21 December, 2012

denecessary






As many of you may be aware, my contract with Queensland Urban Utilities has not been renewed.

My last day will be the 31 December 2012.


I commenced my career at Queensland Urban Utilities as an Audit and Compliance Officer, checking on safety and quality of water and sewerage construction projects including sewer main upgrades and water main pipe bursting. It was not long before I was seconded into the Contract Management of the construction of an additional overflow channel for the Luggage Point Sewage Treatment Plant.  

I really enjoyed the opportunity to manage the contracts for upgrades to regional lagoons, in some cases from procurement right through to construction. I also appreciate having the opportunity to be involved in a team working strategically to embed ecological and business sustainability principles into Queensland Urban Utilities’ procurement processes.

In the short term, I will be looking for another opportunity somewhere in the local, Australian Water industry.  I would be grateful, if anyone has some suggestions.


In the longer term, I shall be pursuing opportunities in International Development Assistance for water and sanitation in developing communities.


I will continue to seek support from Queensland Urban Utilities to assist reinventing the toilet and/or to work on local projects to improve access to toilets.


I have really enjoyed working at Queensland Urban Utilities. 

19 December, 2012

Qld’s water future





Media Statements

Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark McArdle

Tuesday, December 18, 2012




Discussion paper launched to guide Queensland’s water future


Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle today launched a discussion paper to guide the development of a 30 Year Water Sector Strategy to ensure affordable, secure, sustainable and high quality water and sewerage services across Queensland.
Mr McArdle said the Queensland Water Sector Discussion Paper, designed to facilitate active discussion and participation in creating a new path for Queensland’s water future in urban, rural, regional and remote communities, is a key element of the Newman Government’s Six Month Action Plan.
“The Queensland Government is committed to lowering the cost of living and it’s vital that we appropriately plan for our future water and sewerage needs, given the cost impact of these services on households, businesses, local governments and community groups,” Mr McArdle said.
“The Discussion Paper focuses on what Queensland’s future water needs may look like and discusses and identifies the opportunities and challenges Queenslanders are likely to face over the next 30 years.
“Our water vision cannot be achieved by government alone, and this discussion paper needs input and innovative ideas and solutions to help realise our water future.
Mr McArdle said it was vitally important that all Queensland water users took the opportunity to contribute to the state’s water vision including householders, local governments, water service providers as well as the agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction and the resources sectors.
“All aspects of the water industry will be examined, including how water is supplied and delivered to the myriad of end users, operation of infrastructure and how to improve the integration of water and sewerage management,” he said.
The consultation period for the discussion paper closes on 29 March 2013.
An animated video detailing the challenges faced by Queensland’s water sector has also been released to encourage householders, businesses and industry to participate in the discussion.
Further information is available at http://www.dews.qld.gov.au/policies/water-sector-reform/30-year-water-strategy or on the Water Queensland Facebook page, on Twitter @WaterQld or by scanning the attached QR code.
[ENDS] 18 December 2012

15 December, 2012

Changes to Environmental Regulation in Qld




An Overview of Changes to Environmental Regulation in Qld

 

In the space of eight months, the Qld Government has reformed Environmental regulation and the machinery of Government.

The newly elected Qld Government adopted the former Government’s Greentape Reduction Act (2012).

As you may recall, the Environmental Protection (Greentape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 was introduced into parliament in October 2011. The Bill lapsed when the Queensland state election was called.

While there is a strong case for reducing duplication and unnecessary paper work, many folks from the conservation and/or environment movement have grave concerns about the compromising on Environmental Protection and fast-tracking development.

The Newman Government's commitment includes the introduction of the Environmental Protection (Greentape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 into the 54th parliament on 29 May 2012.  The legislation was adopted by the Newman Government and is intended to streamline environmental regulation to allow development to move through bureaucratic approval processes. The bill was passed on 31 July 2012, but will not take effect until March, 2013.

Other reforms have simply removed environmental protections, clearing the way for increased development of the state.

One of Newman’s first acts as Premier was to push the Commonwealth to cede power to the states for environmental approvals and management.  On 13 April 2012, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) released a communiqué announcing its intention to implement changes to environmental laws across Australia.
The changes are directed at both Federal and State laws with an emphasis on ‘streamlining’ environmental assessment processes. Presently, the Federal Government has to sign off on development in areas designated as having “national environmental significance”.

Supported by some within the private sector, the Qld Premier and Premiers from Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria want the Federal Government to hand over control of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The Federal Government has since backed away from the changes and will retain oversight powers.

The Qld Premier has lobbied for development in the fragile Great Barrier Reef area, for which there are about 45 development proposals in the pipeline.

Dredging work in the Gladstone area, which has already led to changes in environmental standards, is supported by the Qld State Government.

“We are in the coal business,” the Premier told reporters. “If you want decent hospitals, schools, and police on the beat, we all need to understand that.”

The Qld Government is committed to the “four pillar” economy. The four pillars are tourism, agriculture, resources and construction and LNP policy specifically advocates for a removal of impediments to this economy.

Since March 2012, the Qld Government has:
- Removed the Waste Levy;
- Retracted State Government support from the $1.2 billion Solar Dawn solar research and power plant;
- Eliminated more than 1,400 jobs across government departments dealing with environmental concerns;
- Announced that it would roll back the Wild Rivers legislation;  
- Flagged changes to the enforcement of the Vegetation Management Act;
- Lifted the ban on shooting flying foxes,
- Proposed changes to the management of national parks;
- Announced plans to remove the SEQ urban footprint;
- Prioritised development in the Great Barrier Reef area;

The previous Government had amalgamated a number of Departments into the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).  The current Government has dismantled DERM.

Now, Qld has departments of:
-     Environmental Protection and Heritage, 
-    Resource Management and Mines,
-     Energy and Water Supply,
-     Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
-     National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. and
-     State Development, Infrastructure and Planning.
-     The Office of Climate Change was disbanded in May, 2012.

In a press conference after his election, Newman said the changes would “create a department with a stronger focus on environment” and that he wanted to be able to speed up mining and development approvals.

In November 2012, National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing minister Steven Dickson announced legislative changes to boost tourism in national parks. The Newman’s Government wants Tourism and National parks together.

The Qld State Government has also made redundant 30 inspectors, whose role was to carry out compliance checks on resource and development projects with environmental conditions attached.

The Queensland ombudsman, Phil Clarke, released a report on 26 September 2012 that found streamlined government processes designed to ensure consistent, expert advice when making environmental assessments were no longer working properly.

In August 2012, the temporary state planning policy ‘Planning for Prosperity’ was released. The Qld coastal-protection plan which regulated development was suspended in October 2012 because it “is not sufficiently supportive of the Government’s commitment to grow the four pillars of Qld’s economy”, according to the draft plan that replaces it.

01 December, 2012

My letter from the Office of the Hon Jeff Seeney MP

on the 26 October 2012, I wrote to the Deputy Premier, in response to his media release which stated:


Mr Seeney said the assessment showed that well-managed development could co-exist with a healthy environment. “It illustrates that we can have bulk export ports and they can operate with no threat to the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Seeney said. 
Mr Seeney seems to have completely missed the point.  The greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef are not from the port operations but from accumulative impacts of the continued combustion of fossil fuels.





On  26 November 2012, I received the following response from:

Office of the Hon Jeff Seeney MP
Deputy Premier
Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning


Our ref: MC12/399

23 NOV 2012

Mr Rowan Barber
Street Address
Address QLD XXXX


Dear Mr Barber

Thank you for your email of 26 October 2012 to the Honourable Jeff Seeney MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, about the voluntary Abbot Point Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA).  The Deputy Premier has asked that I respond on his behalf.

As you are aware, the voluntary Abbot Point CIA has focus on 16 study areas, and is taking a holistic look at the cumulative effects of the future port related expansion proposals at the Port of Abbot Point.

The CIA scope is about port expansion itself.  Emissions associated with the transport of coal to the port are not within the scope of the CIA.  It was a voluntary cooperative exercise between the three proponents of the existing or proposed facilities at Abbot Point.  It was coordinated by the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation.

I suggest you provide comments to the Abbot Point Working Group through the formal consultation process on this matter.  The following link provides information on making a submission  http://www.abbotpointworkinggroup.com.au/comment.html.

Please ensure your comments are submitted prior to 5pm, Tuesday, 4 December 2012.

If you require any further information, please contact Mr Phillip Kohn, A/Director, State Development Areas, Office of the Coordinator General, Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, on 3405 6674, who will be pleased to assist.

Yours sincerely


Dimity Elson
Acting Senior Policy Advisor

Office of the Hon Jeff Seeney MP
Deputy Premier

Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning






29 November, 2012

State Planning Policy: Coastal Protection





State Planning Policy: Coastal Protection

Last week’s blog post examined the Newman Government’s legislative amendments to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA).

The Qld Government has demonstrated commitment to “fast tracking” the processing of development applications.

State planning policies were planning instruments; under the previous Government that former Minister Stirling Hinchliffe (or any minister in conjunction with the planning minister) would make to protect things that are of interest to the State.

When local councils were developing their local planning scheme, they were required to ensure that the planning scheme reflects the elements outlined in a state planning policy. If there was a discrepancy between a local planning scheme and a state planning policy, then what was outlined in the state planning policy overrode the planning scheme.

The Newman Government is now establishing a new approach to state planning policies. The new approach means that one single state planning policy will be developed to replace the various current state planning policies in existence.

One of these policies being replaced is the State Planning Policy 3/11: Coastal Protection (the SPP), which was one of the last initiatives of the previous Bligh Government, prior to the State Election in March 2012.  It was the intention of the previous Government to establish a Qld Coastal Plan as part of the the state’s policies in relation to matters of state interest relating to coastal protection.

The Newman Government believes that the applications of the SPP policies are in conflict with the Qld Government’s agenda to fast track development (and to grow the four pillars of Queensland’s economy). 

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said that the World Wildlife Fund and the Wilderness Society were being deliberately alarmist in their claims about changes to the Qld Coastal Plan. 

A draft State Planning Regulatory Provision (SPRP) was introduced by the Newman Government in October 2012.

The Department of State Development and Infrastructure Planning is working with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and various stakeholders to review the Queensland Coastal Plan. Mr Seeney said the draft SPRP would be in effect for 12 months while a new Single State Planning Policy was prepared. 

“We gave a clear commitment in our Property and Construction Strategy during the election campaign that we would revisit the Bligh Government’s last minute changes to the coastal plan and that we would reform the entire planning regime in Queensland,” Mr Seeney said.  He went on to say that:  “Claims that the draft SPRP lowers environmental protections are nothing more than the usual baseless, sensational rantings of radical green groups which will do or say anything to further their aims.” 

The current situation for applications is as follows:

The State Planning Regulatory Provision (SPRP)  will apply to the assessment of development applications and master plan applications that are properly made when this Coastal Protection Draft State Planning Regulatory Provision (the Draft SPRP) commences.  The provisions set out in this draft SPRP are based on the state coastal management plan policies that were in place before the introduction of the State Planning Policy 3/11: Coastal Protection (the SPP),. This draft SPRP will apply while the full review of the Queensland Coastal Plan is undertaken.

The final State Planning Policy will set out policies about matters of state interest that are to be dealt with through the planning and development assessment system.
The Department of State Development and Infrastructure Planning are seeking feedback in respect of the document entitled 'Draft Proposed State Interests – Part 1 of the State Planning Policy' which is currently released for consultation during November 2012.
The consultation document is Part 1 in the development of the State Planning Policy.

During the current consultation phase one is invited to comment on the state interests presented in the document and repeated in the feedback form.

The draft State Planning Policy and associated supporting material needed to implement the state interests will then be available for formal public consultation starting in early 2013.

All feedback received will be reviewed and directly inform the drafting of the new State Planning Policy.

For written and email submissions, please use the contact details and form listed on the DSDIP website.
      
 Feedback form
Use this form to send your response to DSDIP in the post or via email.
·          

EPBC

By agreement through COAG, the Australian Federal Government will hand back its powers to approve mining projects and developments that affect matters of national environmental significance to state and territory governments by March next year. These matters include threatened species and World Heritage.

The Federal Government's plans have created so much alarm that last week Sir David Attenborough and Dr Bob Brown joined 31 other prominent naturalists in urging the Prime Minister not to undermine environment protection in Australia and delegate  our responsibilities for the environment to the states.

23 November, 2012

Bad mother's club

Today I joined the Bad Mother's Club.



I sent my 3 year old to day care in her pajamas.

We were packed up and ready to go about 7:30.  I had the lunches made, bags packed and I was was dressed and ready for work.  My beloved had started a "early" shift, as a Midwife at a local maternity hospital.

I had my one year old on my back in a baby backpack and we were ready to go.

At this point, my 3 year old went into melt down.  She insisted she did not want to go to day care today.  She lamented that she had a sore finger.  She said she was tired. So she put herself back to bed.

I set the one year old down to play on the floor.  I logged on to work via web mail and started my working day.

Then I collected my one year old and loaded her back onto my back.  I collected my three year old.  She was wearing a tshirt and a pair of white draw string short with fish motives all over them (aka her "fishy pants") that she had worn to bed last night.

So off we went, with my three year old in her pajamas.

My beloved had plaited her hair (about 2 hours earlier) but after a melt down and a return to bed, her hair was looking a little ruffled.

I am a bad mother?

During the week, I had been discussing being a "bad mother" with my beloved.  Someone we know had been busted by the police for leaving her children locked in her car, while she ran into the pet food shop to collect a bag of dog food.  The windows were down a little. The car was not running. The car was cool.  The car was in her line of sight......but someone had called the cops.

Now, I don't think this women is actually a bad mother.  However, I am glad there are people out there, who would dob in someone for leaving the kids in the car.  I am the glad the police would respond to such a call.  I am glad I live in a society where people care enough to dob in so-called "bad mothers".

However, in this case, it was not like she had left the kids in the car park of the local club, while she played the pokies.

Everyday as a parent, I face challenges.  I face self doubt.

I think it is important to talk about parenting. Share our experiences. Share our failures and our successes. Refine our strategies.

22 November, 2012

Ella Bay and Planning Legislation







Ella Bay and Planning Legislation


The Qld Government is committed to “fast tracking” the processing of development applications.

Qld’s biggest-ever tourism development - a $1.4 billion integrated tourism and residential community at Ella Bay, near Innisfail in far north Queensland - has recently been approved by the Qld Government.

The approval of this project was made possible through changes which will be implemented through legislative amendments to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA).

The EIS process for Ella Bay began in 2005. The current Coordinator-General brought it to a conclusion over the last seven months. The Sustainable Planning and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 was passed by Parliament on 13 November 2012.

The Bill enables the Qld Government to fast track development by:
§ improving the coordination and responsiveness of state government in dealing with particular development applications (proposing development within or partially within state jurisdiction);
§ removing master planning and structure planning arrangements;
§ reducing regulatory 'red tape' for development applications involving a state resource;
§ allowing a development application where not all the mandatory supporting information has been provided;
§ providing that certain provisions within the Qld Planning Provisions also apply to local government planning schemes made under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (repealed)
§ enabling the Planning and Environment Court to order costs in certain circumstances;
§ introducing an alternative dispute resolution process in the Planning and Environment Court for minor disputes which will enable these disputes to be resolved more quickly.
The Coordinator General has granted approval for the Ella Bay project and sent his report to the Federal Minister for Environment Tony Burke for his consideration. Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said his assessment would be thorough in the 30 business days in which he had to make a decision.

The project proposes the creation of three resort precincts, four residential precincts, a retail village, an 18-hole golf course and a cassowary research and education centre on the site of a 450 hectare cattle property.

The tourist development would comprise 860 units and villas and the residential component 540 permanent residences. The developer has also proposed sustainability measures which include the project being totally water self-sufficient through rainwater capture and recycling, the use of renewable energy resources, with all power to be generated on-site, a number of environmental protection and management programs, and ‘green’ transport options on-site.

The Coordinator-General’s approval is subject to 38 conditions and Satori gaining all statutory State approvals, Commonwealth approval and meeting its commitments listed in the report.  The Coordinator-General’s assessment was based on the proponent’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) addressing key issues relating to the cassowary population, water quality and road access, including a 4 kilometre upgrade of the existing Ella Bay Road and a new 880 metre road that will bypass Flying Fish Point. The Coordinator-General’s report can be viewed at: http://www.dsdip.qld.gov.au

State Development Minister Jeff Seeney said he believed environmental concerns, particularly for cassowaries, had been taken into account.

"There is fencing to stop them crossing the road indiscriminately in areas where they might be endangered and then there will be tunnels for them so they can cross under the road in a safe manner," Mr Seeney said.

However, the developer's own report into other cassowary crossings in the region found they were not well used.

21 November, 2012

removing "ecologically sustainable" from ESD





The Queensland Government is committed to more effective and efficient processing of development applications. 
These changes will be implemented through legislative amendments to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA).
Read more about the Sustainable Planning Act 2009

The Sustainable Planning and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012

The Sustainable Planning and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 was passed by Parliament on 13 November 2012.
At planning reform forums in May to July 2012, local governments, the development industry and environmental sector representatives identified that a number of concepts and processes within Queensland's planning and development system could be improved. This information is being used to identify priorities for change over the next 6 to 24 months.
The Bill seeks to achieve planning reform by:
  • improving the coordination and responsiveness of state government in dealing with particular development applications (proposing development within or partially within state jurisdiction)
  • removing ineffective master planning and structure planning arrangements
  • reducing regulatory 'red tape' for development applications involving a state resource
  • providing some flexibility to accept a development application where not all the mandatory supporting information has been provided
  • providing that certain provisions within the Queensland Planning Provisions also apply to local government planning schemes made under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (repealed)
  • enabling the Planning and Environment Court to order costs in certain circumstances
  • introducing an alternative dispute resolution process in the Planning and Environment Court for minor disputes which will enable these disputes to be resolved more quickly.

State planning policies

The Queensland Government is establishing a new approach to state planning policies that simplifies and clarifies the state's interests. The new approach means that one single state planning policy will be developed to replace the various current state planning policies in existence.



14 November, 2012

A reminder for Ros Bates





Prompted by comments by Henry Palaszczuk on twitter, I thought it might be prudent to remind Ros Bates of the Charter of Ministerial Responsibilities that was kindly provided by Premier Newman.....











10 April 2012


The Honourable Ros Bates MP
Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Level 5, Executive Building
100 George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000


Dear Minister

Ministerial Deliverables

Congratulations on your success in the electorate of Mudgeeraba and thank you for accepting my invitation to serve Queensland as the Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts.                       

Our electoral success was achieved with a strong cohesive CanDo team committed to real change, and your contribution to the team played a significant part.  Queenslanders have voted for change, and it is critical that we respect the trust bestowed on us by delivering on our commitments to grow a four pillar economy, lower the cost of living by cutting waste, deliver better infrastructure and better planning, revitalise front line services for families, restore accountability in Government and work towards our goal of achieving 4% unemployment in six years.

For this reason, I am writing to each Minister outlining my expectations of the priority tasks to be achieved to deliver on our election commitments.   You and your Department have a vital role to play in the reform program, as reflected in the following tasks for which I am requesting you to take responsibility. 

I expect that at all times Ministers will demonstrate to the public the capabilities and behaviours that will define us as the Government we undertook to be – united, energetic, disciplined and ethical. I refer you to the Queensland Cabinet Handbook, the Queensland Ministerial Handbook, the Queensland Executive Council Handbook, the Queensland Parliamentary Procedures Handbook and the Queensland Legislation Handbook.

First Term Tasks
·         Implement all LNP election policy commitments relevant to your portfolio.
·         Identify wasteful expenditure that could be redirected to front line services.
·         Ensure a consistent approach to IT systems and applications across Government to enable effective and efficient delivery of front line services.
·         Audit current IT systems, applications and support services being used by all State Government agencies including how they enable effective and efficient delivery of front line services, limitations, faults and risks; and implement a strategy to ensure continued use of endorsed systems and applications for the next three years without failure; and specifically: 
-          Ensure that further operating losses are not incurred relating to the Centre for Information Technology and Communication (CITEC);
-          Support the Minister for Health in resolving the Health payroll debacle.
-          Decide if migrating to managed services would be the best solution for 13 Queensland Government agencies currently receiving assistance through CITEC;
-          Review the benefits management plan for both Identity, Directory and Email Services (IDES) and ICTC outlining performance measures, agency migration plans, estimated migration costs, savings and benefits.
-          Define timelines for (IDES) to ensure there are no further delays in this program.
-          Liaise with the Health Minister in relation to the IeMR server contract signed before the 2012 caretaker period.
·         Deliver the LNP’s election policy Science and Innovation for Economic Success, in consultation with Ministerial colleagues.
·         Oversee policy development for the Digital Economy.
·         Provide direction and policy development regarding the Queensland Government Chief Information Officer (CIO). Your priority will be to bring to Cabinet your recommendations for future roles of the CIO, including consideration of the CIO’s role and activities across the whole of government.
·         Establish mechanisms for research and development coordination and planning and innovation across sectors involving government agencies, universities and industry, including international collaborations, to improve Queensland’s economic performance with more effective and efficient services.
·         Deliver the LNP’s election policy Arts for all Queenslanders.
·         Establish a Super Star Fund to promote our growing performing arts industry which organisations can apply for, to develop a major local production featuring an internationally known artist or artists.
·         Establish a Regional Arts Fund to extend the reach of current touring programs and to ensure that major State companies such as the Queensland Theatre Company, the Queensland Ballet, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Opera Queensland are supported in their goal of touring high quality arts experiences annually to regional Queensland.
·         Develop and implement a strategy for the growth of the arts sector in Queensland including a commercially oriented approach to artistic events and performances and facilities to have wide impact for Queensland communities.
·         Foster a ‘community of arts’ across Queensland involving artists and performers, for profit and not for profit organisations and community organisations and teaching institutions to contribute to the growth of the arts sector.
·         Implement the LNP’s election commitment for sustainable public sector growth.
·         Implement the LNP’s election commitment to reduce red tape.
·         Continue to establish effective working relationships with stakeholders and other interest groups relevant to your portfolio areas.

Existing government strategies and programs
In addition, there are existing strategies and programs implemented by previous governments which need to be examined.  Such strategies and programs need to be assessed to decide if and how they might be retained, either in their existing or an altered form.  You are to assess and make recommendations on the Smart State Strategy.    

Could you please consult with your Director-General to ensure these goals are understood by the Department and that systems are in place to monitor and report on progress towards their achievement, so that you are able to update Cabinet regularly. In this regard, the Department of Premier and Cabinet will be responsible for coordinating reports to Cabinet on progress, and will assist your Department with proposed reporting formats. 

I intend to review this charter and your efforts to implement it regularly.

Finally, I congratulate you again on your appointment and I look forward to working closely with you as a Ministerial colleague as we implement our policies and achieve the goal of providing a CanDo Government to get Queensland back on track.

Yours sincerely





CAMPBELL NEWMAN
PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND


and then a Supplementary letter......

16 April 2012


The Honourable Ros Bates MP
Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Level 5, Executive Building
100 George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000


Dear Minister

Ministerial Deliverables

Further to my letter of 10 April 2012, I write to clarify certain issues regarding your role and responsibilities as a Minister in my LNP Government.

As you are aware, the dissolution of the former Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) in particular, and MoG changes in other Departments have presented some issues regarding the placement and role of government scientific officers.

It is my intention that scientists from DERM and certain other Departments, and their functions, should be transferred to your Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, and that the expertise and services of these scientists should be made available to other Ministers and Departments to perform specific research, projects and tasks.

Therefore, I am tasking you with establishing and maintaining a new system to provide other Ministers and Departments with appropriate access via your Department to scientific assistance to meet their various requirements.

It is my further intention that you take over responsibility for the management and administration of CorpTech, Queensland Shared Services (QSS), and Smart Services Queensland (SSQ) from the Department of Housing and Public Works as part of your Department and portfolio responsibilities.

Yours sincerely





CAMPBELL NEWMAN
PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND

cc: Hon Andrew Powell MP, Hon Andrew Cripps MP, Hon Bruce Flegg MP