Extract from ABC News
Updated
Independent and minor party MPs in Queensland hope to use the balance of power next year to prevent the lease of assets.
Independents
Liz Cunningham, Peter Wellington, former Palmer United Party MPs Alex
Douglas and Carl Judge as well as the three Katter Australian Party MPs
Ray Hopper, Rob Katter and Shane Knuth have signed an accord vowing to
block the Liberal National Party's (LNP) plan to lease ports and power
assets.Earlier this month, the LNP Cabinet and party room unanimously endorsed Treasurer Tim Nicholls' multi-billion-dollar plan to lease some government-owned ports and power assets.
Mr Nicholls said his final budget plan was expected to yield $37 billion and create 25,000 jobs.
The Government will take its plan to the next state election.
Today's agreement relies on the crossbench MPs holding their seats, and will only be significant if they hold the balance of power.
We want to give a message to the people of Queensland that there is hope to stop the sale of assets and stop this leasing and privatisation.Rob Katter, Mount Isa MP
Mr Katter, the MP for Mt Isa, said that was a possibility.
"We all feel strongly enough on this issue that whoever takes government in the next parliament needs to know that we're a force here making a stand," he said.
"We want to give a message to the people of Queensland that there is hope to stop the sale of assets and stop this leasing and privatisation.
"We're very like-minded in particular on these critical issues, so it's important that people in Queensland know this is not a fait accompli."
Accord MPs have no alternative plan: Tim Nicholls
Mr Nicholls told Parliament the crossbench MPs would hurt Queenslanders by opposing the LNP's privatisation plan.He said that the group would be cutting the bush off from vital spending on roads and infrastructure.
How will these members defend the position that will constrain economic growth and keep jobs away from their electorates?Treasurer Tim Nicholls
Mr Nicholls said Mr Katter had no alternative plan to bring down the state's debt.
"The Member for Mount Isa's plan, as he told ABC 612 Brisbane, is the bottom line will sort itself out," he said.
"How will the Member for Mount Isa explain to a family of two adults and two children in his electorate that he wants to cost them $860 by voting against electricity price relief," he said.
"How will these members defend the position that will constrain economic growth and keep jobs away from their electorates?"
However, Ms Cunningham, the independent MP for Gladstone, said road funding in regional Queensland would not be at risk if the LNP did not go ahead with its privatisation plans.
"I think that that argument that; if you don't sell it, you won't get the billion dollars worth of infrastructure, it's like saying to a kid, if you eat your carrots, I'll give you a lolly," she said.
"We don't need that, we need maturity."
When asked during Question Time to justify the advertising used to promote his privatisation plan, Premier Campbell Newman said advertising guidelines were being followed.
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