Newman to lead the liberals!

[Golliwog]

I did get a laugh out of an article in the CM this morning by their politics journo, saying to start with Newman has an advantage as he can spend all his time campaigning while Bligh has to run government. Apparently he's forgetting that Newman is still Brisbane's Lord Mayor and so should also be focusing on running BCC.

[railguy83]

Once Mr Newman gains preselection for Ashgrove he is required to resign as Lord Mayor (which will be this weekend) so if the election is in 2012, he will have nearly a year under his belt as Opposition Leader in waiting....
SO the article is infact correct as of this weekend. It is also convenient that they have put the selection date after the date at which a by-election would have been required for Lord Mayor, so he can install a LNP person in his role for a year. Talk about cake!

[Golliwog]

Once Mr Newman gains preselection for Ashgrove he is required to resign as Lord Mayor (which will be this weekend) so if the election is in 2012, he will have nearly a year under his belt as Opposition Leader in waiting....
SO the article is infact correct as of this weekend. It is also convenient that they have put the selection date after the date at which a by-election would have been required for Lord Mayor, so he can install a LNP person in his role for a year. Talk about cake!

Yeah, I know he has to, but your last point is what is really irking me about this whole sordid affair. I couldn't care less if Newman is running for Premier/Opposition Leader. I wouldn't vote for him if his transport policies for the State are anything similar to what he's had for BCC, but thats just me. What is really getting on my nerves is that he's still being paid to be the head and face of BCC, yet he seems to be spending an awful lot of time focusing on campaigning for Ashgrove. Is the little bit of publicity hes getting this last week really going to turn the tide? I don't think so. He should keep it down on any issues that aren't BCC related for the next week and only once hes resigned should he be campaining. I'm not going to go into the crap with him not resigning until after the cut off date for a by-election, I just find that repulsive behaviour.

[SteelPan]

I'm just going to stay right out of the politics of it - for now!

I do know, as already stated, it cannot hurt any govt of any political colour, to have a quality opposition.  Certainly Newman is an advance for the LNP from what was, which was simply a political irrelevance to most voters.

To be honest, I want to see Brisbane get BOTH the cross-river rail project AND Newman's subway.  Anything less is half-pregnant and simply not good enough.  We need and have an opportunity to get both - let's get after it hard!

It's now up to BOTH major political forces to win peoples votes and it's now about ACTION - and that does NOT include more pointless studies and reports - that does include capital letter ACTION!

Whoever delivers on ACTION will carry the day....

[#Metro]

How much would this metro cost? Plus CRR? Plus elimination of single track sections and improvements on the QR rail network plus extensions, plus light rail etc etc...

You can start to see already that getting both is going to be a bit difficult.
Personally I think we should move to decongestion pricing to help raise revenue to fund all these things. Hospitals and Healthcare by itself is projected to vacuum up the entire state budget, and then you have education etc. Infrastructure Australia cannot be relied upon to be like a giant ATM.

There is a need for interim service improvements (note the word service, not infrastructure). That's what I hope happens. Service improvements using more boring buses and more boring trains. The delivery period for CRR and possibly metro is 2020-2026 and possibly beyond 2031. The reason why the time frame is so long is because planning and funding takes a long time.

I often hear that the 1997 IRTP was a success because busways were delivered. I don't know about this- there are a total of zero urban greenways and the northern busway is only just now starting to extend. The Eastern busway is a stub (and an extremely expensive stub at that) and has been migrated quietly into the current plan from the previous.

I like the direction the Melbourne Metro is moving- rail lines with high frequency all day trains like Frankston line. I know I sound like a broken record; I too would like a "Ferrari" public transport, but I think we'll at best end up with is possibly something more modest; to replace the busway (light rail, bogota bus or remotely- subway) maybe CRR (I have a bad feeling about CRR $$$, I really do) and a few improvements here and there.

We need a proper and new funding sources. Waste (a la P88 and the like) should be cut.
Nothing is going to happen without cash!!!

[colinw]

I am not opposed to the concept of a metro, and maybe by 2030 or so we'll even be ready for one.  I agree with whomever it was posted on here (Gazza?) that the ideal corridor for a metro is straight up the South East busway to Garden City & Springwood.

But for now, if we can't even make effective use of what we have now, why should we be planning anything like a metro?

It would be a complete joke if we ended up with a metro in the inner city, but people as close in as Windsor & Dutton Park still had half hourly trains.

[#Metro]

It sort of fell out of the conversation...

[O_128]

I really dont get how the eastern busway can be justified when it is costing 400 million for a km, that's outrageous, the original south east busway was 400m, and before anyone makes up crap about resumptions and such it should still of only cost a max of 200m and how hard would have been really just to do bus priority down old Cleveland road? obviously to hard

[colinw]

That puts the per kilometre cost of the Eastern Busway right up there with a metro.

[Jonno]

He is a 1960's opposition leader!!! He has no new ideas past the 1960's. 

[SteelPan]

I am not opposed to the concept of a metro, and maybe by 2030 or so we'll even be ready for one.  I agree with whomever it was posted on here (Gazza?) that the ideal corridor for a metro is straight up the South East busway to Garden City & Springwood.

But for now, if we can't even make effective use of what we have now, why should we be planning anything like a metro?

It would be a complete joke if we ended up with a metro in the inner city, but people as close in as Windsor & Dutton Park still had half hourly trains.

I suggested a stage 3 of the Brisbane Underground using the SE Freeway corridor and was laughed out of place - I agree with you better utilisation of that corridor is essential.

Also, given Newman's subway calls for around 40+ stations it cenrtainly won't be restricted to the CBD - I think his plan is THE plan to give better public transit to heavily populated inner suburbs.

[SteelPan]

He is a 1960's opposition leader!!! He has no new ideas past the 1960's. 

Not sure what you mean by that??

[Golliwog]

He is a 1960's opposition leader!!! He has no new ideas past the 1960's. 

Not sure what you mean by that??

He's stuck in the roads first, PT later mentality.

From this link:

This is a very interesting read: http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermail/pineapplepolitics/index.php/couriermail/comments/can_do_versus_the_pineapple/

Its the transcript of Campbell Newman's interview with Patrick Lion aka "The Pineapple" for todays Agenda feature in the Sunday Mail.

Has some worrying lines for his mindset on roads and public transport. My taking is he's still very much roads first, PT as an after thought for whatevers left.

With the infrastructure, that has obviously been a a big part of who you are in Brisbane's eyes. What do we need to build now? Do we need to build more in southeast Queensland? Do we need to build more in north Queensland? Are you salivating over the fact you would now be in charge of a bigger Budget?

The answer to it is, do we need more infrastructure? yes, yes, yes and yes. The trouble is that because of the way they have structured the state government all the tax dollars - far too much of the tax take is being chewed by the administration of the government. The money is literally not available at the moment. The big task ahead of us with people like Tim Nicholls is to actually to get the Budget back where it needs to be so we can reduce debt but then have the ability then to invest in infrastructure. Southeast Queensland it is the congestion issues. There are also growing pains in other places. I mention Townsville because it has got traffic issues. It needs some real good bypass roads and things like that up there. There is also of course the hospital issues everywhere, the medical infrastructure. We have to restructure the state's budget so we can afford to pay for the infrastructure because we are not going to the people to say we are going to increase taxes.

The bolding is from the source, its the question put to Newman by the journo. The underline and italicised bit is my own, highlighting what I see as the 1960's mentality. He's going for road solutions without even doing an analysis of the problem. Or if he has, he's got an interesting view of where the BCC boundaries end.

[SteelPan]

No, I don't agree he is stuck in a "roads first" mentality.  I'm an absolute rail tragic and freak - well I'm more freaky than tragic, but you get what you get in life    but even I know that, as a city, Brisbane cannot and it would be VERY DANGEROUS for it to attempt to, wish away the very real traffic issues it will face even with the best will and billions more poured into PT.  Increased vehicle traffic IS going to be a reality for the city of Brisbane.

Newman's major road focused activity, has of course being "TransApex", this program's primary long-term goal, is to reduce traffic congestion in Brisbane - achieving what we want - fewer cars clogging up Brisbane roads that were never built to take such traffic levels.  The TransApex roads are heavy usage "through-traffic" corridors - getting traffic off over-burdened second tier roads.

It will be interesting to see how, hopefully quickly, Newman advances the Inner Orbital Tunnel concept IF he ever sits behind the Premiers desk.  

Finally, I believe Newman is very keen to progress rail focused initiatives - ie, a subway for Brisbane.  Such thinking, is well overdue in this city.  No one could honestly say that the planning folks at QR Citytrain ever appear to have flipped the calendar past the late 60's/early 70's - certainly not with timetabling.  To be honest, the subway concept for Brisbane is simply inevitable!

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

The Newman Years: Examining Can-Do's legacy

The Newman Years: Examining Can-Do's legacy
Tony Moore
April 1, 2011 - 3:33PM

Brisk-walking "Can-Do" Campbell Newman from Windsor has dominated Brisbane's City Hall politics for the past seven years.

But what is his legacy as a Lord Mayor?

A renovated City Hall, a toll tunnel that went into receivership, a cranky independent councillor or a complex shake-up of transport, bike and bridge infrastructure?

    * Last goodbye

    * Tackling traffic congestion

    * Public transport

    * The environment

    * Money, money, money

Last goodbye

At Brisbane City Council's 4342nd meeting on Tuesday, Cr Newman, 47, born in Canberra and until this Sunday, Lord Mayor of Brisbane, gave a valedictory speech.

On Sunday he will resign as Lord Mayor and hand the keys to Cr Graham Quirk as his replacement.

By Monday, he will be doing all he can to claw back Kate Jones' seven per cent margin in the state seat of Ashgrove. If he fails, he'll be out of a job.

In his own words on Tuesday night, Cr Newman listed what he believes are his achievements since taking office.

He didn't have fond memories of his first term - from March 2004 to March 2008, when he was confronted with hostile Labor majority in council.

"These were very difficult days for the city," Cr Newman said. "And if it was not for the leadership of (Council's CEO) Jude Munro I think things might have gone very badly for Brisbane."

He said it wasn't until his re-election in 2008, alongside an LNP majority, that Brisbane's projects flourished.

"It has allowed us to ramp up our agenda and to deliver as no administration has, I believe, in the last 30 or 40 years," he said.

Tackling traffic congestion

Cr Newman's most visible legacy will without doubt be his TransApex projects, which included:

- The Clem7 tunnel (ratepayers paid $773 million of the $2.2 billion project);

- the Airport Link tunnel ($4.2 billion, funded by state government and private investors);

- The Go Between Bridge from Milton to South Brisbane ($328 million);

- the $1.6 billion Northern Link tunnel, (now Legacy Way) from Toowong to the Inner City Bypass, and;

- the future East West Link tunnel from the Toowong Roundabout to Buranda.

Cr Newman said his council team had built the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, the "Green Bridge" at St Lucia, adding that the ALP had been unable to make the decision to get the job done.

But just because he built it all, does it mean people will come?

Clem7, in particular, has faced a litany of problems, with owners RiverCity Motorway going into receivership after the tunnel spectacularly failed to meet their traffic projections.

The Go Between Bridge has been exceeding its much smaller targets of around 14,000 vehicles a day. The cost of the bridge did nearly triple, however, from a 2004 pre-feasibility cost of $120 million to $328 million.

Managing expectations of the Clem7 toll tunnel is where the RACQ believes Cr Newman stumbled.

The RACQ opposes toll tunnels, believing motorists already "pay" for them through excise duties in petrol like other pieces of infrastructure.

Executive director Paul Turner said, overall, Cr Newman did the job for Brisbane's roads.

"RACQ has supported Campbell Newman's drive for more road infrastructure and his ability to get things done when other levels of government procrastinated or ignored the need for new roads," Mr Turner said.

"His Road Action Program – fast tracking road upgrade projects in a short four-year timeframe – was worthwhile and successful in improving overall road conditions across the city."

That has seen improvements in suburban roads in Inala, Wynnum, The Gap and Aspley in a $1.2 billion program

"Where we have always had issues with Mr Newman's council has been the focus on toll roads and the choice of projects.

"Unfortunately, we have been proved correct with the failure of Clem7."

Public transport

Given the administration's reputation for building roads, it's perhaps not surprising that Rail: Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said Cr Newman was too "car-centric."

That's not to say it was all bad.

"There were some pluses because he did actively promote the bus network and there were some significant gains in the buses during his term," Mr Dow said.

Cr Newman added 700 new buses to the Council fleet over seven years.

It is the State Government which contributes 60 per cent of the cost of building these new buses, however Brisbane City Council will still spend $196 million on them in 2010-11.

The figures compare favourably to the ALP council which provided 60 new buses between 1995 and 2000.

The City Glider, the city's first 24-hour bus service - albeit for three days a week - running between West End and Teneriffe has also been seen as a success.

Mr Dow also supports the CityCycle scheme, more for its long-term vision than they way it has been taken up to date.

"Many people think that it is not overly successful, but we think it is a good start," he said.

However Mr Dow said Rail: Back on Track considered there was too much focus on building roads in the Newman years.

"We think the concentration on road tunnels detracted from proper bus priority for example," he said.

And he particularly rued the loss of bus priority lanes on Coronation Drive.

He said bus drivers refer to Coronation Drive as "Stagnation Drive" in peak hour because traffic delays for buses were worsening.

"We don't think that was a good move. The fact is that if you give buses priority, people will start to use buses preferentially and it will make the roads less congested coverall.

"We are seeing regular congestion now on Coronation Drive and we see buses being caught for up to 30 minutes. Now that is ridiculous."

The environment

Queensland Conservation Council executive director Toby Hutcheon believes Campbell Newman had "an epiphany" on public transport during his term.

Mr Hutcheon said the Can-Do Man has shown he sits more as a genuine "small l" liberal, than a conservative "climate change denier".

"I think he came into his position as mayor very much focused on tunnels - and obviously that has been there," Mr Hutcheon said.

"But I suspect he has had a bit of an epiphany, when he actually saw the reality of it all."

"And so, while we have been condemned to an awful lot of tunnels, I suspect that if he had his time again, I don't think he would go down that same track again.

"I think he would focus far more on public transportation, rather than tunnels."

That said, Hutcheon rates the Newman administration highly in terms of tackling climate change and important public transport.

He said the Lord Mayor had sharpened renewable energy issues at the grass-roots level in Brisbane.

"He has certainly driven a climate-action agenda for Brisbane," he said.

"I think that should be commended. He is not a climate sceptic, if you want to put it that way.

"In recent times, liberalism has been almost tainted as being anti-environment, and I don't believe that is the case.

"So in a sense, I think he is a bit more of a true liberal in that sense.

"He has a strong focus on environmental protection."

He believes there are other successes which will make it harder to drive an anti-green wedge against Cr Newman in state politics.

"I guess one of the key ones would be the pledge to increase the vegetation cover and tree cover in the Brisbane area," he said.

"I think that is by 40 per cent by 2026 under the Two Million Trees project.

"That is a part of making Brisbane carbon neutral by 2020."

Last week, Cr Newman also committed council to spending $14.5 million over four years to begin the task of taking huge concrete drains out of Norman Creek, a campaign promise by Greens candidates in years gone by.

Money, money, money

Politically, the ALP opposition says the Newman administration has plunged the city into debt.

Cr Newman is continually hit with the promise he made back in 2004 to keep increases in rates and utility charges to inflation.

"My commitment is that the rates and utility charges will only go up in line with inflation," he told News Ltd on March 23, 2004.

"And if they go up more than inflation, that is an unacceptable burden on the ratepayers of Brisbane and I will resign."

Subsequently, budgets for residential owner-occupiers have been kept at - or just below inflation rates - however other business sectors have faced higher increases through charges, while inner-city unit owners had their rates bills significantly raised.

The most reasoned explanation of the impact of Newman's infrastructure push came from Brisbane City Council's financiers, the Queensland Treasury Corporation, last October.

The QTC lowered council's financial outlook from a "strong, with a developing outlook" to "strong with a negative outlook".

The corporation's 2010 Credit Review of Brisbane City Council's financial situation showed ratepayers would face rates hikes above inflation as council debt increased.

"BCC will need to need to act promptly by increasing rates, as its ability to cut costs further than those proposed in the budget may be difficult to achieve given the extent of the transformation program," the report said.

The main reasons for the downgrade included increasing debt repayments, a 20 per cent lower-than-forecasted revenue returns from water authority Queensland Urban Utilities and a major growth in lease repayments from $42 million in 2006 to $777 million in 2010.

And that, plus the $440 million cost of Brisbane's flood recovery, is the reason why Brisbane's City Council's "line of credit" was extended on Tuesday night, meaning new lord mayor Graham Quirk's first budget in May will be a very delicate balancing act.

The ultimate measure of Cr Newman's legacy on Brisbane City Council might be whether the remaining members of the Can-Do team triumph in his absence in council elections in 2012.

[Jonno]

TransApex will be a reminder of the road-centric transport policies that bankrupted the Council, made traffic congestion worse and unmitigatedly exposed our economy to rising oil prices.  Do we want him to do that to the whole State?

[Stillwater]

Campbell Newman says he will do something to 'fix' public transport fares -- they are too high and are forcing people back into their cars and onto the roads, he claims.

Interview > http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/a/-/local/9120875

[#Metro]

What? And the new car tunnels are not vacuuming up all the PT patronage and funding???

[SteelPan]

- Cars are a REALITY for every large city - are they just to be wished away?
- The tunnels and public transport are two SEPERATE issues - all the public transit in the world will NOT impact the vast-bulk of TransApex project users - EVER!  Typical tunnel users are none-dangerous transports, through traffic and other commercial vehicles - indeed the entire TransApex project may offer NEW public transit opportunities, but in truth, that has never been, isn't and never will be their primary focus.
- I remind those who need to bring politics into this discussion, the real father of Clem7 was the ALP's Soorley!
- Newman's real impact on public transport can be what? - he controls ZERO km's of rail in this state - that, as we all know, is totally a STATE matter!  (ie, some might hope he does end up sitting behind the Premier's desk).
- The BCC also has passed planning and operation of Buses to Translink - another State govt responsibility.
- I'm open minded on Newman as a Premier, he's as able and entitled to have a go, certainly we've had the current mob for long-enough, as NSW recently reminded us, all govts of all political colours wear-out their welcome in time.
- I just feel a blind and constant attack on TransApex is unjust - obviously any city the size of Brisbane and growing strongly IS going to have to embrace MAJOR road projects to address through traffic flow, lest traffic grind to a halt and all the trains and buses in the world ain't going to stop that!
- Let me be clear, trains, buses, ferries, bikes and walking are a 100% DIFFERENT topic than TransApex.
- Am I happy about the state of our trains and buses, NO, but linking them with TransApex is wrong and inaccurate!

[Golliwog]

SteelPan, I understand that not everything is going to be able to be catered for by PT. Honestly it can't be. But what shouldn't happen is people going in to look at a problem that exists and trying to rectify it going in with "Lets build a road" stuck as the first idea as to how to solve it. I'm not going to lie and pretend I know anything at all about Townsville and its road/PT network, or its congestion issues. But Campbell Newman coming out saying, they have traffic issues, they need some bypass roads is not keeping an open mind as to how to solve the problem. I would totally agree with bypass roads if a study was done and it was found all the traffic was due to vehicles travelling through Townsville that don't need to stop in town, but if its just due to people going to work in the city there, then a bypass road would do sweet F all (a la Clem 7).

[#Metro]

I don't know what Campbell Newman is banging on about on this one.
Does he actually know what he is talking about?
First it was 'scrap Cross River Rail' and now bypass roads for Townsville?

Here's a question:
Why does Townsville need a bypass road when it already has one called "Ring Rd"

Don't believe me? Have a look in Google maps and tell me what this is ---> http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Townsville+QLD,+Australia&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.885545,128.320313&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Townsville+Queensland,+Australia&ll=-19.314788,146.743097&spn=0.056133,0.158014&t=h&z=14

Look at where the A1 goes. It veers away from the town centre and bypasses it.

It would be much cheaper and faster to roll out Bus Rapid Transit "lite" i.e. BUZ in Class C and then Class B ROW and build this up to a light rail system eventually. It would be much cheaper and faster than building tunnel or more freeways/bypass roads.

PS: And someone PLEASE knock some sense into Queensland politicians! Of all colours and stripes!
They can't tell the difference between a banana and a pineapple.

[#Metro]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Townsville+QLD,+Australia&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.885545,128.320313&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Townsville+Queensland,+Australia&ll=-19.297454,146.764898&spn=0.056463,0.158014&t=h&z=14&layer=c&cbll=-19.297423,146.765821&panoid=9AfPuSc8oH89xYr8n37dxQ&cbp=12,67.53,,0,11.05

Look at the roads Townsville has: 4 lanes in both directions! Take away 2 lanes, paint them and close them to cars. Put a shelter in the middle of the road.
Buy buses with doors on both sides of the vehicle. Instant BRT system, generic stations to speed up the installation process and keep costs down. Initial service could be rolled out in 12 months flat
and be ridiculously cheap to do.

[Golliwog]

Getting a little off topic. But, the 4th lane in each direction you talk of is on street parking. I still think your point is probably valid though. Theres plenty of car room already.

[#Metro]

There's heaps of room. Enough to swing multiple cats. 

[Golliwog]

There's heaps of room. Enough to swing multiple cats. 

If only thats was a legitimate unit of measurement.

[#Metro]

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/03/03/42295_hpnews.html

Isn't this bizzare?- Townsville is barely 200 000 people (0.2 million), so smaller than Canberra and Hobart.
And they are having Traffic Jams 2 hours!!!

TOWNSVILLE Mayor Les Tyrell says he has sympathy for residents of northern suburbs but says the traffic woes are not his fault.

Cr Tyrell said he had seen the chaotic traffic conditions of  a weekday morning, when a journey to the city can take
more than two hours.

But he said he did not feel personally responsible for the traffic debacle.

More than 1300 residents have signed a petition venting their anger and frustration.

[#Metro]

http://www.sunbus.com.au/sit_timetable_townsville.htm

I daresay BUZ could be supported, even in a town like Townsville.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Langbroek features in Newman's shadow ministry

Langbroek features in Newman's shadow ministry
Cameron Atfield
April 11, 2011 - 6:33PM

Dumped opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek has been given a major portfolio in de facto LNP leader Campbell Newman's shadow ministry.

Mr Langbroek, who was dumped in favour of the former Brisbane lord mayor last month, has been given the Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services portfolio.

Former transport and main roads spokeswoman Fiona Simpson, who challenged Jeff Seeney for Parliamentary Opposition Leader, has been demoted to the role of Waste Watch, Community Services and Housing and Women.

There is no place in the shadow cabinet for former leader Lawrence Springborg.

Rising star Scott Emerson, the member for Indooroopilly, has the shadow transport portfolio.

Mr Seeney said the shadow ministry had "a great balance of real-life experience and a 'can do' determination to work for a better Queensland".

Three shadow cabinet members have been demoted to parliamentary secretaries - Peter Dowling, Ray Stevens and Glen Elmes.

The LNP's shadow ministry:

Jeff Seeney - Parliamentary Opposition Leader, State Development, Infrastructure, Planning and Reconstruction;

Tim Nicholls – Treasurer, Finance and Trade;

Ros Bates – Government Services, Building Industry and Information and Communication Technology;

Jarrod Bleijie – Attorney-General;

Andrew Cripps – Agriculture, Food and Regional Queensland;

Tracy Davis – Child Safety, Disability Services and Mental Health;

Jack Dempsey – Mining and Resource Management;

Steve Dickson – Energy and Water Utilities;

Scott Emerson – Transport, Multicultural Affairs and The Arts;

Bruce Flegg – Education and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships;

David Gibson – Local Government and Sport;

John-Paul Langbroek – Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services;

Ted Malone – Industrial Relations, Employment and Skills;

Mark McArdle – Health;

Andrew Powell – Environment;

Mark Robinson – Main Roads, Fisheries and Marine Infrastructure;

Fiona Simpson – Waste Watch, Community Services and Housing and Women; and

Jann Stuckey – Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business.

Shadow Parliamentary Secretaries:

Peter Dowling – Reconstruction;

Glen Elmes – Tourism;

Vaughan Johnson – Western Queensland;

Rosemary Menkens – Northern Queensland; and

Ray Stevens – Racing.

[Stillwater]

NEW SHADOW MINISTERY ANNOUNCED

Last night we asked ourselves the question who is in charge of transport on the Opposition benches and tonight we have the answer - Scott Emerson.

Campbell Newman has announced his shadow ministery.  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/langbroek-features-in-newmans-shadow-ministry-20110411-1davf.html

Fiona Simpson has been given the shadow poetfolios of Waste Watch, Community Services, Housing and Women.  That is the equivalent of being Shadow Minister in charge of boiling water.  As to Ms Davis?  She disappears back the the back bench.

The good news is that Scott Emerson wants the transport portflio, so his hunger might make him an effective shadow minister.

[Golliwog]

Still dissapointed about Main Roads and Transport being two seperate portfolios split between two ministers. Not to mention that their Public Transport portfolio which they only created recently, has been dumped.

[Stillwater]

Opps, Tracey Davis got Children's safety etc. - an important posting

[Stillwater]

When Ms Simpson and Ms Davis were the 'transport twins' there was a very messy split of shared responsibilities, so that may be one reason.

[ozbob]

Scott Emerson has had a long interest in transport.  I was surprised he didn't receive the portfolio in the previous portfolio allocation.  I have travelled in on the train from Indooroopilly with Mr Emerson, and he is well aware of the broad and local issues. 

[Fares_Fair]

Glen Elmes is listed as demoted to parliamentary secretary but he has a tourism portfolio ??

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Golliwog]

Glen Elmes is listed as demoted to parliamentary secretary but he has a tourism portfolio ??

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Not shadow minister for tourism, shadow parliamentary secretary for tourism.

[Fares_Fair]

ah Yes, thank you. 

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Pssssssst!  Scott Emerson is asking people to vote on the issues of importance to them when they visit his home page.  Right now, traffic congestion leads the list at 30 per cent, with public transport issues are at 17 per cent.  Maybe public transport could do with a boost!  Mr Emerson's home page is http://www.scottemerson.com.au/

Mr Emerson tweets.

[Fares_Fair]

Results to date :

What is important to you?
Traffic Congestion
30     31.3%    
Public Transport Services
20     20.8%    
Health and hospitals
15     15.6%    
Environment
8     8.3%    
Preserving local green space
7     7.3%    
Police and local crime
6     6.3%    
Education
6     6.3%    
Other (please contact us- we may be able to help)
4     4.2%    

Number of Voters     :  96
First Vote     :  Thursday, 01 July 2010 11:40
Last Vote     :  Tuesday, 12 April 2011 08:13

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

Scott Emerson has had a long interest in transport.  I was surprised he didn't receive the portfolio in the previous portfolio allocation.  I have travelled in on the train from Indooroopilly with Mr Emerson, and he is well aware of the broad and local issues. 

From what I have seen is that he's mostly interested in building more roads.  He's my local member, and I'm staying here for a while.

I hope you are correct though.

[achiruel]

Results to date :

Other (please contact us- we may be able to help)
4     4.2%    

Is that implying that he can't help with any of the other things in the poll?