Article: LNP's new frontbench structure revealed

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

LNP's new frontbench structure revealed

LNP's new frontbench structure revealed
Daniel Hurst
November 25, 2010 - 9:58PM

State Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek is set to unveil a new shadow cabinet.

Queensland's Liberal National Party will overhaul its frontbench by introducing a stand-alone public transport portfolio and putting the deputy leader in charge of infrastructure.

Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek, who is preparing to dump veteran MPs as part of a renewal push, has flagged changes to shadow cabinet positions to reflect the government structure he would put in place if he won office.

They include a stand-alone public transport minister, who would focus on specific issues of importance to commuters, in addition to the minister for transport and main roads, who would focus on the bigger picture.

The move is intended to ramp up pressure on the Bligh Government over its record on public transport.

There were unconfirmed rumours that Indooroopilly MP Scott Emerson would be promoted from the backbench to serve as the LNP's new public transport spokesman, while Jarrod Bleijie (Kawana) and Tracy Davis (Aspley) were also rumoured to be in line for frontbench positions.

It is understood the LNP will retain the same number of frontbench positions, meaning several MPs will have to be dumped to the backbench.

The party's police and corrective services spokesman, Vaughan Johnson, was rumoured to have been dumped. There was also speculation that emergency services spokesman Ted Malone and community services spokeswoman Rosemary Menkens would be demoted.

The Bligh Government has spent the final parliamentary week of the year ribbing Mr Langbroek over the time he was taking to finalise his frontbench reshuffle, claiming he was "paralysed by weakness".

It has been two months since opposition infrastructure spokesman David Gibson quit the frontbench after criticising Mr Langbroek for flagging the reshuffle to brisbanetimes.com.au before informing colleagues.

Following the final parliamentary session of the year, Mr Langbroek wrote to party supporters on Thursday night to outline changes to be unveiled "in the coming days".

Without naming appointees, Mr Langbroek said an LNP government would have a minister for science and research for the first time in the state's history.

Mr Langbroek said his team would "drive the economic development of our state" with a department assigned to the deputy premier to drive all major projects and infrastructure.

The move was in line with Mr Langbroek's previous comments during a mid-term interview with brisbanetimes.com.au, when he said deputy Lawrence Springborg would have a bigger role in planning.

"If anything, he's going to have enhanced powers in the future because of his ability and where I believe the deputy premier should have powers that can work in lockstep with the premier in terms of planning," he said in September.

Former Labor deputy premiers Jim Elder and Terry Mackenroth, along with current deputy Paul Lucas, have all had responsibility for major planning, but Mr Lucas currently holds health instead.

In his letter to supporters, Mr Langbroek said an LNP government would re-empower the small business sector with a stand-alone minister for small business.

The minister would also be responsible for job creation, industrial relations and fair trading.

"Our commitment to Queensland families and Queensland communities is unchallenged and unmatched. We will restore a minister for families," Mr Langbroek said.

The Opposition Leader said the LNP was committed to helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including developing economic opportunities for them.

"I have already announced that an LNP government will have a minister for North Queensland," he said.

"This minister will also take on responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander economic development and, critically for the protection of our environment, they will take on the new responsibility for Reef protection."

Mr Langbroek told reporters on Thursday his new shadow cabinet team would be unveiled by Christmas.

The next state election is due by March 2012.

[ozbob]

Support this.  Anything that encourages a further focus on public transport is welcome.  Victoria for example has a dedicated Minister for Public Transport, but outcomes are not guaranteed ...  it takes committment, and effort.

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Coalition reshuffle based on Beattie tactics

[somebody]

Indeed.  I think this is great news for PT.

[Stillwater]

We should all chip in a dollar or two to buy the shadow PT minister a bowl of fruit and a framed picture of a congested bit of Brisbane for the office wall.  What would the picture be?

[Stillwater]

The view from one side of the Titanic from the perspective of a deckchair looks pretty much the same as from the other side.  This Opposition has to show it is hungry for government and reveal proper policies -- ATM it seems to believe that if it can keep its head down, it will get government by default.   Fewer 'top of the head' press statements that reveal nothing of what the Opposition will do in government and more robust policy development.  Gain the respect of voters.

[ozbob]

Found here --> http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=34427

Fixing the Cultural Centre and using the modes correctly priority number one ...

[Stillwater]

Great!  Blow up one of these pictures to present to the new Opposition spokesperson on Public Transport as a special gift from RailBOT forum.  An excellent reminder to have on the office wall!

[somebody]

That was one on a day with some sort of incident though, wasn't it?  Pedestrian hit or something like that?

[ozbob]

Ambulance blocked southbound lane for ten minutes ..

[#Metro]

That was one on a day with some sort of incident though, wasn't it?  Pedestrian hit or something like that?

Actually, it happens a few times a year. I think there was a month where it happened twice.

I remember being stuck on a bus on a friday afternoon trying to get into the CBD. I was stuck- get this- stuck in my bus at BURANDA,
another time (another Friday again) I was stuck between South Bank and Cultural Centre.

It is not too bad now- cultural centre is chockers in peak hour as it is, but as the image shows, it only takes one person to sneeze and a domino effect is triggered which clogs the whole system. Melbourne street portal is a death portal IMHO. Extremely dangerous IMHO.

[Stillwater]

Of course, having a dedicated 'Public Transport Minister' is a big step forward.  The media statement says there will also be a super infrastructure shadow ministry and a shadow minister for transport and main roads.  So who looks after what?  Hopefully, the Opposition Leader can shed some light on the division of responsibilities.  Would QR Passenger move to being the responsibility of the PT Minister?  Presume 'big ticket' items such as CRR would come under the jurisdiction of the Infrastructure portfolio.  (Why did I think of Russ Hinze just now?)  Tickets, presumably, would be the responsibility of the PT minister.  Would duplication of the Doomben line, for instance, be the responsibility of the Infrastructure Minister for planning and financing arrangements, but in the hands of the Transport and Main Roads Minister for the construction side of things?  It is in no-one's interest to have ministers handling matters in 'pass the parcel' fashion.  There would need to be a clear statement about how the various ministeries would work together and practically in government, without duplication.

[somebody]

Actually, it happens a few times a year. I think there was a month where it happened twice.

Hardly a frequent rate.

But I do agree about the need to reduce the congestion.  This is a major positive with the 88.

[#Metro]

The congestion at CC isn't good. Will probably get worse as more routes are added.
Why don't they start omitting some southside routes from CC? Or that can't be done?

Melbourne Street Portal = big problem.
I like the busway overall, but that portal exit is probably the worst aspect of it IMHO.

[somebody]

Why don't they start omitting some southside routes from CC? Or that can't be done?

The politics are troublesome.  This is where we need Sir Joh.  Although to repeat my last post, the 88 does do so; so at least they have started to think along those lines.

[Stillwater]

The speculation is that the shadow Public Transport Minister will be Scott Emerson, former journalist and now Member for Indooroopilly.  He was born at Ipswich (1964), the son of a serving RAAF member.  (Interesting contrast to Ms Rachel Nolan, the Member for Ipswich.)  A graduate of Queensland University, he has majors in Law and Journalism, but has also studied Arts and Economics.  (Again, Ms Nolan is no slouch when it comes to her academic credentials.)

Reflecting his background, Mr Emerson speaks passionately of a 'sense of duty' (brought up in a military family) and 'open government' – the journalist revealed.

These quotes from his maiden speech give further insight:  "In my electorate of Indooroopilly I have seen firsthand the failure to plan and manage. Like other  members of my community, I wonder why traffic congestion seems to worsen by the day; why there has  been a failure to ensure the Western Freeway and Centenary Highway can cope with demand and not  force rat-running through suburban streets; why the train line that runs through the electorate is the most  overcrowded in Brisbane; why a $26million redevelopment of the busiest train station outside the CBD  failed to provide even one park-and-ride space; why pressure builds on precious green space in the face of  inappropriate and short-sighted development.

"I still believe our best  hope for future prosperity rests, in the words of Sir Robert Menzies, with the 'divine restlessness and ambitious enterprise of the individual'. In difficult economic times, I believe the challenge for us as  parliamentarians is to do more than just frighten people. We must do more than spend our energy  indulging in smear, scare and false scandal. Truth and integrity must underpin our decisions and the goals  we set. I believe we must be aspirational and in turn we must inspire. Our task is to explain the challenges,  promote the opportunities and provide leadership."

All-in-all, an interesting choice for shadow minister, if the speculation is true.

[Golliwog]

Why don't they start omitting some southside routes from CC? Or that can't be done?

The politics are troublesome.  This is where we need Sir Joh.  Although to repeat my last post, the 88 does do so; so at least they have started to think along those lines.

It will be interesting to see. It looks like they are starting to try and put in some trunk routes with the 66, 77 and 88 although as yet they haven't removed any routes to encourage the uptake of these new routes.

[#Metro]

Sir Joh? 

The politics are troublesome, I agree.
But the politics of the busway suddenly failing and clogging up the city with congestion as it reaches capacity because nobody wanted to admit there was a problem and fix it are even more toxic.

The sooner there are bus lanes on the Captain Cook Bridge, the better IMHO.

[somebody]

It will be interesting to see. It looks like they are starting to try and put in some trunk routes with the 66, 77 and 88 although as yet they haven't removed any routes to encourage the uptake of these new routes.

The problem is, with the 88 in particular, they are reluctant to press forward with almost any improvement to an existing route (presumably) due to the fear of a blowback from people whinging that they aren't happy to have to get the 444 from QSBS, for example.  Also, if you look at the timetable, notice how the 88 leaves 4 minutes before the 444, not 7 or 8.  It seems fairly obvious what they are doing: attempting to reduce complaints about the 444.

I would count the 333/345/385/111/250/555 all as "trunk" routes.  444/330/340 less so due to the milk runs at the end.

I wouldn't count the 66 as a trunk route, more 2 short workings.  77 is more like a cross town route.

Sir Joh? 

We need someone who can push through unreasonable opposition.  The problem with Sir Joh is that he also pushed through reasonable opposition.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

LNP veteran Johnson dumped in reshuffle

LNP veteran Johnson dumped in reshuffle
November 27, 2010 - 2:07PM

LNP veteran Vaughan Johnson is the biggest casualty of his party's shadow cabinet reshuffle announced today.

LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek said he told Mr Johnson yesterday he would be relegated to the backbench as the party went in search of fresh faces and new portfolios to try to breathe life into the party's election chances.

Mr Johnson, who has been the member for Gregory for 21 years, was opposition police and corrective services spokesman before Saturday's demotion.

"I had discussions with Vaughan yesterday," Mr Langbroek said.

"I know that he is interested in having success at the next election and this is one we had to make in the interests of the team.

"I've consulted and discussed things widely and ultimately it's my decision."

The big winners were Tracy Davis, Jarrod Bleijie and Scott Emerson who have all been brought onto the opposition frontbench.

Ms Davis has been handed the newly created opposition public transport portfolio.

Mr Emerson has the new portfolio of science, research and information and communication technology.

Mr Bleijie is the LNP's shadow attorney-general and has also been given justice and corrective services which have been lumped together.

"This reshuffle is my intention to take this ministry to the election," Mr Langbroek said.

Other new opposition portfolios include small business, families and food security.

AAP

Tracey Davis Member for Aspley --> http://www.tracydavis.com.au/

[#Metro]

Perhaps she could potentially come onto the forum chat and introduce herself? 

[Luke]

Tracy is my local member and a very hard working one at that whom I have no doubt will give it her all.  Perhaps she might even bring some much needed attention to the Caboolture/Sunshine Coast lines which runs through her electorate and has been neglected time and time again by the current government.

[#Metro]

Trouts Road Rail perhaps? Proper cross town bus routes?

[Captain Sensible]

Tracy is my local member and a very hard working one at that whom I have no doubt will give it her all.

Tracy is my local member too and is a personal friend of my family. I have passed onto her details of this forum. I suspect that while politics may stop her posting she will be reading the forum.

[Jonno]

My only concern with a separate Minister is that it makes PT separate from Transport when it should be the backbone of it.  The Online Herald debate showed the problem as soon as a question wider than PT was asked as the answer was "you will have to ask the Minster for Transport".  Wrong outcome.

[#Metro]

Main Roads has a minister.

A dedicated minister- i'm not sure either way.

What I do know what matters is:

1. Rail frequency across the board must be improved
2. Cross River Rail must be funded and done
3. Bus frequency needs improvement, more BUZ services are needed
4. A very large proportion of cross town and orbital trips are not catered for. This must, and can be reversed.
5. Funding must be adequate and transparent.
6. Waste must be cut- the farebox ratios are at the bottom of world benchmarks. Increases in the farebox ratio can be achieved AND improvements to the system at the same time by looking at tighter and better integration and more frequent services (I suspect many BUZ routes are breaking even or turning a profit).

[ozbob]

In the monolith that is presently Transport and Main Roads the public transport micro issues are being largely ignored by complex broad policy initiatives.  I have been to a variety of meetings and when I zero in on a basic commuter level issue eyes glass over and they have no idea.

This is one reason why TransLink is running rampant, to wit, the route 88. Why the mediocre reporting is considered acceptable by some eg. the TransLink Tracker. Or the failure to adequately address public transport poor regions like Bridgeman Downs or Albany Creek, and the Great Circle Line bus service shortfalls over something superfluous like the 88.  There is no real appreciation of the real day to day issues.  

This is where a dedicated public transport portfolio would be useful to drive the fundamental issues through the complex broader policy mix IMHO.

[Jonno]

Bob put that way and if that is their role then I think it does have merit.  They also need to be across the broader planning issues as well and not be silent on them.  They should be the people's voice on PT. 

I don't think there should be a Main Roads Minister either IMHO.

[mufreight]

There is a tragedy in the appointment of Ms Davis to the critical position of the Shadow Minister for Public Transport, the previous Shadow Minister for Transport is more than competent and had made the effort needed to get around the portfolio.
Perhaps it would have been more to the advantage of the LNP to have retained the accumilated knowledge and expertise of Ms Simpson for the Public Transport portfolio and to have elevated Ms West to Transport and Roads.
Time will tell.
To have a Minister for Public Transport as a stand alone portfolio is without question a good move provided that this Minister also has control over the provision of the infrastructure needed to provide the Public Transport services required.      

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

'Public transport doesn't always work for me'

'Public transport doesn't always work for me'
Daniel Hurst
December 16, 2010 - 11:59AM

The state opposition's new public transport spokeswoman will soon walk in the shoes of a peak-hour commuter.

It won't quite be the same as the Bligh Government's much-hyped "walk a day" program, but it will allow Tracy Davis to find out just what public transport users think of busy services.

As the Liberal National Party's new shadow minister for public transport, Ms Davis is charged with taking up the fight to the Bligh Government over commuter concerns.

But the first-term Aspley MP admits she will have to get onto the network more to learn about passenger expectations as she does not use public transport often.

"I'm not a regular user of public transport because when you're zipping around an electorate going to different events, and I'm time poor, public transport doesn't always work for me," she says.

The small business owner says she recently took the train in to the city outside of peak hour.

Instead of what she says is usually a 30-minute drive from her Gympie Road office at Aspley to Parliament House, she took nearly an hour and 20 minutes getting to her destination.

The trip involved driving to Carseldine station, finding a carpark, waiting for the train, catching a service to Central and then walking to Parliament House.

Ms Davis says it was an interesting experience.

"Certainly my intention early next year is to do a couple of services during peak hour and understand [the issues]," she says.

"That's how you learn about people's experiences. That's walking in their shoes."

Ms Davis, who set up and owns a kitchen design and manufacturing company, has enjoyed a rapid rise since her election in March last year.

She was one of the big winners from opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek's long-awaited frontbench reshuffle, announced three weeks ago.

Mr Langbroek appointed Ms Davis to the opposition's new standalone public transport portfolio but she will have to work closely with Fiona Simpson, who retains responsibility for the big-picture transport and main roads ministry.

Ms Davis says she believes commuters feel left out of government decisions on public transport services and she wants to engage them to develop LNP policies in the lead up to the next election, due by March 2012.

"What people are telling me is that they want to use public transport," the mother of three says.

"They're not unhappy to use it, they just want it to be more user-friendly. The main thing they're concerned about is the regularity of the service, the connectivity of the services and in particular with rail the overcrowding of it."

The state government often accuses the opposition of negativity over the Go Card, saying the system was recognised by the Tourism and Transport Forum as the leading transport smart card in Australia.

But Ms Davis says the delivery of the Go Card system has been hit with difficulties and there are still concerns over the availability of sellers.

"It could be a good system, but there's still more work to be done on it," she says.

"If the system works it's worthy of supporting, but there are still some glitches."

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan has previously nominated the continued delivery of the Go Card system as one of her top achievements during this term of government.

In a mid-term report card, Ms Nolan also pointed to the delivery of an additional 301,000 seats per week across the public transport network.

[somebody]

I do wonder why she didn't use the 345 (or maybe 340) though to get from Gympie Rd, Aspley to Parliament.  Would have saved some walk time too.

[#Metro]

Legibility might not be strong... this is why I am a big fan of bus wraps.
Easy to put on, easy to take off.

[Stillwater]

Go north, dear lady, go north.  There is a good slow food cafe in Nambour.  Then again, it is the Sunny Coast line, so a packed lunch might be in order.

[Jonno]

...and here is the crux of the problem.

I'm not a regular user of public transport because when you're zipping around an electorate going to different events, and I'm time poor, public transport doesn't always work for me," she says.

So the blinkers are already on.  "Public transporet can not move people as fast as they want".  The 15% PT cap is set already!!.

What we need is a quate from a Transport related politicians that says "If Viennna, Vancover can do it. So can we.!!!"