore—LNP) (Minister for Women and Women’s Economic Security, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Multiculturalism) (6.17 pm): There seems to be a case of both amnesia and hypocrisy in the Labor Party. We have just heard from the shadow attorney-general and she has somehow conveniently forgotten that the public servant she is besmirching actually also served a Labor government and former premier Goss—

Mrs Gerber: For seven years. Ms SIMPSON: For seven years this person served a Labor government, yet when I heard the

CV being outlined that was conveniently left off. To hear the opposition do this tends to highlight that they protest too much and they overreach. In fact, in addition to having amnesia and a great case of hypocrisy, they do a tremendous disservice to the other members being appointed to this commission that will conduct the electoral boundary review. If we were to believe the Labor Party that somehow democracy was crashing down and suddenly all of the principles of integrity in government were being thrown out and there is going to be a rorting of the boundaries—if you listen to their overreach and their contributions—that would mean that the other people, the two other independent commission members, are somehow susceptible to influence, to inappropriately being lent on and misled. They must be people of such low intellectual capacity and core ability to determine whether or not they are being led by the nose, if you believe the other side, and they are somehow shocking in their suitability to be appointed to these very important positions, which are required by legislation. Legislation requires these positions. It requires us to have not one person; in fact, we must have three people.

Who are these other people who are being besmirched and accused of being of such low intellect and integrity? Let us have a look. One is the Electoral Commissioner of Queensland, Pat Vidgen. What a shame to hear his name being besmirched by the inference where those opposite are pointing the finger at one person and damning all by assuming that they will not have the ability to do their job because those opposite do not like one of the people who is being appointed. Who is the other person? The other person is former District Court Judge Koppenol.

Opposition members interjected. Ms SIMPSON: Did I just hear an opposition member say that they are dodgy? Honourable members interjected. Ms SIMPSON: I heard that word from the other side. What we have heard very clearly from the

other side in the context of their contributions is that they are besmirching all of the members of the panel because they do not want to acknowledge a man who has been appointed to this position as a director-general and who has also served Labor governments, Labor premiers.

There is overreach and hypocrisy, and let me get to the hypocrisy of this mob—the Shepherdson inquiry. They are the only mob that have had self-confessed rorters in their midst who took the laws and abused them and in fact later on rose to be at high levels within the Public Service under Labor— the highest level. The Shepherdson inquiry was about Labor Party members who rorted the system— rorted the Electoral Act—in order to stack their options.

Let us also talk about the hypocrisy of how Labor gave 18 minutes notice before it changed the electoral voting system in Queensland. It changed the law. Here we are talking about the appointment of three people to positions to look at the electoral boundaries of Queensland, as required by law. Those opposite are besmirching the other two people in order to target one, but they do not want to talk about how they changed the law with 18 minutes notice—with no prior warning, no transparency and contrary to the EARC process that was recommended as part of the Fitzgerald inquiry. They talk about Fitzgerald and then they ignore that they absolutely trashed that with regard to the EARC recommendation around optional preferential voting. They knew that they had an advantage when they changed the voting system in the way they did—without transparency and engagement, and without a proper process. They gave 18 minutes notice and changed the electoral voting system to advantage themselves. They are hypocrites. They have convenient amnesia and nobody believes that they have considered all of the matters before the House.

Hon. CR DICK (Woodridge—ALP) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (6.22 pm): Queenslanders already know the Crisafulli LNP government has an integrity problem—a litany of broken promises on crime, health, the Olympics, housing, you name it: the list goes on—but now this government is responsible for something even more troubling. The Crisafulli LNP government has signalled in the most disturbing fashion that it is willing to take a dangerous step back in time. The Crisafulli LNP

2 Apr 2025 Motion 753

government is willing to take a step down the slippery road back to the dark old days—the days of Queensland pre-Fitzgerald, the days of the moonlight state, the days of the joke, the days of bagmen, political cronies and the undemocratic days of gerrymanders.

The Crisafulli LNP government is proposing that a notorious figure from the days of the Fitzgerald inquiry be appointed to the electoral Redistribution Commission. The appointment of John Sosso to the electoral Redistribution Commission would be more than wrong; it would be a travesty. It would be akin to the Crisafulli government appointing a bagman to carry out its agenda, because, make no mistake. John Sosso is Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie’s bagman. The ‘Jarrod-mander’ is on its way because the good old boys are back in town. This is an attempt to undermine a process that should be free of any possible hint of political taint or preference.

It was a difficult and tortuous time for Queensland, but in the end Queensland Labor removed the worst excesses of political cronyism that had plagued Queensland for decades and it is why today Queensland Labor seeks to remove a partisan political figure—John Sosso—from the Queensland Redistribution Commission. True to form, the LNP Crisafulli government is harking back to its atavistic roots. John Sosso—the man the LNP wants to appoint to the electoral Redistribution Commission— was named by Tony Fitzgerald, and not in a good way. Mr Fitzgerald described Mr Sosso as someone who was running interference. Can members imagine being named by Tony Fitzgerald as running interference on his inquiry? In essence, Mr Sosso was actively working against the interests of the Fitzgerald inquiry at the behest of his political masters.

John Sosso was proud to be a member of the Liberal Party. He was so proud. He is a person and was a person of partisan political alignment. The appointment of someone of any political allegiance to a body like the electoral Redistribution Commission is anathema to the very purpose of that body. This is a commission tasked with ensuring that future electoral boundaries in Queensland align with the tenets of our democracy—Queensland democracy—and align with the notion of a fair go. It requires the appointment of nonpartisan individuals who can reasonably be expected to discharge their obligations without any taint of bias or hint of political favour.

I think any reasonable person looking at the history of Mr Sosso would have serious doubts about his proposed appointment. The test for the government is to make appointments to the electoral Redistribution Commission that meet the highest possible threshold of impartiality and fairness, untainted by any hint of allegiance, bias or preference, and Premier David Crisafulli has failed that test. Queenslanders who remember the tumult—the tortuous time—of the Fitzgerald era and the painful reckoning, purging and cleansing that followed no doubt had always hoped that those dark days were behind us all. Now it seems Premier David Crisafulli wants to take us back.

Queenslanders will be alarmed by this disturbing development. If this appointment to the electoral Redistribution Commission were to proceed, it would mark a dangerous precedent. It would mark a slide back into the murk and muck of the gerrymandered pre-Fitzgerald era—an era where political cronies rampantly pursued their own interests at the expense of a good and just and democratic Queensland society. If this appointment were to proceed, it would say everything Queenslanders needed to know about the Crisafulli LNP government’s moral fabric, its character and its respect for democracy. Of all the directors-general in the Queensland government this is the one man the Premier seeks to appoint to the electoral Redistribution Commission, and that is all every Queenslander needs to know. This appointment would be a travesty; it would be a step back to the moonlight state. For even considering such an act of political cronyism, the Premier should be condemned and so should his government.

Hon. JP BLEIJIE (Kawana—LNP) (Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations) (6.27 pm): If Queenslanders want any more understanding of why they turfed out the former Labor government, it is the disgraceful display that we have seen today—an attack on a public servant who has served the state and the Commonwealth of Australia for over 41 years under both political persuasions and appointed by both political persuasions at the Commonwealth level and the state level. The reason Mr Sosso serves as my director-general is to sort out the Olympic and Paralympic Games debacle overseen by the former mob and to sort out resetting the planning partnership with local government across the state.

When I talk to public servants across my department, they are so pleased that they have a leader in Mr John Sosso and I would challenge those opposite today to say the disgraceful comments that they have said in here outside. It is one thing to come in here into the cowards castle and say crazy things—words like ‘return of a city underbelly’, ‘a notorious figure’, implicating that Mr Sosso is some crime figure in the underworld. It is disgraceful. These are unhinged attacks by the Labor Party. Crazy stuff!

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I do not have to go through the history of Mr Sosso at the Commonwealth and state level, but I do make the point, as members have said in this place: every member opposite read the CV of Mr Sosso out, but they kept missing seven years—like it just disappeared from the face of the earth— and it was the seven years that Mr Sosso served under former premier Wayne Goss. If it was okay to serve under former premier Wayne Goss at that time, why is it not okay to continue in the Public Service by serving on the Redistribution Commission—the Redistribution Commission, I might add, with an Electoral Commissioner appointed by the Labor Party, a retired District Court judge appointed to the District Court by the Labor Party and then Mr John Sosso, a current director-general who helped write the Electoral Act following the Fitzgerald inquiry? I could think of no better director-general to serve on the electoral Redistribution Commission than him and the others—the three—whom we will appoint.

I see the former treasurer, the member for Woodridge, laughing. He came in here and moved a motion with all but a minute’s notice to change how Queenslanders voted, to con Queenslanders and corrupt the electoral system in relation to how people voted, with 17 minutes or so notice, on an amendment to a bill that had nothing to do with that change. Then they banned developers from donating, but not unions—not the CFMEU. Give me a break! They lecture us on the hits to democracy; democracy was hurt with 10 years of the former Labor government. I heard the shadow attorney-general talking about the political past. It got me doing some research and wondering about Mr Sosso’s political past. Luckily, Mr Sosso is a stickler for record keeping and documents.

Mr Nicholls: That’s why they don’t like him. Mr Lister: That’s why they don’t like him. Mr BLEIJIE: That is why they don’t like him. Ms GRACE: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I think you have warned the member for

Southern Downs and he was interjecting. Obviously, consistency should apply.

Mr SPEAKER: I will control the House and he is not warned. Mr BLEIJIE: Mr Sosso is a stickler for record keeping. Let me read into Hansard a letter dated

21 December 1972 addressed to Master John Sosso— Dear John,

Thank you for your inquiry seeking information in connection with joining the Young Labor Association.

I have contacted the Secretary concerned, requesting that he contact you and assist you with your application in accordance with the Rules.

I am also forwarding to you under separate cover a quantity of literature, which should be of interest to you.

Yours sincerely,

B R Lourigan,

State Secretary.

The letterhead reads ‘It’s time’ and ‘Australian Labor Party’. That was not the Liberal Party brand at the time. I table that letter. Tabled paper: Letter, dated 21 September 1972, from the State Secretary and Queensland Campaign Director, Australian Labor Party 1972 Nation Campaign, Mr BR Lourigan, to Master John Sosso, regarding his enquiry in connection with joining the Young Labor Association [299].

I will also quote from a letter from the leader of the opposition at the time, Mr Jack Houston, dated 14 September 1972 to Mr Sosso. It reads— I was very pleased to receive your letter of 5th September and certainly appreciate your kind remarks.

Naturally I was interested in your desire to join Young Labor.

I table that letter. Tabled paper: Letter, dated 14 September 1972, from the then Leader of the Opposition, Mr Jack Houston, to Mr John Sosso, regarding his interest in joining Young Labor [298].

Those opposite did not know about that, did they? If they want to talk about political history, they should put all of the facts on the table. This is a disgraceful attack on a long-serving career public servant.

Division: Question put—That the amendment be agreed to.

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AYES, 48: LNP, 48—Baillie, Barounis, Bates, Bennett, Bleijie, Boothman, Camm, Crandon, Crisafulli, Dillon, Doolan, Dooley, Field,

Gerber, Head, Hutton, Hunt, B. James, T. James, Janetzki, G. Kelly, Kempton, Kirkland, Langbroek, Last, Leahy, Lee, Lister, Mander, Marr, McDonald, Mickelberg, Minnikin, Molhoek, Morton, Nicholls, O’Connor, Perrett, Poole, Powell, Purdie, Rowan, Simpson, Stevens, Stoker, Watts, Vorster, Young.

NOES, 31: ALP, 31—Asif, Bourne, Boyd, Bush, Butcher, de Brenni, Dick, Farmer, Fentiman, Furner, Grace, Howard, J. Kelly, King,

Linard, Martin, McCallum, McMillan, Mellish, Miles, Mullen, Nightingale, O’Shea, Power, Pugh, Russo, Ryan, Scanlon, Smith, Sullivan, Whiting.

Pair: Krause, Pease.

Resolved in the affirmative. Amendment agreed to. Division: Question put—That the motion, as amended, be agreed to.

AYES, 48: LNP, 48—Baillie, Barounis, Bates, Bennett, Bleijie, Boothman, Camm, Crandon, Crisafulli, Dillon, Doolan, Dooley, Field,

Gerber, Head, Hutton, Hunt, B. James, T. James, Janetzki, G. Kelly, Kempton, Kirkland, Langbroek, Last, Leahy, Lee, Lister, Mander, Marr, McDonald, Mickelberg, Minnikin, Molhoek, Morton, Nicholls, O’Connor, Perrett, Poole, Powell, Purdie, Rowan, Simpson, Stevens, Stoker, Watts, Vorster, Young.

NOES, 31: ALP, 31—Asif, Bourne, Boyd, Bush, Butcher, de Brenni, Dick, Farmer, Fentiman, Furner, Grace, Howard, J. Kelly, King,

Linard, Martin, McCallum, McMillan, Mellish, Miles, Mullen, Nightingale, O’Shea, Power, Pugh, Russo, Ryan, Scanlon, Smith, Sullivan, Whiting.

Pair: Krause, Pease.

Resolved in the affirmative. Motion, as agreed—

That this House: 1. notes the history of gerrymandering in Queensland, initially introduced by the Hanlon Labor government in 1949. 2. notes that redistribution of electoral boundaries by an independent authority was a key outcome of the Fitzgerald inquiry

and the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission. 3. condemns the member for Murrumba for defaming a public servant who has served for multiple decades under both

Labor and LNP. 4. notes the former Labor government’s efforts to corrupt the electoral process by changing the voting system in defiance

of Fitzgerald era recommendations and their installation of a financial gerrymander that favoured their union donors. 5. notes the makeup of this committee of a judge, a director-general and the Electoral Commissioner is the same as that

appointed by Labor in 2017. 6. notes the LNP Crisafulli government has ensured appointments to the Queensland Redistribution Commission are truly

independent and beyond reproach.

PRIVILEGE

Comments by Member for Stafford, Withdrawal and Apology Mr SULLIVAN (Stafford—ALP) (6.39 pm): Mr Speaker, I rise on a matter of privilege suddenly

arising that was brought to your attention just before this motion was moved. I made an interjection this evening, directed at the government motion, which was unparliamentary in language and therefore I withdraw those comments and apologise to you as Speaker and to the House.

Sitting suspended from 6.40 pm to 7.40 pm.

MOTION

Weather Events, Response Hon. DF CRISAFULLI (Broadwater—LNP) (Premier and Minister for Veterans) (7.40 pm): I

move— That this House: 1. acknowledges the damage caused by flooding across widespread parts of Western Queensland; 2. extends support for those who have suffered injury and those who have lost their homes, property, livestock and personal

possessions;

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3. records its appreciation for the hard work of all emergency service personnel, frontline responders, local, state and federal agencies, community members and volunteers, and members of the Australian Defence Force who are supporting Queenslanders and will continue to support them through the recovery; and

4. pledges to support all Queenslanders, including those still recovering from recent severe weather in both the north and south of the state, to ensure that Queensland recovers from this disaster, with a focus on increasing resilience for future events.

Queenslanders are down but certainly not out. Tonight we move this motion in a bid to show how, right across the political divide, we are thinking of our mates, particularly in the west but also those in the north and south of the state who have been impacted by the might of Mother Nature in calendar year 2025. Calendar year 2025 will be remembered for all the wrong reasons when it comes to what disasters can do to our state but for all the right reasons when it comes to the resilience and strength of our community. There are many things that I could speak about tonight. There are tales of destruction of people’s homes and impacts on their businesses. There are tales of primary producers who are right now staring down the barrel of some of the worst conditions they have ever seen. Instead, I want to tell the story of Trumby.

Alongside the members for Gregory, Warrego and Gympie, I met Trumby this morning. He was at the community recovery hub in Longreach. He had just gone for breakfast. He told me what it was like to see the water rising at his place. He told me what it was like to lose all of the possessions such as the member for Gregory so articulately spoke about yesterday. He told me what it was like to have to leave a home that held all his memories without knowing what might await him. Sadly, he now knows what awaits him because his brother remains on the property. The devastation is immense. They have lost stock, they have lost possessions and, in many ways, they have lost the desire to rebuild that property. It was really difficult to hear his story today. When a strong, proud Western Queensland man wells with emotion, it is hard not to feel a form of genuine remorse and also a sense of hopelessness.

Something really struck me about Trumby. The community recovery staff were there and they do an amazing job. They are great people. Trumby did not want to fill out the form for assistance because he believes that he has been helped enough by being rescued. This is a man who has lost next to everything. He was thinking about the impact on others at a time when he was at rock bottom.

I say to all of the people in his shoes such as the amazing Queenslanders I met in Quilpie, including the people of Adavale where all homes have been completely inundated, and the farmers who right now are wondering whether or not they will be able to pick up broken fences and rebuild: we are on your side and we will see it through. We know that this proud state will bounce back.

Hon. SJ MILES (Murrumba—ALP) (Leader of the Opposition) (7.44 pm): I rise to support the motion moved by the Premier. As I said yesterday, Queenslanders are tough. We cop some of nature’s worst but we get up and we get on with the job. This year we have already experienced so much, from the floods in North and North-West Queensland to the cyclone in the south-east and now, sadly, it is our friends across Western Queensland who have been inundated. Across the outback, communities have experienced the worst flooding in 50 years. It is higher than the levels experienced in 1974. That is a lot of water. In those communities there are not many places for the water to go, so the floodwaters rise quickly but the impacts linger for far longer. That carries an emotional toll.

I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of local councils across the impacted regions. They are not big city councils with endless buckets of money and resources. In Western Queensland, our local government representatives often wear many hats. For some, this may be their first big disaster. Their commitment to preparing their towns and relentless drive to support their communities is commendable. To the mayors and councillors on the front line, thank you.

To the first responders who have no doubt worked on all of our major flood events, you are our heroes. Thank you for everything you do and for being there to lend a helping hand. Responding to a natural disaster is a relentless job that often comes at the expense of protecting your own property.

Our road, rail and community infrastructure has also been damaged. I know some of our critical Western Queensland connectors have been washed out. For some, that brings back memories of the flooding in 2019. I know TMR crews and the Queensland Rail teams will be on the ground, working hard to reconnect communities. Roads are the lifeblood of western communities. For our farmers, graziers and primary producers, roads are their livelihoods. Earlier this year we committed to rebuilding back better following the floods in Ingham. I am sure that will be the commitment made to those communities affected by this disaster. We want to see betterment and resilience. It is what Queenslanders deserve.

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Recovery will be a long road but, as Queenslanders, we are lucky that we know how to do it and we know how to do it well. I want every family, every farmer, every business owner and every person impacted by this wet weather event to know that we stand with you. We are here to support you now and for the long haul.

Hon. A LEAHY (Warrego—LNP) (Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers) (7.46 pm): I rise to support this motion which goes to the very heart of Queensland. The people of Western Queensland are tough and they have really proved it in the last week, and so have their mayors: Tony Rayner, Sally O’Neil, Ben Hall, ‘Tractor’ Ferguson and Suzette Beresford. Along with their councillors, CEOs and staff, they have been working around the clock to support their communities. They have had many nights without sleep as they have worked to keep their communities safe and fight back against the impacts of the flood disaster. I know ‘Tractor’ Ferguson has not slept in days, but he probably would not tell you that. Mayor Ben Hall has been coordinating Quilpie’s response whilst housing the entire population of Adavale, where many have lost everything. At the same time, he has dealt with a flood in Eromanga and a flood threat to Quilpie.

I acknowledge all of our emergency service workers, frontline workers and rural landholders, some of whom have lost much of their properties and their stock. I have met firies and SES volunteers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Residents tell me the swiftwater rescues in Adavale were nothing short of heroic. I pass on the thanks of 89-year-old Rob Savory to the SES members who washed out his muddy home in Eromanga. I acknowledge all of the chopper pilots who have been slinging fodder to stranded livestock, running supplies from property to property and doing river monitoring where the gauges have simply washed away. Their contribution to the disaster response and future recovery is critical.

We may never know all the names of the Queenslanders, the volunteers and the farmers who have rolled up their sleeves and muddied their boots with red dirt in this flood disaster. They have been sandbagging businesses and homes, desperately moving livestock to higher ground or simply doing the daily check on their neighbour. To the unknown Queenslander pitching in during the western floods, I cannot thank you enough. For the communities in the Warrego electorate, from Eulo to Adavale, Thargomindah, Quilpie, Eromanga and Hungerford, which is still in the firing line, the Crisafulli government acknowledges and thanks you for your massive efforts.

We are not out of the woods yet. I have been there on the ground and I have stepped through the floodwaters and the mud with you. Be it in the north, the south, the east or the west of the state, we will be there with you for every step of the recovery journey.

Ms BOYD (Pine Rivers—ALP) (7.49 pm): Time and time again, Queensland has experienced record rainfall and disaster events that have been unsurpassed. This last week has brought torrential rain, re-creating our ancient inland sea. People of the bush welcome the rain and the Channel Country is at its most picturesque with some overland flow, but people of the bush will be the first to say they never want too much rain.

The country’s topography and watercourses cannot keep pace with the massive inundation they have experienced, and this has isolated communities and damaged properties. This will continue for some time as the massive amounts of water meander slowly downstream. Make no mistake: this inland sea re-creation is not a thing of dreams; it is one of nightmares. The heartbreak and the anguish of the bush was laid bare to this chamber through the member for Gregory’s poignant contribution to this place yesterday when he quoted Adavale resident Emily Green.

The loss of livestock is six figures and growing—the heartbreak being retold as the wool did not come off the backs of sheep, a devastating impact felt twice as deep. The massive loss of livestock is heartbreaking. They are succumbing to this water, getting stranded and stuck in muddy quagmires—or they may perish in the elements to come. The loss of stock and property—seeing the product of your blood, sweat and tears washed away—is devastating. The emotional and psychological impact of these events cannot be underestimated, and I encourage anyone who needs specialist disaster counselling to reach out to the dedicated Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 116 671.

While our western communities may be small in size, they are mighty in their contribution to our state and we are united and resolved to see them back on their feet as soon as possible. I acknowledge the vast number of local government areas that have been affected by this event, including their local government representatives and council staff, for their critical and tireless response. I also acknowledge the first responders who have, once again, been outstanding. In remote areas such as these impacted by this event, the whole community wraps around one another in every imaginable way. To those everyday heroes who have stepped up and stepped in, we say thank you.

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Western Queenslanders have hearts of gold. Despite being a south-easter born and bred, it is in Western Queensland that I have shorn a sheep, harvested crops and drunk beers with some of the best Queenslanders I have had the privilege of meeting. That heart, resolve and larrikinism is something that I personally love so much and will no doubt be key to getting them through the toughest and most gruelling days ahead. To Western Queenslanders I say: we all stand with you through the long days of responding to this event and the very long days of recovery to come.

Mr DILLON (Gregory—LNP) (7.52 pm): I would like to echo the comments of all of the members who have spoken before me to the Premier’s motion and, without repeating them, wholeheartedly support them. The same goes, I am sure, for the comments of those who will speak after me. Western Queensland is still facing an unfolding disaster. We are talking recovery in some places, but there is an unfolding disaster with water still peaking in the Thomson and in the upper parts of the Cooper Creek Catchment. Considerable water is still flowing in the Barcoo after rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Last Wednesday night, it became apparent that this was not going to be an ordinary Western Queensland flood, with the Vergemont channels right through to the Barcoo and Adavale all receiving torrential rain on top of already sodden paddocks. We have seen whole communities evacuated and partial communities evacuated, whole homesteads evacuated and partial homesteads evacuated. Today in Longreach, the Premier, the Minister for Primary Industries, the Minister for Local Government and Water and I met with town community members from Jundah like Bob, an opal miner. He has a full understanding of what has happened to his house, but there is no access into that community for him to return.

The community of Jundah, through the leadership of the Barcoo Shire Council and the mayor, not only have a rural agricultural crisis on their hands but also have to recover the power, water and sewerage as well as clean individual private dwellings. This is replicated in Adavale, where I met with Ray on a couple of nights. Not only have their community services gone; their own private services and their pets have gone too, as I talked about yesterday.

The government is working in partnership with private industry. The member for Warrego singled out the chopper pilots. I would like to make a special mention of Bob and Andrea Speed at Retreat Station near Jundah because they have been a base outside of Jundah for up to six helicopters. They are providing feed and a base for avgas, all of their own volition. Retreat is a station off the grid. The solar panels went under water so they are running on generators and housing dozens of helicopter pilots.

Shane and Lauren at Channel Country Helicopters in Quilpie are back on power, and they have a dozen helicopter pilots. Those helicopter pilots are at the front line of our emergency response, along with the SES and Ergon workers. We will stand with the communities of the central-west and the south-west as they rebuild, but it will be a long road.

Mr SMITH (Bundaberg—ALP) (7.55 pm): Yesterday, the Minister for Primary Industries reported to the House the devastation of this weather event on our primary producers. The minister outlined estimates of more than 105,000 missing and dead livestock, comprising more than 50,000 cattle, more than 51,000 sheep and over 3,000 other livestock such as goats and stock horses. Sadly, though not unexpectedly, we have heard those numbers rise today. It is now estimated more than 150,000 livestock are dead or missing, comprising more than 70,000 cattle, 70,000 sheep and more than 10,000 goats. I wish to thank the minister for sharing these numbers with the House so that we can all take thought in the personal hardship and financial devastation for those producers impacted.

I note the work of the Department of Primary Industries in Queensland and the assistance from federal government agencies in responding at this time of need. Assistance grants are in place and provisions of agricultural importance, such as fodder and fuel, are being delivered from the sky by local helicopter companies and government agencies.

Our primary producers are working people. They are the ones who face uncertain times in a harsh climate. They are the ones who rise early and do not rest until the job is done. They are the ones who are the employers and the workers of a regional town’s driving industry. They are the mums and the dads, the wise words relied on, the sponsors of local community groups and the givers to charities that provide to those more vulnerable in their part of regional Queensland. Across Queensland, the Queenslanders who work to feed us before the dinner can go on their table need our support.

We have heard of the devastating impacts on communities across Queensland, but in that devastation we have seen the best of Queensland that sits in the regional heart of our state. In an ABC article, grazier Anthony Glasson spoke of opening up his homestead to those evacuating from inundation. Despite 20,000 hectares of his property being underwater, or about to go under water,

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Mr Glasson’s homestead was able to take in 25 people, and that is where his thoughts were at the time. He is quoted as saying— We’ve got beds here.

About the evacuees he said— We’re working to get them choppered over the river and we can pick them up.

This is the spirit that gives Queenslanders the resolve to face the challenges that are thrown at us—the knowledge that, no matter that which confronts us, it is us as Queenslanders whom we can all rely on.

Hon. AJ PERRETT (Gympie—LNP) (Minister for Primary Industries) (7.58 pm): I rise to support this motion. This motion acknowledges the damage from the Western Queensland floods, expresses our support for those impacted, thanks those who have stepped up to provide support and recommits our support for those impacted by previous weather events in the north and south of Queensland.

The numbers and statistics are staggering: more than half a million square kilometres have been inundated and more than two million livestock have been caught in the flood footprint. That is twice the size of Victoria and almost eight times the size of Tasmania. The losses will be catastrophic. Preliminary estimates of immediate losses and damage and the long-term costs are significant. The personal and community implications will be significant.

Today I travelled to Longreach with the Premier, Minister Leahy and the member for Gregory. I spoke to Mayor Tony Rayner, the police, Ergon and SES workers, and the helicopter pilots. They gave a real account of the ongoing impact of the flood. We met displaced landholders who are in emergency accommodation. Some have had their homesteads flooded. We travelled to see the mighty Thomson River in full flood, lapping the doorstep of the town. At Peter and Rayleen Whip’s property, Royston, we inspected damage to the exclusion fencing, which has been severely damaged.

The situation is heartbreaking. Assistance must meet the need for both the immediate aftermath and long term. Today, Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants of $75,000 were announced for primary producers to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, dispose of livestock and replace fencing. I thank the Commonwealth government for its quick response to the Premier’s request for this assistance. Disposal of dead livestock and the clean-up will be a shattering job. There will be mental health implications for producers, their families and workers as well as those who live in the towns and regions which rely on them.

The grants will not be the end of our support. Late this afternoon, 98 disaster impact surveys have provided estimates. The numbers of perished and missing livestock and damaged property infrastructure continues to grow. It will take weeks for the water to recede before we learn the full extent of the damage. It will take years to repair, rebuild and restock.

This is the third time this year we have had to deal with the impact of severe weather events on our primary producers. Whether you are a primary producer recovering from the severe weather events in the north or south or from the west, the Crisafulli government has your back. We are in this with you for the long haul.

Hon. ML FURNER (Ferny Grove—ALP) (8.01 pm): I wonder whether 101 years ago when Dorothea Mackellar put the words into her poem My Country ‘Of droughts and flooding rains’ she predicted what our country would experience in these times. In the last century we have seen it all. We have seen the droughts. We have seen the rains.

In the seven years that I was the agriculture minister I saw it all. I remember going up the Flinders Highway and seeing the loss of over 500,000 head of cattle from the monsoonal event that sat over Townsville for 14 days and then headed west, devastating that area of Queensland. Now we see the same devastation in South-West Queensland.

Our hearts go out to our farmers—those who feed us and provide economic benefits and jobs in regional areas. I refer to places like Charleville where Western Meat Producers support over 200 jobs in that community. They produce the goat meat to export to other parts of the world. We need to come together and make sure we look after those people.

I am very pleased—and I knew it would happen—that this government worked with the federal government to support people with grants of up to $75,000. Our support needs to go beyond that. No doubt the price of meat will go up. That is where Queenslanders and Australians should come together and support our farmers. Bearing the small increase in meat prices is a small price to pay for the devastation and impact that families in these communities have experienced.

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QRIDA, the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority, will work tirelessly to supply those grants. They work alongside the good men and women of the Department of Primary Industries who are doing the surveys now. That is a small indication of what will be the overall impact in the future. In the coming days, there will no doubt be more identification of the impacts our farmers have experienced and the impacts on the land.

I wonder whether there will be a time in the future where we will see fewer natural events. I doubt it. I think the events are becoming more horrific and having more of an impact on our farmers, our communities and our lands. Nevertheless, we need to make sure we are there to provide support. That is what good governments do. The opposition and government will work together to ensure that our farmers and our Western Queensland communities are serviced and taken care of.

I send my wishes to the good men and women of Western Queensland. They are certainly the salt of the earth when it comes to these events. They are bred tough.

Hon. BA MICKELBERG (Buderim—LNP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (8.04 pm): I rise to speak in support of this motion. More than that, I rise to speak in support of Queenslanders. Queenslanders are a tough lot, but the level of devastation we have seen in recent days is confronting. In particular, my heart goes out to those on the land.

We have heard from the Minister for Primary Industries about the huge loss of stock and the impact that this will have on families and on their communities. My only hope is that those families and communities gain solace in knowing that they are not alone. We all stand with them. I hope that they gain solace knowing that there are so many people working to make sure that they are safe, to restore electricity, reopen roads, assist with resupply or just be a listening ear for support.

In my portfolio, the challenges are dynamic and immense. As of earlier today, we had 127 roads closed. We have received aerial images of isolated impacted roads and routes around Cunnamulla, Eulo, Charleville, Quilpie, Eromanga and Jundah, and they all show extensive damage in a number of areas. It is important to note, as the member for Gregory spoke about, that this disaster is not over. As floodwater moves through the river systems and with the heavy rain that we have experienced last night and today, this will be an evolving and moving challenge. My department’s focus is on facilitating the flow of stock and equipment to support communities. That overnight rainfall and rising floodwaters means that roads that we have previously been able to open for emergency relief, such as the road to Jundah from Longreach, have now had to close again.

I take this opportunity to again thank the federal government and the many local governments for the collaborative way we are all working together in our response. Federally funded roads, local roads, state controlled road—it does not matter in times like this. Every road that we reopen means more communities get access to the support they need. Reopening roads will continue to be what my department continues to focus on. The member for Gregory has made it very clear to me that clearing roads and ensuring that we open roads will be a critical enabler for the recovery. We will do whatever we need to do to ensure that Western and Central Queensland gets moving again.

The government has also arranged extra commercial flights to Thargomindah at reduced community fare price points to cater for the demand that is expected with kids coming back from boarding school and families reuniting for Easter. I want to thank Rex for their assistance in this regard.

Whether you are a North Queenslander, a Central Queenslander, a South-East Queenslander or a Western Queenslander, we are all Queenslanders and so many of us have been impacted by severe weather over the past few months. Throughout whatever Mother Nature has thrown at us, we have all stood together and we will continue to stand with communities impacted by the current weather event as we move into the recovery phrase in the coming days, weeks and months.

Mrs NIGHTINGALE (Inala—ALP) (8.07 pm): I rise today in support of the motion and want to associate myself with the remarks of other speakers. To our farmers: our hearts are with you. We know that these floods mean the loss of livestock and crops. I also know that the loss goes far beyond just the financial impact. It is deep, personal loss and it is about people’s hard work, years of effort and hopes for the future. Sadly, this loss is widespread—from isolated stations to small towns like Thargomindah. People are facing the loss of their homes and possessions, damage to the environment and infrastructure and are subject to physical and psychological suffering.

Although my electorate is far from this flood event, I feel a connection to the communities that are experiencing this devastation. This connection was forged by my grandparents who, although Inala was their home, had a house at Eromanga due to my grandfather’s work. His name was Stan Jensen,

2 Apr 2025 Youth Justice (Monitoring Devices) Amendment Bill 761

and he spent a great deal of time from the 1950s to the 1980s putting down essential artesian bores in Far West Queensland. In fact, he worked out there until the day he died in his seventies—committed to being there to support these communities.

He would tell me stories of these great places and the great people who live there. I was once lucky enough to do a ride-along as a young child. I was struck by the beauty of the open spaces and the dry, dusty earth that stretched for miles. To me, as a child, it was a place that, due to its vastness, could make you feel so small and insignificant and so essential and welcomed at the same time. The contrast between the images in my memories of drought and dust and the visions I am seeing of this flooded landscape could not be more stark.

As the member for Ferny Grove noted, drought and flooding rains have always been a hallmark of the Outback, and, sadly, they are no strangers to the worst of what Mother Nature throws their way. What I also noticed as a child was the enduring strength of the folk who call these places home. They breed them tough out west, and I saw this quality in my grandfather. This enduring strength has never been more on display than it is now. As the water has risen, so too has the community’s efforts to endure.

I want to take a moment to thank those who have stepped up in such a big way. To those locals who worked tirelessly building a levee to try to protect Thargo and those who are coming from near and far to lend a hand to those in need: thank you. Please know that the hearts and thoughts of those of us in the city are with you. Recovery will take time and it will not be easy, but your communities know how to pull together in tough times.

I have no doubt that the people of Thargomindah and the surrounding areas will rise from this tragedy stronger than ever. Together, you will rebuild and the spirit of resilience will carry you through. We are there with you every step of the way.

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

YOUTH JUSTICE (MONITORING DEVICES) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading Resumed from p. 743, on motion of Mrs Gerber—

That the bill be now read a second time.

Hon. LJ GERBER (Currumbin—LNP) (Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister for Corrective Services) (8.11 pm), continuing in reply: I will pick up where I left off before the debate was adjourned, and that was in responding to the member for Bulimba’s contribution to this debate. I would like to advise the member for Bulimba that the 12-month extension will provide time to complete a proper evaluation of the trial, including analysis of as much data as possible and to consider the impacts on victims. It will also allow us to consult government and non-government stakeholders to inform a final decision on the long-term future use of electronic monitoring and to return to this parliament in good time before the new expiry date of 30 April 2026 with a well-informed approach to the future use of electronic monitoring in this state. They are all things that the member for Bulimba, when she was the minister in this portfolio, failed to do for the 2024 trial.

I can confirm that an independent contractor has been engaged to work with my department on the evaluation. The department engaged a contractor to ensure an independent evaluation using a mixed methods research design including qualitative and quantitative methodology. A comparison group has been established to match the electronic monitoring cohort so that a comparison can be made to examine differences in offending and bail compliance. I can also confirm that the impact of electronic monitoring on victim numbers and the seriousness of victimisation is also being examined as part of the evaluation.

The member for Bulimba also raised the issue of stigmatisation. On this I can say that we have evidence of youths with electronic monitoring devices successfully attending school, including flexi schools, so we know it can work in the right circumstances. A good example of this is where a flexi school was aware that a youth was subject to electronic monitoring. Staff were involved in information gathering and safety planning before the youth was released on bail. The school was very accommodating and maintained contact with the caseworker and the team leader via email and phone when needed. The school was aware of the mobile phone needing to remain on and charged and was

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proactive with reminding the youth about this. No logistical issues with monitoring were reported by Queensland Corrective Services. Most importantly, there were positive changes. The youth has not reoffended and electronic monitoring has assisted the youth’s parents with knowing their child’s whereabouts, including overnight during curfew hours.

After that, the member for Bulimba had not much else to offer because she gave up on speaking on youth justice altogether and drifted into commentary on other bills including the Trusts Bill and the health practitioner regulation bill—not once but twice—and was then sat down by the Deputy Speaker for failing to be relevant to the bill. She had nothing relevant to say in government and has nothing relevant to say in opposition.

It is clear that those opposite are not interested in electronic monitoring, and they never were. Otherwise, the opposition spokesperson, who should have been backing in her own government’s trial, would not have been sat down by the Deputy Speaker for failing to have anything more relevant to say on the bill.

Ms FARMER: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I ask you to make a ruling. The Speaker of the House indicated very clearly to the chamber this afternoon that he had given the Temporary Speakers instruction about a ruling that was made yesterday about me being sat down. The member appears to be reinforcing a ruling which the Speaker has himself said he has righted. I ask you for your clarification.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Marr): I will seek advice. Member for Bulimba, I have taken advice. That is not a point of order.

Mrs GERBER: Still nothing relevant to say. It is clear that those opposite are not interested in electronic monitoring, and they never were. The opposition spokesperson—

Ms SCANLON: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order on relevance. I ask you to consider the Speaker’s ruling around the shadow minister who was sat down and the comments that the minister was speaking to previously.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will get advice on that. The minister is replying to the debate and it is relevant. I will ask you to continue, Minister.

Mrs GERBER: That is very opportune because I was just about to address the member for Gaven’s contribution to the debate. The shadow attorney-general, who spoke for a whole six minutes, drifted into commentary about the Trusts Bill and other bills not relevant to this debate—much like the member for Bulimba, who could not even back in her own electronic monitoring device trial.

Ms FARMER: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I take the member’s nasty comments as personally offensive and I ask her to withdraw.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I ask you to withdraw. Mrs GERBER: I withdraw. Those opposite do not like it because they know that only four of

them— Ms FARMER: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. The member has been

personally nasty in a repetitive manner. I find her comments personally offensive and I ask her to withdraw and to desist from making personal comments as she continues her contribution.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: If you can all please sit quietly, I am going to take advice on this. Minister, I will ask you to stay relevant to the bill and continue.

Mrs GERBER: Absolutely. Ms FARMER: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I did ask for the minister to

withdraw her comments. I found them personally offensive. I ask that she withdraw. Mrs GERBER: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. The member for Bulimba is

making a point of order in relation to a personal offence. I did not reference her and I have not named her at all in my contribution after I originally withdrew.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Currumbin, I ask you to take your seat. There is a lot of chatter going backwards and forwards. We are not going to get anywhere this evening. I will take some advice but I need you to all start having a bit of respect and courtesy. The first comment was withdrawn by the minister. The second one was not in reference to you personally, so we are going to continue with the minister’s speech.

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Mrs GERBER: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will pick up where I left off. I was addressing the member for Gaven’s contribution to this debate. Not only did she fail to back in her own electronic monitoring trial, the electronic monitoring trial set up by the Labor government in 2021, but the member for Gaven also said—

Ms SCANLON: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I take personal offence. I believe the member is deliberately misleading the House and I ask her to withdraw those comments.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Marr): I ask you to withdraw. Mrs GERBER: I withdraw. Let’s talk about deliberately misleading the House. Let’s talk about

what the member for Gaven said during this debate. Ms SCANLON: Madam Deputy Speaker— Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Currumbin, I will get you to take your seat. Member

for Gaven, if you will give me a moment to speak to the Clerk, please. Member for Gaven, can I please have your point of order.

Ms SCANLON: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. You just made a ruling and immediately afterwards the member has clearly made a reflection on the chair’s ruling, and I ask you to consider that.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: It was not a reflection on the chair. She has continued with the debate with reference to points that were made during this debate. I will ask the member to continue.

Mrs GERBER: Let’s talk about misleading this House. Let’s talk about what the member for Gaven said during her contribution to this debate. The member for Gaven said— ... we have not seen a single new dollar actually go towards a youth justice program.

Ms Farmer interjected. Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Bulimba, you were pointing across the chamber

talking directly to a member. Please direct your remarks through the chair. I am just going to question something else. There are 12 minutes left in this debate. There are a lot of interjections. With the next interjection that we have there will be a warning. Please, can we just get through the last 12 minutes.

Mrs GERBER: Let’s talk about what the member for Gaven said during this debate. She said— ... we have not seen a single new dollar actually go towards a youth justice program.

Well, member for Gaven, do I have news for the member. The Crisafulli government— Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Currumbin, please direct your remarks through the

chair. Mrs GERBER: The Crisafulli government has $485 million of new investment into early

intervention, crime prevention and rehabilitation programs like Staying on Track, Regional Reset, Gold Standard Early Intervention, Circuit Breaker Sentencing and our youth justice and crime prevention schools, and that is not all.

Already there has been $1.8 million over three years provided to Community Gro in Townsville to restart the after-hours hub for young people aged 10 to 17 as part of the government’s commitment to provide Gold Standard Early Intervention. This is after Labor failed to fund them or provide them with what they needed to keep going. That is not all: $150,000 in funding has been provided to the Rockhampton Our Space youth support centre over one year, which provides early intervention for at-risk youth by providing a safe space and health and wellbeing support.

I look forward to the member for Gaven issuing an apology to this House for misleading the House when she said there was no new funding for youth justice programs under the Crisafulli government.

Ms SCANLON: Madam Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I take personal offence to what the member has just said and I ask her to withdraw.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member, I ask you to withdraw. Mrs GERBER: I withdraw. It would be remiss of me to not also correct the record when it comes

to the member for Gladstone’s contribution. He said, ‘Already we have seen an increase’—an increase—‘in crime under the LNP government.’ The record the member is talking about is his own government’s record. In fact, the latest Labor report card on crime for Queensland in 2023-24 shows the number of youth charged with stealing cars and robbery tripled under the Labor government. The number of youth charged with unlawful entry and assault more than doubled. That is Labor’s record. When you compare that with the latest—

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Ms McMillan interjected. Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Mansfield. Mrs GERBER:—police data for the same period right now, we are actually seeing a small

decrease in stolen cars, break-ins, robberies and woundings across the state. From 1 December 2024 to 28 February 2025 there were 453 fewer stolen vehicles across the state when compared to the same period under the previous Labor government. That is an 8.2 per cent reduction in stolen cars. There was an 8.4 per cent reduction in break-ins, a 4.8 per cent reduction in robberies and a 16.9 per cent reduction in woundings. This data shows—

Ms McMillan interjected. Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Currumbin, take your seat. Member for Mansfield, this

is your last warning. Mrs GERBER: They do not like to hear it. This data shows that we are on the right path. It shows

that whilst we are still a long way off from unwinding— Honourable members interjected. Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Currumbin, I am sorry, please take your seat again.

Members, there is no talking to each other across the floor. Mrs GERBER: While we are still a long way off from where we need to be to restore safety to

our communities, these small incremental changes are showing that our tough laws and our investment in early intervention and rehabilitation is starting to show some green shoots. Finally, I turn to the member for Toohey, who stated in his contribution— We need more than just a minor amendment to existing legislation; we need a comprehensive, long-term strategy that includes support services, early intervention and prevention programs.

Well, he has just summed up our Making Queensland Safer plan. Labor had 10 years in government to do this and they completely and utterly failed Queenslanders. I am very pleased to let the member for Toohey know that we are delivering exactly that support with our Making Queensland Safer plan. That was the extent of Labor’s speaking list to the electronic monitoring device bill: just four Labor members—

Mr McDonald: Four? Mrs GERBER: Yes, four; I take the interjection from the member for Lockyer just four Labor

members spoke to a trial that started under Labor in 2021. You think they would be standing up to defend their trial, but no. There was one speaker noticeably absent: the member for Morayfield, the former failed police minister who was responsible for this electronic monitoring trial. Let me remind the House that in his introductory speech in 2021 he barely allocated two sentences to talking about this trial. In 2024, when they came in and were forced to make further amendments because they were called out by their own former police commissioner Katarina Carroll, the member introduced these further changes without extending the trial, and he mentioned it just once. That tells you everything you need to know about what Labor really thinks about electronic monitoring for youth offenders in this state.

I will now turn to the contributions from the member for Hill, the member for Traeger and the member for Hinchinbrook, who all expressed their communities’ concern with youth crime. We know what their communities are going through, we know the devastation Labor’s weak laws had on their communities and we are committed to making their communities safe too. The member for Hill raised an important concern and highlighted yet another Labor failure—that our detention centres have been poorly managed and they have not rehabilitated youth offenders. The Crisafulli government will deliver detention with a purpose to ensure that our facilities are actually rehabilitating youth offenders.

Just today I informed the House that the Wacol Youth Remand Centre was taking 15 young offenders out of watch houses. Under Labor they would be in adult watch houses, languishing there for weeks, but we are taking them out of those watch houses and they are going into the Wacol Youth Remand Centre where they can get compulsory education, rehabilitation support and wraparound health support so they can receive not just consequences for their behaviour but also the ability to turn their lives around and come back to our communities as productive citizens.

We made a promise to Queenslanders that we would restore safety in our communities, and we are a government that delivers on our promises. We are committed to restoring safety and ensuring there are fewer victims of crime in this state. Everything we do is about delivering this. Extending the electronic monitoring trial by one year is no exception. It will allow us the time to meaningfully and

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comprehensively evaluate the use of electronic monitoring for young offenders as a condition of bail. Our calm and considered approach to government involves understanding what is happening on the ground and listening to the community, the police and stakeholders in determining the long-term use of electronic monitoring for youth offenders as a condition of bail. I note again that the only recommendation from the committee was that the bill be passed, and I commend the bill to the House.

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

Consideration in Detail Clauses 1 and 2, as read, agreed to. Clause 3— Ms FARMER (8.32 pm): My question to the minister is about the evaluation. I thank the minister

because she gave us some detail about the evaluation, but I have a couple of questions about that. Could the minister reiterate when the evaluation will be completed? I believe the minister may have said that it was when the sunset clause expires, but could the minister reiterate that? Will that report be tabled in parliament? Some of the commentary from the minister, as well as from a number of members, was very glowing of the trial which was conducted by the Labor government. A lot of positives were spoken about that, but I think everyone is very conscious that there are both sides of this argument. I just want to get confirmation about the independence of the reviewer and how the reviewer or the reviewing panel was chosen. What was the process for that?

Mrs GERBER: I am really happy to go over that again. I note that I did address most of that in my speech. For the benefit of the member for Bulimba, I will let her know that our review will assess whether electronic monitoring deters reoffending, how electronic monitoring can be integrated with wraparound supports and the role of electronic monitoring in reducing victims of crime and improving community safety. I can also confirm for the member for Bulimba that this will allow us to consult government and non-government stakeholders to inform a final decision on the long-term future use of electronic monitoring, and we will return to parliament in good time before the expiry date of the trial— 30 April 2026—with a well-informed electronic monitoring approach. I can also confirm, as I did reiterate in my speech if the member for Bulimba was listening, that an independent contractor has been engaged—

Ms FARMER: Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I take personal offence and I ask the minister to withdraw.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Whiting): Okay, people, we are nearly there. Minister, will you withdraw?

Mrs GERBER: I withdraw. In answer to the member for Bulimba’s question, I can confirm, as I already said in my speech, that an independent contractor has been engaged to work with my department on the evaluation. The department engaged the independent contractor to use mixed methods research design, including quantitative and qualitative methodology. A comparison group has been established to match the electronic monitoring cohort so that a comparison can be made to examine differences in offending and bail compliance.

To that end, I can also confirm that the impact on victims and victim numbers and the seriousness of victimisation is also being examined as part of the evaluation—something that those opposite lacked and completely failed to do. In fact, the member for Bulimba is asking about an evaluation that she failed to do when she was the minister for youth justice. When she was the minister in 2024, she came in and made amendments to the trial and failed to extend the sunset clause. Again, she did not do an independent evaluation of this. For the member for Bulimba’s benefit, the independent contractor has been engaged to undertake this independent evaluation and to inform the Crisafulli government of the long-term use of electronic monitoring as a condition of bail for youth offenders.

Ms SCANLON: My question for the minister is: how was the independent contractor engaged or appointed, and will the report be publicly tabled?

Mrs GERBER: At the risk of being tediously repetitious, I will go over it again for the member for Gaven’s benefit. The independent contractor has been engaged by the department to do this evaluation. I repeat: engaged by the department to do this evaluation—

Opposition members interjected.

766 Youth Justice (Monitoring Devices) Amendment Bill 2 Apr 2025

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Minister, please take your seat. It is the end of a long day and we are well aware of the standing order about arguing across the chamber. To help us get through to the end of the night, I remind all members to cease quarrelling across the chamber.

Mrs GERBER: I answered the member for Bulimba’s question, and the member for Gaven asked exactly the same question. My answer stands. Do I move that the bill be now read a third time?

Honourable members interjected. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr de BRENNI: In interrogating the details of the effect of the bill, I have a question of the minister

in relation to the evaluation. The question I have for the minister to specifically answer is: will the evaluation report be tabled in this House and made available for public review?

Mrs GERBER: I have answered the question from the member for Bulimba as well as the question from the member for Gaven, and now the member for Springwood gets up and asks exactly the same question. The evaluation will be dealt with under the legislation. The evaluation is currently being commenced by the department. An independent contractor has been engaged to conduct both qualitative and quantitative data—

Mr Mander: Use pictures. Mrs GERBER: Yes, I think I need to have some kind of a whiteboard to explain this. In fact, we

have had almost as many members on that side now jump to speak to the clause as those who actually contributed to the debate. This is an electronic monitoring trial that they started in 2021, and only four of their members could muster to talk in support of it. Not even the member for Morayfield, who introduced it in 2021, spoke to it, and here we are, all of a sudden, so interested—

Opposition members interjected. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Whiting): Minister, just take a seat for a moment. Members to my

left, please cease your interjections. You have been constantly interjecting. I do not want to give a warning at this point, but I will. Members, make sure you interject from your seats, if need be.

Opposition members interjected. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Excuse me, members! I am giving directions here. Do not speak while

I am doing so. I call the minister. Mrs GERBER: Now, all of a sudden we have all this interest in electronic monitoring devices

when only four members could stand up and speak in the course of the debate. Ms LINARD: I am sure this question will not come as a surprise, but the minister has continued

to not answer the question. We are very clear about the question. Will the report be tabled in the House? Will it be made public? If the minister does not wish to answer it then just say, ‘I refuse to answer the question.’

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: I call the minister. Mrs GERBER: I have not sought the call, Mr Deputy Speaker. Opposition members interjected. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, members! I can still throw someone out. Clause 3, as read, agreed to. Mr Mander interjected. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Everton, you are warned under the standing orders.

Third Reading Hon. LJ GERBER (Currumbin—LNP) (Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister

for Corrective Services) (8.42 pm): I move— That the bill be now read a third time.

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

2 Apr 2025 Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 767

Long Title Hon. LJ GERBER (Currumbin—LNP) (Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support and Minister

for Corrective Services) (8.42 pm): I move— That the long title of the bill be agreed to.

Question put—That the long title of the bill be agreed to. Motion agreed to.

HEALTH PRACTITIONER REGULATION NATIONAL LAW AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL

Resumed from 12 December 2024 (see p. 464).

Second Reading Hon. TJ NICHOLLS (Clayfield—LNP) (Minister for Health and Ambulance Services) (8.42 pm):

I move— That the bill be now read a second time.

The bill was introduced on 12 December 2024 and referred to the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee. I acknowledge the work of the committee and thank the stakeholders who made submissions and attended the hearing. I table the government’s response to the committee’s report. Tabled paper: Health, Environment and Innovation Committee: Report No. 1, 58th Parliament—Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024, government response [300].

The committee made four recommendations. I welcome the committee’s first recommendation, that the bill be passed. I will address the committee’s other recommendations shortly. I also table an erratum to the explanatory notes. The erratum amends the explanatory notes to give effect to the committee’s second recommendation and clarifies other issues raised by the committee. Tabled paper: Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024, explanatory notes: Erratum [301].

The bill introduces three reforms to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. It also modifies the national law as it applies in Queensland and makes related amendments to the Health Ombudsman Act. The national law sets out the legal framework for regulating health practitioners across all of Australia. As the host jurisdiction, Queensland is responsible for amending the national law on behalf of all states and territories. The national law amendments were agreed by the health ministers of all states and territories and the Commonwealth in July 2024.

There has been a significant increase in the number of complaints of sexual misconduct made against health practitioners. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency—Ahpra—reported an alarming 1,156 complaints about professional boundary violations, including sexual misconduct, that were made against health practitioners in 2024. This is an increase of 37.5 per cent from the previous year. Of those complaints, 174 related to practitioners working in Queensland.

Sexual misconduct can cause harm and long-lasting trauma to patients and those close to them. It can also damage community confidence in the safety of services provided by health practitioners. Any act of sexual misconduct committed by a health practitioner is, of course, an egregious breach of the trust they hold. It is something that Queenslanders should never have to experience or tolerate. The reforms in this bill will provide more information to the public and employers about sexual misconduct by health practitioners. It will also provide greater protections for those brave members of the community who stand up and make a good faith complaint against a practitioner.

Finally, the bill will strengthen the process for a practitioner to regain their registration after it has been cancelled by a tribunal.

I will turn now to the substance of the bill. The public has the right to know if their healthcare provider has a regulatory history relating to sexual misconduct. To this end, the bill makes more information available about practitioners with a history of sexual misconduct. This will enable people to make more informed decisions about provision of their health care. It will also provide Hospital and Health Services and other healthcare employers with the information they need to better protect their patients.

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The bill requires the national boards to publish information on the public registers about tribunal findings of professional misconduct that are based on sexual misconduct. The information to be included on the registers includes the finding of professional misconduct, the fact that the professional misconduct included sexual misconduct, the sanctions imposed, and a link to the tribunal’s published decision and accompanying reasons. This information must remain on the register permanently, subject to limited exemptions. It is information that is or was in the public realm.

Currently, the public registers only include information that relates to findings of professional misconduct and active sanctions, such as conditions or suspensions currently in effect. However, once a sanction is no longer active it is removed from the register and there is no easy way for consumers or employers to find a practitioner’s past regulatory history. Clearly, that is unsatisfactory. This does not meet community expectations. The Australian Lawyers Alliance told the committee that many clients would not have consulted a practitioner had they known about the practitioner’s regulatory history relating to sexual misconduct.

The bill includes safeguards to protect privacy, especially for victims. The board must not include information on the public registers if it would breach a court or tribunal non-publication order. The bill also maintains the national boards’ discretion not to publish information if doing so presents a serious risk to the health or safety of the practitioner, their family or an associate. This may apply, for example, if publication would present a serious risk that the practitioner may self-harm.

I will now address two issues raised by stakeholders and the committee in relation to the publication provisions. The first issue is that the term ‘sexual misconduct’ may not provide a clear threshold for permanent publication of a practitioner’s related regulatory history. The committee recommended the explanatory notes and/or the bill be amended to clarify the legislative threshold for sexual misconduct. The government supports this recommendation. The erratum I have tabled amends the explanatory notes to clarify the threshold set out in the bill. The threshold is clear and appropriate.

Under the bill, not all sexual misconduct will trigger the permanent publication of information on the public register. Publication will occur only if the tribunal has found the misconduct was a basis for a finding of professional misconduct. Professional misconduct is an existing threshold in the national law, and since it is a formal decision made by a tribunal, it is clear and unambiguous. As the highest level of misconduct under the national law, professional misconduct also serves as an appropriate threshold.

In the context of clause 21 of the bill, the threshold captures sexual misconduct at the higher end of the spectrum, but it excludes behaviours which, although sexual misconduct, are less likely to represent a risk that justifies permanent publication of a practitioner’s related regulatory history.

During development of the bill, consideration was given to alternative ways of establishing a threshold. This included considering defining ‘sexual misconduct’ or using a qualifier such as ‘serious sexual misconduct’. ‘Sexual misconduct’ is an existing term used in the national law and defining it for purposes of this reform would not provide a clear statutory threshold for publication. This is because a definition would need to cover the wide variety of behaviours which may be sexual misconduct and take account of the role of context in determining whether a specific instance of a behaviour amounts to misconduct and is sexual in nature. A qualified term such as ‘serious sexual misconduct’ was not used because it does not provide a clear threshold. It also misleadingly implies that some forms of sexual misconduct are not serious.

The second issue is reflected in the committee’s third recommendation. The committee recommended that a board’s decision that a tribunal’s finding of professional misconduct was based on sexual misconduct should, if based on an inference, be subject to a merits-based review. While we recognise this is a matter of concern for stakeholders, the government does not support this recommendation. I will briefly explain why. All major decisions a board makes under the national law are subject to merits review by the relevant tribunal, but other administrative decisions are not. In this instance, the government considers merits review of the board’s decision is not appropriate.

The bill requires a national board to publish the prescribed information if it is satisfied sexual misconduct was a basis for the tribunal’s professional misconduct finding. The board makes this assessment solely using the tribunal’s decision and the reasons for that decision; however, the tribunal’s decisions and reasons may not expressly call the behaviour ‘sexual misconduct’. It may use other terminology. Also, the tribunal may make a single global finding of professional misconduct based on multiple types of misconduct. For this reason, the bill recognises that the national board may need to infer that sexual misconduct was a basis for the tribunal’s finding of professional misconduct. The board is only permitted to draw such an inference if it is necessary to make sense of the tribunal’s

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decision. If the tribunal’s decisions and reasons can be understood without inferring that sexual misconduct was a basis for the finding of professional misconduct, the inference is not necessary. These strict requirements ensure the benefit of the doubt goes to the practitioner.

Importantly, if a practitioner believes a national board has misconstrued a tribunal’s decision regarding the practitioner’s misconduct, the practitioner can apply to a court for a judicial review of the board’s decision. That judicial review is appropriate because whether the board drew an improper inference from the tribunal’s decision is ultimately a question of law. For the same reason, it would be inappropriate to submit the board’s decision to a merits-based review. The board is not making a merits decision. Rather, its role is strictly limited to reviewing the tribunal’s decision and reasons for determining whether they trigger the statutory requirement to publish information about that decision on the public register. Allowing practitioners to seek a merits review of these decisions would serve no purpose other than to delay publication and impose unnecessary costs on tribunals and regulators. This aspect of the bill is also clarified in the erratum to the explanatory notes that I have tabled this evening.

The second reform in the bill strengthens statutory protections for people who make a complaint under the national law or Health Ombudsman Act. This reform has been overwhelmingly supported by stakeholders. The bill makes it an offence to threaten, intimidate, take negative employment action or cause other detriment to a complainant. It also expands similar offences under the Queensland Health Ombudsman Act to cover threatening or intimidating conduct.

The bill also makes it an offence for a health service or practitioner to enter into a non-disclosure agreement with a person without clearly stating the person may still make a complaint or assist the regulators. The bill voids a non-disclosure agreement to the extent that the agreement limits a person from making a complaint or assisting regulators. This will apply to existing non-disclosure agreements, including those made before the bill commences. These amendments will strengthen the reporting culture, which is crucial to the effective regulation of the professions.

Finally, the bill requires a person whose registration has been cancelled, or who has been disqualified from registration, to obtain a reinstatement order before reapplying for registration. This is a requirement that already applies in New South Wales. The decision to allow a cancelled or disqualified person to reapply for registration will rest with the responsible tribunal in each jurisdiction. In Queensland, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal will perform this function in its professional disciplinary jurisdiction. When deciding to grant a reinstatement order, the tribunal may consider whether the disqualified person is fit and proper and able to practise competently and safely. The tribunal will also consider any complaints made against the practitioner.

While a reinstatement order allows a disqualified person to apply for registration, it does not automatically entitle the person to be registered. They must still apply to a national board for registration and the board must assess the application on its own merits against all the usual statutory criteria, including recency-of-practice requirements. This distinction is important, as some time may elapse between the reinstatement order and the application for registration. The national boards must maintain the discretion to consider matters that may arise in the intervening period—that is, between the practitioner making the application to the tribunal, subsequently making an application to the national board and the board making its decision in those circumstances.

If the tribunal grants a reinstatement order, it can also order conditions be placed on the person’s registration if the person later gains registration. The board will also have discretion to set conditions, provided they are consistent with the conditions set by the tribunal. If the tribunal dismisses the application, it may prohibit the practitioner from making another application for a set period. In Queensland, QCAT will retain its power to permanently prohibit a practitioner from applying for a reinstatement order. The reinstatement order process will strengthen public protection and confidence in the professions by providing an extra layer of scrutiny for cancelled or disqualified practitioners seeking re-registration.

I will now finally address the committee’s fourth recommendation. The committee recommended that during the implementation of the bill Australian health ministers consult further regarding the threshold for sexual misconduct and the national boards’ discretion.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Whiting): Can you please pause for a moment, Minister. I remind members of the gallery not to take photos of the proceedings.

Mr NICHOLLS: In respect of the fourth recommendation, the committee recommended that during implementation of the bill Australian health ministers consult further regarding the threshold for sexual misconduct and the national boards’ discretion to infer sexual misconduct. I have raised this recommendation with other Australian health ministers. I have also instructed the department to raise

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this matter with Ahpra and the national boards, who will be primarily responsible for implementing this reform. Ahpra have advised the committee it will engage with key stakeholders on implementation of the bill and publish guidance to ensure full transparency.

This bill improves transparency for the community about sexual misconduct by health practitioners and strengthens the process surrounding re-registration for practitioners whose registration has been cancelled by a tribunal. It also strengthens consumer protections for those making good-faith complaints about a health practitioner. It is unfortunate that these reforms are needed to address those acting in wilful violation of their professional standards.

I want to emphasise and recognise the value and hard work of the overwhelming majority of our dedicated health practitioners. In developing this bill, we heard from practitioners and their representatives about the importance of professional standards in ensuring the delivery of safe health care and maintaining public confidence in the professions. In fact, who could have a greater interest in ensuring that than the professions themselves? We heard from practitioners who are appalled by those who take advantage of the trust of their patients and fellow professionals. These safe, competent and ethical practitioners make up the vast majority of Queensland’s healthcare system. I want to thank these healthcare practitioners for their commitment to their community. Let me give a big shout-out, with a degree of self-interest, to occupational therapists. I happen to know one exceptionally well! Together, the reforms in this bill will contribute to a safer, more transparent and more equitable health system. I thank the committee. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate, on motion of Mr Nicholls, adjourned.

ADJOURNMENT Dr ROWAN (Moggill—LNP) (Leader of the House) (9.00 pm): I move—

That the House do now adjourn.

Mansfield Electorate, LNP Election Commitments Ms McMILLAN (Mansfield—ALP) (9.00 pm): I rise tonight to hold the government to account on

the election promises they made to my electorate of Mansfield. The time has come to deliver on those promises and my community demands the government keep their word.

Firstly, the government promised an investment of $2 million for the Mount Gravatt Men’s Shed Improvement Project. For more than a decade the Mount Gravatt Men’s Shed has been a pillar of support for men in our community. I urge the government to prioritise this project and ensure the promised funding is delivered promptly.

Secondly, we must address the urgent need for improvements at the Broadwater Road and Ham Road intersection. The LNP promised $2.5 million in partnership with the Brisbane City Council to improve this intersection. Upgrades are desperately needed to ensure traffic, walking and safety improvements around both Mansfield State School and Mansfield State High School. This project that I initiated with the Brisbane City Council many years ago must be delivered and must be delivered urgently. Now we finally see the Brisbane City Council beginning to act on this with the Mansfield State School precinct. Will the government deliver its promised funding? The safety of our children and families should not be left behind in the political process. It is essential that this promise is fulfilled for the safety and benefit of our local community.

Thirdly, the LNP promised $75,000 to refurbish the kitchen at the Mount Gravatt Girl Guides. The facility’s current kitchen is outdated and no longer fit for purpose. I urge the government to ensure these funds are allocated so the Girl Guides can continue their important work.

Finally, the LNP made a $5.6 million commitment to work with the BCC to build the Prebble Street bikeway. This bikeway will create a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist route that connects the end of Prebble Street to the Bulimba Creek Bikeway and to Wishart. The bikeway will help reduce car usage, instead, encouraging people to walk or cycle to local shops, schools and appointments. This would help to ease the traffic on the busy Gardner and Mount Gravatt Capalaba roads and to promote healthy travel options.

I ask: does the government remain committed to seeing these projects through? When will the funding be committed and the projects delivered? This bikeway, amongst others, is valuable for the health and mobility of our residents. I am asking the LNP government to keep its promises to the electorate of Mansfield.

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Maryborough Magic Basketball Mr BAROUNIS (Maryborough—LNP) (9.02 pm): I rise today to speak for our Maryborough Magic

Basketball under-16 team. Maryborough Magic Basketball is a small amateur basketball association located on the Fraser Coast. It includes a representative program and they have attended the Central Queensland Junior Basketball Competition and the Basketball Queensland State Championships for several years.

Over the last five years there has been a huge focus on providing a representative pathway to players in all age groups from under-12s to under-18s. The current under-16 boys team has had excellent player numbers, with a large percentage of members playing consistently since 2021 in the under-12 competition. From the humble beginnings at their first carnival with seven players, the team has always strived to compete to the best of their ability and play with humility and excellent sportsmanship. These values have been strengthened by the coaches and managers over the past five years and supported by the families. In 2025, seven players returned for the new season. Each week the team resets and focuses on good attitude, full intensity, effort and teamwork.

After the first two carnivals, the Magic under-16 boys team was undefeated and won eight out of eight games. Leading up to the last four games, the coaches took a different approach to player fitness by adopting an alternate training regime. The Magic under-16 boys team will now put its focus on the state championships in Brisbane. As the underdogs in the competition, the Maryborough Magic will find this a very challenging competition but an exciting opportunity for the boys to learn and grow by playing the best teams in the state. The under-16 boys team have made the Maryborough Basketball Association very proud. Through the past five years, it has been a wonderful experience to see the team grow into respectful young men, both on and off the court. Coach Brady McGann has grown up playing basketball for Maryborough Magic. For the past 17 years he has volunteered his time every week coaching local teams. What a wonderful achievement for our local boys to come through the ranks and stay together and achieve this greatness. Our electorate is very proud of our under-16 Maryborough Magic basketball representative team and wishes it all of the best at the state championships in Brisbane.

Ipswich, Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure Mr McCALLUM (Bundamba—ALP) (9.06 pm): The LNP Crisafulli government has delivered what

can only be described as an Olympic-sized snub to the city of Ipswich when it comes to its Olympic plan. Whilst there are literally billions and billions of dollars for state-of-the-art sporting infrastructure and for lasting transport infrastructure for other areas in South-East Queensland and, indeed, throughout regional Queensland, Ipswich has been left with practically nothing. We have heard the shiny new stadium announcement of almost $4 billion for Victoria Park after the Premier gave an ironclad guarantee that there would be no new stadiums, so we will park that broken promise.

We have seen the announcement of new sporting infrastructure for the Redlands, for Logan, for Moreton Bay. For the Sunshine Coast there is transport infrastructure. There is going to be a state-of-the-art, world-class equestrian centre in Toowoomba for the Olympic Games that people will need to drive through Ipswich to get to, but Ipswich itself will get nothing. That is evidence of the contempt that this LNP government holds the city of Ipswich in when it comes to the delivery of the Olympic Games. There is no guarantee that we will even be holding—

Mr Mander interjected. Mr McCALLUM: I take the interjection from the sports minister, who is one of the key ministers

responsible for the snub of Ipswich— Mr Mander interjected. Mr McCALLUM:—although I do not necessarily blame the sports minister because he has

trouble counting to six when it comes to tackle counts. Honourable members interjected. Mr McCALLUM: One knows that it is a deliberate snub because it is the Premier and the Deputy

Premier whose hand-picked Olympic panel decided to deliver absolutely nothing to Ipswich, nothing for Brighten Homes Arena, nothing in terms of upgraded infrastructure. Maybe we will not see an Olympic sport there. There is nothing for the Springfield to Ipswich rail loop which would have been and should have been an excellent long-lasting transport project that our city deserves and needs. Shame on the Crisafulli government.

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Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Whiting): Before I call the member for Coomera, please cease your interjections, member for Everton. Remember, you are on a warning and I do not want you to be the first minister chucked out during the adjournment.

International Women’s Day; Ambrose, Ms LA Mr CRANDON (Coomera—LNP) (9.09 pm): On 19 March the Northern Gold Coast community

celebrated International Women’s Day with a high tea. With my co-host Tanya Unni, I welcomed around 35 ladies to a beautifully presented room with all the trimmings you would expect for such a special occasion. I want to start by thanking my electorate office staff, Judi, Jodie and Jacqui, for the amazing preparation and coordination of the event. It was a huge success. I make special mention of Beverley Gordon, who assisted on the day. Beverley is a local legend who does so much in the Northern Gold Coast community just keeping herself and others active and connected. Thank you, Beverley.

The room was full to overflowing with women from all walks of life; women with backgrounds that held amazing stories of adversity to blossoming success in diverse ways; women in business; women who dedicated their lives to community; women who are now enjoying their retirement years but still contribute whether by way of family, by community involvement or by a mixture—women like Beverley Gordon; and young women like Chloe, a past YMCA youth parliamentarian who is now in the executive ranks of that wonderful program helping other young people to develop their leadership skills.

The room was filled with powerful stories, immense talent and, of course, endless cups of tea and coffee to accompany delicious treats. We shared tears of empathy and triumph and exchanged stories of perseverance and success. I felt honoured to be surrounded by strong, passionate women dedicated to making a difference. Their presence, their stories and their commitment to uplifting our community were truly humbling.

Our special guest speakers deserve special mention: City of Gold Coast division 3 councillor and deputy mayor, Donna Gates, who came from administrative roles and the radio industry to her commitment to the people of the Northern Gold Coast since 2008; Tanya Unni, a mother and doctor, who dedicated her efforts to the area of skincare with her Dr Tanya Skincare range of products gracing shelves at department stores across the world; Josephine Kadel, from a career in state and local government to president of the Northern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the Women of Influence Committee, business owner of Life is a Party, who is dedicated to supporting local businesses and charitable causes; Andre’a Simmons, founder of the Australian Anti Ice Campaign, a survivor of addiction herself; and Xenia Schembri, co-founder of At the Ark, author, pastor who is dedicated to helping families through the trauma of sexual abuse here on the Gold Coast and further afield. Thank you to all of you.

We also celebrated the life of Linda Ann Ambrose, who sadly passed away recently and who was being laid to rest by her family whilst we were celebrating International Women’s Day. Linda Ann Ambrose lived a life that touched so many people, some only coming to light through letters to Linda’s family following her passing, letters that espoused stories of how their lives were changed for the better or saved by a lady who was simply there with advice or a kind word. I became aware of Linda’s quiet commitment to the many she helped when talking to Tony, her loving husband. In that conversation it was clear that Tony, his family and friends intended to celebrate Linda’s life—a life lived well, a life lived with purpose, a life lived with love for the people around her, a life lived quietly, making a difference like so many others. Vale, Linda Ann Ambrose.

Ipswich Regional Sports Academy Ms HOWARD (Ipswich—ALP) (9.12 pm): It is with great pleasure that I speak tonight about the

Ipswich Regional Sports Academy, a brand new program launched this year that is helping aspiring young athletes in Ipswich. We have an amazing wealth of sporting talent in Ipswich, but there are some kids who need extra support to reach their full potential. These kids face financial, social and geographical barriers that prevent them from achieving sporting success. We have all watched the tremendous progress of the young outstanding Ipswich athlete Gout Gout. Ipswich has many more young outstanding athletes like Gout who have set their sights on Brisbane 2032.

I would like to see all talented athletes in Ipswich aspire to compete at the Brisbane Olympics, whatever their personal circumstances or background. If they show talent and ambition then they should get the right support to succeed. This is where the Ipswich Regional Sports Academy, or IRSA, comes in. IRSA is an innovative collaboration between Bremer State High School and the University of Southern Queensland. It provides a dedicated sporting pathway for primary and secondary students in

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the Ipswich region. There is nowhere else in Queensland where a program like this is run. Students who are performing at, or show aptitude for, regional, state or national levels of competition are provided with the skills, support and mentoring required to excel across all sporting domains. IRSA also has an eye on the Olympics in 2032 by providing student athletes with high-quality athletic programs to build their skills and resilience and to encourage their ambitions to compete internationally.

I want to thank Bremer State High School’s Director of Sport, Michael Seiler, for bringing this program to fruition, along with IRSA Director of Athletic Development, Jack Pope, and Professor Stephen Bird, the Director of High-Performance Sport within the School of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Southern Queensland. They are enthusiastic champions for this program and are looking forward to working with the finest young athletes from across Ipswich.

It is said that athletes peak in their mid-20s so the young athletes who are now in years 10, 11 and 12 will be hitting their peak in 2032. Ipswich kids aspire to compete at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. They now have a great program like IRSA that gives them a really good shot at reaching that goal—if only we had the investment in Ipswich from the Crisafulli LNP government.

I was honoured to attend IRSA’s launch earlier this year and meet some of the young people involved. It is a fantastic program that balances sport, education and personal development so that student athletes are prepared for the demands of high-level competition. Currently, there are 56 students involved with IRSA. I have been informed that since the start of the first term they have completed over 1,500 individual gym sessions. It is quite exhausting just thinking about it. This is a partnership with the University of Southern Queensland and, as I said, there is nothing else like it in Queensland. It is revolutionising the way we train young athletes. It combines elite training with academic coaching and personal development. I want to see all Ipswich kids achieve their personal best in all areas of their life.

Dodt, Mr L Ms MARR (Thuringowa—LNP) (9.15 pm): Today it is both a privilege and an honour to rise to

celebrate a truly remarkable individual, Mr Leslie Dodt, who on 25 March celebrated the extraordinary milestone of his 100th birthday. I had the great pleasure of visiting Mr Dodt and his wonderful wife, Grace, in their home in Thuringowa where they have lived for the past 24 years, after moving from Toowoomba. We shared a lovely morning tea, enjoying tea in fine china cups and saucers, the way tea is truly meant to be enjoyed. As a sidenote, Mr and Mrs Dodt had very kind words for the member for Toowoomba South. They said they would be thrilled to have him visit them the next time he is in Townsville.

Mr Dodt is a humble man, often with very few words to say, but he was genuinely touched that I took the time to meet him for his birthday. He proudly showed me the congratulatory cards from both the Premier and the King, which he displayed at his family celebration at the local pub on Tuesday. Listening to Mr Dodt and Grace, who have shared 74 wonderful years of marriage, you begin to understand the strength of their family values.

Mr Dodt has spent his life dedicated to hard work, beginning on the family farm when he left school. He has instilled the same values of dedication, integrity and perseverance in his family. Those principles continue to be upheld by his loved ones, which is evident when you see the pride on the face of his granddaughter, Brenda Stone, who joined us for the celebration. Brenda Stone is a fine artist from Townsville. Together, the Dodts raised a family that includes six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, each of whom is fortunate to grow up surrounded by such love and care.

Mr Dodt enjoys reading the paper and having a cold beer—perhaps a result of his 36 years of service at Carlton United Malting. Mr Dodt’s life is a testament to the power of family, love and living with purpose. His remarkable longevity speaks not just to his own personal strength but also to the warmth and care provided by his family who have supported and nurtured him throughout his life.

On behalf of all members and myself personally, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr Dodt on his 100th birthday. May he continue to enjoy good health, the company of his loved ones and many more years of joy.

Ramadan Mr MARTIN (Stretton—ALP) (9.18 pm): I rise to wish the Muslim community in Stretton a joyful

Eid—Eid Mubarak. Our electorate is blessed with a rich mix of cultures and faiths living together harmoniously. Today I recognise the holy month of Ramadan, which concluded earlier this week,

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marked by Eid festivities in my community. During Ramadan, our Muslim community fasts from dawn to dusk, focusing on prayer, growth and empathy for those in need. It is a time not only of discipline and devotion but also generosity and togetherness. Each evening at iftar, families and friends gather to break their fast, share meals and gratitude, and strengthen bonds.

Ramadan’s values of patience, charity and unity echo across our community, urging us to care for each other and to give thanks. Ramadan reflects the unity, compassion and service reflected in all parts of my community. They are qualities that stood firm despite the recent cyclone. The storm brought hardship and damaged homes, cut power and disrupted routines, yet it revealed our community’s strength. Neighbours helped neighbours, families welcomed in others and local groups stepped up.

In Stretton, we are lucky to have groups embodying this spirit and I commend the Islamic College of Brisbane and the Pakistan Australian Cultural Association for their service. Immediately after the cyclone, they both provided free meals to those struggling. This act of offering food and friendship captures Ramadan’s essence, ensuring no-one is left hungry or alone. To the volunteers who organised this, thank you.

Our area has also hosted many wonderful iftars, including at ICB where I joined the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the member for Jordan and the member for Logan. The Islamic College of Brisbane is a stellar local school. It also previously featured on an SBS TV show called The Swap, which is now on Netflix, where its students, alongside students from Padua College, Ferny Grove State High and Mount Alvernia College, swap schools to break down cultural and religious barriers. I encourage members to watch it, if they have not already seen it. As members, it is our job to support bringing people together and to challenge stereotypes, not to flame division or demonise particular parts of the community for political gain, and the young people in this show definitely get it.

Other iftars were held by the Kuraby, Algester, Bosnian, Logan and Stockleigh mosques, the Australian Pakistan Women’s Association and the Bangladesh Association in Brisbane, plus smaller home gatherings welcomed friends and families to share meals at sunset. These events showcased our multicultural strengths with delicious traditional food included. Just like Christmas, Lunar New Year, Passover, Holi and Diwali, Ramadan and Eid celebrations bring us all closer together and all have a place in our community.

Burleigh Bears Junior Rugby League Football Club Mr STEVENS (Mermaid Beach—LNP) (9.21 pm): Like many areas of South-East Queensland,

ex-Cyclone Alfred left thousands of homes without power on the Gold Coast due to heavy rain and howling winds. The Energex workers did a fantastic job, working tirelessly and without much sleep to get the power back on as quickly as possible. A big thankyou to them! However, my biggest thankyou goes to the volunteer army at the Burleigh Bears Junior Rugby League Football Club in the Mermaid Beach electorate, made up of dedicated parents who cooked brekkies and meals nonstop for hundreds of exhausted Energex workers over the weeks it took—

Mr Mander: Great place. Mr STEVENS: Thank you. I take that interjection from the member for Everton and Minister for

Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They did that over the weeks it took to get the power back on. It made me incredibly proud that a group of dedicated mums and dads from one of my fantastic local communities who support over 1,000 kids playing rugby league put their own work, hardships and family demands aside to provide a nonstop canteen, feeding hundreds and hundreds of Energex workers for free as they toiled away getting power back to the people.

When I visited early one day for breakfast, there were Energex trucks everywhere and there were workers who had come from as far away as Townsville. President Darcy Abbott needs to be congratulated for his commitment to community wellbeing, along with his dedicated team of Nathan Goss, the vice-president; Georgia Mooney, the treasurer; and Adam Flier, the secretary. Adam Flier guided me around the kitchen workshop, showing me exactly how much passion and dedication that is the backbone to the fabulous Burleigh Bears Junior Rugby League Football Club. I must make special mention of the brekkie cook of the day, Nic, who must be the world’s best fried egg cooker. Nic went from rank amateur chef to cooking hundreds and hundreds of eggs for hungry workers and may have found a new career as a sous chef!

While I was there, Adam told me of their fundraising quest for a new golf buggy to transport injured kids at footy from their faraway fields to the clubhouse. To this end, there is a fundraising golf day coming up, to which I have taken sponsorship, and I may invite the Minister for Sport, the member

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for Everton—the great golfer that he is—to that particular function. I have spoken to Energex to see if they can help, and I will talk to the Treasurer about that later, and I am using my golfing contacts to see if there is a buggy out there available at the right price.

I am truly proud of and thankful for my wonderful community club, the Burleigh Bears Junior Rugby League Football Club, and I will do everything in my capacity as their local member to see them grow and prosper. When Queenslanders come together to face any calamity that Mother Nature throws at them, this great community club has shown that we can survive and thrive if we all pull together.

CopperString; Gas Reserve Policy Mr KATTER (Traeger—KAP) (9.24 pm): I always get pretty upset when I come down here and

we talk in this parliament about the Olympics and Cross River Rail. I represent an area that has its back against the wall at the moment. We know that Queensland is an economic stronghold and that we are all supposed to be part of one state, so when we are in trouble we expect people to help.

CopperString is the biggest transmission line to ever be built in Australia and Powerlink are dragging the chain. They need to go. I found out that they have 1,600 people on their books and that they have a building at Virginia. One would think that if they have 1,600 people on their books then at least half of them must be in Townsville, as the biggest transmission line ever to be built in Australia is being built there. Surely, the bulk of the 1,600 are up there. I looked it up and 30 of them are in Gladstone and Townsville. I looked at what the top six people are paid. They are all paid over $450,000 and the CEO is on $1 million.

Their building at Virginia is a big playhouse and half of them are working at home. They are having a good time clipping the ticket on CopperString. They are all saying, ‘We are working on CopperString.’ No, they are not. They are not doing a thing. In two years they have done nothing. They were given a fully approved project with a contract ready to be signed with the contractor—CPB. Here they are two years later saying that they were given a concept. That is not true. They were given something. Now they are trying to undermine the whole project.

Everyone else in my area, the mines included, is saying ‘What do we do? There does not seem to be a future here.’ There is a role for the government to play here. They should put a bomb under them and move 500 of their staff to Townsville. They do not need to be in Brisbane working as consultants on the project. They need to be pulled into gear.

Average industry standards say that the project should cost no more than $4 billion. Let’s make it $5 billion. It should not be $9 billion. They are taking us for a ride and trying to disable the project by making it cost too much. They need to be pulled into line or we need to get rid of them because they are going to pull the whole project down and pull the North West Minerals Province down with it.

Little Eva mines needs to be built. The copper smelter has to remain open. The mine does not need to close down. There needs to be a gas reserve policy for Incitec Pivot. Their fertiliser plant is of strategic value for not only the state but also the nation. Its back is against the wall because we have never had a gas reserve policy in this place.

Qatar exports less gas than us. It gets $30 billion a year in royalties. We struggle to get $2 billion in royalties and we export more gas. Our gas price went from $3 or $4 a gigajoule. They are skiting about $15 a gigajoule. We sold it all overseas.

Good on Peter Dutton for calling for a gas reserve. That is exactly what we need. We need a real gas reserve policy. We need it adopted in Queensland. It will save Incitec Pivot. It would have saved its Gibson Island works in Brisbane if people cared about that. It is the only answer for the future of Incitec Pivot. We need a gas reserve policy as well.

Dance for Daniel Mr HUNT (Nicklin—LNP) (9.27 pm): I recently had the honour of attending the 20th annual Dance

for Daniel—an event that holds profound significance for our community. This special evening not only commemorates the life of Daniel Morcombe but also highlights the ongoing work to protect and educate our children in his memory.

Daniel’s tragic abduction and murder in 2003 shocked the Sunshine Coast—and, in fact, the entire nation—to its core. His loss was felt deeply. His story became a catalyst for change. In the face of unimaginable grief, Bruce and Denise Morcombe turned their pain into a powerful mission. Through

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the Daniel Morcombe Foundation they have dedicated their lives to promoting child safety and ensuring that no other family endures such heartbreak. Their tireless advocacy continues to make a real difference in the lives of children across Queensland and beyond.

The Dance for Daniel is not just a fundraising event. It is a reminder of how our community can come together in support of a vital cause. This year marked a significant milestone, and it was inspiring to see so many people united in honouring Daniel’s memory while supporting the foundation’s crucial work. At the event, the Premier addressed attendees and reaffirmed the LNP’s commitment to Daniel’s Law—a critical step forward in protecting our children. Daniel’s Law, which establishes a public sex offender register, is a cause Bruce and Denise have long championed. This register is about ensuring transparency and providing parents with the tools they need to safeguard their children and our communities.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Bruce and Denise Morcombe for their unwavering dedication. I am proud to stand with them in their mission to keep our children safe. With my history in the Police Service and a stint in the child abuse unit, I am proud to stand with them, along with the six other former police officers who sit on this side of the parliament. I am sure the whole parliament stands with them. Together, we can honour Daniel’s legacy and continue working towards a safer future for all.

Question put—That the House do now adjourn. Motion agreed to. The House adjourned at 9.30 pm.

ATTENDANCE Asif, Bailey, Baillie, Barounis, Bates, Bennett, Berkman, Bleijie, Bolton, Boothman, Bourne, Boyd,

Bush, Butcher, Camm, Crandon, Crisafulli, Dametto, de Brenni, Dick, Dillon, Doolan, Dooley, Farmer, Fentiman, Field, Frecklington, Furner, Gerber, Grace, Head, Healy, Howard, Hunt, Hutton, James B, James T, Janetzki, Katter, Kelly G, Kelly J, Kempton, King, Kirkland, Knuth, Langbroek, Last, Leahy, Lee, Linard, Lister, Mander, Marr, Martin, McCallum, McDonald, McMillan, Mellish, Mickelberg, Miles, Minnikin, Molhoek, Morton, Mullen, Nicholls, Nightingale, O’Connor, O’Shea, Perrett, Poole, Powell, Power, Pugh, Purdie, Rowan, Russo, Ryan, Scanlon, Simpson, Smith, Stevens, Stoker, Sullivan, Vorster, Watts, Weir, Whiting, Young