Some more updates from today.
Queensland election 2017: Rolling coverage of the campaignNicholls pledges $1m to pipeline fund
Trenton Akers, Matthew Killoran and AAP, The Courier-Mail
November 4, 2017 5:50pm
THE LNP has continued their pitch to rural Queensland, promising money towards a water pipeline in the Lockyer Valley.
Leader Tim Nicholls said an elected LNP government would contribute $1 million towards an application for the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund that would see a pipeline built between three dams in the Lockyer and connect them to Wivenhoe Dam.
The concept would involve any flood excess from Wivenhoe flowing into the other three water sources.
“It’s come to the stage now where the state needs to kick in,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Because we are the LNP, a party that wants to secure water infrastructure and represent the agriculture sector like no other party can and can actually achieve things like no other party can we will put a million dollars into the funding for an investigation into securing the water supply for both the Lockyer and the Somerset.”
PREMIER SNIFFS AT NICHOLLS SMEAR CAMPAIGN DENIAL
QUEENSLAND premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she does not believe the opposition leader was oblivious to a smear campaign over her partner’s work on Adani.
In an election bombshell, Ms Palaszczuk on Friday pledged to veto a $1 billion federal loan for the controversial Carmichael coal mine, saying her government would play no future role in its assessment.
It comes after the premier tried to head off an alleged smear campaign by Liberal senators in Canberra over her partner Shaun Drabsch’s work. Mr Drabsch, in his capacity as infrastructure advisory director for PWC, worked on Adani’s application for the loan under the Commonwealth’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund (NAIF).
Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls on Saturday said he was surprised as anyone by the reports on Mr Drabsch but had “no knowledge” of a smear campaign. But Ms Palaszczuk is not convinced Mr Nicholls did not know. “Well he would say that wouldn’t he?” she told reporters.
Queensland LNP leader Tim Nicholls, along with candidates from Gold Coast during a press conference at Broadwater Parklands in Gold Coast. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese
Mr Nicholls said he would allow the loan to Adani to go through if it was independently assessed by the NAIF.
“An LNP government that I lead would never stand in the way of funds being invested in job creating projects in Queensland, no matter what type of project that would be,” Mr Nicholls said.
“I think this is very much an excuse because of the internal factional brawling in the Labor party about the Carmichael mine project to step away from it in the heat of an election campaign.”
Ms Palaszczuk has now made it an election commitment that her government will veto the loan if re-elected.
Federal Labor Leader Bill Shorten said politician’s families should be “off limits” during election campaigns.
“In terms of Adani, it is a Queensland government decision but federal Labor will not support money going to Adani, full stop,” Mr Shorten said.
The conflict of interest scandal is an unwelcome distraction for the premier three weeks out from the November 25 election.
However, the latest Galaxy poll has been just as unhelpful to Mr Nicholls, with support for the LNP dropping to a five-year low as One Nation gains traction.
PALASZCZUK DERIDES LNP M1 DUPLICATION PLAN
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk said her opponent’s
announcement on the M1 was a “smidgeon” of the $2 billion project.
“He’s making up some of the facts, he doesn’t have the business case, he doesn’t know the full cost,” she said.
“We know it is over $2 billion worth and the money he said that he has... I’m yet to see how his small commitment can actually fulfil what he has announced.
“When he was the Treasurer of this state he did not spend one single dollar on the M1.”
Queensland LNP leader Tim Nicholls speaks with Gold Coast candidates during a layover at Exit 45 in Ormeau. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese
LAND-CLEARING LAWS TO BE REINTRODUCED UNDER LABOR
CONTROVERSIAL land-clearing laws will be reintroduced to Parliament and farmers paid to plant trees, under a plan announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this morning.
While she has previously committed to bringing back the clearing laws, which were blocked last year, she announced a $500 million “green bond” scheme.
Under the Land Restoration Fund, the government will issue bonds through Queensland Treasury Corporation for farmers to plant trees which could be sold as carbon credits to big business seeking to meet Paris Agreement climate targets.
Ms Palaszczuk said it lower emissions, and create new industry.
“We will offer green bonds through QTC that will see extra development happening in this state and the protection of key areas,” she said.
Land clearing in Strathmore, Queensland. Picture: The Wilderness Society
“This is about getting conservation right but also backing the best standards that farmers implement from day to day.
“Companies and super funds are looking to invest in these bonds.”
The government will supply $30 million as seed funding for the program while the remaining money will be raised through QTC.
Ms Palaszczuk said green bonds had been used by the government previously to raise funds for the Sunshine Coast solar farm and stage two of the Gold Coast light rail.
Environment Minister Steven Miles said the bonds could be lucrative if used correctly.
“If we get these policies right it could be worth $8 billion to Queensland by 2030 as those companies that can’t reduce their emissions to the Paris treaty target seek to purchase offsets,” he said.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the land clearing laws had to be brought back because trees were being cut down at “unacceptable and unbelievable” rates.
“We now are clearing some 1000 football fields a day right throughout Queensland,” she said.
“That level of tree clearing is absolutely unsustainable.”
The Opposition has accused the tree clearing laws of “treating farmers like criminals” and hurting the agriculture sector with unnecessary restrictions.
PREMIER CAN’T RULE OUT FURTHER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk could not give conclusive assurances that her partner was not involved in further conflicts of interest, saying his work was commercial-in-confidence.
The Premier was dogged by questions on Adani as she took the campaign to a koala sanctuary at Daisy Hill.
GALAXY POLL: One Nation firming as kingmaker in Queensland
Her campaign was rocked yesterday when she announced she would veto a proposed Federal Government loan to help build Adani’s rail line, because her partner Shaun Drabsch had worked on the proposal in his role with firm PWC.
This morning Ms Palaszczuk could not say if further conflicts with other projects may exist.
“The matters he works at in PWC are commercial-in-confidence. Just like a person may work at a law firm and there’s legal professional privilege,” she said.
“What we know is there has been a breach of that commercial-in-confidence from PWC to the (Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility) and the Federal Government.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been dogged by questions since her Adani backflip. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England
“You have to look at the letter from the partners of PWC that said they will ensure that there’s no conflict of interest.”
Asked if she could give Queenslanders assurances there were no further conflicts, given one existed with Adani, she replied that was because there had been a breach of commercial-in-confidence.
“(The LNP) sought to smear me and my family and my partner,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said she had “zero” contact with Adani since she made the announcement.
She said she still supported the project proceeding, but it needed to do so without further help from the government.
“Of course we want to see the jobs, but it must stand up independently financially,” she said.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, making a rare appearance with the Premier on the campaign trail, said she applauded Ms Palaszczuk’s “integrity and courage” in taking the action she did.
“I support this project and the jobs that it will create,” she said.
Qld LNP to target One Nation voters
NICHOLLS RESPONDS TO DIRE POLL RESULT
OPPOSITION leader Tim Nicholls has brushed aside concerns over a drop in LNP popularity saying he doesn’t take any notice of polls.
Speaking on the Gold Coast where he announced $250 million in funding for a second M1 highway in conjunction with the Federal Government, Mr Nicholls refused to buy in to any talk of preference deals with One Nation to help him win Government.
Queensland LNP leader Tim Nicholls with Gold Coast candidates during a layover at Exit 45 in Ormeau where he is set to announce $250 million towards building a second M1 to bust the Pacific Motorway gridlock. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese
“Polls come and go, you know I don’t comment on polls. The most important poll is the poll that will be held in three weeks time,” he said.
When asked if the drop in popularity, as revealed in The Courier-Mail today would effect seat by seat preference deals with One Nation, Mr Nicholls said it wouldn’t.
“We will make that decision when we know who all the candidate are across all of the seats so no change from the previously stated position,” he said.
When promising the $250 million for the new M1, Mr Nicholls could only say he was “confident” the Federal Government would match his funding.
“I have spoken to the Prime Minister about this project... They are very supportive of the projects,” he said.
Nicholls promises Sunshine Coast rail
It follows allegations from the Labor Party that Mr Nicholls had “cooked the figures” on the costing for the project saying the real cost would run into the billions.
Mr Nicholls however said it had been conservatively priced at $14 million per kilometre compared to the going rate of $13 million.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...n/news-story/75b4fa154f785c57fe2f2bb10cdcfc80
