QLD: Who would you like to be the next transport Minister?

[ozbob]

All the last Queensland Government Ministers survived the election.

Present Transport Minister is DP Ms Trad.   Rumour has it she might be going to Treasury.   Only a rumour though.

Of the new class of 2017, who would you like as Transport Minister?

My choice would Mr Mark Bailey.  A high output work performer.

[#Metro]

All the last Queensland Government Ministers survived the election.

Present Transport Minister is DP Ms Trad.   Rumour has it she might be going to Treasury.   Only a rumour though.

Of the new class of 2017, who would you like as Transport Minister?

My choice would Mr Mark Bailey.  A high output work performer.

Isn't Mark Bailey a member of the RTBU? Or something like that??

I would put a green in there first preference.

Otherwise Jo-Ann Miller or Di Farmer (she'll push for BulimbaGlider).

[ozbob]

 I think you will find that most of the Labor caucus are members or former members of unions. Bailey is ETU I think. Jo-Ann is CFEMU.

[mufreight]

Going a little left field here what is needed is two ministers for the transport sector, A minister for roads and transport and a separate minister for railways, that would improve the accountability for both sectors.
For rail it would enable the separation of rail from TMR which has failed badly.
The railways would then go back to the earlier model of a Minister for Railways, A Commissioner for Railways with Deputy Commissioners for operations and infrastructure, the present Railways Board which has been a poor joke as far as oversight of both infrastructure projects and operations would go so no more repeats of playing pass the parcel with responsibility to failed projects that have wasted taxpayers money through incompetent administration while taking "performance bonus's" examples being the non compatible signaling at Petrie for the KippaRing line, the NGR trains disability access issues due the design of these non compliant trains which was signed off on by the current head of TMR ( who should be long gone for his plainly exhibited incompetence ) and the Newman Government Treasurer Mr Nicholles and Minister Mr Emmerson, the driver shortage that resulted in the present curtailed timetables, the construction of the new non-compliant footbridge at Banyo, all things that reasonable levels of oversight by the board would have forseen and prevented.
It is to be hoped that a new Minister will dust off the ministerial chair and show some leadership and resolve some of these failings of the past and ensure that there are no repeats.

[#Metro]

I think you will find that most of the Labor caucus are members or former members of unions. Bailey is ETU I think. Jo-Ann is CFEMU.

You have to be a member - it's a mandatory requirement I believe. Mark Bailey might be a conflict of interest.

Labor frontbencher Mark Bailey – an RTBU member – has been tipped as a possible replacement for Stirling Hinchliffe to take over the Transport portfolio.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/queensland-rail-fail-unions-refuse-to-accept-responsibility/news-story/f3c0213584bd032a678418e37c56daa7

[ozbob]

Might help being a member of the RTBU 

When I was an academic I was a member of the NTEU 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/932471384621510656

[techblitz]

definitely a compromised portfolio........I think given the current state of affairs and coming up to the gold coast games.....the incoming transport minister deserves the largest remuneration for all the incoming flack that they are about to receive.....

[SurfRail]

Whoever it is, public transport should have its own ministry and possibly a junior minister responsible for network development.  No more juggling portfolios, no more stupid commitments to keeping the frontbench to some arbitrary headcount.

[aldonius]

One ministry for public transport and urban planning, one ministry for main roads & freight rail, ports, pylons and pipelines.

[ozbob]

Public transport, particularly in SEQ is a jolly big mess.  A dedicated Minister and a proper authority eg. Public Transport Queensland would turn it around.  But I dream ..

We will probably be stuck with another multi-portfolio minister, unable to keep up and rely on flawed bureaucratic advice and incompetence. 

We have seen the results of that hey! 

[Stillwater]

A senior minister and/or junior-assistant minister model should be contemplated, with the assistant having dedicated responsibility for PT Operations and Reform.  In fact that should be the assistant minister's title -- Parliamentary Secretary for Public Transport Reform.  The bureaucracy should be re-organised to reflect public transport reform, except for the Citytrain Response Unit.  That lot should be transferred to the Department of Agriculture, or somewhere more useful.

[kram0]

Whoever will get the job done, fix the cluster f&@k and continue without delay cross river rail.

[Mr X]

What if they got Michael Berkman in as assistant transport minister, in exchange for supply/confidence? (Going by last term, they'll probably need it!). Very unlikely though I admit, IIRC the Labor-Greens ministry down in Tassie didn't go down well.

[aldonius]

If you're going to posit roles for Michael Berkman, remember that he's an environmental lawyer and that Anna did promise majority government or bust and that Labor walks a very fine line between the regions and SEQ. It'll serve pretty much everyone better for Michael to be on the crossbench.

[James]

Berkman won't get a ministry, even if he does provide the ALP with a majority. Ministries are carefully divided up amongst the factions in the ALP, and I don't think Labor's right faction would be too keen on having the Greens in cabinet.

If you're going to posit roles for Michael Berkman, remember that he's an environmental lawyer and that Anna did promise majority government or bust and that Labor walks a very fine line between the regions and SEQ. It'll serve pretty much everyone better for Michael to be on the crossbench.

The only people who will benefit from a Labor-Green government are the LNP. You can expect a landslide in the regions to the LNP at the next election should some of the Greens' policies become law courtesy of an ALP-GRN deal.

[ozbob]

Ms Trad is going to be Treasurer.

We have an ' open book ' ...

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland Election 2017: Premier to announce Cabinet reshuffle

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk is set to unveil a major Cabinet shake-up ahead of her Government's swearing in on Tuesday after officially claiming election victory yesterday.

Ms Palaszczuk yesterday became the country's most successful female premier yesterday by securing a second term in office, this time with a majority in the new 93-seat Parliament.

LNP Leader Tim Nicholls yesterday phoned the Premier to concede defeat and wish her well before resigning his position ahead of a leadership ballot next week.

It followed 12 days of uncertainty as the Electoral Commission of Queensland grappled with the reintroduced compulsory preferential voting system to eventually declare all seats, included the 48 won by Labor, yesterday afternoon.

Ms Palaszczuk would not say if her Cabinet would be expanded from the current 17 but said discussions would continue over the weekend ahead of a caucus meeting on Monday.

But her new team will feature new and returning faces including Stirling Hinchliffe, Di Farmer and Far North Queensland MP Craig Crawford who successfully held his seat at the November 25 poll in the face of a challenge from the LNP and One Nation.

"I have had some preliminary discussions with Ministers and I will continue these discussions in coming days in relation to the make-up of my Cabinet," Ms Palaszczuk said yesterday, refusing to confirm any movements.

"There will be four senior economic ministers that I am giving due consideration to because it is very important that we get on with the job of creating jobs for Queenslanders.

"I will be continuing discussions with colleagues over the course of the weekend and you will see the results of that next week."

Jackie Trad remains on track to add the Treasury portfolio to her title, as initially flagged by The Courier-Mail last week, with current Treasurer Curtis Pitt expected to become Speaker.

Cameron Dick will switch from the Health portfolio to one of the Cabinet's four economic-focused portfolios, likely taking on State Development among other responsibilities.

Mr Hinchliffe is set to return to the Cabinet table less than a year after resigning his post as Transport Minister in February, following Queensland Rail's train driver bungle.

He is tipped to also take on an economic portfolio, potentially Natural Resources and Mines. He previously held the Mining portfolio under the former Bligh government.

Energy and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey will also see his responsibilities change. He is tipped to become Transport and Main Roads Minister with the two departments once again united under the same minister.

Kate Jones is expected to keep to her Commonwealth Games role, as promised by Ms Palaszczuk, to ensure certainty with the event just months away.

Current Environment Minister Steven Miles is expected to move to a more senior role, potentially taking over Health.

State Development Minister Anthony Lynham is in line for the Agriculture portfolio.

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath will retain that job but could see her other responsibilities change.

Current Employment Minister Grace Grace could also be promoted in the shake-up while her Old Guard faction colleague Di Farmer will finally get a call up to the Cabinet table this term.

Ms Palaszczuk's responsibilities are also expected to change with the Premier in line to pick up the coveted Trade portfolio.

Ms Palaszczuk's own office will also be shaken up as revealed by The Courier-Mail earlier this week, but she is understood to be keen to hold on to key staff, including current deputy chief-of-staff Kirby Anderson.

She yesterday thanked voters for putting their trust in her in handing her a second term and a majority.

"I am extremely humbled for the trust and support that the people of this state have placed in me. I won't let you down," she said.

Ms Palaszczuk promised she would oversee a stable government focused on working with business and representing all Queenslander from the Torres Strait to the Gold Coast and all cities and towns in between.

She also vowed to ensure her Ministers consulted with the new crossbench of the three Katter MPs Robbie Katter, Shane Knuth and Nick Dametto, Greens MP Michael Berkman, One Nation MP Stephen Andrew and independent Sandra Bolton, in the "best interests of Queensland".

The LNP will hold 39 seats in the new parliament.

Nota bene:

" ... Energy and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey will also see his responsibilities change. He is tipped to become Transport and Main Roads Minister with the two departments once again united under the same minister. ... "

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th December 2017

Public transport in QLD needs a dedicated Minister

Good Morning,

As the incoming government positions the new cabinet we think they need to provide additional Ministerial support for resolving the multiplicity of issues with public transport, particularly in SEQ.  We note that Mr Mark Bailey is likely to take over the new Transport and Main Roads portfolio.  To be blunt this has not worked well in the past as there are just too many issues for anyone to come to terms with.  At least have an ' Assistant Minister for Public Transport ' someone who is a proven performer and can come to terms with the issues.  It also needs a person with the ability and courage to stand up to the gross bureaucratic incompetence we have seen of late.  After all, the Queensland Government Ministers are our elected representatives, we expect to be represented strongly.  Who ever is the Minister, he or she must put an end to the demonstrated mediocrity and failure we have seen of late.

A summary of some of the public transport issues:

1. Cross River Rail.

2. Brisbane Metro.

3. Botched New Generation Rollingstock project - non compliant trains being introduced into revenue service without the legal protection of an exemption from the AHRC.  Appalling.

4. Fixing the inadequate SEQ rail service timetable.  The network is on the verge of collapse.

5. Public transport for the Commonwealth Games.

6. Bus network reform.  The bus network for SEQ is a disconnected, inefficient mess.

7. The future of long distance passenger rail.

8.  The need to duplicate the Sunshine Coast Line.

9.  Fixing problems on the Redcliffe Peninsula Line.

10. Setting up a stand alone statutory authority for the administration and delivery of public transport in Queensland. Public transport must be removed from DTMR.

11. Need to progress DDA compliance upgrades for stations and structures.

12. Progress grade separations ( level crossing removals ).

13. Review and implement policy to address the constant, dangerous and very disruptive  ' bridge and boom gate ' strikes.

14. Consideration of a ' fare freeze ' for 2018 and 2019.

Other states have a dedicated Public Transport Minister for a reason.

Previous Ministerial approaches with respect to public transport in Queensland have just delivered a lot of failure sadly.

Please get it right this time.

Thank you.

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/939170024874434560

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/939172338456674304

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/939180297060458496

[Mr X]

Looks like Mark Bailey is confirmed as new Transport and Main Roads minister
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-11/queensland-election-labor-announces-cabinet/9246010

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/940092483140182017

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/940110790874488832

[Stillwater]

Have we got the full ministry list yet?

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/political_alert/status/940120074865713152

[ozbob]

11th December 2017

Media Release
Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

New Cabinet will continue to deliver for Queensland

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has vowed her new Ministry will deliver for Queensland as a strong, stable majority Labor Government prioritised to jobs, health and education.

The Premier said the 18-Member Cabinet and five Assistant Ministers were the right mix of experience and regional representation to deliver greater economic prosperity and government services for all Queenslanders.

"We will build on the success of our first term – working with business and industry to create more than 130,000 new jobs, restoring frontline services, investing record budgets in health and education, and strengthening our economy through investments in infrastructure and innovation," she said.

"Cabinet will have equal representation of men and women, and four of the five Assistant Ministers are women."

"Our job – over the next 1000 days - is to ensure all Queenslanders win whether it is winning with the opportunity for work; or winning with access to quality healthcare for them and their loved ones; or winning with best possible education for our children and access to skills and training for those joining or re-joining the workforce."

"Our Government – of 25 men and 23 women - represents a State that will be soon be home to five million people spread across more than 1.7 million square kilometres."

"Our Government will be as hard-working and as decent as the Queenslanders we represent."

"We will listen to Queenslanders and we will deliver for Queenslanders."

"As Premier, I am determined that every day we keep our focus on the concerns and hopes of Queenslanders no matter where they live and how they voted."

"Queensland's best days are ahead of us. Queensland has the Government that will ensure we can make the most of those opportunities."

The Cabinet will be:

•             Premier and Minister for Trade Annastacia Palaszczuk

•             Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Jackie Trad

•             Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Manufacturing Cameron Dick

•             Minister for Innovation, Minister for Tourism Industry Development, and Minister for the Commonwealth Games Kate Jones

•             Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Leader of the House Yvette D'Ath

•             Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Dr Steven Miles

•             Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial relations Grace Grace

•             Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey

•             Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Dr Anthony Lynham

•             Minister for Housing and Public Works, Minister for Digital Technology and Minister for Sport Mick de Brenni

•             Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman

•             Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch

•             Minister for Police and Minister Corrective Services Mark Ryan

•             Minister for Communities and Minister for Disability Services and Seniors Coralee O'Rourke

•             Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner

•             Minister for Local Government, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Stirling Hinchliffe

•             Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer

•             Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford

Assistant Ministers

•             Assistant Minister for Veterans Affairs and Assistant Minister of State Jennifer Howard (Ipswich)

•             Assistant Minister for Treasury Glenn Butcher (Gladstone)

•             Assistant Minister for State Development Julieanne Gilbert (Mackay)

•             Assistant Minister for Education Brittany Lauga (Keppel)

•             Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development Meaghan Scanlon (Gold Coast)

[#Metro]

Time to give Mark Bailey his first tasks and see how he handles that:

- Achieve boarding through the bus back door (no infrastructure required, cost free)

- Bus Reform (no major infrastructure required, cost neutral).

I think these two things are the "acid test" for that portfolio. They are the simplest and cheapest problems to solve.

Everything else is harder.

[Stillwater]

Transport and Main Roads is a big ministry.  Mr Bailey should have had an assistant Minister.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/940119180832940032

^

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/940120140993015809

[ozbob]

Transport and Main Roads is a big ministry.  Mr Bailey should have had an assistant Minister.

Mark Bailey does work hard.  But the track record of this mega portfolio is not good.  It has been a political graveyard.

The LNP did have an Assistant Minister for Public Transport Steve Minnikin, but he was not used effectively as Segway Scotty was running the show and we all know how that ended up ... 

[Stillwater]

From today's Courier-Mail:

"Newly-minted Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad has warned of multiple cost crunches that loom from Canberra could force the Palaszczuk Government into a radical redrawing of the State Budget. ...."

Here we go again from Ms Trad.  Queensland's $80b state debt is Canberra's fault.  We have got into this mess because the Feds don't give us enough money.  Pain will have to be inflicted Queenslanders by us, but its Malcolm Turnbull you should blame.

The Trad bird is about to begin its annual migration to the shores of the Tweed River to project its piercing scream towards Canberra – SHOW US THE MONEY

[#Metro]

Won't be long until the game is up hey?

Critical Qld Gov't debt metric still projected to worsen
https://queenslandeconomywatch.com/2017/12/19/critical-qld-govt-debt-metric-still-projected-to-worsen/

If the government were less ideologically committed to public ownership, I would interpret Trad's comments as laying the groundwork for future asset sales or leases.

Let us listen closely to Treasurer Trad's future comments in this regard, because I wouldn't be completely surprised if the Government eventually proposes some minor privatisations of what it could label "non-core" assets. The leasing out of Gladstone Port and Townsville Port (plus the rail line to Mt Isa) would be relatively uncontroversial with no regrets, in my view.

Ready to split hairs regarding the difference between an "asset sale" and an "asset sale*" (pronounced with a silent Asterix).

[Stillwater]

Of course.  A 99-year lease is not a sale, technically speaking.

[#Metro]

^^^

Qld Labor promises no asset leases
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/qld-labor-promises-no-asset-leases

When pressed on whether the party would consider leasing assets on long-term agreements, she pledged the opposition would not lease assets either.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Minister Mark Bailey quits second union over conflict of interest fears

TRANSPORT Minister Mark Bailey has been forced to quit a second union over conflict of interest concerns after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's cabinet reshuffle.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Mr Bailey handed in his Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) membership as Ms Palaszczuk appointed him Transport and Main Roads Minister following the election victory.

Mr Bailey was previously forced to quit the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) due to him being appointed Energy Minister in the previous government.

He was ultimately moved from the Energy portfolio following the reshuffle and handed transport.

Mr Bailey was temporarily stood down as Energy Minister in July due to a private email scandal where it was revealed he deleted correspondence on his private account with ETU bosses following a Right to Information Request.

Following an investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission, Mr Bailey was reappointed to his post after they could not find evidence of corrupt conduct.

A spokesman for Mr Bailey confirmed he had quit the RTBU and was yet to join another union.

Meanwhile, newly promoted Health and Ambulance Services Minister Steven Miles has played down his links to the Together Union and United Voice, despite their representation of health workers.

Mr Miles said he would not resign from either union and would manage any potential or perceived conflict of interest that may arise.

Liberal National Party Deputy Leader Tim Mander lashed the Palaszczuk Government over their links to unions, saying ministerial appointments were made on factional interests ahead of those of Queenslanders.

"Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Labor ministers always put their union factional interests first because their own jobs depend on it," he said.

"When it comes to conflicts of interest and ministerial scandals, Mark Bailey is a serial offender and has shown he can't be trusted.

"Secret deals, cover-ups, hidden reports and scandals have become the hallmarks of Annastacia Palaszczuk's time as Premier."

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opinion: Key challenges for Queensland Government in 2018

THE re-elected Queensland Labor Government has begun its second term with anything but a bang.

There was no 100-day plan or bursts of decision-making after Cabinet was sworn in.

Add in an unhurried approach to recalling State Parliament to get the formalities out of the way and it's clear Labor's start has been lethargic, at best.

After a turbulent minority term, the Government has retreated from public view after the recent election as it gears up to rule without the shackles of horse-trading with crossbench MPs.

This gives Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk an opportunity to focus on her priorities.

However securing a majority also means the Government can no long blame the numbers for a go-slow approach.

In 2018, these will be the priorities:

After inheriting an unemployment rate of 6.5 per cent in 2015, Labor has overseen a steady decline in unemployment. However, Queensland's 5.9 per cent jobless rate remains one of the highest in the nation, and there are still double-digit jobless numbers in the regions.

With a new-look Cabinet containing a four-pronged economic team, the Government has signalled its intention to pull out all stops to stimulate the jobs market. But with little spare cash, ministers will have to be much more innovative at pulling the policy levers.

With recent employment growth built on the back of a residential construction surge and tourism, any retractions in these sectors could cause unemployment to increase.

The dirty four-letter word of the election, debt remains an omnipresent problem.

Rating agencies gave Labor a reprieve last term as it delved into every hollow log Treasury could find to reduce government-sector debt. However, this has come at the expense of infrastructure spending, creating a backlog of projects that need funding.

Debt is back on an upward trajectory and Labor seems to be fresh out of logs. Treasurer Jackie Trad will have to keep spending under strict control.

Without an upswing in revenue, a crunch looms in the 2018/19 Budget if employee costs continue to grow at more than four times the inflation rate. That could put pressure on Queensland's credit rating.

Federal relations

Navigating relations with the Turnbull Government will be integral to success in 2018.

A dozen intergovernmental agreements worth $1.4 billion to the State Budget will expire over the next 18 months. Spending cuts loom in areas such as early childhood education and remote housing if Canberra decides to rein in its commitments. Playing the politics of this will be important.

A Productivity Commission review of the GST carve-up could also harm Queensland. With the final report due at the end of January, Palaszczuk will have to fight off her West Australian counterparts.

At the same time, the Government will have to go cap in hand to Canberra for funding to bankroll an array of needed infrastructure projects.

Cross River Rail

The project Queensland just had to have should get under way in earnest in 2018.

At $5.4 billion and being fully funded by the state, the Cross River Rail will be a heavy burden on the Budget and is a key reason why debt is beginning to climb.

Keeping costs under control will be crucial. The Government will have to consider innovative funding models to help pay for the 10km project.

What to do about Deb

Deb Frecklington, the LNP's latest leader, represents a tricky new challenge for Palaszczuk. This third-term MP doesn't have the baggage of the other leaders the Premier has faced.

Frecklington will get a honeymoon period and the Government will have to spend much more time defending its record. This contest will be the key in 2018.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/971280265791393793

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/971302949342384131

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/971577907335151616

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/fel_caldwell/status/971659015338868736