Queensland 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates

[ozbob]

1 to 10 August 2023

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Estimates-Hearings

Transport and Resources Committee

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement
Minister for Resources

Consideration of 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates inquiry details

8 August 2023

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Transport Minister Mark Bailey's two weeks from hell $

... Transport Minister Mark Bailey is likely to be sweating bullets at the annual estimates hearings grilling after a shocking two weeks.

First the Minister was forced to admit during a blundering press conference he knew the government's flagship train manufacturing program had blown out by a whopping $2.4 billion when a press release was sent to reporters with the old figures in June.

Then Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk returned from Japan, she told reporters she didn't think she was aware of the staggering increase before the release was published but endeavoured to "double check".

On reflection, it turned out the Premier was told by Mr Bailey about the blowout, with the Transport Minister issuing a grovelling apology for the stuff-up at a stacked press conference which included Ms Palaszczuk and three other cabinet ministers.

"The correct overall figure should have gone in the media release," he conceded on Monday.

"I'm the line minister, I take responsibility for that — I apologise sincerely."

Easy to miss – after all, $2.4bn is only about ten times the cost of the Wellcamp quarantine facility (which was only finally revealed to the public by Deputy Premier Steven Miles after months of scrutiny at last year's estimates).

Next up was a blow-up with his old sparring partner the CFMEU, following a horrific fall at the Cross River Rail site which left a worker fighting for life.

It meant this week ended with the militant union calling for their foe to be sacked – not for the first, and we suspect not the for the last time.

Mr Bailey will be without long-serving Director-General Neil Scales by his side at estimates for a change after the Transport and Main Roads boss stepped down last month after more than a decade.

We note Mr Scales has already gone in the well-worn direction of many public servants – with his LinkedIn page revealing he is already offering "consultancy services". ...

[ozbob]

Trying on the ol "I am shocked!! This is not my fault and I am going to champion the fix" trick!!

I guess we can expect a " good news " story to try deflect the deep doo doo they are all in, viz.

1. CRR WHS issues.

2. Freight train collision.

3. Duplicitious media concerning QTMP.

4. bullsh%t about the 3 car train issues.

This is not looking good at all.  I think it's terminal unless they really lift their game.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SteveMinnikinMP/status/1684390949949153283

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/tamhus8/status/1684417992757747712

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1684570074295029761

[kram0]

The guy is a grub of a human and politician.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opposition Leader David Crisafulli vows to overhaul Queensland budget grilling if elected Premier $

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli is digging in his heels on his pledge to overhaul Queensland's budget estimates process should he be elected Premier next year.

Mr Crisafulli vowed that should an LNP government be installed in 2024, they would seek to have the annual process chaired independently – such as by the Speaker – and expand time for questions from members of the opposition party.

This year's budget estimates will kick off on Tuesday, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk the first to be grilled followed by Treasurer Cameron Dick.

Mr Crisafulli was critical of the time currently used for government ministers to be able to "wind down the clock" by asking "Dorothy Dixer" questions of MPs.

"Budget estimates should be an opportunity for ministers to be held accountable, but it has descended into a farce, shielding underperforming ministers from scrutiny," he said. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1686012087347068928

Credibility gap ...   

[ozbob]

^

https://twitter.com/PatrickCondren/status/1686160902700351489

[ozbob]

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Estimates-Hearings

Estimates hearings will be broadcast live via the main Parliament.TV page.

Portfolio Committee	Date
Economics and Governance Committee Speaker Premier and Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement  Consideration of 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates inquiry details »	1 August 2023
State Development and Regional Industries Committee Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympic and Paralympic Games Infrastructure  Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water Consideration of 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates inquiry details »	2 August 2023
Education, Employment and Training Committee Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development and Minister for Youth Justice Consideration of 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates inquiry details »	3 August 2023
Health and Environment Committee Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for Multicultural Affairs  Consideration of 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates inquiry details »	4 August 2023
Transport and Resources Committee Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement Minister for Resources  Consideration of 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates inquiry details »	8 August 2023
Legal Affairs and Safety Committee Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence  Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Consideration of 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates inquiry details »	9 August 2023
Community Support and Services Committee Minister for Treaty, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Communities and Minister for the Arts Minister for Housing Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Seniors and Disability Services  Consideration of 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates inquiry details »	10 August 2023

Further information will be placed on each committee's inquiry page when it is available.

Estimates transcripts will also be available from the Records of Proceedings webpages. Go to this link and click on the date of the hearing in 2023 to access the transcript: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/sitting-dates/dates.

For more information see the Estimates Committees fact sheet 3.12.

[ozbob]

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/opposition-leader-david-crisafulli-vows-to-overhaul-queensland-budget-grilling-if-elected-premier/live-coverage/ca5d5c0cd2ecb90082d76e53ee7f813d

Estimates head clash begins

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli have immediately clashed at this year's budget estimates, with the $2.4bn blowout on the government's flagship train manufacturing program.
The Premier faced multiple questions from Mr Crisafulli about whether she had seen a media release which stated the incorrect, $7.1bn project cost – though she later admitted she knew the figure was wrong.
"Let me just say very clearly that it should have been discussed between the Minister (Mark Bailey) and myself. The minister has apologised and it should have been updated," she said.
But Mr Crisafulli wouldn't let what appeared to be a yes or no question go past – repeatedly asking the same question despite the protests of committee chair Linus Power, who reprimanded Mr Crisafulli.
"If you were to do that in the house, you would be warned," Mr Power said.
"I ask you to show the same respect that you show in the house."
For the record – we still don't know whether she saw the press release with the incorrect figure distributed, or not.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1686818936661344256

 

[Stillwater]

It is hard to keep track of all the various Queensland Government plans. Is the 'Queensland Plan' still operational?

https://www.queenslandplan.qld.gov.au/assets/images/qld-plan-review.pdf

If so, the plan states: "The Premier is also required to prepare annual progress reports outlining how government has contributed to implementing the Plan. As part of the review process, the Queensland Government will be considering its own obligations under the Act, including reporting requirements and how the Plan informs strategic and operational planning."

[ozbob]

^ there are so many plans I suspect there is a PS team that just manages the ' plans, the visions, the connectings,  the shapings of this and that ' .  I think to most now it is just an incoherent jumble of glossy brochures that make good linings for car boots when taking empty cans/bottles back to the recycling.

I have given up trying to keep up.  It is not possible.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> George St Beat: Tweets send Bailey's excuses off the rails $

We predicted in our last column Transport Minister Mark Bailey was the pollie most under pressure rolling into budget estimates. We were right.

The Minister's woes only escalated this week thanks to the revelation his office had removed the true cost of the Queensland Trains Manufacturing Program blowout from a draft media release provided by Transport and Main Roads. ...

[ozbob]

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=173&id=4263

Estimates Hearing Program
Tuesday 8 August 2023
Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament House

9:00am to 11:00am

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services

11:00am to 11:15am Break – morning tea

11:15am to 1:00pm

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services

Live broadcasts > https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Live-and-Archived-Broadcasts



< RBoT Members

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1688652276909723649

[ozbob]

 

[#Metro]

You can listen live to the broadcast using the Parliament broadcast link.

[Jonno]

Bet there are no questions from the LNP asking the Minister/TMR if the investment in widening roads is creating a bigger problem for the Government to fix in the future and if they can show the real economic benefit for this investment.  Charter Boat? What Charter Boat?

[Gazza]

The LNP party that believe in widening roads even moreso.

[ozbob]

Questions - on Notice and Response/s, Department of Transport and Main Roads and Digital Services

Responses to pre-hearing Questions on Notice from the Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services

Transport and Resources Committee - Consideration of 2023/2024 portfolio budget estimates

> https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/com/TRC-645B/C20232024-8423/Pre-hearing%20Question%20on%20Notice%20-%20Bailey.pdf

[ozbob]

Hope the transcript is available later today:

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=173&id=4263

[ozbob]

Transcript >>> https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/com/TRC-645B/C20232024-8423/2023_08_08_EstimatesTRC.pdf