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'Protection racket' at Qld estimates: LNP

The Queensland government has been accused of secrecy and cover ups during budget estimates hearings.

Queensland's opposition party has accused the state government of running a "protection racket" by refusing to properly answer questions asked of it during two weeks of budget estimates hearings.

The hearings are an opportunity for all MPs to ask questions of ministers and their department heads about their portfolios and how taxpayer money is being spent.

But Liberal National Party leader Deb Frecklington on Friday said hearings held over the past fortnight by Annastacia Palaszczuk's government were bogged down in "secrecy and cover up".

"It's disappointing to see that the estimates under the Palaszczuk government was just a farce, it was a protection racket, it was all about secrecy and cover up, it wasn't about answering questions," Ms Frecklington said.

A government spokesman said if the opposition wants better answer from officials, it should ask better questions.

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"Budget estimates are a vital part of keeping governments accountable," he said.

"It should focus on the budget. That's what it's for."

Labor heads of committees probing officials over government spending regularly raised points of order about opposition questions, at times clearly frustrating members on both sides.

Cufflinks worn by LNP member Jarrod Bleijie with the letters "F" and "U" on them also caused a stir, leading to accusations from Attorney General Yvette D'Ath that he was trying to intimidate top officials.

Mr Bleijie labelled the issue a distraction, saying the accessories were in reference to the character Frank Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey on the hit TV political drama House of Cards.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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