David Marler

David Marler

Queensland reporter at No Fibs
David is a full time Queensland carer for his son and in quiet times contributes to NoFibs.
David Marler

Latest posts by David Marler (see all)

David Marler
https://nofibs.com.au/meeting-david-marler-nofibs-twitter-activist-by-griffithelects
Blogging the week in Queensland politics and news.

Situation red in the drought state.

The Qld Weekly - No FibsTable of contents

Jump to comments section.
(November 7, 2015) – Queensland, Australia’s film production capital.
(November 6, 2015) – Turnbull meets Qld resistance.
(November 5, 2015) – North Queensland Economic summit.
(November 4, 2015) – Newman card scrapped.
(November 3, 2015) – Byrne Inquiry: Political blame.
(November 2, 2015) – The debate: GST increase to 15pc.
(November 1, 2015) – Water in the Sunshine State.
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(November 7, 2015) – Queensland, Australia’s film production capital

Screen Australia report

  • Tony Moore reported, “Queensland is firmly elbowing its way “centre stage” as Australia’s emerging screen capital, with Johnny Depp’s cheeky pirate smile sailing that treasure northwards. Queensland has “stolen” film business from Victoria and New South Wales, the latest Screen Australia film drama report shows as the season of blockbuster announcements continue.Drama production in Australia in 2014-15 – including foreign film production and local drama film and television production – was $837 million, down by just one per cent on last year’s $844 million.”: Queensland pushes off Victoria as Oz film production capital.
  • ScreenAustralia drama report: Production of feature films & TV 2014/15.
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(November 6, 2015) – Turnbull meets Qld resistance

Prime Minister heckled at Beenleigh

  • Ed Jackson reported, “Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull has been heckled by protesters during an event in Queensland. Mr Turnbull joined Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen to unveil the $9 million upgrade to the Beenleigh town square south of Brisbane on Friday. During a speech to commemorate the collaboration between state, local and federal government on the project, a group of about 50 protesters tried to drown Mr Turnbull out.”: Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull heckled at Qld event.
Shane Doherty reported: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been mobbed by Queenslanders in what is traditional Labor territory, the city of Logan.

Shane Doherty reported: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been mobbed by Queenslanders in what is traditional Labor territory, the city of Logan.

Marlina Whop reported: The Prime Minister has declared Beenleigh 'the heart of south east Queensland' while unveiling the community's new town square. The multi-million dollar makeover is designed to drive economic prosperity.. in the rapidly growing region.

Marlina Whop reported: The Prime Minister has declared Beenleigh ‘the heart of south east Queensland’ while unveiling the community’s new town square. The multi-million dollar makeover is designed to drive economic prosperity.. in the rapidly growing region.

Expression of interest closed for Go Card

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “An easier Go Card system is inching closer. Announced under the Newman government, the Palaszczuk government moved ahead with plans to deliver a new ticketing and recharge system for the public transport cards, closing the expression of interest proponent of the process on Monday. It won’t say how many offers it received, citing commercial in confidence, but the government is offering a contract of up to 15 years to the successful tenderer.”: Brisbane transport: New Go Card system still a year away.

Northern Queensland Economic Summit

Early flood warning system

Private market vaccine review

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Queensland has proposed the accessibility and supply of private market vaccines be reviewed, following shortages with some vaccines, most notably after the whooping cough outbreak earlier this year. Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick, who was also celebrating the decision to move forward with including paramedics in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, proposed a review of vaccines at the Adelaide Council of Australian Governments health ministers meeting.”: Queensland calls for vaccine review.

Detention centre protest in Brisbane

  • Tony Moore reported, “The giant Wilson Group was targeted by protesters in Brisbane on Friday for its part in controversial practices at refugee processing camps off the Australian coast. The protest, run by Socialist Alternative and the Refugee Action Collective, is part of a nationwide campaign to raise the profile of Wilson Security at the Manus Island and Nauru detention centres, east of Papua New Guinea. Wilson which runs security, parking and transport services, was contracted to guard the detainees at Nauru.”: Brisbane protest questions Wilson role in Manus, Nauru detention centre security.

Premier Palaszczuk congratulates Canadian PM Justin Trudeau

Comment  Fantastic example of how to use social media by Annastacia Palaszczuk and media team.

Medical cannabis extracts importation

  • Andrea Macleod reported, “After years of petitioning one Logan family has finally been given Federal approval to import medications that could save their son’s life. But now, says Lanai Carter, it’s up to the State Justice department to provide an exemption for medical purposes so they can use the medications in Queensland. Ms Carter said because the medications contained THC they required an exemption from the Attorney General before they could dispense through a pharmacist to their son Lindsay.”: Logan family Lanai and Lindsay Carter given Federal approval to import life saving medications.

Quilpie Shire drought severe impact

QIMR Berghofer Medial Research Institute turns 70

KPMG gets the nod for power merger

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “The firm that advised the Newman government on its “Strong Choices” privatisation plan has been engaged to help find a solution for the Palaszczuk government’s proposed power company merger. Queensland Treasury Corporation awarded KPMG the contract to help “analyse, review and help find solutions” for its plan to merge the government-owned energy corporations, a move greeted with reticence by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, but which Treasurer Curtis Pitt said would go ahead “in some form”.”: Palaszczuk government picks Newman’s consultant of choice for power merger.
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(November 5, 2015) – North Queensland Economic summit

Premier for the North

Comment  Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is attempting to do what none of her predecessors have ever truly achieved; unite North Queensland with the South. Historic rumblings of secession to create a North Queensland state show how neglected people of the north feel.

The LNP and the negatives within The Courier Mail will criticise her efforts at the Northern Queensland Economic Summit and pass it off as a talk-fest. With the state comprising 1.853 million km², a Queensland Premier must be like a prime minister in speaking  to as many of her constituents as possible. No doubt her enemies will try to exploit her travel expenses at the next budget estimates.

Remember, we’re no longer living in Newmanland where your opinion only counts at election time. If you disagree with the government, then make a submission opposing the relevant policy.

  • Jim Campbell reported, “Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has welcomed 280 cashed up investors to Cairns this morning for an economic summit designed to sell the strengths of Far North Queensland to the world.”: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk kicks off Northern Queensland Economic Summit in Cairns.
  • Kirsty Nancarrow, Sharnie Kim, Renee Cluff, Adam Stephen and Harriet Tatham reported, “The chief economist of a major bank says more infrastructure is needed to take advantage of the vast agricultural opportunities in northern Australia. ANZ’s Warren Hogan is delivering the keynote address at the Northern Queensland Economic Summit in Cairns today. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is hosting the summit which will see about 280 delegates from Australia and abroad discussing investment opportunities with State Cabinet ministers.”: Northern Queensland Economic Summit: Cairns forum to hear need for more regional infrastructure.
  • Jim Campbell reported, “Cashed-up investors from around the world will meet with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Cairns today as the Far North tries to lure private investment to some of its biggest projects.”: Economic Summit could benefit some major FNQ projects.
  • Jim Campbell and Hayden Smith reported, “Cairns mayor Bob Manning has dropped an early election bombshell by promising his team would build a new sports stadium by the end of its next term. Cr Manning made the surprise commitment yesterday when commenting on Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s $100 million promise towards building a new stadium at Townsville. Cr Manning laughed off Mr Shorten’s suggestion that Townsville residents were being unfairly treated by having to drive 20km from their city’s CBD to its stadium. “We have to drive four hours and 20 minutes,” Cr Manning said.”: Cairns mayor makes surprise election promise for new stadium.

Bio futures Queensland consultation released

  • Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stated, “Queenslanders are being asked to help plot the route to an industrial biotechnology revolution, with the release of a 10-year bio futures roadmap for consultation. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the consultation paper was the first step towards developing a 10-year roadmap and action plan to build and promote new generation industries. “My government is committed to developing a sustainable industrial biotechnology sector,” Ms Palaszczuk said.”: Ten-year roadmap seeks bio futures directions for Queensland.
  • Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stated, “The Queensland Government has released the Queensland Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap consultation paper aimed at stimulating an industrial biotechnology revolution in the state.”: Biofutures.

Gender gap, Queensland

Katherine Feeney reported: Report reveals women in Queensland earn less and are much more likely to experience violence, homelessness and poverty.

Katherine Feeney reported: Report reveals women in Queensland earn less and are much more likely to experience violence, homelessness and poverty.

Health improvement for Central Western Qld

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(November 4, 2015) – Newman card scrapped

Tertiary Transport Concession Card no longer needed

  • Kristian Silva reported, “The state government has scrapped the card Queensland students need to carry if they want to catch public transport at concession rates. It means full-time students will no longer need to carry the Tertiary Transport Concession Card and will only require their tertiary institution’s ID and a concession goCard to travel at the lower charge. The change came into effect on Wednesday.”: Tertiary Transport Concession Card scrapped by Queensland Government.

Labor commits to Townsville stadium

  • Charlie Peel reported, “Labor leader Bill Shorten has pledged $100 million towards the proposed CBD super stadium as momentum for the project builds in the wake of the Cowboys breakthrough grand final win.”: Shorten promises $100m for stadium.
  • Roy Masters reported, “Federal Opposition leader, Bill Shorten, has gone part of the way to delivering on Johnathan Thurston’s grand final cry to “build us a stadium.” The Labor leader has pledged $100m towards a $250m new stadium in Townsville for Thurston’s NRL team, the Cowboys, who won the 2015 NRL premiership. Shorten has undertakings of support from the Queensland government to contribute $100m, as well a $25m pledge each from the Townsville Council and the NRL. Should Labor be elected federally, its $100m contribution is also contingent on the Queensland government, local council and NRL all joining the project to build the stadium.”: North Queensland Cowboys stadium: New ground gets boost with $100m commitment from Bill Shorten.
  • Nick Wiggins reported, “The Queensland Government is hoping federal Labor support for a new stadium in Townsville will prompt a similar response from the Turnbull Government. Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has visited the north Queensland city to confirm that a Labor government would match the state’s $100 million contribution for a new stadium.”: Hopes Shorten’s $100m Townsville stadium pledge will prompt Government response.
Tegan George reported: Federal Labor is promising to help fund a new Townsville stadium should it win the next election.

Tegan George reported: Federal Labor is promising to help fund a new Townsville stadium should it win the next election.

Mango Hill is go

Former premiers back GST hike

  • James Massola reported, “A trio of respected former Labor premiers has put political pressure on Bill Shorten, backing a GST rise from 10 to 15 per cent subject to certain conditions. In comments that could create a headache for the Opposition Leader and will be welcomed by the Turnbull government, former NSW premier Kristina Keneally, Queensland’s Peter Beattie and Western Australia’s Geoff Gallop have all outlined the conditions under which the tax change could be implemented as part of a reform package.”: Former Labor premiers back GST rise, putting pressure on Bill Shorten.

North Queensland economic summit open

  • Hayden Smith reported, “The Northern Queensland Economic Summit 2015 is officially under way, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk opening the three-day event at tonight’s gala Welcome Dinner. James Cook University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding and Fullshare International managing director Yi Yu are guest speakers at the dinner event, held at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal. Tomorrow, delegates will take part in a full-day summit at the Cairns Convention Centre, where they will discuss potential economic opportunities for the Far North. Friday will see a number of guests visit the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.”: Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk opens economic summit in Cairns with high-profile dinner.
  • Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stated, “New laws about Queensland ports will strike a balance that allows the limited removal of port material and still meets international commitments to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government was responding to the Cairns community and its three local members: Treasurer Curtis Pitt, Member for Cairns Rob Pyne and Member for Barron River Craig Crawford. “This government committed to being a consultative government that listened, and that’s what we have done,” she said.”: Palaszczuk Government responds to Cairns Port growth calls.

Union encouragement policy allowed in public service

Multi-peril crop insurance

  • David Iliffe reported, “Queensland MP Robbie Katter believes multi-peril crop insurance could be the saviour of the Australian rural industry. The Katter Australia Party state leader returned from a multi-peril crop insurance summit hosted by the NSW Government in Sydney enthusiastic about a scheme he said would keep families on farms. Multi-peril crop insurance protects crops against natural perils including adverse weather, fire, insects, disease, and failure of irrigation water.”: Katter believes multi-peril crop insurance could be the saviour for farmers.

Shoot the mynas and toads

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Katter’s Australian Party MP Shane Knuth thought he’d at least try. “Will the minister consider implementing changes to current gun laws that could give Queenslanders the right to use an air rifle in their back years in the war against cane toads and myna birds,” he asked Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller in a question on notice. Ms Miller however, said there was little hope.”: Queensland gun laws: Katter MP wants us to shoot mynas and toads with air rifles.

2019 end to Straddie mining likely

  • Judith Kerr reported, “Parliament jointly consider two pieces of legislation both calling for different deadlines for the end of mining on North Stradbroke Island. Sandgate MP Stirling Hinchliffe last week called on the Parliamentary Finance and Administration Committee to suspend consideration of a Katter Party Private Members Bill, tabled on October 27. “: Straddie mine Bills to get joint consideration.

Ban political donations

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(November 3, 2015) – Byrne Inquiry: Political blame

Comment In the aftermath of the shocking revelations of the Byrne Inquiry, both Labor and the LNP need to put the politics aside and build a cohesive strategy to fight the problems identified. No one particular organised crime should be exploited  for political purposes. Both of the state’s political beasts must resist the natural instinct to strike flesh from the other.

Most Queenslanders prefer a moderate, constructive plan to address the crime problems of bikies, child exploitation and fraud as identified in the report. The Queensland media would also appreciate a bipartisan approach. As 7 News Queensland’s Patrick Condren put it on Monday night, “The challenge for Annastacia Palaszczuk is to resist the urge to attack her foes and get on with the job of sorting out the child exploitation issue.”

As for today’s sensationalist claims by The Courier Mail that police were “furious” with the report, you only have to look to Monday’s press conference with Acting Commissioner Ross Barnett to realise there couldn’t have been a more calmer copper on the beat.

Palaszczuk meets with child protection advocates

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Both Labor and the LNP have blamed each other for politicising the Byrne Report into organised crime, while continuing to politicise the message from the report.”: Political games continue in response to Byrne report.
  • ABC Radio Brisbane interview, “The Byrne Inquiry into Organised Crime in Queensland claimed the former Newman Government’s crackdown on bikie gangs came at the expense of other forms of organised crime including child exploitation.Commissioner Michael Byrne QC presented his findings to the Premier saying:”The other forms are those detailed in the report and they include child exploitation offenders and financial crimes – drugs are dealt with as well. It’s those two which we found were if you like neglected. I’m not pointing the finger of blame at anyone, but resources were being focused on OMCGs.”Steve spoke to Acting Queensland Police Commissioner Ross Barnett and Mark Lauchs from the QUT School of Justice.”: Qld needs goals, not just money, to reduce crime: expert.
Tegan George reported: Annastacia Palaszczuk meets with child protection advocates - Also no compromise on lockout laws.

Tegan George reported: Annastacia Palaszczuk meets with child protection advocates – Also no compromise on lockout laws.

The Courier Mail: November 3, 2015 - Drop Your Guns.

The Courier Mail: November 3, 2015 – Drop Your Guns.

Palaszczuk rejects Gordon offer

  • Matt Wordsworth reported, “Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has rejected a compromise position on nightclub lockout laws proposed by independent MP Billy Gordon. Mr Gordon said he would support the Queensland Government’s laws that would force pubs and clubs to close at 3:00am, if the requirement for a 1:00am lockout and mandatory ID scanning was dropped.”: Premier knocks back deal with Billy Gordon on nightclub lockout and closure laws.
  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ruled out Billy Gordon’s proposed compromise on Labor’s controversial lockout laws as “unacceptable to the government”, despite not having seen it yet. The government hopes to introduce its strict lockout laws, which include mandatory ID scanning, a 1am lockout, no shots after midnight, and last drinks at 3am, to the parliament by the end of the year. But it needs cross-bench support to pass. The two Katter MPs have already publicly indicated they will not support the bill, as has former Labor MP turned independent Mr Gordon, which leaves the government short of the numbers it needs for success. On Monday, Mr Gordon proposed a compromise, which would allow venues to choose if they instigated an ID scanning policy, drink promotion restrictions and a 3am closing time, with no lockout.”: Lockout law compromise ‘unacceptable’.
  • Steven Wardill and Sarah Vogler reported, “Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Member for Cook Billy Gordon’s lockout compromise is unacceptable to the State Government. Ms Palaszczuk said her minority Government was forging ahead with its plan to introduce a new lockout plan including a ban on shots after midnight, a 1am lockout and a ban on the sale of all alcohol after 3am.”: MP Billy Gordon issues demands over new liquor laws.

 Renewed call for Qld daylight saving from Emma, 3

  • Kristian Silva reported, “Meet Queensland’s youngest daylight savings campaigner. A three-year-old named Ella has made an impassioned plea to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to bring Queensland’s clocks into line with other eastern states during the warmer months. “Dear Annastacia Palaszczuk, the sun comes up too early. I wake up at 5am,” she says in a video posted on YouTube.”: Daylight savings: Queensland girl, 3, makes plea to premier.

Queensland coroner finds safer batteries needed

  • Jessica van Vonderen reported, “A Queensland coroner has urged battery manufacturers to develop safer products and criticised two doctors in the wake of the death of four-year-old Sunshine Coast girl Summer Steer. Summer became the first child to die in Australia from swallowing a lithium, or “button”, battery when she passed away on June 30, 2013. She had been taken to Noosa hospital with a stomach ache, fever and vomiting, but doctors twice sent her home.”: Queensland coroner calls for safer batteries after inquest into death of Summer Steer.

Newman Government’s Gasfields Commission Queensland courted by gas companies

  • Joshua Robertson reported, “Gas companies and lobbyists treated senior figures from the Queensland industry regulator to tickets to the Australian ballet, corporate boxes at football games and cocktail parties as part of thousands of dollars in hospitality. Staff from the Gasfields Commission Queensland, which was set up in 2013 to improve relations between gas companies and rural landholders that remain fractious, have also declared field trips, plane flights and private dinners paid for by the industry, documents show.”: Gas companies treated staff at industry regulator to cocktail parties and ballet.

Anna Bligh’s book more popular than Campbell Newman’s

  • Cameron Atfield reported, “Brisbane City Council has bought 22 copies of the political biography of former premier and lord mayor Campbell Newman for the city’s libraries, but the LNP administration has denied doing its former leader any favours. Can Do: Campbell Newman and the Challenge of Reform has been, according to its author and former LNP MP Gavin King, a strong seller and was already in its second printing following its release last month.”: Brisbane council bought more of Anna Bligh’s books than Campbell Newman’s Can Do.

40 millimetres falls over parts of Ilfracombe

  • Ash Moore reported, “A western Queensland mayor says good weekend rainfall has boosted local water supplies. More than 40 millimetres fell over parts of Ilfracombe, which is currently on level four water restrictions.However, Longreach Mayor Joe Owens said it was too early to say if it was enough to ease restrictions.

    “The fact that we’ve got this extra water now, it’s going to, and I’m only guessing, probably going to give another three or four months of water supply over and above what they’ve got at present, so it’s a quite significant boost to the capacity,” he said.

    “Very fortunate that it did go over some of the catchment of the dams down there and as of this morning the marker on the MacMillan Dam was sitting on three metres.

    “Quite a nice little run into the dam.””: Drought-hit Ilfracombe gets water supply boost from weekend rainfall.

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(November 2, 2015) – The debate: GST increase to 15pc

LNP wants mature debate

  • Katharine Murphy reported, “Treasurer Scott Morrison says everything is on the table when it comes to tax reform, but the process remains in its “discovery” phase. A Coalition MP, David Gillespie, has asked the parliamentary budget office to cost a 15{17ac88c265afb328fa89088ab635a2a63864fdefdd7caa0964376053e8ea14b3} GST levied on more goods and services. The costing suggests the proposal would raise $65.5bn in 2017-18.”: Scott Morrison welcomes 15{17ac88c265afb328fa89088ab635a2a63864fdefdd7caa0964376053e8ea14b3} GST proposal but stops short of endorsing it.
  • Latika Bourke reported, “Lifting the GST to 15 per cent and applying it to food, health and education would reap $130 billion in revenue in just one year, official costings commissioned by a Turnbull government MP show. But Treasurer Scott Morrison has stressed the idea is not official policy and sits at the “extreme end” of the options available to the government as it mulls a tax reform package ahead of the next federal election.”: Scott Morrison’s lukewarm reception for wide-ranging New Zealand-style GST.
  • James Massola reported, “Labor states could wave through a rise in the GST if Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull puts a reform package to voters and wins the next election, potentially clearing one of the biggest hurdles to tax reform.”: Labor states could wave through GST increase if Malcolm Turnbull secures election mandate.
  • Tony Moore reported, “Queensland’s Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg said it was time for a “mature debate” about the need to increase the goods and services tax from the existing 10 per cent. “There should be a mature debate around this, but this mature debate should involve a genuine commitment from the states to abolish taxes such as the payroll tax,” Mr Springborg said. Increasing the GST has been constantly speculated for almost two years by the former Abbott Government and now the Turnbull Government. In News Ltd newspapers on Sunday morning stories suggested four options for new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to increase the GST from 10 per cent to 15 per cent and raise $24.5 billion a year or almost $100 billion over four years. Another option is to raise the GST to 12.5 per cent.”: Time for mature debate on increasing the GST: Springborg.

Funding increased to fight child exploitation

Tegan George reported: An extra 3 million dollars is being given to police to investigate allegations of child abuse and child exploitation.

Tegan George reported: An extra 3 million dollars is being given to police to investigate allegations of child abuse and child exploitation.

Patrick Condren reported: The acting Police Commissioner has hit back at claims child exploitation was allowed to 'flourish' while investigators focused on bikie crimes. Ross Barnett says he's 'disappointed' at the perception that police had dropped the ball on child abuse crimes.

Patrick Condren reported: The acting Police Commissioner has hit back at claims child exploitation was allowed to ‘flourish’ while investigators focused on bikie crimes. Ross Barnett says he’s ‘disappointed’ at the perception that police had dropped the ball on child abuse crimes.

Screen Australia Report: $238m production activity in Qld

$837 million total production expenditure
On par with last year’s record level
35 Australian features $121 million
A strong core slate but no high-budget
studio-financed titles this year
47 Australian TV dramas $299 million
Scaled back from recent record highs
16 foreign projects $418 million
Highest expenditure on record
Producer Offset total value $77 million

Rain for Barcaldine

CCC investigation into Qld Police anti-fraud project

Lock-out laws save lives

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(November 1, 2015) – Water in the Sunshine State

Water usage down per capita in SEQ

  • Tony Moore reported, “South-east Queenslanders have stuck to their water-saving ways since the 2001-2009 drought and in 2015 are using almost half the water per person they used when the last drought started in 2001. In 2001 the average person used 300 litres of water per day to wash, eat, drink and in the garden. In 2015 – according to figures released by Seqwater on the eve of an international water conference in Brisbane this week – each person uses just 169 litres per day.”: Waterwise Queenslanders saves need for new dam until 2030.

Drought prevails despite, 100 mm falls

Queensland Government: Drought declared shires across the state.

Queensland Government: Drought declared shires across the state.

Geoff Breusch reported: Parts of Western Queensland have had their first rain in more than 6 months overnight. Falls well over 100 mm has been the best in 6 years.

Geoff Breusch reported: Parts of Western Queensland have had their first rain in more than 6 months overnight. Falls well over 100 mm has been the best in 6 years.

No GST hike for Queensland

  • Brisbane Times reported, “The Queensland government says there’s no compelling reason to justify a hike in the GST and an unnecessary increase could hurt vulnerable families. Treasurer Curtis Pitt on Sunday responded to media reports the federal government was considering raising the GST from 10 per cent to 15 per cent. The speculated changes would also include reducing tax for middle-income earners and keeping fresh food GST-free. But Mr Pitt said the state remained opposed to any hike in the GST rate. “Let me be very clear, a change to the GST does not happen unless all of the states agree,” he said in Cairns.”: Queensland Government says no to future GST increase.
  • Sam McKeith reported, “The federal opposition says it’s happy to fight the Turnbull Government at an election over a hike to the GST amid reports of plans to increase the tax to 15 percent. News Corp Australia is reporting on Sunday that the federal government plans to lift the GST from 10 percent to 15 percent, with treasury officials said to be working on different reform options.”: GST hike ruled out by Labor.

Byrne Inquiry: Springborg blames Labor

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/660679111824707584

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