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Premier must clear up caretaker confusion

I call on the Premier Anna Bligh to place the state government into caretaker mode immediately to cut confusion and deliver certainty on the use of taxpayer funds. Ms Bligh has sailed the state into uncharted waters by setting an election date, but refusing to place the government into caretaker mode for another three weeks. 

Section 9.2 of the Queensland Government Cabinet Handbook advises ‘some care should be exercised in the period between the announcement of the election and the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly. 

Despite Ms Bligh’s claims, it is clearly ‘not business as usual'. If she wants to play by the rules, she will move the government into caretaker mode earlier. 

I have written to Ms Bligh to indicate the Opposition’s view that the government should move to caretaker provisions before February 19 to protect the Public Service from the suggestion of supporting one side or the other during the campaign. 

I have also requested all non-essential Government, taxpayer funded advertising be suspended. 

Aside from advertising to protect community safety, address urgent public health issues, and assist disaster management, the government must cease all advertising. 

Government advertising is paid for with taxpayer funds. To avoid accusations of misuse of these funds, the Premier should agree to stop unnecessary advertising. 

The Opposition has also asked the Premier to not make any significant executive decision without consultation and requested that no further substantive SES and above appointments be made until after the election. 

I have also sought Ms Bligh’s assurance that the Public Service not be used in any way to support political campaigning, policy development for an election, or rebuttal that might subject the Public Service to charges of being misused or compromised for political gain. 

My letter also asks the Premier to provide any advice she sought from the Integrity Commissioner or the Public Service Commissioner about the necessary protections that should be in place to preserve public service integrity now an election has been called. 

Ms Bligh has announced the election date. She’s now playing political games by saying it is business as usual. 

Queenslanders deserve to know there is a level playing field in the run up to this unprecedented pre-election period. It’s time for a change.

It’s time to get Queensland back on track.