Queensland plans for thirty-year future
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has heard the cries of hundreds of delegates, gathered together to plan the next few decades for the state.
Members of councils, community groups, lobbies and nearly every other kind of collective have contributed to the ‘Queensland Plan’, with suggestions to dig up previously buried legislation, change the way money is spent and generally shift state priorities.
Premier Newman said he may even be willing to change his hard-line on issues if there is enough backing in the Plan.
“If there are things that come out of this summit that are different to the Government's perspective - the Government I lead - then we will have to listen,” he said.
In preparation for the plan, over 70,000 residents made submission in a survey to identify the state’s key future priorities - strengthening regional areas and building a stronger economy among them.
“We've got to translate the words and aspirations of Queenslanders into a real plan, with real outcomes - things that can be measured, I can assure you of that,” Newman said
“We've got to, in the plan, say this is what we want to achieve and this is how we're going to get there.”
The summit this week at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre has been far from smooth and peaceful - with protestors on site making demands for plans to sell state electricity assets to be wound back.
Others have used the mass-gathering to express their general discontent with the government.
Electrical Trades Union spokesman Stuart Traill said: “When these mongrels call the next state election, we are going to ramp up this community campaign and we're going to hold each one of the LNP members to account.”
More information is available at the Queensland Plan website.