Arrogant Attorney-General Shuns Consultation

Media Release

Queensland’s Attorney-General has set new records for arrogance by admitting he has not consulted anyone on shifting the Labour Day public holiday, says Opposition frontbencher Jo-Ann Miller.

“Not only did he not consult anyone over that disruptive change, Mr Bleijie has also admitted he has not listened to community groups before cutting their funds as part of the Newman Government’s mass sackings and savage cuts to frontline services,” Mrs Miller said.

“At Budget Estimates hearings Mr Bleijie has shown that in almost all cases he did not even bother to find out what work community organisations were doing before slashing their funding.

“Even by the standards of the Newman Government, Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie’s arrogance is breathtaking.

“Under questioning at the Estimates hearings Mr Bleijie was almost gleeful when he admitted he had undertaken absolutely no consultation before asking Cabinet to shift Labour Day from May to October.

“This is despite the huge negative impact the change will have on rural and regional communities across the state and the damage it will do to groups who have already started planning and promoting events to be held on the Labour Day long weekend in 2013.”

Mrs Miller said Mr Bleijie’s arrogant attitude reflected the Newman Government’s failure to listen to people, especially those in regional Queensland where local Labour Day weekend events made significant contributions to the regional economy.