Open Government Starts With The Premier

Media Release.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Premier should prove his commitment to open government by releasing all information about plans for a new casino in Brisbane and the related sale of public assets.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier’s own actions in sacking library staff in a range of government agencies would itself hamper any plans for public access to government information.

“Like every other commitment he makes, the Premier’s embrace of open government rings hollow,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“This is the same Premier who has never been open with the 14,000 government workers he has sacked or the frontline community groups whose funding he has axed.

“It is the same Premier whose Ministers refuse to release the most basic information in response to Right to Information applications.

“It is the same Premier who has sacked library staff in key departments including Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Public Works and Housing; and Education Queensland.

“Exactly how does the Premier think his plan to access information will work without such experienced staff?”

Ms Palaszczuk said Queenslanders should be concerned about a Premier who continued to give top priority to a new Executive Building for himself and his Ministers, and an extra casino.

“I know these are not the priorities of communities in regional Queensland. People I talk to there can’t understand why the Premier and his Treasurer could find $3.5 million in his State Budget to start planning the new Executive Building while sacking 14,000 people and cutting frontline services.”

Ms Palaszczuk said openness and transparency were vital when dealing with casino licensing.

“We already know the Treasurer Tim Nicholls has accepted hospitality from one casino promoter, which is why the Premier’s first commitment to open government should be to tell Queenslanders all he knows about plans for a casino smack in the middle of the George Street heritage precinct,” she said.

“Exactly what are is his plans and why is he giving it a priority?

“He is also talking about demolishing buildings and building casinos, but what is the future of historic public assets such as The Mansion, Harris Terrace, the Old Government Printery, and the building now used as the Public Service Club?” Ms Palaszczuk said.