RAIL - Back On Track Forum

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1608824053699317762

^ Des is prone to extremism at times, but he might have a point here.

Increasingly out of touch Government on many levels.  Health is a disaster for many, transport not much better.

Olympics preparation appears to be seriously lagging ..   

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/annastacia-palaszczuk-takes-leave-until-january-23/news-story/b5bf0c75b33f371f82f41397bf90b54a

Quote... Annastacia Palaszczuk has left the country for an overseas holiday with Deputy Premier Steven Miles taking up the reins as acting premier for the next three weeks.

The Premier took to social media this morning to announce she was taking "some personal leave" until January 23 following a "very busy two years for Queensland".

Mr Miles will act in the role until Ms Palaszczuk's return, with the Premier declaring she was confident her deputy could handle any issues that may arise during her absence. ...

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1610040377008087040

https://twitter.com/mattdennien/status/1616245159355879430

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1619032055463174144

INQLD --> Summer holiday's behind us - time for Premier to wield axe to save her government

Quote... The question hovering over the Queensland Labor government is whether it is now into the final half of what many feel will be its final term – unless something dramatic happens to stop its slide before October next year. In my 40 years of covering Queensland politics, I have rarely seen a government that has so lost its way, so destined for defeat. ...  David Fagan

^ some not very well thought-out ideas in that article. Taxing vapes at the state level is likely to be unconstitutional, just as it was with tobacco, alcohol, and fuel.

Additionally, all cars sold in Australia since 2001 are factory-fitted with immobiliser, but they're useless if a car is stolen with the keys, which is an increasingly common method of theft.

Regardless, I think the best axe Palaszczuk could wield is on herself. She's running a tired government, bereft of ideas.

IN QLD --> Spare us the victory lap, Premier, it's clear we're no longer your top priority

QuoteHaving dragged her party back from the brink of extinction, Annastacia Palaszczuk has secured her status as a Labor legend – but it's also clear that, both inside and outside of government ranks, she's now in cruise control, writes Madonna King ...

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1629911188946710528

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1636359855593361410

 

Queensland Parliament E-Petition

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/Petition-Details?id=3877

SOCIAL MEDIA STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS ATTACH AUTHORISATIONS AND AUTHOR'S NAMES

TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House, some minister's and mayor's social media accounts appear to be operated by persons or artificial intelligence rather than the minister or mayor.

Social media statements by ministers and mayors are official statements. Ministers and mayors are "Public Authorities" have powers to give directions, make lawful directions and delegate powers. When a minister or mayor delegates a function, this should be officially recorded. Statements by ministers and mayors have the ability to affect markets and lives of Queenslanders. If people other than the minister or mayor are operating posting or publishing content on social media, as stand-ins for the minister or mayor, these persons should be included as authors of the content.

If the minister or mayor has approved someone to post content or any statement on their behalf, then the minister or mayor should identify before parliament and councils on whom this ability has been delegated. Posts and comments by the ministers and mayors which feature political content, may also not contain compliant authorisations, including the author of the content.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to call on the House to ensure that:

1.  all publications by ministers and mayors carry the author's name and authorisations if content is not by the hand of the minister or mayor; and

2.  whoever is authorised to publish on behalf of a minister or mayor is an officially delegated authority and that this is on a public register.

Brisbanetimes --> Crashing the parties: Voters mark leaders down but Palaszczuk keeps her edge

QuoteQueensland voters have marked down the performance of the state's major party leaders, but prefer Annastacia Palaszczuk as premier despite a growing negative view of her.

After a tumultuous few months, Labor and the LNP also continue to shed support, polling conducted for Brisbane Times shows, with the Greens and the idea of independent candidates gaining popularity. ...

^

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1648682635068329984

Brisbanetimes --> To many he's a dark horse, but could Crisafulli's time be coming?

QuoteFor a leader who is anonymous to almost half of Queensland's voting population, David Crisafulli remains remarkably viable as a potential premier – maybe even likely.

The opposition leader is the preferred premier for 31 per cent of people surveyed by Resolve Political Monitor on behalf of Brisbane Times, an increase of one point since the previous poll in early December. ...

Kevin Bonham estimates that on those primaries the 2PP is almost identical to what it was in 2020 (just over 53% to Labor) so... Betteridge's Law of Headlines strikes again I reckon.

Couriermail --> Wipe-out: Labor at serious risk of losing nine seats $

QuoteNew analysis reveals state Labor is at serious risk of losing nine marginal seats, including a wipe-out in the state's North and serious electoral injury in regional Queensland at the next election.

The Palaszczuk government is facing a wipe-out in the state's North and serious electoral injury in regional Queensland at the next election.

Explosive new YouGov polling shows Labor is facing a substantial swing against it.

Assuming a uniform two-party preferred swing of 4 per cent, Labor is at serious risk of losing nine marginal seats.

And in a political headache for both major parties nine seats changing hands puts neither in a position to form majority government, leaving them to the mercy of the state's growing crossbench. ...

Quote from: ozbob on April 22, 2023, 07:25:17 AMAnd in a political headache for both major parties nine seats changing hands puts neither in a position to form majority government, leaving them to the mercy of the state's growing crossbench. ...

This would be the best outcome for public transport IMO, since the cross bench (including the Green's) will have more leverage.

Quote from: ozbob on April 22, 2023, 07:25:17 AMCouriermail --> Wipe-out: Labor at serious risk of losing nine seats $

QuoteNew analysis reveals state Labor is at serious risk of losing nine marginal seats, including a wipe-out in the state's North and serious electoral injury in regional Queensland at the next election.

The Palaszczuk government is facing a wipe-out in the state's North and serious electoral injury in regional Queensland at the next election.

Explosive new YouGov polling shows Labor is facing a substantial swing against it.

Assuming a uniform two-party preferred swing of 4 per cent, Labor is at serious risk of losing nine marginal seats.

And in a political headache for both major parties nine seats changing hands puts neither in a position to form majority government, leaving them to the mercy of the state's growing crossbench. ...

The Courier-Mail made similar claims prior to the 2020 election, and look how that turned out. I'd say either their polling methods are faulty, or their interpretation thereof is.

Quote from: Curious SnailAssuming a uniform two-party preferred swing of 4 per cent, Labor is at serious risk of losing nine marginal seats.

This is perfectly correct. But you never get a uniform swing, and the question is whether such a swing actually eventuates anyway.

YouGov is a big international polling firm and they've been operating in Australia for a while, so I doubt they'd be making rookie errors with sampling biases. (They run the Newspoll now). But last week we saw a Resolve result that's basically unchanged from 2020. They can't both be right. Polls (by random sampling) do bounce around a bit.

And I do reckon there's a fair bit of volatility in the electorate at the moment - there's still more than a year to go.

Takeway: the electorate is probably sitting at almost an even split. I wouldn't find a 2015 style result surprising.

Further reading: https://www.pollbludger.net/2023/04/21/queensland-polls-resolve-strategic-and-yougov/

Couriermail --> Annastacia Palaszczuk's standing as preferred premier sinks to lowest level since she took up top job $

QuoteAnnastacia Palaszczuk's standing as preferred premier has sunk to its lowest level since she took up the top job, as explosive new polling reveals the LNP is in the box seat to take out next year's election.

And in a major political headache for the Premier, almost half voters believe Queensland is heading in the wrong direction – putting Labor on the back foot as it vies for a historic fourth term.

More voters also believe an LNP government led by David Crisafulli would do better than Labor at handling the crucial vote winning issues of cost of living, youth crime, and even health.

The exclusive polling conducted by YouGov for The Courier-Mail reveals Ms Palaszczuk's standing as better premier is now worse than both Campbell Newman and Anna Bligh before their falls from power. ...

Brisbanetimes --> Transparency trouble: Expense reports for jet-setting Qld pollies missing in action

QuotePalaszczuk government expense reports required to be updated quarterly have not been uploaded to the state's open-data portal for more than a year – a defiance of stated transparency responsibilities and strategy.

The reports, maintained by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, contain information considered to be in the public interest, including gifts received by ministers and expenses for hospitality and overseas travel. ...

Why am I not surprised?     

Really off the pace this mob now ...

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1651230994320457730

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1651472237395079168

https://twitter.com/couriermail/status/1655304216213344256

Of course the LNP will lose because every election they seem to only focus on North Queensland.
That's what happens when the Nationals run the show in the party room.

Quickly, who can name the top three Blue Team policies?

You don't get elected simply by bagging the other side. You must present your party as the Alternative Government. You can't simply keep giving media interviews, saying: "This is Anna Palazczuk's fault. I call upon her to fix it."

Anyone could run the State better than Anna and co are running it at the moment. Is there a department running efficiently at the moment? It is an absolute joke currently.

Quote from: kram0 on May 08, 2023, 15:21:24 PMAnyone could run the State better than Anna and co are running it at the moment. Is there a department running efficiently at the moment? It is an absolute joke currently.

While I'm no huge fan of the current government, that's a gross exaggeration. I've seen exactly zero from the current opposition that convinces me that could do any better.

Sunshine Valley Gazette 10th May 2023 page 18

Seeking truth in a world of political spin

Couriermail --> D'Ath to go: Premier's cabinet reshuffle to send shockwaves through Labor $

QuoteAnnastacia Palaszczuk will announce a cabinet reshuffle focused on repairing three critical pain points for the state government: health, housing and youth justice.

It is understood Ms Palaszczuk has told Yvette D'Ath she will be moved from the health portfolio, with the expectation the minister will return to her previous frontbench role as attorney-general.

The Courier-Mail understands current A-G Shannon Fentiman will be sworn in as the new health minister. ...

In light of the Cabinet re-shuffle occurring tomorrow.

Out of all Queensland Red Team MP's
Who would make a good transport minister?

I consider Stirling Hinchliffe did a good job in the role when I (we RBoT) met with him in 2016.
He seemed quite interested in the role and prepared to listen.

He did the honourable thing and resigned from his role as Transport Minister over the Rail Fail and Train Driver numbers (Phillip Strachan Inquiry) in 2017.
He was Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games from 8 Dec 2015 - 6 Feb 2017.

He did the right thing to resign as he recognized his responsibility as a Minister.
I have to admit I admire that fortitude and ethic.
I felt that his predecessor was probably more to blame than he was - but at least he followed Westminster convention.
Jackie Trad MP was his predecessor.
Ironically, she then became his successor.

And look at the mess that we are in.

Stirling Hinchliffe, as Transport Minister, had good staff in his office. They sought to respond genuinely to letters and matters put to them. There was good follow-through as well.

Regardless of who it is, Mark Bailey has been in the job for a good while now so it would be good to get new blood and a new perspective. My optimism for a change isn't very high though, I must admit.

We have have 27 years of no decrease in mode share of trips by car so according to our State Government no need to change!! All good

Mode share will increase when policies and actions are put in place that narrow the time gap between PT and car.

That means more BUZ routes, more 15 min off peak trains like Perth, and inherently faster trains running on track supporting at least 160 km/hr operation and ideally 200km/hr operation IMHO.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1658841033659105282

Couriermail --> Meaghan Scanlon to take on Housing in major frontbench shake-up $

QuoteFixing the spiralling housing and homelessness crisis engulfing Queensland has been handed to the youngest MP in cabinet, in a major frontbench shake-up that has thrown the Labor government into turmoil.

Rising star Meaghan Scanlon will move from the Environment portfolio and take on Housing as her sole responsibility, signalling the government's renewed focus on the issue amid rising homelessness.

The Courier-Mail understands Youth Justice has been taken from Leanne Linard and �delivered to Di Farmer, while the continually plagued Health portfolio has been taken from Yvette D'Ath and handed to Shannon Fentiman. ...

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/premier-annastacia-palaszczuks-newlook-cabinet-sworn-in/news-story/85b9732cf2d425bb09a19a7f35cb3986

FULL LIST OF QLD'S MINISTERS AFTER THE RESHUFFLE

SHANNON FENTIMAN

*Minister for Health and Ambulance Services

*Minister for Mental Health

*Minister for Women

MARK BAILEY

*Minister for Transport and Main Roads

*Minister for Digital Services

YVETTE D'ATH

*Attorney-General and Minister for Justice

*Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence

LEEANNE ENOCH

*Minister for Treaty

*Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships

*Minister for Communities

*Minister for the Arts

MEAGHAN SCANLON

*Minister for Housing

DI FARMER

*Minister for Employment and Small Business

*Minister for Training and Skills Development

*Minister for Youth Justice

CRAIG CRAWFORD

*Minister for Child Safety

*Minister for Seniors and Disability Services

LEANNE LINARD

*Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef

*Minister for Science

*Minister for Multicultural Affairs