It is nearly over ...

[ozbob]

The polls will close shortly. 

With respect to transport this campaign has been a policy poor zone from the ALP.  The LNP started off with some policies in place, even if somewhat suspect (eg. 7 cars).  Unfortunately the line to nowhere proposal (aspiration?) caused considerable concern during the last week.

The Greens stuck to their well established light rail proposals.

The free travel proposals from the LNP and the Greens are not in the best interest of the community IMHO.

My gut feeling is ALP will be returned with a reduced majority.  This would be a good thing as it might focus attention on the need to improve the present policies with respect to transport.

Election 2009 would have to be one of the worst election campaigns I have observed from all sides. 
Pathetic is the only word I can find appropriate ...

All political parties must lift their game. 

[Derwan]

Not much of a choice in Nudgee.  Apart from minority parties, we had the incumbent, experienced Neil Roberts from the ALP or the 19yo son of a billionaire from LNP.  Who would honestly choose to vote for a kid with virtually no (real life) experience?

[ozbob]

Urge some caution with exit polls ...

From the Courier Mail click here!

Exit polls show Labor win in Queensland election

Exit polls show Labor win in Queensland election
Article from: AAP

By David Barbeler

March 21, 2009 05:18pm

PREMIER Anna Bligh has warned Queenslanders they may have to wait for an election result, as the first exit poll suggested Labor would hold onto government in a narrow victory.
As the clock ticked down on the last hours of voting, Auspoll said exit polling in marginal seats pointed to a narrow Labor win.

The exit poll's two-party preferred result gave Labor and the Liberal National Party an even 50 per cent.

But Auspoll chief executive Tim Gartrell said that if that result was uniform across Queensland, it would not be enough to rob Labor of government.

"So this gives a whole swag of seats (to the LNP) but doesn't get them government," Mr Gartrell said on Sky News, adding the swing was shy of the 8.3 per cent the LNP needed to form majority government.

The last opinion poll of the campaign put Lawrence Springborg's LNP slightly ahead on a two-party preferred vote, by 50.1 per cent to 49.9 per cent, but that was an almost one per cent drop since a Galaxy poll on Friday.

If the five-percentage-point swing since the last election was replicated uniformly across Queensland, Labor would lose 13 of the seats it is notionally deemed to hold after a recent redistribution.

On that basis, Ms Bligh would be left with a five-seat majority in Parliament.

Mr Springborg, who voted at Yelarbon State School in his electorate of Southern Downs, said there was a "positive feeling" in the air but would not speculate on a result.

He said he was extremely pleased with the way he and the other LNP candidates had run the campaign.

"We had a disciplined campaign and we personally didn't get into negative attacks."

Ms Bligh, who is vying to win a fifth term for Labor and become Australia's first elected female premier, seemed to concede her party would lose its massive parliamentary majority at a minimum.

She said the Newspoll had shown the election was so close that every vote, including her own, was going to count.

"... every single vote is going to count in this election," she said as she voted at East Brisbane State School with her family in tow.

"We may not have a result tonight, but I think what we will see tonight is a very interesting outcome."

Ms Bligh has said she's "not thinking about minority government" but today she continued to leave that option open.

"I've been out at the polling booths already for a couple of hours this morning and I intend to spend the rest of the day at polling booths talking to people, working very hard, leaving no stone unturned to make sure I deliver a stable majority government," Ms Bligh said.

"That's what we need right now and we'll see what Queenslanders deliver tonight and we might have to work on that tomorrow."

Mr Springborg has also said he's only interested in a stable majority government, something Ms Bligh said was "implausible". His comments also raised the ire of high-profile independent candidate for Beaudesert Pauline Hanson.

Ms Hanson said the LNP leader's comments that he was not going to do deals with independents to form a minority government were "arrogant".

"I think Lawrence Springborg was terribly arrogant in his comments last night saying he won't work with anyone," she told Sky News.

"It's a slap in the face for the people of Queensland because if the people of Queensland, and the seat of Beaudesert, have voted for me as an independent well I think it's very arrogant on his part to say he won't work with me."

Queensland Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce said Ms Bligh had ignored regional Queensland to her peril.

"Regional people more than anybody have a reason to have a strong ownership of this vote," he said.

However Rockhampton Labor MP and Minister for Public Works Robert Schwarten said there was no overwhelming evidence of widespread discontent in the regional areas.

"We'll have to wait and see what happens tonight, every vote counts and every regional seat is going to count in this case," Mr Schwarten said.

Meanwhile, alleged assaults and cries of dirty tactics surfaced at some polling booths.

The LNP was accused of dirty tactics in the hotly contested seat of Indooroopilly after fake Labor how-to-vote cards were handed out.

The cards encouraged Labor voters not preference Labor defector and Greens MP Ronan Lee despite a deal being struck between the two parties.

Labor also successfully sought a Supreme Court injunction to ban the handing out of how-to-vote cards in electorates across north Brisbane that urged voters to save the Royal Children's Hospital by voting for LNP candidates.

"It hadn't been lodged with the Electoral Commission Queensland and in our view this card was illegal, and hence the court order was determined on that," Labor campaign director Anthony Chisholm said.

Meanwhile, the LNP said police attended an incident involving an LNP worker who was allegedly pushed to the ground by two men at a polling booth at Redcliffe this morning.

The ALP claims it had a booth worker assaulted at Coomera on the Gold Coast.

Police say all matters were dealt with at the scene and no formal complaints were made.

[ozbob]

http://www.abc.net.au/elections/qld/2009/

Good coverage ...

[ozbob]

Labor are back ....

[ozbob]

Congratulations to the Bligh Government.

The afternoon weekday peaks are getting very congested on most lines.
We will be in touch ... 

[STB]

Thank goodness I can sleep easy knowing who's going to lead the state, and not as close as first predicted.

[ozbob]

I just listened to the Premier's speech and further comments on the panel.  Clear indication of changes in Transport coming.

Good move.  As the Premier indicated, there were messages and glad they have been heard.

[ozbob]

Media Release 21 March 2009

Queensland:  Well done ALP, time for transport renewal.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has congratulated the ALP on the election result.  There was a message though in the result; improved performance in public transport throughout Queensland is needed.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Transport has not figured publicly as the major issue in this election.  The global financial crisis has ensured that, but it is clear from the Premier's comments this evening that improved outcomes in service delivery particularly transport is on the agenda for the next term.  We welcome that commitment."

"As the recession bites, public transport will become an even more critical matter."

"RAIL Back On Track calls for a dedicated Minister for Transport."

"Well done LNP and Greens for having a go!"

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail 22nd March 2009 page 6

Rocky road for Mickel

Rocky road for Mickel

TRANSPORT Minister John Mickel comfortably retained his seat of Logan, but will be fighting to keep his spot in the new Anna Bligh Cabinet to be named this week.

Mr Mickel, 55, ruined a McLindon family LNP double celebration.  While former Logan city councillor Aidan McLindon won the seat of Beaudesert, brother Tristan was no match for the experienced Labor front bencher in the neighbouring electorate.

But a series of blunders while in charge of Queensland Transport and Queensland Rail could affect Mr Mickel's chopes of staying in Cabinet.

[stephenk]

I'm glad the public were not fooled by the LNP's gimmicky and unworkable policies.

As Labour have been re-elected, I would like to see Rail Back on Track put pressure on the Government to fulfill the infrastructure projects required in accordance with the inner city capacity rail study findings.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

One more chance for Labor and Anna Bligh

One more chance for Labor and Anna Bligh
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

March 21, 2009 11:00pm

PREMIER Anna Bligh went to the polls seeking a renewal of the mandate she inherited from her predecessor, Peter Beattie. She emerged with that mandate slightly weakened but intact.

Her parliamentary majority has been reduced but she has won three more years for Labor and three more years for herself as premier ? and as the nation's first elected female premier.

In the circumstances and after more than a decade of sometimes lacklustre Labor government, it is a remarkable result and she deserves congratulations.

Ms Bligh cannot pretend she is in any way politically constrained as she leads Queensland through one of the most difficult economic periods in its history. Nor can the Opposition, having presented its alternatives and been rejected, stand in her way as she exercises the leadership the people have given her.

But the leadership mandate comes with immense expectations and responsibilities.

The Queensland people have been remarkably forgiving of a catalogue of failure, miscalculation, short-sightedness and, sometimes, sleaziness over the 11-year Labor rule.

Now, with so much at stake for the state and for individuals, the Government must deliver. The time for gimmickry, photo stunts, brave talk and spin-doctoring is over, and the people will judge failure harshly.

It will not be an easy task for Ms Bligh who must start exercising the sort of authority and certainty that has eluded her. She talked the talk but never quite walked the walk when it came to putting good policy before popularity ? and sticking with it.

A hard-won victory could be just the tonic she needs to build her political muscle.

And while the Government has been given an enforced transfusion of new blood, thanks to the retirement of a long list of former members, it remains saddled with some who should have heeded the renewal call and put their party and their state before their personal interests.

Ms Bligh's task becomes tougher by the day and she must face it with a team that often under-performed even in the good times.

The Liberal National Party had its successes but not nearly enough, which is scarcely surprising given the task of overhauling a massive majority.

Just how well it performed is difficult to judge because the benchmark was set by an appalling Opposition performance in 2006.

Yesterday, conservative politics again failed to live up to expectations in crucial urban seats.

The LNP brand indisputably works, but whether it can ever work well enough to capture those urban seats remains a matter for debate.

Similarly, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg did a sterling job in creating the LNP and taking it to the polls. Whether he will ever be able to woo those urban voters is also a matter for debate.

It is faint consolation after so long in the wilderness, but the Opposition is a least better placed for the next parliament and the next election.

The tasks facing the Opposition leadership are no less challenging than those facing Ms Bligh.

Its successes have given it new blood but, like the Government, it is handicapped by the continuing presence of members who should have made way for new talent.

In three years time, both parties might well regret that renewal was not a reality, rather than an empty buzzword.

In September 2006, Mr Beattie put his MPs on notice that Queenslanders had given them "one more chance". They actually gave Labor two more chances but this time the lesson must surely be: "Three strikes and you're out."

[ozbob]

A quick move ... wonder what will happen in regards to infrastructure and transport?

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Lucas appointed health minister

Lucas appointed health minister
March 22, 2009 - 3:11PM

Queensland Deputy Premier Paul Lucas has been appointed the state's health minister.

Mr Lucas's portfolio is the first to be confirmed since Labor won its fifth term in office in Saturday's election.

Former health minister Stephen Robertson came under fire for his poor handling of hospital waiting lists, remote nursing accommodation and the checking of foreign doctors' backgrounds.

AAP

[ozbob]

As Labour have been re-elected, I would like to see Rail Back on Track put pressure on the Government to fulfil the infrastructure projects required in accordance with the inner city capacity rail study findings.

We have in the past couple of weeks lobbied directly on those very issues. 

We do intend to keep a focus on capacity increases as clearly indicated in the ICRCS.  This must be a priority for the new Minister for Transport, be it Mr Mickel or someone else.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Bligh reshuffle: Lucas to health

Bligh reshuffle: Lucas to health
Daniel Hurst | March 22, 2009 - 4:27PM

Re-elected Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has appointed her deputy Paul Lucas as Queensland's new health minister, in a move designed to show she is serious about fixing the state's maligned health system.

Ms Bligh revealed the key appointment this afternoon in her first media conference since her election victory over the Liberal National Party last night.

Mr Lucas, who had responsibility for planning and infrastructure prior to the election, takes over the health portfolio from Stephen Robertson, whose ministerial future remains unclear under Premier Bligh's new regime.

Mr Robertson  faced criticism during the election campaign for failing to adequately fix remote nurses' accommodation.

"Queenslanders want me and my government to do better,'' Ms Bligh told reporters in Brisbane, stressing that health was a key concern for voters.

The Premier said she had appointed her deputy to take on the challenging role because he had the authority, experience and ability to perform.

"His approach will cut through and get things done,'' Ms Bligh said.

Mr Lucas, who this morning inspected progress on the Moreton Island oil spill clean-up with Ms Bligh, dismissed suggestions the health ministry was a poisoned chalice.

He promised to continue work implementing the five-year health action plan. Mr Lucas said he would focus on improving frontline services, tackling waiting times at emergency departments and improving nurses' accommodation.

Health played a prominent role during the state election campaign, with the LNP urging voters to toss out the State Labor Government because it had failed to fix the health system, and the government suffered a swing against it on election night.

Ms Bligh, who refused during the campaign to guarantee Mr Robertson a post-election Cabinet position, today paid tribute to the man who served in the portfolio for four years.

Mr Robertson had worked hard to implement the health action plan, had begun a significant hospital building program and had cut hospital waiting times for elective surgery to the shortest in the nation, she said.

The Premier would not reveal if Mr Robertson would be appointed to another portfolio or be sent to backbench. She also gave no hints about who might be promoted to the frontbench as part of her promised cabinet renewal.

"I will pick the cabinet, it will have substantial new faces,'' she said.
The new frontbench team is expected to be sworn in on Thursday.

[mufreight]

A positive move would be for the creation of a stand alone ministry for transport, hopefully with a minister with some background in transport and focused on providing the transport infrastructure that this state needs.  
This means catering for a mix of transport, which means rail as well as road for both freight and passenger services, not the road oriented popularist transport that have been seen in recent years.
Time will tell, we can but hope, and bearing in mind that there is another election in three years and with that in mind it is obvious that Premier Bligh is going to reshuffle her new government and weed out the non performing Ministers.
The Deputy Premier Mr Lucas has already been moved from the Infrastructure portfolio and has replaced the previous Health Minister and if this is a precursor the the next worst non performing Minister, the Transport Minister, Mr Mickel will be replaced also.
The big question now will be who will get the infrastructure portfolio and how well will they do, the same can be said of Transport.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Courier Mail

Published Courier Mail May 3, 2008.

The ongoing problems with transport do suggest a portfolio without proper direction.  This is possibly a result of ministers who have too many areas of responsibility.  Many state governments consider transport of sufficient importance to warrant a single portfolio minister and hence the effective development of the portfolio's mission for the best outcome in terms of policy, leadership and results.

The fact that the ministerial staff seem to be acting as a good news filter is a consequence of the overload with the many portfolios Minister Mickel has ("Staff knew of train trip", C-M, May 2).

With the looming TransLink Transit Authority (TTA) clear ministerial direction is going to be even more critical, in view of the new responsibilities and powers that the TTA will have.

Robert Dow
Darra

[SteelPan]

Well, Anna now has her (deserved) personal political mandate from the people - she's won a difficult election in her own right and with a (suprinsingly) solid margin, credit to her.  As stated previously, she was the better of the two possible premiers - Lawrence just doesn't get Bris/SE Qld issues, and that shows in the poor performance of the LNP in SE Qld.  Back to the farm Lawrence and take your "7 car units" with you - what were they ever going to achieve??  Anyway, Anna now IS ON NOTICE - NO more games with infrastructure and public transit in general, we want ACTION.  For SE Qld rail, the number one issue is inner city capacity growth, ie underground corridors through the CBD - until this issue is addressed train system growth, to existing and new areas, will remain largely a dream!  We ARE watching Anna....

[Silent Bob]

Hi,

A Union letter went out on Friday stating the LNP would remove Transit Officers from trains and replace them with police. There was no mention of who would perform TO type duties on other forms of transport.

It would have been interesting to be on a 7 car set with the QPS 

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!


Judy Spence out of Cabinet as Anna Bligh gets square

Judy Spence out of Cabinet as Anna Bligh gets square
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Steven Wardill and Rosemary Odgers

March 24, 2009 12:00am

PREMIER Anna Bligh has moved instantly to settle an eight-year-old factional score by dumping the strife-prone police minister Judy Spence.
Ms Spence was one of four to be given their ministerial marching orders yesterday as part of a mass cleanout of the Cabinet as Ms Bligh attempts to put a fresh face on her Government.

It is understood Ms Bligh's Left faction has long harboured ambitions of getting rid of Ms Spence after she defected to the Labor Unity faction after Labor's first term in office.

At the time the Left were planning to dump the under-performing Ms Spence from the ministry but she retained her position by switching to then premier Peter Beattie's faction.

Others set to lose their ministerial positions and perks include struggling transport minister and one-time leadership aspirant John Mickel and lesser lights Lindy Nelson-Carr and Margaret Keech.

They join retired main roads minister Warren Pitt and education minister Rod Welford as well as climate change minister Andrew McNamara, who lost his Hervey Bay seat on Saturday.

But Ms Bligh's hopes for smooth transition hit a snag yesterday, after Algester MP Karen Struthers, one of the MPs expected to be promoted into Cabinet, was embroiled in a police investigation.

Family First's Stephen Christian has formally complained to police that Ms Struthers struck him at a school polling booth on Saturday.

"It appeared like she was trying to slap me on the face but fortunately I moved and it caught me on he shoulder," he said.

Ms Struthers denied the allegations, claiming a conspiracy may have been concocted against her by the minor political party and right-to-life campaigners.

Ms Bligh backed Ms Struthers, saying she came armed with witnesses, including an off-duty police officer. It is understood the officer was wearing a pink Anna4Qld T-shirt.

However, Mr Christian said he was "stunned" by Ms Struthers' denial and that he had his own witnesses, including a Griffith University journalism lecturer and the wife of a prominent developer.

Among those whose transition to Cabinet is expected to be smoother is Gold Coast MP Peter Lawlor.

Others tipped for promotion are Stirling Hinchliffe, Annastacia Palaszczuk and Rachel Nolan.

Ms Spence and Mr Mickel did not return calls yesterday with questions about their future referred to the Premier's office, which also did not return calls.

But Labor sources said Ms Nelson-Carr and Mrs Keech had "jumped before they could be pushed".

Ms Bligh yesterday announced extra responsibilities for Treasurer Andrew Fraser who will also take on a new portfolio of employment and economic development.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Fresh faces set to join cabinet

Fresh faces set to join cabinet
Daniel Hurst | March 24, 2009 - 6:08AM

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh will today reveal her new-look ministry.

Ms Bligh has already announced Deputy Premier Paul Lucas will move from planning and infrastructure into the health portfolio, while Treasurer Andrew Fraser will also have responsibility for employment and economic development.

It is understood Police and Sport Minister Judy Spence, Transport Minister John Mickel, Communities Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr and Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech have either been dumped or offered to leave Cabinet.

The Premier promised voters she would inject fresh blood into her ministry if she was re-elected, but until now has refused to speculate on which new faces will join the frontbench.

Within Labor circles, MPs Stirling Hinchliffe, Phil Reeves, Karen Struthers, Annastacia Palaszczuk and Rachel Nolan have been touted as potential ministerial appointees.

Mr Hinchliffe, a former property industry analyst who was elected as the member for Stafford in late 2006, has served as a parliamentary secretary to the minister for infrastructure and planning.

Mr Lucas's shift to the health portfolio means a vacancy exists in the key infrastructure and planning ministry.

Mr Reeves is considered another potential ministerial candidate within Labor circles.

The Mansfield MP, elected in 1998, was handpicked during the last term to serve as Ms Bligh's parliamentary secretary. For the past year he has also been responsible for veterans' affairs.

The ALP website says he formerly operated a sports management and marketing business, holds a Bachelor of Leisure Management from Griffith University, and has an interest in sport and community groups.

Ms Struthers, meanwhile, could also be in line for a ministry.

The Algester MP was first elected in 1998 and is currently parliamentary secretary to the health minister.

The ALP website says she was assistant director at the Queensland Council of Social Service and holds a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours from the University of Queensland and a Masters of Public Sector Management with Honours from Griffith University.

Ms Bligh strongly defended Ms Struthers yesterday against claims the Algester MP slapped a Family First candidate at a polling booth on Saturday, but refused to say whether the alleged assault affected her chances of joining the ministry.

Ms Struthers embarrassed the Labor Party in 2007 when she was charged with drink-driving and pleaded guilty.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, elected as the member for Inala in 2006, has been serving as the parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Main Roads and Local Government. Minister Warren Pitt bowed out of politics at Saturday's election, leaving a vacancy in this portfolio.

The ALP website says Ms Palaszczuk has an Arts/Law degree, is admitted as a lawyer and is passionate about infrastructure, affordable housing and education. The arts and education minister, Rod Welford, retired at the election.

Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan is also considered a ministerial hopeful in Labor circles. She could be promoted as part of a push to include more women on the frontbench.

Ms Nolan, elected in 2001, has served as the parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Partnerships, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth.

She has strong environmental interests and has written research papers on peak oil.

The sustainability and climate change portfolio was left vacant after former minister Andrew McNamara failed in his bid for re-election in Hervey Bay on Saturday.

Speculation over ministerial posts will end today when Ms Bligh reveals her frontbench line-up at a Labor caucus meeting.

Ministers are expected to be sworn in on Thursday.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Bligh unveils new Cabinet

Eight new faces, including first-time Greenslopes MP Cameron Dick, will join the frontbench of the re-elected Bligh Government.

Brisbane barrister Cameron Dick has been named as Queensland's new attorney-general, completing a stunning rise from ALP candidate to Anna Bligh's cabinet.

Mr Dick, who was only elected to State Parliament for the first time on Saturday, has been handed the key portfolio, as well as industrial relations, by the Premier after the decision by Kerry Shine to step down from the position.

He is one of eight new ministers in the Bligh cabinet.

In other key announcements Ipswich MP Rachel Nolan has been handed the transport portfolio previously occupied by John Mickel and Stirling Hinchliffe, re-elected for a second term in Stafford, is the new Minister for Infrastructure and Planning.

"These people provide a mix of experience and new blood," she told reporters.

The average age of the new ministry is 45, she said.

Other MPs to retain a Cabinet berth include Desley Boyle, Neil Roberts, Stephen Robertson, Robert Schwarten, Craig Wallace and Geoff Wilson.

Chris Barrett, Melissa Singer and Daniel Hurst

[ozbob]

Media Release 24 March 2009

Queensland:  Transport, thanks Mr Mickel, welcome Ms Nolan

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has thanked Mr Mickel for his efforts for transport in Queensland as Minister for Transport and welcomes Ms Nolan.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Transport in Queensland is a critical Ministerial responsibility.  Thanks Mr Mickel for the improvements in transport throughout Queensland whilst you were Minister for Transport."

"As the recession bites, transport will become an even more critical matter."

"RAIL Back On Track welcomes Ms Nolan as Minister for Transport.  We are delighted it is now a single Ministerial portfolio and look forward to further improvements in sustainable transport throughout Queensland."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org