Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Johnston, the Minister representing the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads. Are you aware of an open letter advertisement in a Central Queensland newspaper where the federal opposition leader states that he has asked Premier Beattie to review his council amalgamation proposal, asserting that ‘local councils are the lifeblood of rural and regional towns’? Further, is the minister concerned that Queensland rural shires are already suffering from the Beattie government’s proposed amalgamation of councils? Would the minister be prepared to offer himself as a mediator between the Queensland Premier and the federal opposition leader on this matter?

Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thought you were the king of Queensland. You could be the mediator.

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McEwen interjecting—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator McEwen and Senator Crossin, come to order.

David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Boswell for the question and congratulate him on his initiative and leadership in taking up the baton on behalf of rural and regional Queenslanders who are having their lives turned upside down by this crazy proposal of the Queensland Premier to amalgamate local councils. The federal Labor spin doctors are very hard at work and in full damage control over this issue to the point of issuing a full-page newspaper advertisement in Central Queensland attacking the Beattie government over planned council amalgamations. Here we have federal Labor attacking a Labor premier.

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating was absolutely right: this is a spin driven opposition. It is utterly focus group motivated. The focus group results and the latest polling information have obviously shown the spin team in the opposition that this is a significant issue. They did not need to look at focus group research because Senator Boswell and other Queensland government members have been shouting from the rooftops about this crazy Beattie proposal ever since it was proposed in April. The spin campaign has an advertisement in Central Queensland News on 8 June with the Labor candidate for the new federal seat of Flynn appearing with the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Kevin Rudd, urging the Premier to change his mind. This is how the Leader of the Opposition talks to his own state’s Premier: through an advertisement. Surely if he was worth any salt at all he would be able to say to the Queensland Premier, ‘This is not the way to go.’ But no, he has to run an advertisement; he has to try to pretend to the world—at least until after the federal election—that this proposal is not what he wants. That is what it is about: the phoney spin campaign, a smokescreen, painting a broadbrush picture that completely misrepresents things.

The Labor candidate in Flynn said that he is not sure if the amalgamation issue caused Labor support in Queensland to drop in the latest opinion poll, but he says people are concerned. People are saying it is an issue for them and that they will seriously consider this issue when the federal election rolls around. Oh dear! And so the Leader of the Opposition must talk to the Queensland Premier via an advertisement. The unrest in rural Queensland over this proposal to amalgamate local councils is gathering momentum and is the issue in rural and regional Queensland. The arbitrary and unilateral way that the Beattie government has determined that 83 of the state’s local councils are financially weak is a cause for great concern. This is being set up for a classic backdown. It will be advertised; you will read about it because the Leader of the Opposition, as we all know, does not get on with the Queensland Premier. They are longstanding disgruntled participants in a number of former ALP stoushes. We will stay tuned and Senator Boswell will keep us in tune with future advertisements as to this crazy proposal.

Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is it a case of ‘I’m Kevin’—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Which one of your 10 staff wrote it?

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

‘I’m from Queensland and I can’t help’—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators—Why didn’t Barnaby get this question?

Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

or ‘I am trying to make a deal with the Premier, Mr Beattie’?

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sorry. There was a fair amount of noise on my left and I did not quite hear that question. Would Senator Boswell care to repeat it?

Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Certainly, Mr President. What I asked was: originally Mr Rudd said he was from Queensland and he was here to help.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators—That’s not what you said!

Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am asking the minister whether he believes it is a case of ‘I’m Kevin from Queensland and I can’t help’, so Mr Beattie is ignoring him, or is he setting Mr Beattie up for a backdown?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! That question is out of order. It is a hypothetical supplementary question.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order, Mr President. I am two seats behind Senator Boswell and I could not hear that question.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As you can hear, Senator, there is a lot of noise coming from my left as we speak. I would ask you to come to order! I remind those on my left that it is your question. I do not mind sitting here, so if you want to carry on like that you will miss a question.