LNP Agrees To Sell Assets And Slash Services And Jobs

Media Release.

Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt says the Newman Government’s response to the final Costello Audit report shows it will sell assets without asking Queenslanders, and slash services and jobs through widespread privatisation and outsourcing.

“The chanting by the Premier and the Treasurer of ‘no assets sales without asking voters at an election’ is a furphy,” Mr Pitt said."

“The LNP’s response also shows it is abrogating its responsibilities across government including the provision of basic services such as public transport, hospitals, aged care, and water supplies."

“That means more job cuts and lower service levels as private providers seek to lower overheads to maximise profits."

“Asset sales including power industry businesses are still on the table. They have only been postponed, not ruled out."

“The response ‘for further consideration’ is their escape clause. So too is their reference to ongoing reviews such as the Keelty review into police and emergency services."

“The fact is the LNP government has already sold about $3.3 billion in state assets without a mandate — government-owned buildings in the city, the Electranet electricity business and QR National shares.”

Mr Pitt said the Newman Government’s response to the Costello Audit showed:

• the sale of electricity generation assets would be “further considered” and be subject to “further detailed investigation” (response to recommendation #7)
  
• the government would “further consider” selling the retail arm of Ergon Energy that would increase power prices in rural and regional areas (recommendation #9)
  
• it would sell coal mines owned by power companies such as Stanwell without a mandate (recommendation #11). The coal mines included Meandu and Kogan Creek that provided the source of power for the state electricity grid
  
• the government had agreed to sell off its IT business CITEC within two years without a mandate (recommendation 149)
  
• the government had accepted the sale of “non-core” assets without a mandate (recommendation #13)
  
• that Sunwater’s dedicated water supply infrastructure servicing commercial and industrial clients be sold without a mandate (recommendation 27)
  
• the government had fully accepted recommendation #46 to “rationalise” its asset base through disposals or consolidations
  
• it would sell QBuild, Project Services and RoadTek business units without a mandate (recommendation 33).

“All of these sales not only hold the possibility of impacting service levels but will definitely have a negative impact on jobs especially in rural and regional Queensland,” he said.
Mr Pitt said having just received the Costello Audit report and the government’s response he needed to study it further, especially in relation to the fate of government workers’’ superannuation if the LNP proceeded to sell off the Queensland Investment Corporation.

He said the government had effectively announced it had no interest in delivering services expected by taxpayers.

“The LNP has clearly marked itself as a government that wants to do nothing itself except outsource its responsibilities to private providers who will put profit before people,” he said.

“This is perhaps the biggest abrogation of responsibilities of any government in Australia.”

Mr Pitt said the LNP planned to privatise or outsource without a mandate:

• hospital clinical services;  clinical support services such as pathology, radiology and pharmacy; and non-clinical support services such as catering, cleaning, laundry and ward support
  
• community health services
  
• metropolitan passenger rail services and network infrastructure and bus services
  
• all government fleet services now delivered by Qfleet
  
• tenancy and property management services
  
• police services such as traffic control, traffic camera services, as well as court support, technical support and watchhouses
  
• operations of Stadiums Queensland.
  

Schools Just The First To Go Under Costello Blueprint

Media Release.

Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt says the 55 schools on the Newman Government’s hit-list show nothing is off the table when it comes to the Costello Audit report and its recommendations for asset sales, privatisations and outsourcing.
“There is nothing more sacred to local communities than their local school, and the plans for a wholesale closure of up to 55 of them shows nothing is sacred when it comes to the LNP’s Costello Audit report,” Mr Pitt said.
“Right now and until the Education Minister release the list of 55 possible closures, all small schools across the state and their local communities are facing uncertainty."
“But the LNP does not care about local communities and local school assets. All it sees when it looks at schools is dollar signs."
“The government is now turning itself inside out trying to come up with definitions of ‘asset sale’ that let it off the hook."
“They can call it ‘asset management’ as they have tried to do to camouflage their asset sale of seven Brisbane CBD office blocks."
“But school communities will view the sale of their schools as asset sales, and they will be correct.”
Mr Pitt said the highly political statements today by Liberal Party life member and Audit Commission chair, Peter Costello, yet again proved his audit was anything but independent.
“Mr Costello talks about a menu of unpalatable options, but he and the LNP are the ones who have made a meal of the state economy and their handling of it is a dog’s breakfast,” he said.
“Under the LNP state growth is down and our jobless rate is back up to levels not seen since the GFC."
“I believe there will be a turnaround in our economic fortunes, but it will come from the spin-offs of major resources projects, especially export gas projects, that were initiated by the former Labor governments."
“Growth will return and jobs will be created despite the LNP and its slash-and-burn policies, not because of it,” he said.

Tony Abbott and the Coalitions Policy on the Environment.

In the Coalitions “Our Plan” policy booklet Section 19. “Delivering a cleaner and more sustainable environment.” It talks about a “15,000 Strong Green Army” and I quote “We will take direct action to reduce carbon emissions - and establish a 15,000 strong Green Army charged with the clean-up and conservation of our environment – so that we can all enjoy a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future without the impost of the carbon tax.” So continuing this train of thought on how the  Coalition would reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. What special technology has Tony Abbotts “Green Army” got that the Australian Conservation Foundation started 1964, Landcare Australia started 1985, Greening Australia started 1982 and Clean-up Australia started 1989 doesn't have?

All these organisations have been doing fantastic work to improve our environment. But the greenhouse gases have been building up in the atmosphere and continue to do so at an alarming rate over the period these outstanding organisations have been going and much, much longer. So I repeat what special tools does Tony Abbotts Green Army have to reduce greenhouse gases, maybe Harry Potters magic wand?

Another part of the Coalitions response to Climate Change, and I quote “We will establish an Emissions Reduction Fund of $3 billion to allocate money in response to emission reduction tenders to projects designed to reduce carbon emissions.”

Now this is Taxpayers money being given to companies who say we need X amount of money to clean this up or clean that up, what is the criteria, means test used to pay out this money to companies, what are the safe guards against rorting the system. Now I look at it another way for companies to use there own money as good corporate citizens, for moral reasons, for the good of the planet to clean there own act up. Why should Taxpayers money go to them when it can be used for improving Health care, Education, infrastructure etc. Than what happens after the money is spent, their is no mechanism in place to keep them doing the right thing? That is why a Emissions Trading Scheme is so important.

Now last but not least, going on the idea that the air we breath moves around the planet and what we do effects other Countries in some way regardless how small, I thought this heading in Section 19 of the Coalitions policy booklet, is a bit silly and I quote “Reducing carbon emissions inside Australia, not overseas” Well we all remember what happened in Europe when a Volcano erupted in Iceland don't we?

NB. In this Section 19 of the Coalitions Policy Booklet, there is no comment about Climate Change or Global Warming, that is how interested they are in it.  

The Worker

Fair Go Under Fire by Wayne Swan Treasurer of Australia.

An extract from the Chifley Research Centre website:

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Wayne Swan 

The fundamental objective of economic policy is the creation of greater prosperity to enable a better life for everyone. It is not an ideological exercise but a practical and moral one.

I know the Labor Party isn’t exactly the flavour of the month at the moment and we haven’t always pulled the right rein every single time over the last few years.  Every Government gets things right and some wrong.  But whatever people think about this Labor Government they know it gets the big economic calls right even when that comes at a political cost.  No country in the world has made better decisions over the past five years than ours, and the dividends of that can be seen in low unemployment, contained inflation, and low interest rates.
There’s an old saying I like that says you ‘acquire the strength of that which you have overcome.’  That’s true of countries and governments too.  Australia is stronger now having weathered the storm of the Global Financial Crisis – and so too is the Government for the obstacles we helped the country clear.
I believe we now stand at one of those decisive points in our national story.  At stake is something essential to our national character: the idea of the fair go.  I like talking about the fair go because for me it summarises everything we should be about as a country.  It’s not just a political cliché and it’s not a slogan – it’s a belief, and one the Labor Party holds with great conviction.
In my maiden speech to Parliament in 1993, I talked about a land characterised by the fair go, where “ordinary people would be able to fulfil their dreams, regardless of where they came from or the social group they were born into.”  The idea that whether you live or work in Woollahra or Wollongong, you deserve a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and your kids deserve the same opportunities. Without this defining principle of Australian life, championed for generations by the Labor Party, our nation would not be the tremendous society we live in today.  Without it we’re a poor chance for a decent future.
Education should, and will always, play a major role in building the type of society we want.  That’s why the Labor Party believes every child deserves a top-shelf education.  That makes our school reforms that New South Wales signed up to this week so fundamentally critical, not just for our kids and grandkids, but for the economic strength it creates for the whole country. We will never accept that a child who lives in Western Sydney should have less of an education than a child from inner Melbourne, just because of their postcode.
We believe in Australians succeeding through hard work and by merit. We will never apologise for working to ensure everyone gets to share in our prosperity. And as conservatives argue for billions of dollars to be ripped out of the economy, risking recession and jobless queues kilometres long, we will never apologise for putting jobs and growth first.  We reject the heartless philosophy of mindless austerity.  This great ideal of protecting the living standards of all people is as much an enduring Australian value as it is a core Labor philosophy.
But the truth is that this national ideal is under threat.  A dark cloud is gathering over it.  And so I want you to think of this coming election not just as a contest between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, or between Labor and Liberal, but as a referendum on the fair go.  When you look at the choice and policies on offer – school opportunity and disability insurance on one side versus harsher industrial relations and higher taxes on low income earners to pay for lower taxes on high income earners – it’s obvious which side of the fairness debate each party is on.  You’ll see that Labor is advancing the fair go while the other side is tearing it down.
The future of the fair go is more important than the fortunes of one political party or another.  It goes to the core of the election, but more important than that it goes to our future as a country.  While we call it the fair go, others refuse to debate merits or values because they’d rather dismiss a worthy debate with a cheap label.
You have to question the motives of some who define universal access to a world-class education as akin to some kind of class warfare as some have in recent weeks.  It’s a sad day for Australia when a political party chooses to frame a debate about better education like this.  Or the Liberal Party’s favourite think tank, the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), implores that legislation for DisabilityCare Australia “highlights everything that has been wrong with Australia’s welfare state for 100 or so years”.  Or the idea that 3.6 million people on low and middle incomes deserve to have taxes on their superannuation hiked up as Tony Abbott has committed to doing. We believe there is something very wrong at the heart of these charges.
Over recent weeks I have been reading and listening to some of the more extreme conservative critiques of our economic policies, and I have to say much of it fails to rise above the level of politically-driven ideology.  Organs of the Liberal Party such as the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) and CIS are frothing at the mouth at the prospect of an Abbott Government, and appear to be carrying an axe in each hand.
With Tony Abbott and his party too petrified to release policies, the only place to gauge their true intentions is to read the plans being drawn up by these think tanks, which seem to be doing most of their thinking for them. In the lead up to the September election, they have been compiling a list of policies for the Coalition to consider.  It’s a conservative wish list, or a memo for action for a potential Abbott Government.  As the IPA’s Alan Moran said himself: “Some items have been discussed with Coalition politicians, many of whom are in agreement with the principles against which the list has been developed.”  This is the list: Cut Medicare and Universal Health Care; Restrict access to subsidised medicines; Axe the SchoolKids Bonus; Abolish Fair Work and Safe Work Australia; Junk DisabilityCare.
They also want to cut the general research budget by 40 per cent; scrap all Commonwealth housing programs; abolish all foreign aid, excluding emergency aid; and predictably, privatise the ABC.
They think harsh austerity is simple common sense, but this simply ignores the hard reality of real world economics. When expenditure in an economy is savagely slashed, aggregate demand is supressed and unemployment rockets up, and ultimately savings in the economy (including the budget position) deteriorate, and in the long run we are all poorer. This is what economists often call the ‘paradox of thrift’.  It is exactly why governments need to approach the fiscal consolidation task in a balanced, responsible way.
So let’s examine the real world for a moment.  Economic policy has a number of competing and complementary objectives: pursuing economic growth, consistent with low unemployment and contained inflation, raising productivity, lifting living standards, balancing the competing community demands of lower taxation and better government services, running budget surpluses over the economic cycle, improving environmental sustainability, and so on. All these things have to be undertaken within a global economic climate that we simply can’t control.
In this real world, what is needed is a balanced approach involving policy trade-offs that in an ideal situation would not have to be made.  No matter what our critics may say, in the face of some of the worst global economic turbulence since the Great Depression, under Labor the right balance has been struck. All arguments aside, the proof is in the result.
While other countries have succumbed to recession and social divisions widen – and I don’t just mean Spain and Greece, but Britain and the United States too – Australia has prospered.  Our economy has actually grown strongly and is more than 13 per cent larger than in 2007.  Around 900,000 jobs have been added while Labor has been in office. Over this period, around 28 million people have been added to global unemployment queues.  We are starting to see an upswing in labour productivity – ­up 3.5 per cent in the last year. We have shielded our people from the worst consequences of the global downturn. Unemployment here is 5.6 per cent. In the US it is 7.6 per cent. In Spain it is 27 per cent, and 57 per cent for young people.
We have achieved this while spreading the opportunities to more and more Australian people. In recent decades the poorest 10 per cent of Australian households have seen their incomes grow by a healthy 3 per cent a year – six times the growth that was seen in the United States where the most vulnerable were simply left behind as the economy modernised.  And it’s not just the poorest Americans who missed out on the boom years preceding the GFC – median household incomes have also stagnated, leading to a hollowing out of the middle class that has worried politicians and economists alike.  Longer unemployment queues and less inclusive economic growth in the US is a failure that will continue to echo through generations to come.  Far from being the land of opportunity, how much your father earns is much more important in determining your fate in the US than it is in most other developed countries.
All the while, we have spread the opportunities in our resilient economy to more Australian people, particularly over the past five years.  Australia is not only more socially mobile than the US and the UK; the same is true when we are compared to China, Singapore and Japan. These countries are often held up as models for us to emulate, but the truth is that on most measures of social mobility and opportunity, Australia performs better.
To the right-wing commentariat, this agenda of promoting opportunity in the midst of global uncertainty will be dismissed as ideology. But it is not. It is not just a fundamental Australian value – it is a crucial piece of economic reform.  In fact, it’s the partisan critics themselves who are now wildly out of step with mainstream international economic opinion.
In recent years mainstream market economists and economic bodies have begun to recognise the role that policies to reduce social inequality and spread opportunity play in the creation of national prosperity.  Last year, for instance, both the Financial Times and The Economist magazine devoted sustained attention to the economic problem of widening inequality and the limitations it is imposing on economic growth. The International Monetary Fund, the OECD, the World Economic Forum and other pro-market organisations have similarly called for urgent measures to tackle inequality in developed and developing nations alike.  As Joseph Stiglitz wrote in his important 2012 book The Price of Inequality, until recently economists would typically ask what degree of additional inequality we should accept to create more wealth – but now we understand that creating prosperity and reducing inequality go hand in hand.
All of these pro-market bodies and economists are correct: the best way to grow an economy is to do it in a way that benefits the greatest number of its citizens.  This isn’t some archaic idea of income redistribution, it’s about wealth creation.  As I said in my essay in The Monthly last year, rewards should naturally be proportionate to effort, recognising the hard work and entrepreneurship that create wealth and employment. That’s why providing more people with a good education and a decent job with fair rights and conditions should be an economic as well as a moral goal.  It’s why despite the tough international climate, the Labor Government has been right to continue its pursuit of opportunity-enhancing educational reforms and infrastructure investments.
Our economic reforms have been built in the rich legacy of the Hawke-Keating era, applied to modern times.  In the contemporary world, building human capabilities and constructing critical infrastructure – the things Labor is doing so well – are the very stuff of economic reform.  I believe the way to be a reformer is not to re-live the 1980s and 1990s but to be inspired by that era’s example of a Government that adapted its reforming energies to the needs of the times.  The Gonski review which inspired the National Plan for School Improvement, the National Broadband Network, putting a price on carbon, the Asian Century White Paper – these are all the types of policies and reforms that will be looked back on in years to come as major changes that set Australia up for the future, just as the big reforms of the ’80s and ’90s set us up for today.
I am certain that when future generations of economists account for the continuation of Australian economic resilience, they will say it happened because, in the face of global economic challenges, we got the big calls right to support the economy, and we built on Australia’s proud reform legacy.  We invested to create a more highly-skilled workforce, a more modern infrastructure base, and a more environmentally-sustainable economy.  We moved with the times and didn’t look backwards.
Time and again it has been shown that only Labor is philosophically equipped for this economic task to spread opportunity to ensure all Australians are able to share in our prosperity.
At this defining moment the Australian people have a choice to make.  It comes down to this: to whom does Australia and its future prosperity really belong? Does it belong to people who work hard and live pay cheque to pay cheque, working to give their children something better?  Or does it belong to those who always seem to be talking Australia down, complaining about their own interests because they don’t quite understand that this country is powered by the many not the few.  I firmly believe that only the fair go will get Australia where it needs to be at this time of opportunity.
The Government has not been perfect, and I have not been perfect, but we’ve learned equally from all of the successes and the times we’ve fallen short of expectations.  But we’re not as bad as the vested interests would have you believe – and Tony Abbott is nowhere near as good as the same vested interests tell you, as they try and install their man in the Lodge.
So if you take one thing from what I’m writing today take this: we’ll keep governing for the millions of Australians, looking to communicate directly rather than always relying on traditional mediums, where some in the media and business seek to misrepresent policies and ideas.
It’s not surprising that Australians are thoroughly sick of the combative politics of recent times.  I think they want a proper discussion of how we can continue to build the strongest economy and the fairest society in the world.  Protecting the fair go from Tony Abbott and advancing it in our schools and workplaces, and in the homes of people with a profound disability, is the best place to start that conversation – and the best principle to apply to your choice on 14 September.

Another 'Top Secret' LNP Report On Privatisation

Media Release.

Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Shadow Health Minister, Jo-Ann Miller, says the Newman Government has stamped “top secret” on another major report on privatisation, this time on its plans for the Americanisation of the state’s hospital system.
“The Newman Government’s obsession with secrecy means that just like the final Costello Audit a consultant’s report into privatising hospitals will also be kept hidden,” Mrs Miller said.
“In his answer to a question on notice the Minister for Health Cuts and Closures, Lawrence Springborg, shows he is intent on stamping ‘top secret’ on the KPMG report."
“Queenslanders should be alarmed that plans are already in train to privatise our state’s hospitals even as Cabinet meets today to go through the pretence of considering the secret Costello Audit report’s findings."
“The truth is the Newman Government has made up its mind to privatise hospitals which means more job cuts and service cuts as private operators put profits before patients."
“Taxpayers own our public hospitals; taxpayers paid for the KPMG report; and taxpayers deserve to see it for themselves."
“Mr Springborg’s desire for secrecy just shows how false the LNP’s claims are that it runs an open and accountable government,” Mrs Miller said.
Mrs Miller said Americanising the state’s hospital system would only aggravate the job losses and service cuts imposed by the Newman Government in its first year.
“We are already seeing the impact the savage Springborg cuts are having with graduate nurses forced to take other jobs because the Newman Government has slammed the door on their chosen career,” she said.
“The Springborg cuts make no sense in light of estimates by the federal agency responsible for workforce planning, Health Workforce Australia, which forecasts a shortfall of 109,000 nurses across Australia by 2025."
“It also says there are already insufficient job opportunities for graduate nurses, a position made worse by the conscious sacking of nurses in our state.”
Text of Q&A:

Question on Notice No. 151

Asked 19 March 2013

MRS MILLER asked the Minister for Health (MR SPRINGBORG)-
QUESTION: When will the Minister table all reports and related documents, commissioned with the consultancy firm KPMG, for the privatisation of any public hospitals in Queensland?
ANSWER: I thank the Honourable Member for Bundamba for her question. As outlined previously, a review of value for money offered by potential partnership models between the private sector and Queensland Health has been commissioned from KPMG. This review is currently underway and the report has not yet been provided. There is no requirement to table any reports or other documents.

Persecution of Organiser Martin.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane August 4, 1894

Persecution of Organiser Martin.

The case of Organiser James Martin was brought before the police magistrate at Winton on July 11^th, the charge being preferred against him by the notorious Sergeant Malone, who arrested him, as being a person of evil fame, under section 199 of the Justice Act of 1886, which reads as follows:

“When complaint in writing on oath is made before a justice that any person is a person of evil fame, and the complainant there from prays that the defendant may be required to find sufficient securities to be of good behaviour, such proceedings may be taken, and defendant required to find sufficient securities to keep the peace for such time as the justices may think proper, and, in default, may commit defendant to gaol for a period not exceeding six months.”

The organiser defended himself, and Malone being in hospital, it was said, for some reason or another, the case was remanded, Sub-inspector Dillon prevailing on the magistrate to refuse to grant bail to the organiser. The case came up again for hearing on July 13.

One of the principal witnesses was the complainant, who was called as Constable Pulley. He said; I remember the 2^nd of the month. I was at Oondooroo. I was a shearer. Defendant came there on Sunday night, and a meeting was held next morning , at which Martin spoke. After reading extracts from the WORKER, defendant read a telegram that several sheds, including Westlands, were out on strike, and then said that the Associated Workers' Union had asked the pastoralists to meet in conference, which had been declined; Martin said it had come to a time now (the 1^st instant) when he thought it was about time to kick against the eighth clause of the shearing agreement. He thought that the pastoralists were not very well situated at the present time, and the banks were pushing them. He also stated that now was their time to gain their ends, and if they did not now succeed they would never again succeed.

He stated that the country was not in the same position now as in 1891 with regard to police protection, and said, “I don't say you are going to kill anyone, and I don't say that you are not going to kill anyone; that lays amongst yourselves.” The meeting then adjourned, and the men proceeded towards the office to attend the roll call. It was decided to refuse to sign the agreement, but no vote was taken. The majority appeared to be in favour of “kicking” against the agreement. The men went towards the station, and Mr. Ramsay said, “Have you men come up to sign?” Several of the men desired to hear the agreement read out, which Mr. R. C. Ramsay did. Defendant was present at the time, in front of the crowd about the edge of the veranda, 6ft. from the office door. Mr. Ramsay commenced calling the roll, when defendant started talking to Mr. Ramsay, disapproving of the agreement. Martin spoke against the eighth clause. Pulley then went on to describe the disturbance that took place. He added; I received three blows. The man who struck me first I do not know. Defendant was about five feet from me when I started to push through the crowd. I never gave any provocation to lead to an assault. The crowd appeared to be very excited. I was covered with blood over the face, shirt, and waistcoat, and considered the position very unsafe, and that I was in danger. The speech made by Martin at the creek had a great influence on the men, and caused them not to sign the agreement.

I first knew the defendant in the end of April or May of this year at Cambridge Downs. I do not know that it was owing to the influence of any particular person that the assault was committed. As far as I know defendant took no part in the assault.

After calling one witness who denial that Martin had said anything calculated to incite the men to violence, or that he had used the word “kill” in any way, the defendant gave evidence on his own behalf. He then wished the case concluded, and stated that as bail was refused, be elected to have the case concluded that evening.

One of the strong points against him was that he was found in possession of a revolver and number of cartridges. He maintained that it was necessary for every bushman to carry firearms, in consequence of the frequency of murders and assaults. Regarding the quantity of cartridges carried, Martin said that it was not all unusual for bushmen to carry such; they frequently had “practice” on the road. He emphatically denied that he used the words, “I don't say you are going to kill anyone, and I don't say you are not.” He had no hand in the assault on Pulley, and he considered that he was acting in a legal manner when going round the country advising men not to sign the pastoralists' agreement. The charge against him was of the most flimsy nature.

Sub-inspector Dillion replied, stating that previous to the arrival of Martin in the district the men were peaceably disposed, and that since the advent of Martin in the district, outrages had occurred.

The defendant was required to enter into a recognisance, himself in £100, and two sureties of £50 each, to be of good behaviour for six months, or in default to be imprisoned in Rockhampton gaol, unless in the meantime the required recognisance is given.

Mander Must Rule Out Public Housing Sell-Off

Media Release.

Shadow Housing Minister, Jo-Ann Miller, says she is shocked the Newman Government is again threatening to turn upside down the lives of people living in public housing by selling its entire housing stock.

“Reports that the entire stock of public housing in our state will be sold off as a result of Costello Audit recommendations must be ruled out immediately,” Mrs Miller said.

“As if public housing tenants have not suffered enough anxiety thanks to the callous way the incompetent former Minister Bruce Flegg treated them by suggesting they would be forced to share premises or be forced to downsize their tenancies.

“Already public housing tenants know the Newman Government is no friend of theirs.

“Now a report in The Australian on Anzac Day suggests the LNP government has hatched a plan to sell off all public housing as part of its response to the Costello Audit.

“This demands to be ruled out immediately by Housing and Public Works Minister, Tim Mander.

“We need to hear an unequivocal rejection from Mr Mander’s lips of this plan that will cause shock waves throughout the public housing system.

“Anything less than a 100% rejection of this plan will not be good enough,” Mrs Miller said.

The Barrett Adolescent Centre Petition Result.

Are Australians just crying poor about cost of living?

An extract from the ABC News Website:
24/04/13

"I would regard Australians as never having it so good," says Commsec chief economist Craig James.
"When you look at the overall cost of living it is growing at a much slower pace than our wages."
Some pensioners, students and low-income families are still struggling.
The cost of electricity and petrol has risen rapidly, Sydney and Melbourne are regularly ranked among the most expensive cities in the world and house prices remain relatively high.
"Australia has become a high cost country," says Sissel Rosengren from BIS Shrapnel's food service division.
"To go out and eat at a cafe in Sydney is much more expensive than in London for example. Households used to survive on one income and now they need two."
But Australia has experienced 21 years of uninterrupted economic growth and the high dollar means the cost of many imported goods has come down.
"So these things compensate for these higher more visible prices such as electricity and petrol," says Ben Phillips from the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM).
He says the average household is more than $200 a week better off than in the mid-1980s.
"In fact right across the board our research shows Australian households, on average, are better off. We really are the lucky country."
Some demographers say the extra money has turned a generation of 'average battlers' into 'aspirational Aussies'.
"Australia is still very much focused on aspiration," says demographer Bernard Salt from KPMG.
"Two cars, four mobile phones, a Bali holiday, branded clothing, restaurant meals.
"I think this is what the average household expects in the western suburbs of Sydney or the western suburbs of Melbourne."
He says political leaders need to start talking to families about sacrifice, sustainability and saving for the greater good, particularly given budget revenue is falling.
"It's not about what your country can do for you. It's what you can do for your country. It's all too much about me, here and now."

New South Wales has just signed up to better school plan.

New South Wales has just signed up to Labor’s plan to make our schools the best they can be; a plan that will leave no child behind regardless of their background or circumstance.

Today's announcement shows that our children’s future is more important than politics. Big reforms are never easy, but future generations of Australians deserve the best possible education.

But this is just the beginning. Every child must have the opportunity to live up to their potential, and Labor’s plan does just that. Now we need the other state and territory leaders to sign up before 30 June.

Thousands of people have already let their state or territory leader know they want better schools. If you haven't shown your support yet, do so by clicking here.

Thanks to this agreement, 1.1 million students in NSW will now get to see the benefits of around $5 billion in additional investment over six years.

This means making sure new teachers get the support they need in the classroom, more support staff to help students who need it and a priority on reading in the early years of school.

National Plan for School Improvement.

Media Release.

         The Hon Peter Garrett  MP

• Minister for School Education
• Minister for Early Childhood and Youth

State and territories today affirmed their commitment to keep negotiating on the National Plan for School Improvement, including school funding reforms and a goal to be in the top five schooling countries by 2025.

School Education Minister Peter Garrett said this was a sign of progress towards a fairer funding system.

“I’m confident we can keep working with states and territories, and with the non-government sectors, over the coming weeks so that we can get the best deal for every school and every student in the country,” he said.

“I’ll be talking to my ministerial colleagues in every jurisdiction and I urge them to approach these discussions with good will."

“This is the major opportunity to improve schooling in this country, and properly resource all our schools and classrooms so that every young Australian gets the best start in life."

“States and territories were positive in their comments about the need to lift school standards and help every student achieve, so I believe we are on the right track to getting an agreement."

“Education Ministers will be meeting again in May and I will make sure school funding and the National Plan for School Improvement is front and centre of the agenda."

“Instead this is a major much needed reform which can deliver great benefits to the nation now and into the future. For the sake of all our schools we need to work together and get this done," Mr Garrett said.

Joint media release.

Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Minister for Finance and Deregulation

Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity

---

Coalition $90 billion broadband claims shredded

The assumptions underpinning the Coalition’s costing of Labor’s NBN have today been torn to shreds at the Joint Committee for the National Broadband Network.
“The robustness of NBN Co’s Corporate Plan, which the Government had independently verified by KPMG and Greenhill Caliburn, has been reaffirmed again today,” the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Penny Wong, said.
“Mike Quigley, CEO of NBN Co, has demonstrated that the NBN Co Corporate Plan is sound and that the Coalition assumptions about the cost of the project are wrong.”
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said: “In evidence given to the committee, Mr Quigley demonstrated that:

• The actual cost of building the NBN to each home and business is between $2,200-2,500 per premise, not $3,600 per premise as claimed in Mr Turnbull’s policy document.
• NBN wholesale prices will fall in real terms, not triple as claimed in Mr Turnbull’s policy document.
• The NBN remains on track to be completed by 2021, not 2025 as claimed in Mr Turnbull’s policy document.
  “This evidence proves that the assumptions underpinning the Coalition’s costing of Labor’s NBN are a fraud.

“If Mr Turnbull had any credibility at all, he would admit that he has based his costing on a lie.
“He should also immediately stop misleading the public about the prices people pay for the NBN now and what people will pay in the future.
“If he doesn’t, it’s just another sign that Mr Turnbull will say anything to hide the fact that his plan would leave Australia with the broadband equivalent of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with only one lane.”

The Eight Hour Bill.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane July 7, 1894

The Eight Hour Bill.

The Premier has put down his foot like a squatter and said “No” to the request of the Eight Hour Union for a legal eight hours' day. Labour men should at once recognise the fact that no fair play can be obtained whilst squatterdom and lawyerdom reign in Queensland. Nelson has replied through his under-secretary to Mr. Maskrey, secretary of the Eight Hour Union, as follows: “The Government are not prepared to introduce during the coming session of Parliament a measure on the lines of the Eight Hour Bill forwarded with your communication under reply.” 

The Franchise for Women.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane July 14, 1894

The Franchise for Women.

Dear WORKER, – I should like to say a few words in answer to “School Teacher's” letter on Women's Franchise. I think she is wrong in saying women would be on the Conservative side. I know several young girls, and old women for that matter, who are ardent supporters of Labour, and who would like to have the power to vote. We women have to suffer under the laws, so I think it is but just that we should help to make the laws. Some of us will never marry, but have to toil all our days and all hours for a mere pittance. If we had a vote we should slowly and surely alter this unjustness and have shorter hours of work for one thing.

We are told by educated men that we are not capable of understanding these questions, but I doubt if ever they have been talking with earnest, thinking women and girls or they would think otherwise. Even if we don't gain the franchise in our time we can do all we can to make it easier for our children to gain. And we can do a little towards uplifting our fellow creatures if we only try our level best. We can all lighten some one's burden in this world.

Ipswich,    Sarah E. M.    

Arrest of James Martin.

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane July 14, 1894

Arrest of James Martin.

The A.L.F. General organiser, Jim Martin, was arrested four miles from Winton early on Sunday morning last. The police, we are informed by W. C. Curtis, sec. A.W.U. Hughenden, decline to state the charge on which Martin was arrested, and our impression is that the authorities will be compelled to release him at an early date. Universal regret has been expressed in unionist circles at Martin's incarceration, as a more earnest and popular organiser never travelled the Queensland bush. Immediately on receipt of the news, Albert Hinchcliffe, General Secretary A.L.F., wired: “On what charge are you arrested? Can we do anything for you?” Martin replied; “Charged with being person of evil fame, Remanded till Thursday. You cannot assist at present.” Julian Stuart, union ex-prisoner, also wired, and received a reply to the same effect, and stating that Martin expected to be released on Thursday.

The Courier “understands” that when arrested Jim Martin had on his person a revolver fully loaded and about eighty rounds of ammunition. Some fuss is being made of this circumstance by “respectability,” but no mention is made of the arms carried by pastoralist executive officers. It is quite a common thing in the bush for men to travel armed, and unionists are not the only persons who carry revolvers, as was proved by the following statement picked up in the Electric Telegraph Office during last strike:

Brisbane, March 19, 1891.

Mr. Oliver, Executive Officer of Queensland Pastoralists'

Association, c/o Queensland Club.

Bought of Foster and Kelk, (Late Brookes and Foster), Ironmongers.

6 English Constabulary Revolvers, 100/-        £30.0.0

2 B. and W. Revolvers, 85/- and 95/- . .              9.0.0

6 Boxes 450 Cartridges, 4/6 . . . .                           1.7.0

4 Boxes S. and W. ditto, 4 . . . .                             0.16.0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                             £41.3.0

Springborg Must Provide Details

The Newman Government must fill in the blanks about its promise to deliver swifter outcomes to health complaints.

Nobody wants to see complaints drag on and on without resolution and if the proposed change work that will be a positive step.

But right now there are a lot of unanswered questions about the proposed new position of a Health Ombudsman the Minister announced in Parliament.

Exactly what powers will the Ombudsman have to investigate complaints or will it be just another level of bureaucracy and red tape?

It will be especially interesting to see what powers the Health Ombudsman will have and whether the position will be able to investigate complaints against private providers under the LNP’s Americanised health and hospital system.

LNP vegetation management plans a massive broken election commitment

The LNP Government’s new vegetation management legislation constitutes a massive broken election commitment by the Newman Government. Just days before the election on 28 February last year, Mr Newman sought to reassure environmental groups of his credentials, by claiming: “On vegetation management the LNP will be retaining the legislation.” Campbell Newman, 28th February 2012, Brisbane Times Yet this week the Natural Resource Minister Andrew Cripps delivered a speech at the Rural Press Club entitled Taking the Axe to Queensland’s Tree Clearing Law”. He gave his speech while public feedback on his planned new laws was still being considered by the parliamentary committee. This represents a huge betrayal by the LNP Government and is yet another broken election commitment by the Premier. The Newman Government is showing no interest in getting the balance right between protection of the environment and economic development when it comes to their proposed tree clearing laws.

Dickson must clarify logging plans

When quizzed by the Opposition in Parliament, Minister Steve Dickson failed to rule out logging in national parks. The Minister gave a heavily qualified response to an Opposition question, claiming the Newman Government would not allow logging in ‘pristine’ national parks. He needs to declare exactly what he means by ‘pristine’ and to detail all the national parks or parts of national parks that fall into that category. It is still no clearer what national parks are to be opened to logging and which, if any, are off limits. Instead of making wild and false claims about being part of the state’s ‘greenest’ government, Mr Dickson needs to start providing the facts. Until he does we can only assume that no national park is safe under the LNP.

Secret Costello report still not public

The Premier and Treasurer received the final Costello Audit report on February 28 and it is still not publicly available.

In State Parliament the Opposition asked the LNP Government to rule out using the secret report to sell or lease Queensland’s electricity generation assets, privatise hospitals and outsource hospital services such as pathology and pharmacy services in public hospitals.

The Premier refused to answer these questions but did state that "only a few of the Costello audit recommendations are about asset sales."

However, we know the final Costello report will be a made-to-order excuse for mass privatisations of our public assets and we know the LNP Government have already begun this process by privatising services such as health through outsourcing.

We have already seen the Treasurer Tim Nicholls arrogantly strike a secret deal to sell seven government buildings in the Brisbane CBD with seeking the mandate he and the Premier said they needed.

Newman Government must make education funding a priority

Opposition members attended the Queensland Teachers’ Union rally outside Parliament House, calling on the LNP Government to make school education funding a priority.

It is shameful that Queensland children could miss out on $3.8 billion in education funding because the Premier enjoys playing politics with Canberra. 

The Premier needed to go to COAG with an open mind about funding Queensland’s contribution to Gonski reforms.

Recently the Premier announced more than half-a-billion dollars for education programs without explaining where the money was coming from, yet he cries poor when it comes to funding his share of reforms initiated by the federal government.

In September last year Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the Queensland Government would be happy to fund Gonski 50-50 with the Federal Government, but in the lead-up to the COAG meeting the Newman Government claimed it could not afford to pay 35% of the funding for Gonski reforms.

The Newman Government must stop politicking on an issue as important as our children’s education.

Premier fails to act on Driscoll

Throughout the latest sitting week the Newman Government continued to be distracted by the ongoing allegations surrounding their suspended Member for Redcliffe Scott Driscoll.

Premier Campbell Newman did not back away from previous statements expressing his full confidence in Mr Driscoll, but admitted Mr Driscoll “probably will be expelled by the LNP”.

Premier Newman yet again showed his lack of leadership in the saga that includes very serious allegations about Mr Driscoll’s involvement in a community organisation based in Redcliffe.

The Premier failed to remove Ros Bates and Bruce Flegg from Cabinet when it was obvious the people of Queensland had lost faith in their integrity and he has again failed to act to remove Mr Driscoll when it is obvious the allegations surrounding him make his membership of the LNP untenable.

The Premier has again failed the leadership test.

Abbott denies staffer made 'throat cut' threat.

An extract from ABC News Website:

19/04/13

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has denied reports a senior staff member told the chief executive of an Indigenous education organisation he would "cut his throat" if the Coalition wins the election.

News Limited journalist Peter van Onselen says he was at a Qantas party in Sydney last night when he overheard the staffer make the threat.
The ABC understands the staffer is Mr Abbott's director of policy Mark Roberts, and the person he was speaking to is Andrew Penfold, a former investment banker who is now chief executive of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.

       Tweeter:

I have heard some threats in my time, but nothing like that from an Abbott staffer tonight. Watch this space, I'll raise it on Sunday...
- Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) April 19, 2013

A Tony Abbott staffer told an eminent Australian that he would "cut his throat" once "we" are in government.... Much, much more to it...
- Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) April 19, 2013

...I am totally disgusted. He is a very senior member of the staff.
- Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) April 19, 2013

Van Onselen said the staffer knew he had heard the threat and offered to leak information from Mr Abbott's office in exchange for his silence.

Abbott's staffer knew I heard the conversation, bailed me up & offered to be a source inside TA's office if I stayed quiet...thanks, but no.
- Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) April 19, 2013

Mr Abbott has denied that his staffer had made the "throat-cutting" comment but confirmed that an "unfortunate exchange" had occurred.

Mark Roberts

• Tony Abbott's director of policy
• Promoted to position in March 2011
• Has doctorate in international economics

Andrew Penfold

• Chief executive of Australian Indigenous Education Foundation
• A former finance lawyer and investment banker
• Was a finalist for Australian of the Year in 2010
• Nominated by The Australian for its Australian of the Year award in 2012

"That particular phrase is denied," Mr Abbott told the media in Victoria this morning.
"I understand there was an unfortunate exchange between a staffer of mine and someone at a dinner last night.
"The incident is out of character as far as the staff member is concerned.
"It's been investigated and I understand the staff member has apologised to the person with which he had the incident.
"It seems that the matter is now at an end."
Mr Abbott refused to name the staffer in question but said he had been "counselled".
"As I said, it was an out-of-character incident," he said.
"It's been investigated, it's been apologised for and I think that's where the matter is now ended."

Australia's debt is low compared to other Countries.

The misinformation campaign being run by the Liberal Party and sections of the media about the Australian economy.

Let's have a debate on the economy, for sure, but let's make sure we stick to the facts.

This morning it continued with a beat up in the tabloid press misrepresenting Australia’s modest debt.The fact is Australia’s net debt is dramatically lower than the net debt levels for every single major advanced economy.

Our current net debt is 10 per cent of GDP, compared to around 80 per cent for the USA and the UK, and around 35 per cent for Canada.

Labor made a choice to support local jobs during the GFC, a choice many countries around the world didn’t or couldn't make. They will be paying a very high price for many years.

Australia's debt is so low, it has the rolled gold triple-A rating. Interest rates are low and our economy is the envy of the industrialised world.Listening to the Liberal Party you’d think they hadn’t voted against the measures that kept Australia out of recession in the darkest moments of the GFC.

It's fair to say that if the Liberal Party had their way we’d have gone into recession, more Aussies would be out of work and we’d have higher debt.

Labor’s National Plan for School Improvement

“All children deserve the best education...This is not about who has more than the other. This is for ALL children no matter where you go to school...It's fair and it's right.”

The quote above is not from a politician. It’s from an ordinary person commenting on Facebook. The truth is, we all know that every child should have a great education, and we all know that every child should be taught by great teachers with great resources.
 

But at the moment, we live in a country where some kids go to schools that are less resourced than others, and some kids don't get the education they deserve. Yesterday’s announcement to properly resource all our classrooms, teachers and kids is a once in a generation chance to fix this.

We must succeed. And we need your help. You can do your bit to make sure Labor’s National Plan for School Improvement goes from plan to reality. You can help by signing this petition calling on State Premiers to sign up to the reforms.

Tell everyone you know that making every school a great school is the only option. Tell everyone you know that Tony Abbott’s plan to do nothing will mean generations of Australian children will fall behind. 
  
PS: Listen to the Prime Minister Julia Gillard explain this plan in her own words in this passionate (unedited) interview  with ABC Radio National's Fran Kelly this morning.  

Resisting the squatters' new agreement

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane July 7, 1894

THE EDITORIAL MILL.

Our Motto: “Socialism in our times.”

The letter of Mr. William Hampson in another portion of this journal is worth the perusal of all who desire to understand the true feeling and spirit of many of the men “out back” regarding the present dispute with the federated squatters. Mr. Hampson's letter has apparently been written by a man who has had considerable bush experience, and knows what he is talking about. It is an epistle which would do credit to men who make literature their profession, contains much sound wisdom undeteriorated by a passionate or revengeful spirit, and is particularly welcome at a stage when certain designing persons desire to reap a political advantage by proffering a fund of cheap sympathy to a large body of injured and insulted men whose existence, as Mr. Hampson puts it, at other times never occasions even a passing thought.

* * *

One thing is evident, and that is the majority of the bush workers are in favour of resisting the squatters' new agreement, and raising the rouseabouts' reduced wages to 30s. per week. The Queensland bush contains probably as large a percentage of good and true, level – headed unionists as are to be found in any part of the world – men who can reason intelligently and who think twice before arriving at conclusions; men who have been educated in the university of hard graft; men who know what it is to suffer, who have made mistakes and profited by them; men of the world, in the good sense of the term. And a majority of these men appear resolved to resist the cruel and tyrannical terms of a band of heartless business men who desire to conduct their stations on commercial principles, i.e. principles which embody no ethical considerations, and contain nothing to prevent the average pastoralist from reducing the wages of his employ'es to Chinese level.

* * *

Given a fair show the bushmen ought to win easily, for there can be no doubt there is not the number of unemployed in the province there was in 1890. The Courier, when urging the pastoralists to confer, admitted this, and Mr. Bell, M.L.A. (a pastoralist), lately gave it as his experience that he had not met so many men out of work as in past years. The main hope of the squatters is not so much the unemployed outside the unions, as the want of unanimity amongst the unionists. It is plain the pastoralists think the unionists will not hang together long enough to win the strike. They are well aware of the privations endured by the average bushman so eloquently described in Mr. Hampson's letter, and think the weak unionists and the blacklegs will break up the spirit of the rest. But they never made a bigger mistake. Weak unionists and blacklegs generally only give in when a large number of scabs are available. Where are the scabs to come from? Are they in Brisbane? Are they in Sydney, where now there are tens for the thousands of unemployed there in 1890-91? Are they in Melbourne? Or are they scattered throughout New Zealand, West Australia and the prospecting district of New South Wales? I firmly believe, and it is the belief of many sterling unionists, that if the bushmen preserve anything like unanimity the squatters can't fill their places. Some men will no doubt want to blackleg, but these men must be gently but firmly impressed with the necessity of refraining from cutting the ground from under the feet of their fellow men who can see further into the designs of the squatters than the weak ones. Every man is amenable to reason if the views of those who wish to convince him are vigorously and eloquently expressed. As a rule a blackleg is a moral as well as a physical coward, and usually deserts the field rather than bear the righteous indignation of men who pour out with warmth their surprise and wrath at the actions of a foolish knave who would assist a small band of Fat Men to compel thousands to work on their terms or starve.

* * *

Much has been written against strikes, but it is a great mistake to discard the old weapon of the strike until the “bright steel blade” of the ballot – box has been proved to be effective. Parliament will undoubtedly emancipate the wage – earners from the thraldom of Capitalism eventually. Until, however, we have a majority of Labour representatives in Parliament pledged to Socialistic legislation, the strike is our only weapon of defence. We have in Parliament 17 Labour members now, but they are powerless when opposed to the remaining 55 anti – Socialist representatives of the capitalistic system and an Upper Chamber composed of a number of irresponsible old gentleman who would rather “bring down their gray hairs in sorrow to the grave” than pass a measure likely to give real relief to wage – earners in the shape of a legal right to work at a minimum rate of wages. Until we get a majority of Labour delegates in the Lower House, and abolish the Upper Chamber, we must strike or accept employers' terms. There is nothing else for it. We may delude ourselves into thinking that if we accept lower rates now prosperity will soon return, and then we shall receive an increased rate of pay. But before prosperity can return the people must have higher wages, and they won't get a higher rate unless Parliament decrees it or they strike for it, or in other ways convince the employers they are entitled to them, the latter being a very difficult matter. It doesn't appear to me to be a hard task to demonstrate this.

The mass of the people (90 out of every 100) are wage earners, brain or hand workers who toil for wages; they are the consumers on whom the generality of business people must rely to purchase their goods. If the consumers have high wages, trade is good and prosperity general. If the consumers have low wages, trade is bad, and the only men who prosper are a small number of large capitalists who will avail themselves of the general wreck and the people's misfortunes to become wealthier still. Now the only real cause of depression should be famine or similar disaster. If the country suffers from drought or excessive rainfall destroying flocks and herds and food stuffs, then one might reasonably expect a depression in trade. But Queensland on the average has excellent seasons, and is the most fertile province of Australia. Gold, the medium of exchange, the means whereby we exchange a bullock for a suit of clothes without leading the animal round by the nose, is produced in large quantities. Sheep and cattle increase abundantly. Agricultural and horticultural products flourish in every way. And yet there is depression!

* * *

There is depression because a comparatively few men have possession of the land and capital of the country, and are engaged in a mad struggle for wealth. And the squatters comprise a section of these men. As remarked last week, there are a number of the squatters who may be in the hands of the banks and other financial institutions, but then at the worst, as a rule, the squatter who has sufficient credit to get into the hands of the banks is put on to mange his late station at a salary of £5 per week. He doesn't roam the country “bluey up,” as the workers are compelled to, in search of employment. Work is found for him, and it is doubtful whether; his deposition from squatter to manager costs him anything but a slight retrenchment in his luxurious living. The majority of the squatters are able to pay the rouseabouts 30s. per week, and the condition of the pastoral industry doesn't make it necessary that the Queensland United Pastoralists should force the unionists to sign a one sided agreement this year preparatory to a reduction in rates next year. As the Maranoa Advocate stated last week in an admirable article supporting the unionists: “ In Queensland in 1892 less than 300 pastoralists owned 19,000,000 of the 22,000,000 sheep in the colony.” Are those men not able to pay a fair wage for a fair day's work – men who own an average of over 60,000 sheep a piece?

* * *

Unionists, the WORKER hopes you will stand by one another. Public opinion is not in favour of a strike, but what is public opinion, anyhow? By whom is it manufactured in Queensland? By Mr. F. W. Ward, editor of the COURIER and Mr. Woolnough, editor of the TELEGRAPH, after conversation with a few of the less ignorant squatters and business men in the city of Brisbane. Public opinion won't help you any. The public who would – the real public, the people – can't help you. They have no money. You must rely on yourselves. You must fight your own battle this time, as you have had to fight them before. And where the large majority of shearers and rouseabouts in the bush are unionists, if you decide to make a determined stand, all the scabs in Australia wouldn't think of taking your places. Above all keep cool, and remember '91.                                                               

W.G.H.

Further Jobs And Frontline Services Slashed By Newman Government In Townsville

Media Release.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says a further 33 jobs in North and North West Queensland have been axed by the Newman Government, this time in Queensland Rail and WorkCover.

“Despite the Premier’s promise in December of ‘no more job cuts’, these 33 positions — 28 in QR and five in WorkCover — are disappearing. These job cuts are yet another broken promise by the LNP government which has spent its first year in office sacking people and cutting frontline services,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Newman Government must guarantee that the axing of 28 Queensland Rail staff in North and North West Queensland, including rail safety inspectors, would not jeopardise safety.

“The latest 28 axed positions come on top of 11 positions slashed in the rail safety division last year,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said on Sunday the number of rail safety investigation staff had remained unchanged over the past two years. Yet his own answer to an Opposition question on notice reveals 28 Queensland Rail jobs were axed in North Queensland last year.

“In light of these discrepancies, it is time for Mr Emerson to be crystal clear about the current safety capability of Queensland Rail,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said another five jobs have been axed in Townsville, with the announcement that the Newman Government will close WorkCover’s Townsville office.

“The latest cuts to jobs and frontline services at WorkCover in Townsville follows a year of sustained attacks by the Newman Government on Townsville’s frontline services and jobs,” she said.

Thanks to the Newman Government unemployment in the ABS’s Northern-North West Region was 7.2% in February, up from 6.7% in February last year.

This means since the Newman Government was elected a year ago, 1,500 more people are unemployed in the region.

“As usual, the Member for Townsville John Hathaway, Member for Thuringowa Sam Cox and Member for Mundingburra David Crisafulli are silent and nowhere to be seen on Townsville’s rising unemployment rate and continued axing of local jobs by their own government,” she said.

“A year on from the election, it’s time these cowardly LNP members started taking responsibility for their decisions and the ramifications for regional Queensland.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the closure and sacking of staff at WorkCover Townsville was another example of the Newman Government abandoning regional Queensland and centralising services in Brisbane.

The Premier claims he wants to promote job opportunities in regional Queensland, yet he continues to announce the closing of offices and axing of jobs in regional centres across the state.

WorkCover offices in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton are all being closed, slashing 17 jobs.

The Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has attempted to wash his hands of this decision saying the closure was a decision by WorkCover, however the WorkCover organisation chart clearly shows he is the Minister responsible for this organisation and the decision lies with him.

Ms Palaszczuk said the sackings will only make unemployment in Townsville worse and follows a year of sackings and the axing of frontline services by the Newman Government.

Townsville jobs and frontline services slashed by the Newman Government include:

• 130 health jobs cuts, including 45 nurses, 23 health practitioners and 10 health workers
•  $21 million slashed from the Townsville Hospital and Health Service area
•  Axing of 28 Queensland Rail jobs in North and North West Qld
•  Local jobs losses at Ergon, Energex and RoadTek
•  Four QBuild jobs axed
• Closure of Townsville Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Service
• Slashing of North Queensland TAFE campuses from 26 to 15
• Closure of the Oonoonba biosecurity laboratory and scrapping of the Labor Government’s proposed new biosecurity laboratory at James Cook University

Ms Palaszczuk said as unemployment in Townsville continues to rise under the Newman Government it is time the three local LNP MPs stood up for their local community and demanded the onslaught of cuts to jobs and frontlines services in Townsville stopped.