TRANSCRIPT - PRESS CONFERENCE - 25 JAN WEDNESDAY

E & O E - PROOF ONLY
TRANSCRIPT
PRESS CONFERENCE
25 JANUARY 2012

PREMIER ANNA BLIGH: Well as you all know Commissioner Justice Holmes has advised that the Floods Commission of Inquiry will sit next week to hear further evidence and submissions on the questions which have been aired in the public media reports this week regarding the operation of Wivenhoe Dam. The Commission will also cross examine witnesses on these questions.

The Commissioner believes these hearings are necessary to ensure that any final conclusions that they reach have been thoroughly examined and tested. The Commissioner has also advised me that these extra hearings, and any evidence gained in them, will take some time to finalise. For that reason the Commission will require an extension of time until the 16th of March to complete their work. The Commission and the Commissioner have my full support in their decision to hold extra hearings and they have my full support for an extension of time.

I established this inquiry within one week of the southeast Queensland floods. I did so because I wanted answers about all the circumstances in the lead up to those disasters. I said that I would leave no stone unturned and I meant it. My family and the people I love all live in this city and like every other Queenslander I want the truth.

This committee, this commission was set up to establish that truth - I'm not afraid of that truth and I believe every flood victim deserves that truth. Accordingly, I have approved the Commissioner's request for an extension until the 16th March and I have submitted the documentation to the Governor for approval at the Executive Council meeting scheduled for later today

Clearly, this decision has a number of implications, including for the timing of scheduled elections, and I'd like to outline what I see as the consequences of this extension.

Firstly, as I stated earlier this week, it has been my view that Queenslanders are entitled to see and consider the Commission of Inquiry's report before they cast their vote at the State election. They are entitled to see the recommendations in relation to both state and local governments and they are entitled to consider the responses of major parties and mayoral and local council candidates to any recommendations of the report.

It had therefore been my intention to call an election for the 3rd of March. This date had a number of factors to recommend it. It allowed a week for the public to consider the report. It put four weeks between the State election and the local government election scheduled for 31st March this year and it allowed the Government to run close to its full term.

Clearly, it is now not possible to hold a state election on the 3rd of March without denying Queenslanders the opportunity to consider the Commission of Inquiry's report. A State election held on the 24th of March would give the public a week to consider and understand the findings and make a judgement about any responses to the report by parties and candidates.

However, this date is only one week prior to the scheduled Local Government elections. I local candidates in local government elections across Queensland. I remind you that the Local Government Association of Queensland called on me last week to take the needs of this important tier of government into account in my deliberations. The LGAQ made the valid points that local issues would inevitably be swamped by a State election campaign, that two campaigns going at once will make fair and comprehensive media coverage logistically difficult and that voters are very unlikely to welcome going to the polls twice in a week or a fortnight. In fact, the prospect was described by the Local Government Association as "disastrous".

So I therefore find myself in the difficult position of having to either extend the term of my own government beyond this 3rd anniversary or the term of local governments in Queensland. While I know that, constitutionally the term of my government can extend to the 16th of June 2012, I hold the view that a government should only seek to govern beyond the third anniversary of its election in the event of extreme or unusual circumstances.

These are certainly unusual circumstances however I don't believe that they justify an extension of the term of the government. I simply don't believe that would be an appropriate exercise of my powers and I don't intend to do so. Therefore today I can advise that firstly I intend to call the 2012 State election for Saturday the 24th of March - this is in fact the closest Saturday to the 3rd anniversary of the Government's election on March the 21st 2009. Further, I intend to visit the Governor on Sunday the 19th of February and ask her to dissolve the Parliament and issue the writs for a 24th March election meaning that on the 19th of February the government will move into caretaker period.

As a consequence of this decision, I also intend to change the date of the local government elections to allow sufficient and reasonable time for local government to campaign independently of a state election. I believe that local government is entitled to be consulted on this proposed change and the Attorney General and Minister for Local Government's doing that this morning. However, I will make it clear that the deferral of local government elections will be for the shortest reasonable time, most likely to be late April or early May.

For local government, I understand that this will cause some political inconvenience and I regret that these unusual and frankly unpredictable circumstances have given rise to this decision. However, for those who suffered during our floods and those who are continuing to live with its aftermath there is much more at stake here than mere inconvenience. What's at stake here is the truth. The truth about the cause of our floods and that matters to those flood victims but it also goes to the heart of the future safety of our city and our region and its people.

I welcome the decision of the Commission to re-examine the material before it and relevant witnesses to these questions. If the Commission concludes after these hearings that there has been any cover up, any failure to disclose the full truth or any false evidence or documentations by any one or any organisation; my view the full force of the law should apply to those people.

These decisions mean that the electors of Queensland will have the opportunity to consider the report of the Commission of Inquiry, to judge the findings of that inquiry and to make a judgement about the responses of candidates at all levels of government and all parties to those findings. In that way, in my view the best interests of democracy are served.

JOURNALIST: Is it appropriate to make this announcement today given what's happening in Brisbane in terms of another flood crisis?

PREMIER: I regret that these decisions have been required because of a decision by the Commission of Inquiry but I think people are entitled to an explanation of these consequences as soon as possible.

JOURNALIST: The opposition claimed that your politicising the inquiry and that the election should be held sooner rather than later (inaudible)?

PREMIER: I remind you that this Commission of Inquiry is looking at all of the floods across Queensland and the response by both local government and State Government agencies.

JOURNALIST: Premier,

PREMIER: Sorry, I think that voters would rightly feel cheated if they voted for a candidate who they subsequently found to be the subject of an adverse finding in a Commission of Inquiry report brought down two or three weeks later. The commission is considering a very broad range of issues - the operation of Wivenhoe Dam is one of those issues but they are also examining the town planning decisions of local governments. Voters at all levels of government are entitled before they make a judgement about a candidate for example for mayor or at a state level to know what those findings are and I think they would feel rightly cheated if they voted for someone who only two weeks later was found to be the subject of an adverse finding by the commission.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) Mr Newman (inaudible)?

PREMIER: These are issues that have been looked at for local government's right across Queensland. You'll remember that we had areas of Queensland flooded that amounted to the size of France and Germany combined. So these findings potentially; I don't know the findings of the inquiry, but potentially; they relate to a very large number of councils as well as state government and state government agencies; and I believe I would be rightly criticised if I took the people to the polls two or three weeks before the inquiry report, particularly in the circumstances where the inquiry has resolved to rehear very significant matters in quite controversial circumstances.

JOURNALIST: Are you worried there could be a backlash (inaudible) given that you are going to be (inaudible)? Are you worried about the backlash?

PREMIER: I think people are entitled to the truth and that's what this inquiry is all about. People want to know the circumstances that surround it, the flooding of Brisbane and Ipswich. They are entitled to know it and I have no interest in doing anything other than getting to that truth.

JOURNALIST: Premier you said that the moving of the council elections would have some political inconvenience but it also affects budget deliberations. What's you view on the impact it'll have (inaudible)?

PREMIER: I understand that quite reasonably local government might have some concern that an election held in May would not give local governments, particularly incoming new local governments, the chance to form a budget as required by the act before the 1st of September. However the Act also provides for the Minister to extend that date and I would propose that that date for the preparation of budgets be extended by the exact number of days that the election was deferred.

JOURNALIST: Parliament on the 14th (inaudible)?

PREMIER: Parliament will be sitting on the 14th, 15th and 16th of February. The government as I said will move into caretaker on the 19th of February. The government as normal will proceed until that time.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) Why not just call an election now rather than have the caretaker mode happening in some weeks. Why not just go now?

PREMIER: I don't believe that Queenslanders should go to the election, vote for a candidate at mayoral, at the local council or at a state level who they may find ultimately is the subject of an adverse finding by the commission of inquiry. I think that voter would be rightly unhappy about that, they'd feel cheated.

JOURNALIST: Premier announcing the date, essentially you're going to be (inaudible) campaigning from now anyway.

PREMIER: I don't believe it's in the interests of Queensland for a government to be in caretaker for almost ten weeks. The state still has to run. The government still has to make decisions. There's a lot of things that are happening, all those decisions, people's contracts for goods and services etcetera. It is important that we move full steam ahead and government as normal. As I said, the 24th of March is only three days away from the anniversary of the election of the government in 2009. It is in fact the closest Saturday.

JOURNALIST: What was your legal advice that you got last night in terms of (inaudible) local council election?

PREMIER: Legal advice confirms both that I can govern right up until the 16th of June when an election would have to be held. It also confirms that I can move the local government elections and that that can be done by regulation and it doesn't require legislation.

JOURNALIST: Are you hoping that Campbell Newman is named adversely in the flood inquiry?

PREMIER: What I hope out of the flood inquiry is that we get to the truth. That Queenslanders understand what happened in those flooding days and that if there is anything that we can do better or differently in the future to keep people safer, we know it.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) isn't this all a bit farcical and that we're actually already in campaign mode and have been for some time.

PREMIER: There's been a lot speculation about whether or not Queensland should have a fixed term. This is exactly what would happen if we have a fixed term. You'd know well in advance. So people can have a taste of it.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) going into the official campaign mode?

PREMIER: What we have is a set of circumstances that frankly could not have been predicted. I was advised by the Commission of Inquiry last year that they would report on the 24th of February. They have advised me that they need an extension. I have to make a decision about that and then deal with the consequences of it; and I've made a decision which I believe is in the best interests of democracy, the best interests of openness and in the best interests of the truth. What do we all want here? We want the truth and I want it as much as any other flood victim.

JOURNALIST: Can you win the state election?

PREMIER: That is a matter for the people of Queensland.

JOURNALIST: What do you believe?

PREMIER: I look forward to going to the people on the 24th of March and asking for their vote. When I do that I want them to know I care about the truth as much as they do.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) that is a lot of expense to taxpayers (inaudible) isn't it?

PREMIER: Parliament will be a full sitting of the parliament. It will pass legislation. It's in the interests of the Queensland public.

JOURNALIST: What does it say about the credibility of the flood commission that something so fundamental to its purpose - the operation of the Wivenhoe Dam - is now the subject of extra hearings?

PREMIER: The Commission of Inquiry has indicated that in the light of the questions that have been raised in the public arena, that they wish to make sure that they have thoroughly tested this issue. That they give anybody who has any further information a chance to appear and they want to be sure that their findings and their conclusions are put beyond doubt. So if that required extra time they should get the extra time if that's what they want.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) the Australian though, was that information sent to the flood inquiry? (inaudible)

PREMIER: Yes

JOURNALIST: (inaudible)

PREMIER: The Australian newspaper got that information from the flood inquiry.

JOURNALIST: Do you feel misled by the flood inquiry because the other day you came out quite strongly and said no this had all been managed, it's fine, there's a reasonable explanation for this. Are you nervous?

PREMIER: What the commissioner has indicated is that they believe that there is a need to put this question beyond doubt. They did examine witnesses on this matter, they were satisfied in relation to the findings they made but in light of further questions they want to put it beyond doubt. I think that is the right thing to do. Those further hearings may well find, may conclude as they originally done, they may find it quite differently. Either way what we want is the truth.

JOURNALIST: Have you had any preliminary briefings from the Commssion?

PREMIER: No.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible)

PREMIER: No, it's about a Commission of Inquiry doing what's it's required to do by law and that is thoroughly testing evidence and make conclusion in which they have a high degree of confidence.

JOURNALIST: Premier there's a lot of reports today that Queensland Health employees haven't been paid today.

PREMIER: Look I'm very pleased to have an opportunity to talk about this. Queensland Health employees are being advised of this as I speak. The Commonwealth Bank has this morning advised Queensland Health that a Commonwealth Bank processing error has affected health pay run. Commonwealth Bank has apologised for its error and is working with Queensland Health to pull out all steps to fix its error immediately. The Commonwealth Bank is responsible for distributing health pay once a pay run is complete. The Queensland Health pay run was processed normally without any problems. All of it went to the Commonwealth Bank who then distribute it to all of the banks of all health employees and the error has occurred at the Commonwealth Bank and they're working to fix it today.

JOURNALIST: Still not a good look for you though regardless of the fact that it's not the government's fault this time.

PREMIER: What it shows is that even organisations like the Commonwealth Bank can experience problems in their IT system. This is an error that has occurred at the Commonwealth Bank which distributes pays to all Queensland Health employees regardless of what bank they bank at. It is an error at the Commonwealth Bank, they are fixing it, I'm not happy about it and I can understand why Queensland Health employees aren't.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible)

PREMIER: Well they're working to have that fixed as quickly as possible and I understand they hope to have it ready by today.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) southeast Queensland?

PREMIER: Yes people will be aware that we've seen substantial rainfall overnight. We have seen minor and moving to moderate flooding in a number of parts of southeast Queensland into the southwest. We will be convening a meeting of the State Disaster Management Group at 11am this morning to consider any further preparations or actions that may need to be taken. I can in relation to the dams, we have a number of dams that are at capacity and are spilling but in relation to Wivenhoe, the Wivenhoe Dam is rising slowly. It's at 75.9% with nearly all of the flood storage available to it. There will be minor gate releases from Wivenhoe to keep it around that 75% but at this stage we do not expect any urban flooding as a result of the dam releases. Sorry other than what we always see when we have dam releases at Twin Bridges, Savages and Colleges Crossing.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible)

PREMIER: That's my understanding, this is an error that's occurred at the bank, obviously we're still getting information from the Commonwealth Bank. I understand they've also put out a statement in which they have committed - the Commonwealth Bank - to provide any financial, if there's any financial cost for the payments that weren't made, they will cover them.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) who's more at risk (inaudible) or the LNP?

PREMIER: Well clearly this will be a very controversial thing to land in the middle of an election campaign. It would've been more politically advantageous I think for my government to have extended beyond our three years and give sometime between that. But I don't think that's in the interests of Queenslanders. I am acting here in the interests of Queenslanders. Not in the interests of myself or my party or the government.

JOURNALIST: By moving council elections which would've happened after the flood report was already released are you basically saying that the timing of your state election is more important that the council election across Queensland?

PREMIER: This was a very difficult decision. What was clear is that I had to make a decision to move one or other of these elections otherwise they would be happening at the same time which even local government have indicated would be completely undesirable. Look frankly I thought about extending my term beyond the three years and it just didn't sit right with me. I just didn't believe that I could justify that. I don't believe that it is appropriate and I felt much more comfortable about saying that local government should be the subject of the exercise of that power.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible)

PREMIER: Look it just didn't sit right. You know frankly three years anniversary is my view, appropriate. I think people are entitled to make a decision after they've seen the flood inquiry. One week gives them at least an opportunity to know what it says without extending beyond the third anniversary. These are not easy calls. It's a call that required the exercise of judgement. I've made a judgement that I believe serves the best interests of democracy.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) access to taxpayers fund during what is already a campaign that you're in (inaudible)

PREMIER: To do what?

JOURNALIST: To do campaigning.

PREMIER: Any evidence of that?

JOURNALIST: You've set a poll date but you haven't gone to the governor yet so you've got some weeks where you've still got access to taxpayers funds. So look example will you pull any government advertising?

PREMIER: We will be governing as we always do up until the moment that we go into caretaker. A ten week caretaker period or a nine week caretaker period where Queensland was unable to make any major decisions is not in the interest of the state. This is what happens in fixed term elections. It is entirely consistent with what happens at local government level where we know the election date well in advance. We don't move into caretaker in January for a council election in March and that doesn't happen in any other state of Australia. This is normal practice in fact it's a slightly longer than normal caretaker period and it is in my view the best decision that we can make in relation or in light of the circumstances that we're faced with.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) reaction to those who may have lied to the commission?

PREMIER: Well if that was the case perjury of course is a very very serious offence and I would expect that if that was established then there would be a referral to the public prosecutor; and we would take that matter through all of the legal processes and the person concerned would feel the full force of the law.

JOURNALIST: Are you concerned about the Flood Inquiry and how it's been managed?

PREMIER: No, I'm not.

JOURNALIST: Are you concerned about the potential for (inaudible) if Seqwater (inaudible)

PREMIER: What I'm concerned about is finding the truth and if that truth establishes that anybody has a valid claim against any agency of government then that is something that'll have to be dealt with. You don't shy away from the truth because it might be awkward or difficult. You search for the truth because in this case it's about the safety of people. It's about their lives and their livelihoods. So I'm not afraid of this truth. I don't back away from it and I'm not going to walk away from making sure people know it before they go to the ballot box.

JOURNALIST: And if people know about this how much are they going to know about Queensland Health's restructure (inaudible)?

PREMIER: Well I've already seen the blueprint. Unions are currently consulting on it and I expect that we'll some response from them before we're into election mode fully.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) how do you see yourself pitched up against Campbell Newman (inaudible)

PREMIER: There's no doubt that the 2012 election is going to be a very very fierce contest. I understand that I'm in for the fight of my life and I intend to give it that. Queensland is worth fighting for. What's at stake here is our prosperity and our future. I don't believe that Campbell Newman is the right person to lead this state and my job is to be out there talking to Queenslanders about what I see as the drawbacks of a government led by Campbell Newman. But just as importantly about the prospects under a Bligh Government. We have a very bright future. I'm very excited about the prospects of this state and very excited about some of the ideas and visions that I want to take to the Queensland people.

JOURNALIST: What are the key issues for you in this election campaign?

PREMIER: There'll be a number of issues that people will consider in this election campaign. Right at the top of my list will be how we harness the very bright prospects that we have coming down our path economically. How we make sure we manage Queensland for all of us not just for some of us. How we make sure for example that our mining royalties can be distributed in a way that benefits every Queenslander. That's why I'll be putting education right at the top of my tree. I'll also be looking at how we protect our environment so that we protect our lifestyle as we grow into a bigger state. So whether it's jobs, the economy, education, the environment and all of those government services that people depend on, I've got big ideas for Queensland in every single one of those areas. Frankly I do not believe that Campbell Newman is up to the job. I don't believe he is a fit person to lead Queensland and the contest is going to be a very fiercely contested one. It'll be o ne where people go to the ballot knowing anything they need to know about what this Commission of Inquiry says.

JOURNALIST: Do you think Queenslanders are still listening to you whether you've got big ideas or not.

PREMIER: I think Queenslanders want to make sure they get the right government and I think Queenslanders when the campaign starts and they get closer to the election will start to scrutinise Mr Newman in a way that they haven't had a chance to. We've seen Mr Newman duck and hide. He's not someone who likes the full scrutiny of the public. We've seen just this week further revelations of Mr Newman's financial dealings. For all of those reasons I look forward to Queenslanders getting to know Mr Newman more as I think they'll find like me that there are more questions about him than answers.

JOURNALIST: Do you stand by the ALP flyer (inaudible) Cairns candidate...

PREMIER: Yes I do. Mr Newman has made his own defence of that candidate. People are entitled to know that that's what he's doing.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) with Kerry Shine and his comments on it?

PREMIER: People are entitled to make a judgement about that as well.

JOURNALIST: And what did you think of Kerry Shine's comments.

PREMIER: I made my comments about that and I think you'll find its three years ago and Mr Shine is no longer in the front bench. Mr Newman has made a decision.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible)

PREMIER: That's right. People can make a judgement about that.

JOURNALIST: Gavin King's comments were also in 2008.

PREMIER: Mr King has put himself forward to represent the people of Cairns. This comment is potentially one of his most offensive. But there are many other comments he's made that in my view equally make him unsuitable to represent the people of Cairns and Cairns will make a judgement about Mr King when the election is held on the 24th of March.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible)

PREMIER: And I don't believe that his comments in any way reflect the sorts of sentiments that Mr King had reflected.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) deferring the election date allow that greater scrutiny, doesn't it give you an advantage and that more people will concentrate on how (inaudible)?

PREMIER: I think in any campaign that's what happens. Doesn't matter when the campaign is held for all candidates and particularly leaders are subject to a level of scrutiny during the campaign that they're simply not at other times. Campaigns as you all know are reported on daily. So whenever the campaign is held Queenslanders will have an opportunity to fully scrutinise Mr Newman, to make a judgement about his character and to see just how bereft of policies and vision the LNP are. It doesn't matter whether that's held now or in March, the campaign proper will give people that chance. Let's be very clear. I am not extending the term of my government beyond its third anniversary. I am calling this election on the nearest possible Saturday to that third anniversary. So there is no extension of my term here. This is no effort to take more time that I would otherwise be entitled to. Queenslanders will be going to the polls on the third anniversary of the election of m y government in 2009. That is my view the most appropriate way to deal with the circumstances we're faced with.

JOURNALIST: The flood operation centre that's been established now, does that include any of the same flood engineers who operated (inaudible)

PREMIER: Look I'd have to come back to you that, sorry I'm just not. I think the answer is yes but I'd have to come back to you on that.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) flood management meetings today?

PREMIER: Yes I will I will be attending a State disaster management meeting at 11am this morning. I know that this will be a very worrying time for many people who lived through the disasters last year. Unfortunately these circumstances with the commission landed on my lap in the last couple of days and I need to deal with them. But right at the top of my mind today is also what's happening around the southeast, what's happening in the southwest and we've also got a very significant monsoonal trough coming down through the north. We do expect to see significantly more rainfall that will see significant flash flooding closing roads. We've got a number of schools closed, child care centres and kindergartens and where the schools aren't closed there are a number of roads that are cutting off and people not able to access them. So we're already seeing lives and businesses disrupted by the weather. We expect to see more of that in the next couple of days. At this stage t he major dams are not causing any inundation and while they are filling, they are filling very slowly. But we all know and we saw it all last year things can change very quickly and we'll be updating people absolutely as often as possible.

JOURNALIST: Is that meeting an emergency services (inaudible) Will you be doing something after that meeting?

PREMIER: Yes

JOURNALIST: Premier if it is the same engineer though running the show is that appropriate (inaudible)

PREMIER: Look I'd have to give that some thought, I'd have to actually go and see what the circumstances are.

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction
The Honourable Anna Bligh
25/01/2012
TRANSCRIPT - PRESS CONFERENCE - 25 JAN WEDNESDAY

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Publish Date: 25 Jan 12

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