Queensland Politics this week in 60 seconds

An extremely busy pre-Christmas period

QGov HQ - 1 William Street

Prior to Christmas a range of significant tasks remain to be completed by the State Government:

• 24-26 November 1st Parliamentary sitting

• Budget delivered 1 December

• 1 to 4 December Budget sitting week

• 7 to 15 December – Budget Estimates Hearings

Ministers were appointed last week, and Ministerial office staffing is being completed.

New Administrative Orders were gazetted by the Governor-in-Council on 12 November. Implementation of these changes are ongoing through the Machinery of Government, and Director-General appointments are anticipated to be imminent.

Bart Mellish MP holding SOO Trophy

Parliamentary Committees will be established during the first sitting week, and once formed Committees will decide whether inquiries in train prior to the dissolution of parliament will be recommenced or discontinued.

New Opposition leadership team

As widely anticipated, Mr David Crisafulli, the new Leader of the Opposition and his Deputy, David Janetzki, have hit the ground running. Estimates is generally seen as a prime opportunity for an Opposition to put the Government to the test and to make some political hits.

Most Oppositions would consider these Estimates, just before Christmas and following a demoralising defeat, to be something of a “Lame Duck” session. However Mr Crisafulli will be looking to establish himself in the minds of Queenslanders as a substantial political force and will do all he can to win the ‘Story of the day’ every day.

South Brisbane LNP preferences elect Greens MP, Ms Amy McMahon

Analysis of preference flows in the seat of South Brisbane at the election indicate that the LNP’s decision to direct preferences to the Greens ahead of Labor resulted in the Greens’ Amy McMahon being elected. In 2020, first preference votes for the LNP, flowed to the Greens at a rate of 67.8%, and Labor 32.2%. In the event Ms Trad had received preferences from LNP voters at 62% in 2020 she would have won the seat by 700 votes.

In the Central Brisbane seat of McConnell LNP preferences flowed in a similar way: Greens 74.8% and the ALP 25.2%.

Covid News

Borders with South Australia have again been closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks in that State, while restrictions for Victorians and Greater Sydney remain in place. South Australians entering Queensland are required to undertake a 14 day hotel quarantine.

Queenslander!!

Following a win for the mighty Maroons over NSW in this year’s State of Origin Series, Queensland Premier Palaszczuk is asking Queenslanders what they think she should say in her next text message to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (see the Instagram post).

The game was played in front of a close-to-capacity crowd of 49,155 - reputed to be a world record in the COVID-era.