New DG Transport and Main Roads

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane

Professor Scott Prassor (sic)

28 March 2012 , 11:56 AM by Halina Baczkowski

Professor Scott Prasser, from the Public Policy Institute at the Australian Catholic University, discusses the legacy of the Bligh government and the appointment of Michael Caltibianco (sic) to Head of the Main Roads Department.

Click here!

[ozbob]

I agree with Prof Prasser, not a cool move.

[Fares_Fair]

Pretty sure the radio station has his name wrong, it's Michael Caltabiano.

[ozbob]

Pretty sure the radio station has his name wrong, it's Michael Caltabiano.

Yes  Michael Caltabiano   --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Caltabiano

[ozbob]

Some interesting blog comments at Brisbanetimes --> here!

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Newman vows to raise the bar in LNP-dominated chamber

[ozbob]

Crikey --> Can-Do's public service cuts: 7 departmental beheadings and counting

[Jonno]

Road-blinkers on! Check! Ear plugs in!  Check!  Ready!  Bigger roads reduce congestion and are safer! Bigger roads reduce congestion and are safer! Bigger roads reduce congestion and are safer!  

[Fares_Fair]

Brisbanetimes --> Newman vows to raise the bar in LNP-dominated chamber

Mr Newman said, however, that ministers were inheriting "a complete shemozzle" from the former Labor government.

"They're not going to get into trouble for the bad stories that arise from the portfolio that inherited," he said.

"I'm not going to sack a minister in the first year for a public transport system that's crumbling at the edges.
"They'll be held accountable for their decisions or their failures to fix the mess."


oN THE sUNSHINE cOAST IT'S JUST ONE EDGE ...


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/restore-public-trust-in-government-newman-sets-teams-mission-20120328-1vxmn.html#ixzz1qOBxvAN8

[Stillwater]

QUOTE:  The Queensland Premier, Mr Campbell Newman says the Brisbane public transport system is crumbling at the edges. UNQUOTE

Keep that one for a rainy day!

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Caltabiano to deliver keynote address in place of Transport Minister

Caltabiano to deliver keynote address in place of Transport Minister

Robyn Ironside
From: The Courier-Mail
March 28, 2012 6:30PM

NEW Transport Department chief Michael Caltabiano will deliver the keynote address at next week's Queensland Bus Industry Council conference - in the place of the as-yet unannounced Transport Minister.

Although Scott Emerson had accepted the gig before the election, the QBIC yesterday amended its program for the conference which starts on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.

Mr Caltabiano's appointment as Director-General of Transport and Main Roads has been widely received as a political posting by new Premier Campbell Newman.

He replaces David Stewart in the position, which is believed to come with an annual salary of about $350,000.

The former Member for Chatsworth has a degree in civil engineering but most recently worked as a lobbyist with a firm owned by former ALP stalwart Con Sciacca.

Mr Emerson, a former journalist, was the LNP's transport spokesman in Opposition and is expected to be announced as Transport Minister when Mr Newman reveals his cabinet line-up on Friday.

Is there are a late change of plans?  This morning on 612 ABC Radio the Premier said at one point the ' the Minister for Main Roads and Public Transport ' ...  a parapraxis?

[O_128]

QUOTE:  The Queensland Premier, Mr Campbell Newman says the Brisbane public transport system is crumbling at the edges. UNQUOTE

Keep that one for a rainy day!

Lol, he most likely thinks roads are public transport

[HappyTrainGuy]

Try catching a bus out to Pinkenba. You'll need a back brace after it 

[johnnigh]

"They'll be held accountable for their decisions or their failures to fix the mess."

So the new men have a year to fix it???

My take is, the new men have a year before "SEQ has world class public transport" says Minister, amid congratulations from Premier Newman, we've fixed the mess left by the incompetent Labor government, and now all is well. We will only be raising fares by half their plan, and our new timetables have brought about heaven on earth."

[ozbob]

Fitzgerald has come out with a strong message on the LNP gravy train.

More to come ...

[ozbob]

Fitzgerald has come out with a strong message on the LNP gravy train.

More to come ...

From ABC News click here!

LNP driving 'jobs-for-the-boys gravy train'

LNP driving 'jobs-for-the-boys gravy train'

Updated March 30, 2012 08:07:36

In his first five days as Premier, Mr Newman has given a number of key roles to party heavyweights and former colleagues.

Former Queensland corruption inquiry chief Tony Fitzgerald says current political culture in Australia is toxic and the state's new LNP Government has already begun a "a jobs-for-the-boys gravy train'.

Mr Fitzgerald told a lecture in Brisbane last night the magnitude of LNP's election victory increases the risk of maladministration.

In his first five days as Queensland Premier, LNP leader Campbell Newman has given a number of key roles to party heavyweights and former colleagues.

Mr Fitzgerald says the Westminster system is a flawed and outdated model of representative democracy and political parties have learnt to exploit its weaknesses.

"A choice between abuse of power from party A or party B is not a mandate to abuse power," he said.

"Statements of the Premier [Campbell Newman] are encouraging, but much has been left unsaid and the jobs for the boys gravy train has already started - that's a shame."

Mr Fitzgerald says the community needs to push for better standards.

"The current toxic political culture can be radically altered by an infusion of public-spirited talent to counteract the mediocrity and venality of those power brokers and professional politicians, whose life experience is limited to learning and practising the dark arts of misinformation, secrecy and character assassination," he said.

"Self-interest makes it unlikely that political parties and politicians who benefit from the current system will initiate real change - their likely mind set is that it's their turn.

"Political reform is a task for the community, which is in an excellent position to reshape Queensland politics following Saturday's rout."

Mr Fitzgerald says Queensland's LNP Government should use it massive majority to raise standards.

"The electoral annihilation of previous government broke the entrenched duopoly for the time being at least," he said.

"[It] sent a clear message to political parties that they can't safely make gifts of Queensland electorates to party hacks and created opportunities for local candidates who are known and respected in their local communities."

Significant commentary and highlights what a poor decision made to appoint the DG TMR IMHO.

[ozbob]

... Mr Fitzgerald says the community needs to push for better standards. ...

And we will ...

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Michael Caltabiano's jobs double-dip

Michael Caltabiano's jobs double-dip

    by: Steven Wardill
    From: The Courier-Mail
    August 02, 2012 12:00AM

CONTROVERSIAL Transport director-general Michael Caltabiano continues to moonlight as a director of two private companies as thousands of public servants get the sack.

Official searches show the former Liberal MP remains registered as a director and secretary of Melbourne-based businesses Infrastructure Delivery Australia and Innovate.

Once a person resigns as a director the resignation must be notified to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission so the company details can be changed.

The fact that Mr Caltabiano remains registered appears to conflict with a commitment he gave in May that the businesses had "ceased operating".

"My direct involvement and billing for my activities ceased on the 26 March, 2012, for both companies," he wrote in a letter to Premier and Cabinet director-general Jon Grayson.

The lack of clarity about whether Mr Caltabiano has any ongoing role in both businesses adds to the growing list of issues the Newman Government has faced since his appointment.

These include a pre-arranged private trip to Germany.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the issue went to the heart of standards and Premier Campbell Newman needed to explain whether he retained confidence in Mr Caltabiano.

"We also need to know if there was any connection between the trip and his private companies," she said.

A spokesman for Mr Caltabiano, who was recently named one of Australia's most influential engineers, did not respond to questions from The Courier-Mail seeking clarification.

Meanwhile, the Premier released a draft new code of conduct which includes random audits of the interests of ministers and assistant ministers.

Integrity Commissioner David Solomon will conduct the audits annually. However, the results of the audits will not be released publicly with Dr Solomon to brief the Premier on any transgressions.

The draft rules also include a ban on involving party officials in executive government business following Housing Minister Bruce Flegg's recent appointment of LNP treasurer Barry O'Sullivan to review two government businesses.

Share trading rules will also be relaxed under the draft proposals, with ministers to be allowed to dabble in the stock market as long as their interests do not represent a conflict of interest.

Mr Newman also released the list of donors who attended the LNP's conference corporate observers program at a cost of up to $4000.

The 118 observers, who paid up to $4000 to mingle with the LNP's inner-sanctum, came from a diverse array of industries, including the resource sector and banking, as well as lobbyists.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail 17th August 2012 page 5

Media unit's future looks grim

[somebody]

From the Couriermail 17th August 2012 page 5

Media unit's future looks grim

That's ridiculous.  Dealing with media is a function of all departments.

What's he think, that the actions of the department are none of the public's business?

[ozbob]

Wonder what former journalist now Minister for Transport thinks?  lol

[Stillwater]

Who produces the brochures and website material informing the public about the progress on major transport projects?  Community consultation on the design and function of projects -- what happens there? 

[ozbob]

Who produces the brochures and website material informing the public about the progress on major transport projects?  Community consultation on the design and function of projects -- what happens there?

[colinw]

Its Amateur Hour in George St. I think the new act is going to get booed off stage.