LNP Cabinet Announcement - 12.30pm 30 March 2012

[ozbob]

Live Courier Mail --> http://www.couriermail.com.au/

[ozbob]

Twitter

Campbell Newman ‏ @theqldpremier

Minister for Transport and Main Roads: @scottemersonmp with Steve Minnikin to be Assistant Minister for Public Transport – PremTeam

[ozbob]

http://lnp.org.au/steve-minnikin

http://www.scottemerson.com.au/

[Fares_Fair]

Andrew Powell MP, Environment and Heritage Protection
Steve Dickson MP, National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing
Jarod Bleijie MP, Attorney General and Minister for Justice
Mark McArdle MP, Energy and Water Supply

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Premier Campbell Newman announces Queensland Government's new ministry

Premier Campbell Newman announces Queensland Government's new ministry

PREMIER Campbell Newman has revealed his new ministry, which includes 19 ministers and 11 assistant ministers.

The new ministers include:

Jeff Seeney - Deputy Premier, State Development Minister, Infrastructure and Planning

Tim Nicholls - Treasurer and Trade Minister

Lawrence Springborg - Health

John-Paul Langbroek - Education, Training and Employment

New MP David Crisafulli - Local Government

David Gibson - Police and Community Safety

Jarrod Bleijie - Attorney-General and Justice

Bruce Flegg - Housing and Public Works

Jann Stuckey - Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and Racing

John-Paul Langbroek - Minister for Education, Training and Employment

John McVeigh - Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Andrew Powell - Environment and Heritage Protection

Andrew Cripps - Natural Resources and Mines

Mark McArdle - Energy and Water Supply

Ros Bates - Science and Arts

Ros Bates - Science, IT, Innovation and Arts

Steve Dickson - National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing

Jack Dempsey - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Multicultural Affairs and minister assisting the Premier

Tracy Davis - Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

More to come ..

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Newman names his cabinet

Newman names his cabinet
March 30, 2012 - 12:57PM

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has dumped two members of the Liberal National Party's pre-election frontbench team while promoting former leader Lawrence Springborg in his new cabinet line-up.

Six days after leading the LNP to a crushing election victory over the Bligh Government, Mr Newman has announced which MPs will become ministers in his first cabinet.

New faces are John McVeigh who will be minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and former Townsville deputy mayor David Crisafulli who will be local government minister.

Mr Newman, who spent last night ringing his colleagues with news about their positions, has named Mr Springborg as the health minister.

Mr Springborg was the LNP leader who presided over the merger of the two conservative parties in 2008 and led the party to the 2009 election but expressed anger at the process by which Mr Newman was installed as leader in 2011.

Mr Springborg served as deputy leader to John-Paul Langbroek after the 2009 election loss but went to the backbench when Mr Newman announced his controversial bid a year ago to lead the LNP to the election from outside Parliament.

Before last weekend's election, the LNP's shadow cabinet had 18 members plus Mr Newman. Two of these shadow cabinet members have missed out on jobs in the first Newman cabinet – former industrial relations spokesman Ted Malone, who will instead head a parliamentary committee, and former main roads and fisheries spokesman Mark Robinson.

Additionally, long-serving LNP frontbencher Fiona Simpson will not receive a cabinet position and will instead serve as Queensland's first female Speaker of the Parliament.

The former Bligh government cabinet had 19 members including the Premier. Mr Newman has opted to keep the same number of cabinet members, but will introduce assistant minister roles instead of parliamentary secretaries. Assistant ministers will not sit in cabinet, but will help the government oversee several portfolios.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Jeff Seeney and Treasurer and Trade Minister Tim Nicholls have already been sworn in to their senior roles, but the full cabinet was not announced until today, when departmental structures were finalised.

Mr Langbroek will be education, training and employment minister.

The Attorney-General will be Jarrod Bleijie, who had this portfolio in the shadow cabinet.

Andrew Powell will be Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Bruce Flegg will be Minister for Housing and Public Works, and David Gibson will get the Police and Community Safety portfolio.

Mark McArdle will be Minister for Energy and Water Supply and Andrew Cripps will be Minister for Natural Resources and Mines.

The Science, IT, Innovation and The Arts portfolio will go to Ros Bates, while Tracy Davis will be Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.

Jack Dempsey has been named Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier.

Jann Stuckey will be Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and Commonwealth Games, while the National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing portfolio goes to Steve Dickson.

More to come...

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/newman-names-his-cabinet-20120330-1w2p8.html

[Gazza]

Cabinet is a bit of a sausage fest.

[ozbob]

Depends if the sausages sizzle or go bang!   

On the surface, rebadging  as Assistant Minister for Public Transport the former Secretary Assisting the Minister is a good move.  Mr Minnikin was a high school teacher, local from Carindale.

Mr Emerson has survived the move from shadow cabinet to actual cabinet.  A good thing as he brings with him some experience and background.

Congratulations to both the Minister Emerson and Assistant Minister Minnikin.

We look forward to further progress from here.

[#Metro]

May I suggest more frequent trains through Indooroopilly?! 

[Cam]

May I suggest more frequent trains through Indooroopilly?! 

You may & I'll second that.

[#Metro]

4 trains to Ipswich, stopping all stations.

[somebody]

4 trains to Ipswich, stopping all stations.

[achiruel]

4 trains to Ipswich, stopping all stations.

4tph Petrie to Richlands All stations
2tph Ipswich to Caboolture express Darra-Milton stopping Indooroopilly & Toowong (yes I would like Toowong back for peak hour express too, it is a major employment/business hub!) then express Bowen Hills-Petrie stopping Eagle Junction, Northgate & Strathpine.
2tph as per above but starting at Rosewood.

[ozbob]

Media release 30 March 2012

Queensland:  New Ministers, new approach to public and active transport?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said the announcement today of the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, and the Assistant Minister for Public Transport is an opportunity for public and active transport renewal.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Congratulations to the Mr Emerson and Mr Minnikin on their respective appointments.  The time is right to improve public and active transport options throughout Queensland."

"Transport and Public Transport are key portfolios.  Without a functional transport system the state  stops!"

"We call on the new Ministers to commission a review into the entire public transport network with a view to implementing a core-frequent-network rail, bus and ferry, with frequent feeder bus services (1)."

Reference:

1. Building a Core Frequent Network  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5173.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[Cam]

4 trains to Ipswich, stopping all stations.

No more all stations services to/from Ipswich & Rosewood. We need to campaign for express services only & more of them around the clock. 

[Gazza]

Cam, Archuriel, TT....

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=20.0

[Stillwater]

From a Courier-Mail interview

Ms Gillard claimed Queensland would enjoy a "disproportionate benefit" compared to the rest of Australia from her broadband, education, infrastructure and climate policies because of its decentralised nature and ability to invest in renewable energy.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/prime-minister-julia-gillard-vows-to-reach-out-to-queensland-voters-after-labors-loss-in-election/story-e6freooo-1226314902946

[curator49]

I too am in favour of more frequent services to and from destinations as mentioned here but we seem to forget it is not just the access from the Southside suburban network (Cleveland/Beenleigh/Gold Coast) that is strangled by the current rail network with the Merivale Bridge capacity problem.

It is the strangulation of the entire network by the Roma Street/Central/Fortitude Valley/Bowen Hills section that is a major problem.

I am interested to see what will happen with the proposed 15 minute services on the Ferny Grove line (as promised by the LNP). Normally Ferny Grove trains run through to Beenleigh then return Beenleigh/Ferny Grove. Will some trains from Ferny Grove now terminate at Roma Street and then return to Ferny Grove and if so what extra stress (if any) will this put on the inner city network? Until the Gateway Bridge/Motorway was built all roads went into the Brisbane CBD. In times past if you were travelling fron New South Wales through the Gold Coast to points north of Brisbane you came in along Logan Road over the Story Bridge and out through Chermside.

Our rail network is the same every suburban passenger train is funneled into the same few tracks into the CBD. There are no alternatives.

[BrizCommuter]

I am interested to see what will happen with the proposed 15 minute services on the Ferny Grove line (as promised by the LNP). Normally Ferny Grove trains run through to Beenleigh then return Beenleigh/Ferny Grove. Will some trains from Ferny Grove now terminate at Roma Street and then return to Ferny Grove and if so what extra stress (if any) will this put on the inner city network?

Including half-hourly Doombens (Sat am), there will be 10tph off-peak between Roma Street and Bowen Hills - a train on average every 6 minutes through the core section. If this causes stress on the inner city rail network then QR need to seriously take a look at themselves!

By comparison, London's Sub-Surface-Lines operate 25.5tph off-peak with multiple flat junctions.

[somebody]

I am interested to see what will happen with the proposed 15 minute services on the Ferny Grove line (as promised by the LNP). Normally Ferny Grove trains run through to Beenleigh then return Beenleigh/Ferny Grove. Will some trains from Ferny Grove now terminate at Roma Street and then return to Ferny Grove and if so what extra stress (if any) will this put on the inner city network? Until the Gateway Bridge/Motorway was built all roads went into the Brisbane CBD. In times past if you were travelling fron New South Wales through the Gold Coast to points north of Brisbane you came in along Logan Road over the Story Bridge and out through Chermside.

The most difficult move on the network is the triple conflicting + one merging move from Normanby to South Brisbane for freight.  This move is not made any more difficult by increased Ferny Grove services if they terminate at Roma St, but is if they extend over the Merivale bridge.  Roma St turnarounds can also be done by using platform 6 as a centre turnback.

As BC said, no difficulties fulfilling the election promise.  Even my suggestion of running Merivale freight via Central would still be achievable.

[SurfRail]

I expect a lot more use would be made of platform 3 for turning back trains.

[somebody]

I expect a lot more use would be made of platform 3 for turning back trains.

I expect you are correct, but I'm not sure why it would be #3 instead of #6.

[petey3801]

I expect a lot more use would be made of platform 3 for turning back trains.

I expect you are correct, but I'm not sure why it would be #3 instead of #6.

Cause 3 is out of the way, basically. 6, although it has no real conflicting moves, is frequently used (as well as 7) during off-peak times, so having a train sit there for however long (if it's anything like the Shorncliffe trains at current, up to 30mins) would just be a pain.
Timetabled right, the conflicting move heading from Roma Street #3 to Central 3/4 wouldn't pose much of a problem at all in off-peak times.

In regards to freight travelling via Central, AFAIK all freight travelling via Central must do via the Mains (due to axle load restrictions, clearances etc.), so there would still be conflicting movements getting from the Mains at Roma Street onto the Maryvale Bridge.

[somebody]

In regards to freight travelling via Central, AFAIK all freight travelling via Central must do via the Mains (due to axle load restrictions, clearances etc.), so there would still be conflicting movements getting from the Mains at Roma Street onto the Maryvale Bridge.

Hmm, that seems to be a bit of a problem.

[somebody]

In regards to freight travelling via Central, AFAIK all freight travelling via Central must do via the Mains (due to axle load restrictions, clearances etc.), so there would still be conflicting movements getting from the Mains at Roma Street onto the Maryvale Bridge.

Is it feasible to upgrade the suburbans to handle freight?

[petey3801]

In regards to freight travelling via Central, AFAIK all freight travelling via Central must do via the Mains (due to axle load restrictions, clearances etc.), so there would still be conflicting movements getting from the Mains at Roma Street onto the Maryvale Bridge.

Is it feasible to upgrade the suburbans to handle freight?

Fairly difficult i'd say. I think one of the major limitations is the tunnels themselves on the subs, with the limited clearances compared to the new tunnels on the mains.

[somebody]

I guess that takes us back to the 5th track around Milton.  And removing freight from Merivale while frequent services are running.

[SurfRail]

Fifth track around Milton and some kind of grade separation from Sherwood to Tennyson should fix the most serious problems (possibly combined with getting rid of the Sherwood LX).  The Yeerongpilly end of the fork would be freight only eventually so no grade sepping really required there.

[somebody]

Fifth track around Milton and some kind of grade separation from Sherwood to Tennyson should fix the most serious problems (possibly combined with getting rid of the Sherwood LX).  The Yeerongpilly end of the fork would be freight only eventually so no grade sepping really required there.

Grade sepping there adds some value, but far less than the Milton 5th track, and much more bucks.

Assuming 4tph IPS exp + 4tph RCH all stops, I'd envisage all outbound (up) trains on the subs with inbound (down) trains from IPS all on the mains.  Perhaps circumstances may call for the inbound train from RCH to use the mains.  I don't see any real issues if this occurs.  I doubt that running the outbound IPS train on the mains would be of much benefit very often.  If people can deal with different platforms at Oxley at present then they should be able to deal with it at Darra. 

The 5th track is what we should push for IMNSHO.

[somebody]

It's a 5th track NEAR Milton, not actually through the station.  Basically it provides a single track bi-di connection from Normanby to the mains without conflicting or otherwise interfering with the connection from Roma St #8 to Milton #1 and Milton #2 to Roma St #9.

20 min frequency causes real issues with the Cleveland line and Beenleigh/Gold Coast lines.  With the IPS line are you going to suggest a frequency reduction Darra-Milton?  Can't agree with that.

Doesn't the ability to hold freight on the Tennyson loop already exist?

[#Metro]

It's a 5th track NEAR Milton, not actually through the station.  Basically it provides a single track bi-di connection from Normanby to the mains without conflicting or otherwise interfering with the connection from Roma St #8 to Milton #1 and Milton #2 to Roma St #9.

20 min frequency causes real issues with the Cleveland line and Beenleigh/Gold Coast lines.  With the IPS line are you going to suggest a frequency reduction Darra-Milton?  Can't agree with that.

Doesn't the ability to hold freight on the Tennyson loop already exist?

I have a question.
Often when people talk about the Ipswich line, people say 'from four tracks to two tracks near milton'. What are they talking about, I went across there last week on a train and I saw four tracks all the way. Are they talking about the GC line conflicts?

[aldonius]

Are they talking about the GC line conflicts?

I would think that's a fair assumption.

[somebody]

Two usable tracks, two tracks which certainly can't be used in peak (because they are full) and would cause issues (namely conflicting moves) if used off peak.

[#Metro]

Thanks Simon,

So under a post-CRR scenario, CRR will allow those two tracks to be used in peak hour, right?
So this means benefits for the Ips line in peak as well?

[somebody]

Thanks Simon,

So under a post-CRR scenario, CRR will allow those two tracks to be used in peak hour, right?
So this means benefits for the Ips line in peak as well?

Yes.  I support it.

Although some might be irritated by that suggestion.  The ICRCS supported it and I think stephenk grudgingly did at one point.  It has a conflicting move o/b to Miton vs i/b from Sth Brisbane, so that's the issue.

You must question why you can't have via Tennyson if you can have IPS/RCH line services from the suburbans!

[#Metro]

Do we have any idea of how many slots that would open up per hour?
Post-CRR you'd still need a short Beenleigh Line service (to Yeerongpilly/Tennyson), and a Cleveland line service, so really, IMHO only the slots eaten up by the GC trains are released (2 trains/hour) in the off peak... right??

[somebody]

Do we have any idea of how many slots that would open up per hour?
Post-CRR you'd still need a short Beenleigh Line service (to Yeerongpilly/Tennyson), and a Cleveland line service, so really, IMHO only the slots eaten up by the GC trains are released (2 trains/hour) in the off peak... right??

If insanity prevails!

I expect 8-12tph Cleveland and 4tph inner Beenleigh will need to remain in peak.  That would leave 4-8tph for Springfield or Corinda trains.

[Golliwog]

I think you're going to have more on the Inner Beenleigh line than that. Until the Cleveland line has improvments done to it's single track sections, I can't see them pairing Ferny Grove with Cleveland. And while currently some ex-FG services go to Cleveland not Beenleigh, there are only so many that can. I'd expect the peak Inner Beenleigh line to be 6tph at least. In terms of capacity, it probably isn't needed, but I can't see the community accepting less than at least a BUZ frequency of every 10 minutes in peak.

[somebody]

I think you're going to have more on the Inner Beenleigh line than that. Until the Cleveland line has improvments done to it's single track sections, I can't see them pairing Ferny Grove with Cleveland. And while currently some ex-FG services go to Cleveland not Beenleigh, there are only so many that can. I'd expect the peak Inner Beenleigh line to be 6tph at least. In terms of capacity, it probably isn't needed, but I can't see the community accepting less than at least a BUZ frequency of every 10 minutes in peak.

They already have significantly less than that!  Even Yeerongpilly is less, although not very much.

All trains extending south of Coopers Plains should use CRR.  Not to do so would be insanity!

[somebody]

There is little patronage growth possible by increasing peak frequency above 15 minutes.  People use PT in peak (a) to avoid parking costs (b) to avoid congestion.  These points apply so strongly that 14 minutes of waiting is rather meaningless in most cases.  Some, I'll allow.