A full record of Mark's Speeches are available at www.parliament.qld.gov.au
A full record of Mark's Speeches are available at www.parliament.qld.gov.au
I rise to support the Appropriation Bill 2017 and contribute to the debate on the Queensland state budget. First and foremost, I am the state member for Morayfield and my commitment to the community that I grew up in, that I live in and that I represent in this House is absolute. I am very pleased that this budget continues the proud tradition of Labor governments delivering for the Morayfield region. This budget is a jobs budget, it is a workers’ budget, it is a battlers’ budget and, most importantly, it is a budget that delivers for the people of the Morayfield state electorate.
After my strong advocacy and with the support of other local Labor members of parliament over many years, I am particularly excited that this budget commits funds to advance a major upgrade and redevelopment of the Caboolture Hospital. On top of that, the Caboolture Hospital’s emergency department will also receive an immediate expansion with $19.6 million allocated to provide 14 new treatment spaces, four new consultation rooms and a treatment room. The expansion will almost double the current emergency department’s capacity and is expected to be completed by the end of next year. It was Labor that built the Caboolture Hospital and it is Labor that is delivering the upgrade and redevelopment of the Caboolture Hospital.
This budget also allocates funding for local infrastructure projects that will generate jobs, as well as deliver positive outcomes for locals. The budget locks in funding for the $15 million upgrade of the Morayfield train station and the construction of the $22 million new Caboolture Police Station and watch house project. Construction on those projects will start in the next financial year. This budget also continues our commitment to improve infrastructure at local schools, with over $7 million being invested to construct and refurbish classrooms and teaching areas. The budget also delivers funding for our Queensland Housing Strategy, which will deliver more social and affordable housing in our region. This strategy has my full support, because it will genuinely make a big difference to the lives of the people of the Morayfield region. That is what Labor governments do: we look after the battlers and we look after working people.
As already mentioned, this budget makes jobs a priority and the Morayfield region will be a recipient of our government’s focus on jobs. I am excited to see that a dedicated regional action plan will help to boost investment and promote jobs in the Morayfield region, with the expansion of the Back to Work program into the Morayfield region. The Back to Work program will offer financial incentives for employers to hire a long-term unemployed or young unemployed jobseeker in our region. The Palaszczuk government’s economic plan is delivering jobs and will continue to deliver jobs for our community.
In relation to the portfolio areas that I represent as a minister in the Palaszczuk Labor government, I am pleased that this budget delivers for our police, our fire and emergency services personnel and volunteers, and our Queensland Corrective Services staff. The Palaszczuk government has always been and will always continue to be committed to doing everything we can to ensure the safety of Queenslanders. That is why our government has increased funding, resources and officer numbers for police, fire and emergency services and corrective services since we came to government. Let me be clear: we will do everything and anything in our power to ensure every corner of our state remains a safe place to live and visit. Mr Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to have the remainder of my speech incorporated in Hansard.
Police
We have always said if our Police Commissioner needs extra resources, we will provide them.
He asked and we have delivered.
This means we have also delivered more jobs for Queensland as new facilities are built or upgraded and more officers recruited.
Since March 2015, the Palaszczuk Government has put police back on the beat and increased the QPS to more than 11,800 officers.
That is an extra 332 police officers who have been recruited, trained and allocated to our regions and cities.
And that was just the beginning, Mr Speaker.
In the 2017-2018 Budget, the Palaszczuk Government has committed $32 million over 4 years for:
The jobs bonanza does not stop there with $46.7 million over 4 years for the world-class Westgate counter-terrorism precinct to be built at Wacol.
This state-of-the-art facility will generate more than 130 jobs during construction.
A detailed business case has been conducted and the QPS has completed planning and site preparation for the 140 hectare site which will ultimately include training, specialist and logistics hubs.
Another $66.5 million over 3 years will improve working conditions for officers as part of the Queensland Police Service Certified Agreement reached last year.
The Palaszczuk Government recognises the increasing complexity of policing with officers having to deal with counter-terrorism, serious organised crime, domestic and family violence, the prevalence of Ice and the security for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Mr Speaker, we have also allocated $8.5 million over 4 years for additional prosecutorial staff as part of the Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Courts; and $532,000 over 2 years to provide additional prosecutorial staff to support the Specialist High Risk Youth Court in Townsville.
There is $7.4 million in additional funding over 5 years to continue the highly successful Project Booyah early-intervention youth program in 9 locations; and $7.5 million over 4 years for policing activities associated with the transition of 17-year-olds to the Youth Justice System.
One of the most significant challenges facing governments and law enforcement agencies globally is the proliferation of the drug ICE which wrecks families and costs lives.
The Palaszczuk Government has released a comprehensive draft plan, Action on Ice, for community feedback.
As part of this multi-pronged attack on the supply and use of crystal methamphetamine and its evil aftermath an extra $4.1 million over 4 years will be spent to significantly expand the police roadside drug testing program.
The funding boost will enable our officers to undertake up to 12,500 extra roadside drug tests each year.
An additional $14.8 million over 4 years has also been allocated for the QPS to enhance road safety strategies including increased police enforcement.
Mr Speaker, I can inform the House the Queensland Police Union of Employees has welcomed this Budget and the funding of those specialist officers and the world-class Westgate Counter Terrorism precinct.
I’d like to thank Union President Ian Leavers for his strong advocacy on behalf of his members.
Mr Speaker, the Palaszczuk Government and the Queensland Police Service depend on hard evidence, verifiable facts and the intelligence gained by the highly skilled officers on the frontline to allocate funding and resources to where they are needed most.
This is in stark contrast to the LNP Opposition which, under the Nicholls/Newman regime sacked 106 police officers while the Opposition leader was Treasurer.
It is no secret we have had to do a lot of work untangling the mess left behind by the previous LNP Government, restoring police funding and resources slashed under its dogmatic cost cutting.
That included overturning the strange deskbound policing policy the Opposition leader supported in the Nicholls/Newman LNP Government to put officers back on the frontline.
The Palaszczuk Government is investing in keeping Queenslanders safe.
QFES
Mr Speaker, the horrifying fire in London this week was a harsh reminder, if we ever needed one, of the dangers our fire and emergency services officers face every day, be it from property or bush fires or cyclones and floods.
Nowhere in Australia is more at the mercy of natural disasters than Queensland which is why we have the best emergency services teams in the world and why the Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring their safety.
We will be supporting our brave fire and rescue firefighters and our rural fire service volunteers with more than $47 million this year to replace and purchase new vehicles for them.
This includes the $30.1 million over two years Accelerated Rural Fleet Program which will see 60 RFS vehicles replaced during 201718, and many more in the following financial year.
All up, more than $107 million has also been set aside for QFES facilities, vehicles and communications equipment throughout the state.
This includes $17.9 million for upgrades to auxiliary fire stations; and $5.8 million to complete the multi-service facility at Bundaberg and upgrade the Fire and Rescue station and communications centre in Rockhampton.
To increase the safety of firefighters and volunteers, we will also invest $3.7 million in operational equipment and protective clothing, including:
Queensland is growing and the operational response of our emergency services needs to grow with it.
QFES provides a vital frontline service to the Queensland community and it is important we show our support, allowing for our emergency services to continue their great work within their local communities.
Corrective Services
Mr Speaker, the Palaszczuk Government is delivering on its promise to implement 89 of the 91 recommendations from the Sofronoff Review into the parole system in Queensland.
The $265 million, 6-year reform program will start to ramp up in July 2017 to deliver the greatest changes in Queensland Corrective Services in a generation.
The new Parole Board Queensland, led by Mr Michael Byrne QC, is on track to commence operations in July, while QCS is completing significant work to realign its support for the new, professional, parole board.
In addition to the new professional parole board, QCS has commenced work on the reforms to deliver:
The Palaszczuk Government is also responding to the infrastructure demands at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.
We have allocated $27.4 million over 4 years, including $16 million capital over 2 years, and funding of $4.5 million per annum ongoing to expand capacity at the Centre.
We also have an ongoing program to deliver significant works to expand and increase safety and security at a number of other QCS facilities across the state.
This includes the $200 million capital investment for the expansion of the Capricornia Correctional Centre.
In 2017-18 we will achieve the completion of the $126.9 million Borallon Training and Correctional Centre recommissioning which includes a 244-cell upgrade program to deliver safer prisoner accommodation at the 492-cell facility.
We are also committed to ensuring our correctional centres are some of the safest and most secure in the Nation, with the $76.6 million perimeter security upgrade program.
Other measures include upgrades to closed circuit security cameras, perimeter detection and security management systems at Townsville Men’s, Arthur Gorrie, Woodford, Wolston, Maryborough and Capricornia Correctional Centres—as part of this 5-year program of work.
In addition to the enhancements of the parole system and QCS infrastructure, the Palaszczuk Government will spend $55.1 million over 4 years—including $20 million capital over 2 years—to continue its rollout of Specialist Domestic and Family and Violence Courts, with the model trialled in Southport expanded to Beenleigh and Townsville, with circuit courts to Mt Isa and Palm Island.
This forms part of the Government’s total package of $69.5 million over 4 years for the specialist courts in response to the Not Now, Not Ever report into domestic and family violence in Queensland.
Mr Speaker, this budget continues the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to building a safer, stronger Queensland and supports our police, our fire and emergency services personnel and volunteers, and our correctional services staff as they go about their great work of keeping Queenslanders safe.