Opposition
Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Transport
Minister Scott Emerson need to reveal how much taxpayers may be out of
pocket to buy back a former government office block as part of the
Newman Government’s poorly planned and unfunded bus and train tunnel.
“The Opposition has been advised the Newman Government must now buy back the 63 George Street building it offloaded cheaply just last year as part of the asset sales it has already undertaken without voter approval,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I want Treasurer Nicholls and Mr Emerson to tell taxpayers what the deal is with 63 George Street; if the government is buying it back; what are the conditions of the deal; and how much will taxpayers be out of pocket.”
Ms Palaszczuk said in April 2013 Tim Nicholls announced the sale of seven government office blocks including 63 George Street as part of changes the Newman Government made to departmental accommodation after sacking government workers.
“It also sold off the seven office blocks to justify its indulgent new Executive Building for the Premier and Ministers,” she said.
“An Auditor-General’s report late last year showed Tim Nicholls sold the seven office blocks at $237 million less than their total book value. (Report No.11 for 2013-14 page 76)
“According to the Auditor-General, the rent for 1 William Street and the rent for the seven buildings sold to justify it are not a saving to taxpayers but ‘a risk to the operating sustainability’ of the state’s finances.
“In November 2013 the LNP Government announced it would build its own $5 billion bus and train tunnel from Dutton Park to Herston with a new CBD underground station beneath the current 63 George Street.
“The $5 billion tunnel is still unfunded and its size and scope keeps changing and now we find taxpayers may be hit hard by the LNP’s poor planning.
“I want to know on behalf of taxpayers how much this bungle by Tim Nicholls is costing.
“How can any Treasurer in a government that promised better planning of projects support an unfunded $5 billion tunnel then make taxpayers buy back a building he has already sold at less than its value?
“This deal highlights the arrogant and self-indulgent attitude of the Newman LNP Government.
“Mr Nicholls clearly doesn’t care that he inflicted a $237 million loss on taxpayers by selling off seven buildings they once owned but will now need to rent at what the Auditor-General says will be $1.2 billion over 10-15 years.
“He also clearly doesn’t care that taxpayers must now foot the bill for his own government’s slipshod planning by buying back the same building,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“The Opposition has been advised the Newman Government must now buy back the 63 George Street building it offloaded cheaply just last year as part of the asset sales it has already undertaken without voter approval,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I want Treasurer Nicholls and Mr Emerson to tell taxpayers what the deal is with 63 George Street; if the government is buying it back; what are the conditions of the deal; and how much will taxpayers be out of pocket.”
Ms Palaszczuk said in April 2013 Tim Nicholls announced the sale of seven government office blocks including 63 George Street as part of changes the Newman Government made to departmental accommodation after sacking government workers.
“It also sold off the seven office blocks to justify its indulgent new Executive Building for the Premier and Ministers,” she said.
“An Auditor-General’s report late last year showed Tim Nicholls sold the seven office blocks at $237 million less than their total book value. (Report No.11 for 2013-14 page 76)
“According to the Auditor-General, the rent for 1 William Street and the rent for the seven buildings sold to justify it are not a saving to taxpayers but ‘a risk to the operating sustainability’ of the state’s finances.
“In November 2013 the LNP Government announced it would build its own $5 billion bus and train tunnel from Dutton Park to Herston with a new CBD underground station beneath the current 63 George Street.
“The $5 billion tunnel is still unfunded and its size and scope keeps changing and now we find taxpayers may be hit hard by the LNP’s poor planning.
“I want to know on behalf of taxpayers how much this bungle by Tim Nicholls is costing.
“How can any Treasurer in a government that promised better planning of projects support an unfunded $5 billion tunnel then make taxpayers buy back a building he has already sold at less than its value?
“This deal highlights the arrogant and self-indulgent attitude of the Newman LNP Government.
“Mr Nicholls clearly doesn’t care that he inflicted a $237 million loss on taxpayers by selling off seven buildings they once owned but will now need to rent at what the Auditor-General says will be $1.2 billion over 10-15 years.
“He also clearly doesn’t care that taxpayers must now foot the bill for his own government’s slipshod planning by buying back the same building,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
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