Premier Slow To Act On Caltabiano

Media Release

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Premier has failed to act quickly to resolve doubts about Michael Caltabiano’s testimony to State Parliament.

“Far from moving quickly to clear the stench of scandal surrounding his government, the Premier has failed to take even the simplest steps to clear the air,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“The questions I asked Michael Caltabiano last Thursday were clear and precise and I specifically repeated one about his possible professional relationship with one of his Departmental Liaison Officers.

“The Premier has had a full week to simply pick up the phone and ask one of his Ministers, Ros Bates, if Michael Caltabiano worked in her former lobbying firm.

“If Ms Bates confirmed Michael Caltabiano’s professional connection with the lobbying firm the Premier should have sacked him immediately for misleading State Parliament.

“We need to remember that the Premier handpicked his mate, Michael Caltabiano to head up one of the biggest and most important departments in the state government.

“It is beyond belief that the Premier is not aware of the work history of his Directors General, let alone one who is a longstanding political operative and powerbroker within the LNP.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier should today release Michael Caltabiano’s CV on file in the Premier’s office since the time of his appointment as Director-General.

“The Premier has no excuse for his slow response to this issue because he could have simply referred to Michael Caltabiano’s CV to clear up any doubts,” she said.

“The Premier would be expected to be familiar with the work history of all of his Directors-Generals, especially one who was an LNP powerbroker.”

Ms Palaszczuk said if the Premier had acted quickly, Michael Caltabiano could have been directed to correct the record last Thursday when the Estimates Hearings were still is session.

“Instead of moving quickly to clear the air, the Premier chose to delay and defer in the hope the issue would go away,” she said.

“He has acted now only because he realised the Opposition planned to raise the issue itself.

“The Premier has nothing to boast about on this matter, in fact it has taken him a week to enforce the bare minimum of standards expected of his government and those who work in it,” Ms Palaszczuk said.