Address to the Inaugural LNP Convention

19 July 2009

Fellow members of the LNP,
Twelve months ago we were here together under very different circumstances, but with a common goal to make Queensland a better place to live and raise our families.

Just look at how far we’ve come.

It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm and energy – and sheer weight of numbers of members here this weekend – contributing to policy debates and supporting the party.

And it’s absolute fantastic isn’t it that we need 34 seats in this convention room for all of our State MPs!
We are all here today because we believe in something.

We believe that Queensland is the best place in the world to live and we want to make it even better.

We want to ensure that our community and families are strong, that individuals are respected – and that we sustain the environment and the natural resources of our beautiful state.

We want to back the small businesses that are creating jobs and serving our community – and believe they should be rewarded, not penalised, for having a go. We believe in the value of hard work and resilience.

We believe that lower taxes, smaller government, and individual responsibility should not just be the goals of Government, but part of what shapes our lives.

And we all believe that electing an LNP Government is the only way that these core values will ever be part of the fabric of the way the Queensland government works.

Ladies and gentlemen, the case for a change of Government in Queensland has never been clearer.

Now, more than ever, Queensland needs the LNP to deliver a united, strong alternative Government – whose members will act in the long‐term best interests of Queenslanders and meaningfully support them to improve their lives.

1)We need to bring our energy and fresh thinking to the job of running the Queensland Government.

There is a better way to deliver core government services and infrastructure – and together I know we can deliver that change.

Our positive alternative to Labor Ladies and gentlemen, we offer a strong alternative to Labor’s failed approach.

We here today know that together we can find positive solutions to the concerns many Queenslanders are facing. We know that only the LNP can restore confidence and prosperity to this great state.

I want to make it clear that a central tenet of the LNP is one of working with the community and for the community.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are committed to breaking the community cynicism that Anna Bligh has created and restoring trust.

We will be open and honest with the community about our plans.

We will set transparent goals and deliverables for public services; we will have transparent planning processes; and we will have an open and accountable government – one that is engaged with, and listens to, the community.

My ideas for Queensland are based on my experience as a health professional, a small businessman, and an ordinary Queenslander trying to provide a better life for my family.
Like many of my colleagues and many of you here today, it is our children that provide the inspiration for being involved in politics.
My family have inspired me to work relentlessly to create a Queensland that is better for them to grow up in, that will give them a better standard of living, and be a state that we can be proud of.
Anna Bligh and I when to the University of Queensland together – and while she was working for the student union, I was supporting myself through uni.
While Anna Bligh was working for the trade unions, I was running my own small business to support my growing family – and it’s an important contrast.
I know what it’s like to fill out business activity statements. I know what it means to sometimes see your turnover go down over a quarter. I know what it’s like to worry about what it means for your business, for your family, and your staff.
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I know why it’s important to business that there are efficient transport systems, and I know what it takes to create jobs and offer meaningful employment to Queenslanders.
So let me set out for you some of the goals and priorities that drive me in my pursuit of delivering a better quality of life for all Queenslanders.
There are four pillars or touchstone principles that will shape the policies of any LNP Government that I lead.
They are core elements of how we will govern differently to Labor.
Firstly, our top priority will be on improving the overall quality of life of Queenslanders.
This means improving the way we deliver infrastructure and services, more jobs, and reducing cost of living pressures. This means hospitals where patients come first. It means schools and colleges that are teaching our next generation to aim for excellence in all they do.
It means fostering an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, and it means better planning of our cities and regions.
Secondly, my Government will make decisions based on the long‐term benefits for Queensland.
Every project we promise will be based on a sound business plan, and built to suit the needs of the community in the long‐term.
If we commit to a project, we’ll deliver it – on time, and on budget. And in doing so, we will give business the confidence to invest and create jobs across Queensland.
Every member of the LNP here today well understands the essential importance of my third pillar.
We will deliver strong economic management – and control expenditure so that the government spends less than it earns.
We will manage the State budget according to the same basic disciplines that Queenslanders have to apply to their own household budgets. We will NOT spend $39 billion when our income is $37 billion, as Labor will do this financial year.
We will invest in building Queensland’s productive capacity, and in good times put money aside so we’re not left exposed and vulnerable when times get tougher.
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We will stimulate, encourage and support small business – the engine room of our economy, and we will protect our critical key mining, agriculture and tourism industries.
We will position Queensland as a major destination for investment and trade.
It is economic growth and sound fiscal management that will return Queensland back to a balanced budget.
It’s not a matter of cutting services – the focus needs to be on stopping the perpetual crisis management in areas like health, roads and electricity, which are the symptoms of a Labor Government that has lost control of not only the budget, but also of proper management of government departments.
The fourth pillar that will shape the LNP’s approach to governing, is that we will always be upfront with the people of Queensland, we will listen, and we will be a Government for all Queensland.
We will be honest about our plans, and we will give people the chance to vote on them. We will not walk away from our promises as soon as the election writs have been returned.
I am proud of Queensland’s reputation as the low‐tax state, with a lifestyle that is the envy of the rest of Australia – and I am determined to fight for it – as I know you are too.
As we expand upon our economic plan for recovery in the months ahead, we will clearly demonstrate that the LNP is the only party that still believes in Queensland being a low‐tax state and the only party that believes having a good credit rating is a crucial part of a strong economic policy.
As Malcolm Turnbull said on Friday, Labor everywhere has a history of towering debt higher and higher on the shoulders of taxpayers and our children. Debt and deficit are in Labor’s DNA.
We are the only mainland state whose government has been so incompetent that they’ve lost the state’s AAA credit rating – not even NSW has done that.
Labor have no plan or pathway to restore the AAA credit rating, so we face paying bloated interest bills forever under Labor.
There is an alternative. We need to restore confidence in Queensland, and get things heading back in the right direction.
Our approach is different – we will think long‐term solutions, not short‐term fixes and will be completely focussed on restoring our AAA credit rating.
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We will give business the certainty they need to create jobs and prosperity.
Losing the AAA credit rating makes it harder for the Queensland government to make the decisions and deliver the services that our state needs.
This is because, instead of spending $1.2 billion every year on schools, hospitals and infrastructure – this Labor Government is spending $1.2 billion in extra interest payments to service their $85 billion of debt because they lost the top credit rating.
By delivering responsible, strong economic management, an LNP Government will aim to restore our AAA credit rating within 4 to 5 years of taking office so that Queenslanders aren’t being forced to pay $14 million a day in interest payments.
We know it will be hard work to turn around $85 billion of debt. But we will put together a plan for recovery to make our state finances sustainable and reduce the burden of debt on Queenslanders, and return Queensland to prosperity.
This $85 billion debt is the equivalent of $78,000 of debt for every Queensland household.
This is almost 4 times the level of debt NSW households will be forced to pay back as a result of their government’s mismanagement.
I will not let services to our community suffer because all the money that you pay in taxes is spent paying down debt.
Put simply: the loss of the AAA credit rating is holding Queensland back from returning to prosperity and economic growth.
The importance of listening
Ladies and gentlemen, one of my great privileges as Leader of the LNP is the opportunity I have had to meet and listen to many, many Queenslanders – to listen to their concerns, aspirations, and their ideas.
One skill I learned as a dentist was listening carefully to what people were saying so you could understand what they meant, and what help they really needed.
It’s the same in politics.
In the past 3 months, I have had the pleasure of travelling across most regions of Queensland, and meeting both Party members and locals from all walks of life.
In fact, since the election and last month’s state Budget, the whole LNP team and I have been out and about talking to business and the community, asking them about their views and concerns.
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We’ve been listening to people from Mudgeeraba to Mt Isa, from Charleville to Currumbin, and asking them what they want from their government.
And what they are telling us is: we want our Queensland back.
They want to feel that their quality of life is secure, that their jobs are safe, and that the ‘great Queensland lifestyle’ is the future, not a thing of the past.
They know that these things are under threat due to Labor’s economic mismanagement.
Right now, the people of Queensland are telling me they want a Government that will deliver essential services – roads, schools and hospitals – but do so in an open and honest way that delivers value‐for‐money.
They want a government that delivers an education system where our children are taught by the best teachers in safe classrooms.
They want a hospital system where they know if they get sick, they will get timely treatment at their local hospital.
They want a government that is committed to working for the community – from the bush to the cities; from the beaches to the borders – to ensure that Queensland continues to be the best state in the country to live, play, bring up a family, work and prosper.
We want to genuinely involve Queenslanders in the development of our policies so that it is relevant to industries and communities – big and small.
One of the most important things that we can do to turn the fortunes of this state around is to involve Queenslanders, in an integral way, in developing economic and social policy.
My shadow ministerial colleagues and I – indeed all of my parliamentary colleagues – will go out into each of the regions of Queensland and will do the tours and the consulting which is these days known as “the listening tours”.
But I actually want to go one step further.
Queensland is a huge, decentralised and rich economy. Whether urban, regional or rural, every part of Queensland makes a positive net contribution to the strength and vibrancy of our economy.
Within the towns, cities, farms, mines and the vast pastoral properties of our state, there are great business men and women, entrepreneurs, academics, public servants, community leaders and risk‐takers who I want to help me and my team develop policies which are good for their regions and their industry sectors.
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We know that we must first earn the right to be listened to – by listening to the community we serve.
I will be asking my shadow ministers and our party’s Policy Committees, to help us establish efficient channels of communication and engagement with these experienced community and industry leaders.
Whether it is the Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce, Townsville Enterprise, Advance Cairns, the Charleville Chamber of Commerce, or the Red Cross in Roma – they and their members will be invited to help us develop good policies for all Queenslanders.
This will form the framework for consulting with Queenslanders across all the regional economic hubs of this state. We will build regional and industry plans for economic and community development that are formed through the proper input of business, industry and the community.
Economic Advisory Council
So I wish to announce today that I intend to convene a high‐level expert Economic Advisory Council. Their task will be to provide to me and my team regular, relevant and expert advice related to industry and specific economic issues.
This step is particularly important given the current economic downturn and the prospect of significantly rising unemployment in Queensland over the next two years.
I will also form any other expert Advisory Councils necessary in order to develop our other key policies in close consultation with the Queensland community.
We want to listen to LNP members, and the community, and to the needs of business, as we continue to develop and shape our policies within the four pillars framework – policies that will benefit all Queenslanders.
Governing better and more efficiently
I also announce today that we will establish an Independent Commission of Audit, overseen by the independent Auditor‐General, to undertake a full and comprehensive review of all Budget details, which will enable Queenslanders to know what the true state of the books really is.
This will help restore the confidence of all Queenslanders in the integrity of the budget and the economic future of Queensland.
Just take a look at the three recent Auditor‐General reports which have portrayed a Government unable to properly plan or deliver health, transport, infrastructure or financial programs.
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These reports show the importance of a system of checks and balances to ensure that taxpayer’s money is spent wisely and prudently.
Having been a member of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee for over 5 years, I know that the Auditor‐General is currently prevented from providing specific advice to properly protect taxpayer’s interests.
My Government will properly and meaningfully empower the Auditor‐General to undertake full audits of government services and programs, to allow constant and regular improvements that benefit taxpayer’s.
As an example, this will enable us to comprehensively look at best‐practice water planning and infrastructure – this will ensure we avoid repeats of the desalination debacle at Tugan and the water grid. It will also keep us to really understand our health system and ensure that we plan for the very best outcomes for patients.
We will also ensure that there is a full and independent review of all government procurements – a crucial and sensible initiative given the enormous expenditure on infrastructure because of the mad scramble by Premier Bligh to play catch up after a decade of forgotten infrastructure under Labor.
A plan to return Queensland to prosperity
I’ve outlined the four pillars that I believe are necessary to restore confidence in Queensland and that will guide the way we govern.
Queenslanders don’t need more lies, they don’t need more debt. What they need is an achievable and sustainable plan to give them back their way of life.
Together we can do this. Together we can return Queensland to the low tax, lifestyle state it should be.
It won’t be easy, it will be a long hard road but I have faith we can do it because we have what Labor doesn’t have – a credible plan.
And I repeat again, that an absolutely essential part of this plan is meaningful consultation with all key stakeholders.
My Shadow Cabinet has now agreed on a broad policy development framework that will strengthen our policy development leading to the next election.
We’ll ensure they are affordable, responsible and don’t make the problems created by Labor worse – we are determined to take a long‐term strategic perspective to get Queensland heading in the right direction again.
I will not allow my team to become disengaged from the community we seek to serve.
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It’s about ensuring that when we form government, Queenslanders know exactly what comes next – because we will deliver on our promises.
After 11 years in office, the state Labor Government seems to have forgotten that their decisions affect real people.
My message to the people of Queensland is that we haven’t forgotten.
It saddens me when a single mum working two part‐time jobs feels like she has to take on extra work to cover the increased costs of living.
A small businessman that I recently met, a local butcher, told me that spiralling electricity bills accounted for the largest part of his fixed costs.
So for businesses like his, when the state government increases electricity prices by 40 percent over the last 4 years, his overheads skyrocket – and he’s forced to pass that cost on to his customers.
So the price of food increases. Or he reduces his staff numbers, and another Queenslander is out of work.
It’s the same principle with the Bligh Government’s new fuel tax.
Abolishing Labor’s fuel tax
Imposing a fuel tax is the kind of decision that could only be made by a government that doesn’t care about or understand life in regional Queensland, and one that’s out of touch with the everyday pressures of families and businesses.
It is a regressive tax, and an inflationary tax, and it is wrong. Now is not the time to push up everyday prices when unemployment is forecast to almost double by the end of next year.
The LNP strongly opposed and voted against the fuel tax Bill in Parliament.
I make this commitment today – that upon restoring the AAA credit rating, my Government will do everything we can to abolish the unfair fuel tax and take that inflationary pressure off businesses and families.
This will drive growth, reduce business costs, help small business and take the pressure off families.
Reducing the cost burden on Queensland motorists and families will be a priority for an LNP government, particularly given the size and decentralised nature of our state.
We can do better for our economy, our state and our children – we must make our focus Queensland’s future. 9
So that’s the key principles that will guide our Government’s policy development: responsible economic management; planning for the future; improving our quality of life; and giving Queenslanders a real voice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fellow LNP members and Queenslanders, I know from spending time with you all over the past few days, that you share my enthusiasm, commitment and absolute determination – that it’s time for a positive change and a new era of Government in Queensland!
Labor’s failed strategies and policies over the past 11 years do not provide the answers for Queensland over the next decade.
Only the LNP can do that.
Seven weeks from now, Queenslanders should have been going to the polls to choose their next Government – but the events of the past weeks and months have exposed exactly why the Premier wanted to sneak to the polls early.
You would be aware that the polls show current support for the LNP at 55 percent compared to 45 percent for Labor – which is certainly an encouraging start. Such a result would see us form Government and Labor lose 21 seats.
But we all know that there’s only one poll that really counts.
And we know that earning the trust of voters’ and earning the right to govern will be no easy task.
By the time we are due to go to the polls in 2012, Labor in Queensland will have been in power for 21 of the previous 23 years. Incumbency is still a very powerful force.
But we are a united party and a strong team that is more than equal to this challenge.
My commitment to you is that I will work harder than I ever have in my life to lead us to victory at the next election.
And I call on Anna Bligh to bring it on sooner rather than later – and test the mandate she currently claims for her fire sale of profitable public assets and introducing a fuel tax. Only bargain‐hunters will be the winners from putting these assets up for sale at the bottom of the market.
The outstanding results we achieved at the last election show categorically that Queenslanders want a united, progressive, strong Opposition that can truly be an alternative government.
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And there are three unbreakable rules to winning elections: to work hard; to have a steadfast commitment to our beliefs and principles; and to have total unity of purpose.
I am confident if we follow these three principles, that Queensland voters will trust the LNP with their confidence and their electoral support – and then we can deliver change for Queensland.
Our job – starting today – is to continue building our policies and plans and to truly earn the trust and confidence of all Queenslanders, and thereby earn the right to be Queensland’s next government.
Our fight for the next state election starts now – and I know only together, we can bring about change, protect our Queensland way of life, and have an LNP Government that will deliver for all Queenslanders.
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