Please click below to read some of my speeches in the Queensland Parliament.
Please click below to read some of my speeches in the Queensland Parliament.
I rise this evening to speak to report No. 16 of the Education, Tourism, Innovation and Small Business Committee on the estimates hearing conducted on Tuesday, 26 July 2016. First I thank ministers Jones and Enoch for the depth of their responses and the breadth of knowledge of their portfolios in providing fulsome answers to all questions.
Today is the day that the people of Queensland will remember that the opposition members of this House do not support teachers or schools across this state. They do not support the tourism industry or science and innovation in this state. What is worse, they do not support the mum-and-dad small businesses that are the backbone of this state. The opposition members of the Education, Tourism, Innovation and Small Business Committee could not support the recommendation that the proposed expenditure as detailed in the Appropriation Bill 2016 for the committee’s areas of responsibility be agreed to.
It is believed that this is the very first time an opposition has not supported the expenditure contained in an Appropriation Bill—the first time ever. What does this say about the opposition? It says that the opposition do not want to pay our teachers. They do not want to support the age-old saying of a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. They do not stop there. They do not want to pay the teacher aides, the business services managers, the admin assistants, the facilities managers and the hardworking cleaners who start their day at 5 am.
What about their favourite pet project, the school maintenance program, worth $300 million over three years? With this opposition, that program is out the window as well. We heard under the former Newman government that school maintenance issues would be fixed and fixed quickly. Under the Nicholls leadership and their decision to not recommend the expenditure there will be no painting program and no new carpets—not even the money to replace the school toilet seats. I wonder how the members for Broadwater, Buderim and Albert will be received in their schools when their communities find out that they did not support the expenditure for Education in this state. I am sure there will be no scones and cream or hot cups of tea for morning tea on those visits. More likely it will be the cold shoulder. What about the new school for Burdell in the electorate of Hinchinbrook? The committee members have let down the member for Hinchinbrook. There will be no new school in his electorate because the opposition members could not recommend the expenditure in the Education portfolio.
What else does this decision to not recommend the expenditure for Education look like? The $57.6 million as part of the $147.3 million total funding over five years to begin construction of three new primary schools in Caloundra, Coomera and Yarrabilba in Logan—gone. The members for Kawana and Coomera would not be happy with that decision, I am sure, considering the amount of growth in their electorates. The $19.3 million as part of $22.5 million to finish the construction of a new special school in Cairns—gone. I know that the member for Cairns has fought hard to get that funding. He would not be happy, either. The government initiative on early years education by delivering greater access to kindergarten in the remote communities of Aramac, Augathella, Bedourie, Birdsville, Boulia, Dingo, Greenvale, Muttaburra, Pentland, Thargomindah and Valkyrie—
Mr Molhoek: Have you been to any of those places?
Mr STEWART: Many—through the remote kindergarten pilot in state schools—gone. The members of the Katter party will be seething when they hear that one. The allocation of 290 additional teachers to Queensland schools to reduce class sizes and provide further support to teachers and principals, and the provision of an additional 15 guidance officers or equivalent to state high schools to improve counselling and career advice services to students—gone. These are dark days indeed from the members of the opposition.
Finally, on a more positive note, I wish to thank the research staff of the ETISB Committee—namely, Sue Cawcutt and Maureen Coorey—for their professionalism, hard work and support. I also wish to thank the government and non-government members of the committee for their participation and acknowledge all of the shadow ministers who attended the estimates hearing.