Report finds Costello audit ‘intellectually dishonest’

A report commissioned by the Queensland Council of Unions:

 

The Costello audit into Queensland’s finances is “intellectually dishonest” and fails to observe basic accounting standards, according to an independent report released today.
The Queensland Council of Unions, which represents unions that cover more than 370,000 workers, commissioned the report after the release of the “Costello Audit of Commission” in June 2012 led to thousands of job cuts.
The independent “Review of the Costello Report” launched today was written by former Professor of Accounting at the University of Sydney, Bob Walker, and respected economist Dr Betty Con Walker.
The Newman Liberal National Party government had used the Costello document as justification for “damaging the careers and quality of life of the families of the many public servants who face retrenchment”, the report said.
In a detailed 113-page publication, the authors said the Costello document failed to comply with basic accounting standards in analysing the state’s finances.
It also failed to properly analyse Queensland’s assets against liabilities, and used its own figures rather than relying on official Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
Costello also chose to largely ignore the impact of natural disasters on Queensland’s deficit, instead blaming excessive employment in the public sector.
The Walker report also finds fault with Costello’s explanation of the cause  of Queensland’s public sector employment growth, labelling his findings “alarmist” and “simplistic”.
LNP claims that the former government had to borrow to “support the budget” is also flatly contradicted by cash flow statements which Costello ignored, the report says.
QCU President John Battams said the authors had many years of experience in accounting practice and economic research.

Download the QCU’s summary of the Walker Report findings.

“This report exposes the attempt of Peter Costello and Campbell Newman to hoodwink the Queensland public on the state of Queensland’s finances.
“Their much-repeated ‘$100 billion debt’ claim is shown to be an invention, and based on little more than drawing lines on a graph.
“It shows that their document is hardly worthy of the term ‘audit’ and disproves any link between Queensland’s debt and the number of public servants,” Mr Battams said.
He expected the Walker report findings to further concern Queensland communities who were already reeling from LNP job cuts in health and community services.
“We will ensure that all Members of Parliament receive a copy of the report so they can better identify the mistruths and inaccuracies rolled out by Costello and Newman,” he said.

Newman and Springborg rip the heart out of the Queensland health system

A media release from the Shadow Queensland Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller:

Newman and Springborg rip the heart out of the health system

The LNP Government has today etched its name in history as the government that ripped the heart out of the Queensland health system, slashing more than 2700 jobs and axing services in a bid to cripple the system state-wide.

Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller said today’s disgraceful and merciless axing of health jobs and services told the real story of a Premier and his Health Minister who had no intention of keeping their promise not to slash frontline services, including nurses and doctors and other critical health workers.

“The Premier and his Health Minister have today ripped the heart out of frontline health services across Queensland,” Mrs Miller said.

“You don’t sack more than 2700 people – including more than 1500 from hospitals and health services - without sacking frontline staff including nurses and doctors.

“That’s a simple fact.

“What Mr Springborg has failed to acknowledge today is that these 2750 staff are on top of the 3000 fixed term appointments and casual positions that were terminated in June this year.

“Hundreds of other jobs were also lost in the community sector when the government closed grant funded projects and programs in organisations like Family Planning Queensland .

“So that’s almost 6000 health workers on the unemployment queue in this wholesale axe through the heart of our state’s health system.

“This LNP Government has now declared war on the people of Queensland through this wholesale axing of the health system.

“Queenslanders should now be under no illusions and make no mistake – this Premier is the frontline Commander in Chief of a heartless government that has declared war on the ordinary people of Queensland in every suburb, every town and city across the State.

“What the LNP has effectively done is create a two-tier health system where those who can afford it get the best health options, but where the majority of Queenslanders who rely on the public health system are left to fend for themselves.

“It’s about the "haves" getting the best care and the "have nots" forced into hospital and doctor shopping to get medical care.

“It’s about creating a system where the most disadvantaged get turned away from help, where church organisations, where welfare organisations look after the people.

“That is the real LNP way.

“And it is what they refused to show us prior to the election. The real Newman, the real LNP has now been revealed in all its ugliness.”

Mrs Miller said the LNP Government had failed Queenslanders by refusing to provide a world class health service and failed to value our doctors, nurses and all allied professionals including administrative staff.

“In stark contrast the former Labor Government ploughed hundreds of millions into the health system in every Queensland region, in every Queensland city rather than rip its heart out.

“It was our government that put $128 million into the Ipswich Hospital emergency department redevelopment.

“It was Labor that funded the $94 million Townsville Hospital redevelopment over the past year and increased nurse numbers in that region by 74 per cent.

“It was our government that built the $1.76 billion, 750 bed Gold Coast University Hospital which will open in December.

“It was Labor that undertook a $244 million redevelopment of the Rockhampton hospital and increased nurse numbers by 54 per cent in that city.

“Now this short-sighted, cruel LNP Government has taken us all a giant step backward ­and all Queenslanders will remember this day of the axe as one of national shame.”

DECLARING THE STRIKE OFF

*THE WORKER* 
Brisbane, June 13, 1891

Recommendation of Strike Committee Approved by General Executive.

At the time of going to press (Thursday morning, June 11) it has just been decided by the Strike Committee at Barcaldine, with the approval of the General Executive, A.L.F., that the following telegram should be sent to the various unions camps:-

Not enough funds to carry on strike. Shall committee declare strike off, relying on men to maintain union without union officially conceding freedom of contract?

This recommendation has been forced from the Strike Committee by the impossibility of making both ends meet even with the closest economy. The men are still as solid as rocks and prepared as a body to make any sacrifice and endure any suffering for unionism, and the Committee would certainly not hesitate to ask them to endure if by their endurance victory would be assured. But though it is still a moral that the squatters must yield at general shearing if the unions could hang out solidly till then, for with all their free labourers the squatters have been getting very few competent shearers, yet it is natural that very many fairly good unionists should weaken in front of exceptional hardships.

Already, the men in camp have borne a great deal and their fidelity in the face of all that has happened rains, floods, military, police, squatter magistracy, resurrected George IV. Laws, and Governmental tyranny, has been marvellous,

Chairman Ryan, writing last week to the General Executive, states that not 100 unionists had blacklegged throughout the whole bush. To prevent the dissensions which further strain might likely cause and which would not only certainly destroy all prospects of success, but weaken unionism permanently, is evidently the duty of the Strike Committee. And that it will be wisest for the bushmen to accept the recommendation anybody who knows the weak as well as the strong points of human nature must see.

As matters stand it is of course impossible to say much on the position one way or the other. But whatever happens the bushmen may be relied upon to be as loyal to their unions in time of adversity as they have been in the hey-day of success. Nor will they forget the assistance rendered by the South; nor their comrades whose release from prison must be agitated for unceasingly until it is secured. 

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(But this was not the end of the story, it was just the beginning, out of the Shearers Strike the Unions realised the only way they could get better working conditions and wages was at the ballot box. So under the "Tree of Knowledge" in 1891 at Barcaldine a political party was formed by the Members of the Unions which eventually would become the Australian Labor Party and it has been going ever since.)

  

Premier Caught Out Yet Again

A media release from Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk:

Premier Caught Out Yet Again

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says internal government documents provide further proof of the Premier’s inability to be open and upfront with Queenslanders.

“After breaking his word on job security and frontline services we now find the Premier's pet project to sell off public assets in the Brisbane CBD just to give himself a new Executive Building will come at a cost to taxpayers despite his previous claims,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Queensland Treasury Corporation advice contradicting the Premier's public statements reveals the LNP’s twisted priorities and a determination to look after their own comfort at any price as long as taxpayers foot the bill.

“The Premier needs to detail any impacts his pet project will have on the state’s finances.

“The Treasurer has not disowned the QTC advice but has instead tried to argue it is outdated just because responsibility for the Premier's pet project has shifted from one Minister to another.

“That swap of responsibility doesn't alter the advice which directly contradicts what the Premier has been saying about his new Executive Building supposedly coming at no cost to taxpayers.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the QTC advice also showed the Premier’s plans for his new Executive Building were based on slashing 20% of all government jobs in the CBD.

“Now we know why the Premier is so keen to sack people. Unless he gets rid of his own employees, he may not get his new Executive Building,” she said.

“People in regional Queensland will be especially upset to see their frontline jobs and services going while the Premier rewards himself with a new office in the Brisbane CBD.

“It shows yet again that the Brisbane- centric LNP government has turned its back on our regions.

“Lets’ not forget that the LNP’s Project X was rejected outright by the former government in favour of directing infrastructure spending to our regions.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the list of public assets to the sold by the LNP to fund the Premier’s new office included several heritage properties such as The Mansions and Harris Terrace, home to a number of not-for-profit organisations.

“What is the future for these historic buildings? What guarantees about their future can the Premier give, and even if he does, what faith can anyone put in his word?”

FOUR YEARS FOR AGITATING

*THE WORKER* 
Brisbane, May 30, 1891

The Government's Coercion Pill That Doesn't Seem to Work.

The conclusion of the “conspiracy” cases at Rockhampton on Wednesday week last was a bit of a surprise, as after the jury had hung for 36 hours it was reasonable to expect that it seriously disagreed. However, Harding's humour seems to have been too much for the gentlemen of the jury, and finally they said that twelve of the fourteen were “Guilty” with a unanimous recommendation to mercy. This recommendation was attended to by the gentle judge as might have been expected: he gave the prisoners four years a piece, three years hard labour and to find sureties for good behaviour for another. The names of those convicted of “conspiracy” are:-

W.J. Bennett, Chairman Strike Committee

W. Fothergill, Secretary Strike Committee

A.J. Brown, Member Strike Committee

Hugh O. Blackwell, Secretary Q.L.U.

E.H. Murphy, Secretary Roma Branch Q.L.U.

George Taylor, Organiser C.D.C.

Alex. Forrester, Organiser C.D.C.

W. Hamilton, Delegate Strike Committee

W.H. Smith-Barry, Delegate Strike Committee

F. Griffin, Chairman Clermont Camp

A.S. Stuart, Member C.D.C.

Robert Prince

It will be seen that with hardly an exception this list is a thoroughly representative one. It is, in fact, only one proof that the authorities are working hand in hand with the squatters to break the strike by weeding out the leaders, who could only be got at by forgotten statutes of George IV. The following two were acquitted:-

Thos. J. Ryan, Member Strike Committee

Isaac Fry

Ryan returned at once to Barcaldine and on Tuesday resumed his seat on the Strike Committee. The twelve were taken to St. Helena on Tuesday last, strongly escorted, on the Government steamer Otter.

****

The Peak Downs “rioting” cases, so called, also came in for Harding's tender mercies. The sentences were:

Thomas Lowry, Daniel Murphy, and John T. Heathcote - three years each.

P.J. Dobbyn - two and a half years.

W. Dover – two years.

D.J. Bower – one and a half years.

All to find sureties for a further year's good behaviour. In addition to these Martin, for alluding disrespectfully to “old Mother Brown” and talking of the value of “shears” in getting find sureties for two years.

In addition to the above a large number of men have been sentenced by the squatter P.M.'s to various terms of imprisonment under various pretexts. Secretary Kewley, of the Q.S.U. has been committed for perjury they seized his papers just the same and there are men awaiting trial for alleged arson and intimidation in various places. It is useless to make any comment or do anything in the way of agitation for the release of Labour prisoners at present. So we may as well save our breath for a more auspicious time, which won't be very many months.

Reorganising the Bush Camps.

On Wednesday, May 20, the Barcaldine Strike Committee received reliable information that its arrest was intended by the authorities on the following day. Its sitting was therefore prolonged through the night with the result that the following was issued early next morning:-

FELLOW UNIONISTS:- The Central District Council Strike Committee having received information that it is to be arrested in order to facilitate the plans laid by the employers for the destruction of Unionism, leaves the following plans for the carrying on of the strike in the care of its successors, earnestly asking of all the bush unionists loyal consideration of regulations which circumstances prevent it putting into force itself, and further appealing to all our fellow unionists throughout Australia for sustained assistance in this common battle against aggressive capitalism.

Whatever may happen this Strike Committee urges upon all that the fight be continued unflinchingly, and demands of every individual man that there shall be no hesitation in stepping into the official positions which now lead honest workmen to goal. If unionism is not worth going to prison for it is not worth anything at all. The real strike struggle is only beginning, and if capitalism does not crush unionism before the general shearing begins, it knows that general shearing under “freedom of contract” cannot take place at all.

This being the situation this Strike Committee appeals to bush unionists to brave every difficulty and to endure all the oppression of unjust law, and to fight out to the end whatever happens.

Newman Axe Swings On Regional Hospitals And Jobs

Newman

During the state election Premier Newman said he was "the can do man" now I know what it really means at any cost get it done, "do what I want and don't care what people think or what happens to them" balance the books at any cost attitude! In my view a Government is suppose to perform a service for the people and run things like Hospitals, Schools etc. not tear it all down.

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A media release from Labor opposition Leader  Annastacia Palaszczuk:

4 SEPTEMBER 2012

Newman Axe Swings On Regional Hospitals And Jobs

The LNP Government has launched a full-scale attack on frontline regional health services starting in Townsville with the axing of 130 jobs in a move that is expected to be the tip of the iceberg.

Visiting Townsville today, Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Premier and his Health Minister had betrayed north Queenslanders in breaking a key promise not to slash frontline services.

“The Premier looked all Queenslanders in the eye, he told them their jobs were safe, he told them their frontline services were safe and now we are seeing the real deal,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“His promises were for nothing as we have seen over the past five months as this LNP Government embarks on a full-scale slash and burn exercise, the likes of which we have not seen in a generation.

“Now in the lead-up to this government’s first Budget, they casually announce that they will get rid of 45 nurses, 10 health workers and 23 health practitioners in addition to many others and hide behind their ill-advised and hastily established local health boards, claiming this is local decision.

“But make no mistake – this is part of a full-scale assault on frontline services which in all likelihood will now spread to every other region.

“The Premier and his Health Minister need to be upfront today – how many frontline workers do they intend to slash in Cairns, in Mackay, in Rockhampton?

“When will the axe fall in rural centres like Roma and Emerald and Dalby and Goondiwindi? How many more broken promises do they intend to add to their rapidly rising scrap heap?”

“Queenslanders have every right to be fearful and concerned that what we have witnessed in Townsville is just the beginning of an attack on all region’s health services frontline.”

Ms Palaszczuk said with jobs axed in Townsville and surrounding communities, northern Queenslanders could expect to face increased delays in health care services.

“When you cut vital jobs like nurses, you cut service – and that is the polar opposite of what the former Labor Government achieved in rural centres like Townsville.

“In July last year we opened the Townsville Hospital's new $94 million North Block as the first stage of a $437 million redevelopment, including a new 75 bay emergency department - the biggest ED in Queensland - and a new maternity unit and expanded intensive care unit.

“We were determined to expand and grow health services for a rapidly growing population.

“This LNP Government, in stark contrast, is determined to take a giant step backward.”

The Capitalistic Government trying its hardest to break down Unionism

*THE WORKER* 
Brisbane, April 4, 1891

The last fortnight has seen the climax of the capitalistic conspiracy against unionism. With 1500 or so police and military occupying a few places along the railway lines the Government has felt itself strong enough to invite lawlessness by the wholesale arrest of union officials upon evidently trumped-up “conspiracy” charges. Fortunately, private warning had been given of what might be expected and ample arrangements made for the prevention of all excitement among unionists, for peaceful submission to arrest and for the filling of all offices as officials were arrested.

The Barcaldine arrangements in particular were so perfect that half a dozen or half a hundred committees would have been forthcoming in due order had they been required. The preposterous “conspiracy” charges have thus utterly failed in their purpose and can have no effect but to emphasise the alliance existing between organised Capitalism and the Government. McIIwraith and Donaldson are both in the middle of the squatters' association and Griffith will sell himself to either of them if thereby he can hold office.

Among the Unionists Arrested.

Among the union officials arrested under this fictitious “conspiracy” charge are: Chairman Bennett, Secretary Fothergill, and Delegates Ryan and Murphy, of the Central District Strike Committee, Barcaldine; Secretary Blackwell, of the G.L.U. Barcaldine; Branch Secretary E.H. Murphy, of the G.L.U. Roma; Central District Organisers Taylor at Clermont; Forrester at Roma; Fanning at Charleville; Camp-chairman Griffin at Clermont; while H. Smithbarry, appointed by the C.D. Strike Committee to replace Taylor at Clermont was promptly arrested in pursuance of the evident attempt of the capitalistic Government to prevent unionism from having officers.

Secretary Chas Seymour, of the F.S.U.A., who with the consent of his union had been representing the General Executive, A.L.F., at Barcaldine, had just left the Central District on his return to Brisbane, when the arrests began. It was expected that he would be arrested on reaching Brisbane, Good Friday eve, but for some reason or other he was not molested. On Tuesday last Seymour started again for Barcaldine in response to a request to the General Executive from the Strike Committee; his arrest is hourly expected. Besides the above named some 30 others have been arrested, whose names will be published as soon as obtainable in order that unionists may know who are suffering for the Cause. It should go without saying that should any man who has anybody dependent upon him be arrested simply for his connection with unionism, such cases should be the special care of every union in the country.