Statement by Premier-Elect Anna Bligh
Published Wednesday, 12 September, 2007 at 03:31 PM
Others
The Honourable Anna Bligh
12 September 2007
Queensland is the best State in Australia – it’s a great place to live and raise a family, a great place to work and do business, and a great place to visit and enjoy.
As Premier, I want to keep it that way – to keep Queensland ahead of the pack.
That means understanding the challenges ahead, seeing over the next horizon, anticipating and solving problems.
After nine years of working at senior levels of Government here in Queensland, I bring extensive experience and a great deal of enthusiasm and energy to the task.
We are experiencing prosperous times with low unemployment, rapid industrial expansion and an economy that is growing at a rate that outstrips the nation.
A strong economy will be my first priority as Premier. It is the strength and growth of the Queensland economy that creates jobs and opportunities - generates the capacity for us to build our roads, our schools and our hospitals and creates great futures for our children.
Modern economies are fuelled by education, knowledge and skills. Education is a passion of mine, it has been at the heart of our government for nine years and this will continue under my Premiership.
Investing in the early years is critical to later success. This year we have rolled out the Prep Year in every Queensland Catholic, Independent and public school. It is now time to turn our attention to those early years before school begins.
I come to the task at a time of unprecedented growth. Growth is our biggest challenge and our best opportunity.
I want us to plan for that growth and manage it better – I want this growth to drive our economy and maintain our lifestyle. Our challenge is to stay one step ahead of this growth – this is the task I set for myself as Premier.
I want the building of our infrastructure – our roads, rail, ports, energy networks, schools, hospitals – and most urgent of all water, to be one of the hallmarks of my Premiership.
To this end, I will chair an Infrastructure Cabinet Committee to drive the delivery of all major projects and my Deputy, Paul Lucas, as my most senior Minister, will lead the portfolio of Infrastructure and Planning.
This will also bring together all the planning functions of government, including those currently in the portfolio of Local Government and Planning. and the Office of Urban Management, to secure better planning for the future.
Growing Queensland’s regions is the key to our economic strength and to managing our population growth. I intend to renew our focus on the development of regional Queensland – and the shape of my Ministry will reflect this priority.
Our surge in population is putting pressure on our roads and our transport system. Urban congestion is bad for business, bad for the environment and at the end of the day robs commuters of precious time with their families.
A stronger focus on our transport system will be an early priority of my Government.
Many of our services are experiencing high demands. Health and Ambulance are key areas where meeting demand will be paramount.
Under the leadership of Health Minister Stephen Robertson, our Health Action Plan is beginning to see results but there is much more to de done – bringing on-line the extra beds we committed to in the 2006 election and building three new tertiary hospitals are among the big tasks.
As Premier, I also want to see us doing more to prevent illness and more to encourage us to live healthier lifestyles. Stephen Robertson will retain the Health portfolio to maintain the momentum we need to meet the high expectations of Queenslanders.
Queensland’s investment in our ambulance service is the highest, per person, in Australia. Clearly, we need to be working harder to see that investment reflected in service quality. This will get my immediate attention.
Climate change looms as a critical issue on the horizon – I will be reshaping the ministry to put a new emphasis on the long-term challenge of ensuring a sustainable future for our State.
Finally, as a Minister across a number of portfolios, I have always strived to be open and accessible, to build strong relationships and partnerships with stakeholder groups and to be open and accountable in dealing with my responsibilities – Queenslanders can count on this continuing as I move into the Premier’s job and they can count on me expecting all my Minsters to do the same.
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900
Queensland is the best State in Australia – it’s a great place to live and raise a family, a great place to work and do business, and a great place to visit and enjoy.
As Premier, I want to keep it that way – to keep Queensland ahead of the pack.
That means understanding the challenges ahead, seeing over the next horizon, anticipating and solving problems.
After nine years of working at senior levels of Government here in Queensland, I bring extensive experience and a great deal of enthusiasm and energy to the task.
We are experiencing prosperous times with low unemployment, rapid industrial expansion and an economy that is growing at a rate that outstrips the nation.
A strong economy will be my first priority as Premier. It is the strength and growth of the Queensland economy that creates jobs and opportunities - generates the capacity for us to build our roads, our schools and our hospitals and creates great futures for our children.
Modern economies are fuelled by education, knowledge and skills. Education is a passion of mine, it has been at the heart of our government for nine years and this will continue under my Premiership.
Investing in the early years is critical to later success. This year we have rolled out the Prep Year in every Queensland Catholic, Independent and public school. It is now time to turn our attention to those early years before school begins.
I come to the task at a time of unprecedented growth. Growth is our biggest challenge and our best opportunity.
I want us to plan for that growth and manage it better – I want this growth to drive our economy and maintain our lifestyle. Our challenge is to stay one step ahead of this growth – this is the task I set for myself as Premier.
I want the building of our infrastructure – our roads, rail, ports, energy networks, schools, hospitals – and most urgent of all water, to be one of the hallmarks of my Premiership.
To this end, I will chair an Infrastructure Cabinet Committee to drive the delivery of all major projects and my Deputy, Paul Lucas, as my most senior Minister, will lead the portfolio of Infrastructure and Planning.
This will also bring together all the planning functions of government, including those currently in the portfolio of Local Government and Planning. and the Office of Urban Management, to secure better planning for the future.
Growing Queensland’s regions is the key to our economic strength and to managing our population growth. I intend to renew our focus on the development of regional Queensland – and the shape of my Ministry will reflect this priority.
Our surge in population is putting pressure on our roads and our transport system. Urban congestion is bad for business, bad for the environment and at the end of the day robs commuters of precious time with their families.
A stronger focus on our transport system will be an early priority of my Government.
Many of our services are experiencing high demands. Health and Ambulance are key areas where meeting demand will be paramount.
Under the leadership of Health Minister Stephen Robertson, our Health Action Plan is beginning to see results but there is much more to de done – bringing on-line the extra beds we committed to in the 2006 election and building three new tertiary hospitals are among the big tasks.
As Premier, I also want to see us doing more to prevent illness and more to encourage us to live healthier lifestyles. Stephen Robertson will retain the Health portfolio to maintain the momentum we need to meet the high expectations of Queenslanders.
Queensland’s investment in our ambulance service is the highest, per person, in Australia. Clearly, we need to be working harder to see that investment reflected in service quality. This will get my immediate attention.
Climate change looms as a critical issue on the horizon – I will be reshaping the ministry to put a new emphasis on the long-term challenge of ensuring a sustainable future for our State.
Finally, as a Minister across a number of portfolios, I have always strived to be open and accessible, to build strong relationships and partnerships with stakeholder groups and to be open and accountable in dealing with my responsibilities – Queenslanders can count on this continuing as I move into the Premier’s job and they can count on me expecting all my Minsters to do the same.
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 3224 6900