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As the spotlight turns to how the state government plans to roll out future funding for services and projects across Queensland, Member for Burdekin Dale Last has called for a commitment of transparency as Budget Estimates approaches.
Mr Last said with allegations already swirling that one state government department had employed and since ceased separate media training ahead of Estimates proceedings, Queenslanders deserved assurances the parliamentary process of Budget Estimates would be held with the utmost integrity.
“The Budget Estimates process is about ensuring that revenue and taxpayer funds paid by Queenslanders funds state government projects efficiently and supports our front-line services according to the needs of the communities they serve,” Mr Last said.
“We know that in rural and regional Queensland we have to fight tooth and nail for every cent of funding we need to keep our roads, health services, schools and emergency services at a standard where they can effectively service their communities and that is why Budget Estimates is so important to me.”
“When we look at the Burdekin we already know we have seen our full-time firefighters on call 24/7 due to a reduction in the number of auxiliary firefighters and we as a community have called for additional plain clothes police officers and a CT scanner at our local hospital to reduce pressure on our local ambulance services.”
“These are the sorts of issues that ministers and their director generals need to answer for during Budget Estimates because when it comes to our front-line services in particular, quite often the price paid is someone’s life.”
Mr Last said the looming state election in October was all the more reason for ministers to be transparent during Estimates hearings.
“People in rural and regional Queensland deserve to know that they aren’t going to go without a full-time doctor at their hospital or that their front-line services aren’t being left understaffed and fatigued because this state government are more focused on sandbagging their jobs ahead of the state election.”
“If this state government is focused on keeping people safe, it will ensure that every one of its Ministers answers Estimates questions to the best of their ability.”
Opinion Piece By Member For Burdekin Dale Last.
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