On Thursday 16 November 2023, I asked the Treasurer if he agreed that gas royalties should be raised so that corporations pay their fair share.
You can read my question and the answer below, or find the full transcript and video link in the official Queensland Parliament Record of Proceedings (Hansard).
Amy:
My question is for the Treasurer. The Treasurer has been detailing the benefits of higher coal royalties, a Greens policy, as a way to give Queenslanders a fairer share of resource revenue. Does the Treasurer agree that gas royalties should also be raised, or is he content for the gas corporations to not pay their fair share?
Treasurer:
I thank the member for South Brisbane for her question. Like most propositions put forward by the Greens, the contention is false and incorrect. There is only one party in this House that will take on big coal and that is the Australian Labor Party. It was not Greens policy, the party that will never be able to implement anything. It was a deliberate decision of our government to ensure that Queenslanders got their fair share—not talking about Queenslanders getting their fair share, but respecting the processes of the parliament, being in the House, remaining in the House at all times to ensure that the legislative measures that we design, that we develop, that we implement—
Member for Logan interjected
Treasurer:
I take the interjection from the member for Logan—we do that deliberately to deliver for the people of Queensland.
There are two great threats to our revenue position in this state. One is the LNP’s avowed position to cut progressive coal royalties to give $7 billion back to big coal companies. We know that Chris Wallin has received half a billion dollars in dividends, there are multiple billions of dollars in BHP and the family who are the predominant shareholders in Jellinbah are getting almost a billion dollars in dividends.
The other threat is the Greens political party that wants to eliminate payroll tax and blow a $5 billion hole in the budget each year. That is a $20 billion hole in our budget over the forward estimates. I call on the Queensland Greens to articulate clearly how that hole will be filled. A $20 billion budget deficit would be a very significant hole in the budget. That is the policy position.
Amy interjected
Treasurer:
You only have to look at your website to know what your policy position is.
Speaker:
Direct your comments through the chair.
Treasurer:
You are proud to put a $20 billion hole in the budget but then you want everything for free, and I do not understand how that can be reconciled. Parties of government are not parties of protest. Parties of government have to put a financial plan forward. We have to be responsible economic managers.
Amy:
Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order under relevance. My question was about gas companies.
Speaker:
Member for South Brisbane, components of the question also related to coal, which the Treasurer is addressing. Treasurer, I would ask that you do respond to that other component of the question as asked.
Treasurer:
Thank you for your direction, Mr Speaker. I will. Parties of government need to be responsible economic managers. We have demonstrated that consistently as a government.
We have settled royalty arrangements with the gas industry and we got a very good deal for Queensland. That is what we did. We will continue to ensure that the resources that belong to the people of Queensland, the royalties which are a payment to the people of Queensland for their resources, continue to be fair—fair to the industry so they can continue to prosper and grow and fair for Queensland so we can deliver the essential infrastructure, jobs and services that the people of our state deserve.