CanDo Poop

Taken from the Queensland State Parliament - Record of Proceedings (Hansard):


Palmer, Mr C
Ms PALASZCZUK: My question is to the Premier. He likes talking about Clive Palmer and now he has an opportunity to keep talking about him. Is the Premier aware that Clive Palmer, a life member of his own party, is so concerned about the Premier’s job-slashing program that he is considering providing funding for counselling services for those 20,000 public sector workers facing the sack?

Mr NEWMAN: They are showing so much flexibility, are they not? It is like they sit there in their little den and come up with questions. They have shown week after week that they will continue to drive the caboose over the cliff, even though I have already dealt with it.
Mr Palmer and China First have lots of plans. They have a plan for a mine in the Galilee Basin, they have a plan for a resort on the Sunshine Coast, they have a plan for Titanic II. And, no, I am not taking tickets because I saw what happened to the first one.

A government member: Labor should go on it!

Mr NEWMAN: I do not know if those opposite have bought tickets. Again I reiterate, in terms of this anxiety, very seriously for a moment, that we understand—

Ms Palaszczuk interjected.

Mr NEWMAN: Madam Speaker, they asked the question. The people who are the victims at the moment are public servants who have been employed by the people opposite when there was not money to pay their salaries. Unfortunately we are the ones who are cleaning up Anna Bligh’s mess. It is Anna Bligh’s legacy. We get the pooper scooper out every day of the week. We have to make these tough decisions. We know there is fear and anxiety and we are sorry about that. It will end as soon as possible.
In relation to Mr Palmer—and those opposite need to hear this—if he is indeed the Labor Party’s newest best friend, if that is the case—

Ms Palaszczuk: No, I am not saying that at all.

Mr NEWMAN: The Leader of the Opposition is saying now she is not supporting Mr Palmer.

Ms PALASZCZUK: No.

Mr NEWMAN: You are supporting Mr Palmer? Yes or no? Is Mr Palmer the Labor Party’s new best friend? Is Mr Palmer going to be providing electoral funding contributions to the Labor Party? Is he going to be providing money to the Katter’s Australian Party? Is he going to be building a statue of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen in South Brisbane? And will those opposite support it? Because, fair dinkum, Mr Palmer wants to build a statue to the former Premier in South Brisbane. Will they support that proposal or will that cause great anxiety for the member for South Brisbane. They support counselling services, but will they support the statue? That is what I want to know.
We have no problem with statues to former Premiers—perhaps not Anna Bligh at the moment. A lot of members here might not agree, but I am prepared to think about a statue of Peter Beattie. He was on a traffic signal box while I was the Lord Mayor of Brisbane. I am not overly combative about these things. The rhetorical question that I have for those opposite is: will they have any sort of anxiety about the statue in South Brisbane?

Interruption.

Will the ALP or the LNP get their shit together?

The institutional arrangements for the delivery of water & sewage treatment services are in a state of great flux.

It remains to be seen if either the Labor Party or the LNP (or any of the minor parties) can offer some rational solutions for restructuring the water sector in South East Queensland.

As a first world country, we have more complicated arrangements than most developing communities.....but we still can't get our shit together.

As a society, we flush and forget. The only reminder we get is the water utilities bills (which are now capped at CPI)...

We have fragmented service delivery & we are still dumping (treated) sewage effluent into Moreton Bay, while the infrastructure for water recycling (at Bundamba) is running on idle.

Here is a Statement from Energy and Water Utilities The Honourable Stephen Robertson

Will the LNP support water legislation?

Water Utilities Minister Stephen Robertson said the time had come for LNP Leader Campbell Newman to come clean on whether or not he expects Logan and Redlands ratepayers to share the cost of disestablishing Allconnex. Mr Robertson also called on Mr Newman to reveal how he plans to pay for his as yet un-costed four point water plan. The South-East Queensland Water (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill is scheduled to be debated in Parliament today. Mr Robertson said residents in Logan and Redlands deserved to know whether or not the LNP will support the Bill which will hold Gold Coast City Council accountable for these costs. "It was Gold Coast City Council which put its hand up last year to divorce from Allconnex and in doing so agreed to pay the compensation costs of disestablishment to Redland and Logan Councils," Mr Robertson said. "All three Councils support this Bill, the Bligh Government supports this Bill but where does the LNP stand? "For the past 11 months Mr Newman has failed to reveal any detail of his position when questioned by journalists and the Councils. "He's got a slogan 'to give Councils their water businesses back', but he won't say how he would do this and who is going to pay for it. "Time and time again Cagey Campbell has proven incapable of answering the tough policy questions. "No more slogans Mr Newman, Queenslanders deserve answers, particularly Logan and Redlands ratepayers on this issue." The Bligh Government introduced the legislation into Parliament in October last year in order to formalise the three councils' decision to disband Allconnex, and take back their water businesses. The Bill provides a fair and transparent process for ensuring that Logan and Redlands City Councils are not financially penalised as a result of the decision to withdraw from Allconnex.

Capt Quirk's response to my correspondence

I have written to the Lord Mayor on numerous occasions, expressing my concerns at the impacts & costs of the Northern Link Road Tunnel from Toowong to Kelvin Grove.

Here is his response.....and it makes me wonder.

We all know that Can-Do was passionate about urban cleansing and tunnels.

What is Quirky passionate about?

* Disability services?

* Race horses?

* Cutting down trees?

OFFICE OF THE LORD MAYOR

Brisbane

6 July 2011

Dear Mr Barber

Thank you for your emails of 9 April, 15, 16, 19 May, 2 and 11 June 2011 and for call on the ABC on 1 June about Legacy Way, footpaths and amenities in Normanby Terrace.

While I appreciate your concerns, as I mentioned during our discussion on the ABC, Legacy Way is a must-do critical project. In planning for the future, we must look at ii whole of city basis.

The Clem Jones Tunnel (CLEM7) is proving to be a vital addition to Brisbane’s transport network each day, relieving pressure on alternative routes, like the Story Bridge. Recent travel time surveys have revealed CLEM7 is offering savings ranging from 40 to 70% across a variety of routes, which has resulted in a significant decrease in congestion around the city. CLEM7 also provided an important link during the recent Brisbane flood.

I am confident that Council’s traffic forecasts are reliable and a sound basis to plan for the future. The Go Between Bridge is regularly meeting Council’s forecast traffic volumes. Evidence from operational toll roads throughout Australia has shown that governments are generally accurate in forecasting traffic and even tend to understate long-term growth on toll roads. Short-term variations in traffic volumes are typically within 20% of government forecasts.

The competitive tender process from Legacy Way generated a $300 million saving, through cost-effective innovative designs. Due to this significant saving, traffic could be low as 50% of Council’s forecast after opening, or approximately 12,000 vehicles per day and still remain financially sound, according to the Queensland Treasury Corporation’s 2009 credit approval for the project.

You have requested a copy of the Legacy Way Business Case. I am told that this is available to be viewed in person at the Legacy Way site office. Please contact the project team on 1800 692 333 to arrange a suitable viewing time. In addition, you may not be aware that the Business Case for Legacy Way was approved by the Queensland Government as part of their approval for the funding approach.

It has always been Council’s commitment to minimise impacts for residents at the eastern end of the Legacy Way tunnel. Throughout the recent consultation process, Council and Trancity have assessed noise modelling data and the upcoming construction activities for the project.

I am told as a result of this process a number of residents, including yourself, were offered resident-based mitigation. If you have not already met with a Transcity representative to discuss what resident-based mitigation measures are proposed at your property, then I encourage to you contact the Transcity team on 1800 778 772.

In your email dated 15 May, you mention poor pedestrian connectivity with the city. The former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman wrote you to about this issue in his letter dated 15 February 2011. However, I have asked Council’s Local Asset Service branch to investigate pedestrian access in Normanby Terrace, as it does not fall within the scope of the Legacy Way project.

New footpath funding has been distributed evenly between each ward through the Ward Footpath Trust Fund. It is up to local Councillors to decide which new footpath projects get funded following consultation with property owners.

With this in mind, I have written to Councillor David Hinchliffe, Councillor for Central Ward, for his consideration and action. If you would like to discuss your request directly with

Councillor Hinchliffe, please contact his office on 3403 0254.

I appreciate your feedback, however, we have exchanged correspondence several times now on Legacy Way and our transport agenda. I do not believe there is much to be gained by writing further on this issue.

Yours sincerely

Graham Quirk

LORD MAYOR

Ref:LM14289-2011

stuck in a hydrocarbon based paradigm

The following Media Release came from my Premier.

I cannot believe we are so stuck in a hydrocarbon based paradigm.

We could be looking to renewable energy, mass public transport systems and transition towns.

Our industrial food system is vulnerable. Permaculture & local food offers so much more in terms of resilience and variety.

The future is bright but our Governments are failing us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction The Honourable Anna Bligh 29/06/2011

Queensland positions itself as LNG Asia Pacific hub

Texas: Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has signed an historic agreement with Texas Governor Rick Perry, to cement the ties between the two great growth states of the developed world.

The signing signified that Queensland is positioning itself to become an energy hub for the Asia Pacific, Ms Bligh said.

"Texas has now surpassed New York as the second largest economy of the USA. And over the next two years Queensland economic growth is expected to surpass five per cent per annum and lead Australia.

"The Agreement recognizes the importance of developing and expanding ties of cooperation between Queensland and Texas focusing on oil and gas primarily, as well as agribusiness and creative industries.

"Given Queensland's economic projections over the next two years both States are leading economies in their respective countries.

"The Agreement will commit both States to enhancing their business networks, alliances and collaborative projects between the respective Governments, industry organizations, educational and research institutes."

Both Texas and Queensland will also use the Agreement to support collaborations that increase knowledge and expertise in the fields of LNG, agribusiness and creative industries.

"To underpin this new agreement the Government will appoint a Queensland Trade representative in Texas for the first time and convene a two-day international Gas Symposium later this year," Ms Bligh.

"This Symposium will cater for international and Australian gas sector policy-makers, government regulators, gas industry participants and allied businesses that support the sector.

"The event will help to develop the commercial-scale coal seam gas extraction industry, and will help us to develop extraction techniques that can be done in a sustainable and responsible manner."

Texas has agreed to support a high level delegation to travel to the Symposium.

Ms Bligh said Queensland had two of the nine LNG projects occurring worldwide with committed investment totalling nearly $40 billion and exports to commence from 2014.

"By 2020, Australia could be the largest producer of LNG in the world, overtaking Qatar.

"Meryl Lynch forecast demand for global LNG is expected to grow by 130% between 2008 and 2020."

As part of todays historic signing, Ms Bligh has announced the appointment of the Queensland Government's first ever Trade representative in Texas.

Ms Bligh said former Director of the US Commercial Service in Houston, Mr Duaine Priestley had taken up the position based in Houston, Texas.

"The new LNG Investment Advisor will forge international ties with key businesses and industry players in the USA.

"Houston is considered the oil and gas capital of the world - and Queensland is well on its way to becoming the LNG capital of the Asia Pacific,'' Ms Bligh said.

"The appointment of Mr Priestley is part of the Queensland Government's continued commitment to strengthening the state's economy and positioning it for future growth.

"The LNG industry is expected to generate over 18,000 jobs in Queensland and Mr Priestley will be a great asset for Queensland and our energy sector.''

"This is an industry that delivers cleaner, greener energy for the future and it's subject to some of the toughest regulations in the world.''

Ms Bligh said Mr Priestley would be charged with targeting US companies that can invest in and grow Queensland's multibillion dollar gas opportunities and assist Queensland companies into the U.S. market.

"He has worked in various trade, investment and advisory roles, including the management of five trade specialists in the Houston-Baytown-Sugarland metro region.

"Houston houses the headquarters for leading resource companies including Shell, Conoco Phillips, and Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals.

"Mr Priestley will continue to forge international ties with key businesses and industry players in Houston, generating leads and organising introductions to major US gas suppliers, promoting opportunities for these companies to tap into Queensland's lucrative energy market.''

Ms Bligh said the signing of the historic Agreement builds on existing relationships between Queensland government departments and researchers and those in Texas in areas including agribusiness and creative industries.

"This includes work on drought proof sorghum, livestock genetics and collaboration at Austin's world famous music festival the South by Southwest music and film interactive conference."

A message to Graham Quirk

A Message to Graham

With households feeling the weight of cost-of-living pressures and Brisbane still recovering from the impact of January’s floods, I’m mindful of the need for a responsible, ‘back to basics’ approach to Council’s finances.

That’s why I wonder why the largest line item in the 2011/12 budget is $456m for another road tunnel, while basic services like libraries & parks were cut in March 2011. Residents of Brisbane are suffering a rate rise to pay for the "Tunnel Vision" which was hospital passed from Can Do Campbell to Captain Quirk.

Graham is on track to deliver a little bit of guilt offset that was promised (and paid for) in 2008 - planting two million trees, purchasing 500 hectares of bushland for conservation, putting 500 new buses on Brisbane roads and chipping away at a $100 million upgrade to our fragmented bikeway infrastructure. In reality, how far will $100m go? How much has been spent? What improvements have there been?

At the same time Captain Quirk is proceeding with his white elephant, Northern Link Road Tunnel from Toowong to Kelvin Grove, (also known as the Legacy Way). The Federal Government have poured half a billion dollars down another hole in the ground. Additional funds will be bled from core Council services, with record spending on one single road project.

Captain Quirk is committed to making Brisbane a rabbit warren of tunnels. Like his predecessor - Campbell Newman, Quirky will leave our children with a Legacy of Debt. This tunnel unlike all the others is fully funded by taxpayers and ratepayers. Clem 7 and Airport Link were privately funded. Legacy way is not.

If you have any questions, or would like more information on what this year’s budget means for you, please contact the Lord Mayor's office on 3403 4400 or e-mail Captain Quirk at lordmayor@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Rowan Barber

BRISBANE RESIDENT

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A Message from Graham

With households feeling the weight of cost-of-living pressures and Brisbane still recovering from the impact of January’s floods, I’m mindful of the need for a responsible, ‘back to basics’ approach to Council’s finances.

That’s why my 2011/12 budget is focused on improving core Council services while delivering one of the lowest rate rises in the past 35 years.

We’ re on track to deliver key promises we made in 2008 - planting two million trees, purchasing 500 hectares of bushland for conservation, putting 500 new buses on Brisbane roads and completing a $100 million upgrade to our bikeway infrastructure.

At the same time we are proceeding with our important traffic congestion busting project, Legacy Way, with a welcome contribution from the Federal Government. Additional funds will be invested in core Council services, with record spending on road resurfacing and footpaths.

I’m committed to making Brisbane a cleaner, greener and more inclusive city. This Budget - concentrating on the fundamentals of rates, roads and rubbish - does exactly this.

If you have any questions, or would like more information on what this year’s budget means for you, please contact my office on 3403 4400 or e-mail me at lordmayor@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Graham Quirk

LORD MAYOR

boys light up

The following is written to the tune of "Boys Light Up" by Australian Crawl

David Reyne's original lyrics were unintelligible anyway.....

I cycled past my neighbour’s homes
In Ashgrove, the seat of Kate Jones
Where Campbell campaigns day & night.
His hopes are up for Premier
but Ms Jones is putting up a fight.

Torak tractors sit in every drive
The grass is green, the streets are wide
The candidates pork barrelling
The electorate is carolling
They’ve got one point eight billion reasons
To oppose LegacyWay

CanDo thinks he's Joh incarnate
But that Kate Jones
She will not wait
She’s out on the campaign trail
will she oppose LegacyWay?

(Refrão:)
It’s all de ja vu
This is nothing new
Campbell is channelling Joh
Oh no, no, no, no, no,... then...
Queensland votes

Begrudgingly they go to the polls
Brisbane & its budget
Are now tunnelled full of holes
Campbell’s nominating
to reap what he didn't sow
With a legacy of debt
but no regret
Now he’ll give George Street a go

Out west & north they drill for gas,
Prime ag land salinated,
Just to bring in short term cash.
Kate’s going through the motions
Adaptive management to sell,
That great artesian basin,
will be full of holes as well.