9 Dec 2020 Estimates—Education, Industrial Relations and Racing 1 WEDNESDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2020 _______________ ESTIMATES—EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING COMMITTEE— EDUCATION, INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND RACING EST IMATES—EDUCATION, INDUSTRIAL R EL ATI ONS AN D R ACING Estimate Committee Members Ms KE Richards (Chair) Mr JP Lister Mr MA Boothman Mr N Dametto Mr BL O’Rourke Mr JA Sullivan _______________ Members in Attendance Dr CAC Rowan Dr A MacMahon Ms FS Simpson Mr SSJ Andrew Mr MC Berkman Mr TL Mander Mr JP Bleijie Mr BA Mickelberg _______________ In Attendance Hon. G Grace, Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing Ms S Durham, Chief of Staff Department of Education Mr T Cook, Director-General Mr D Anson, Deputy Director, General, Corporate Services Office of Industrial Relations Mr C Allen, Deputy Director-General Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Dr E Woods, Director-General _______________ The committee met at 9.00 am. CHAIR: Good morning. I declare this hearing of estimates for the Education, Employment and Training Committee open. I acknowledge that we are meeting on custodial land of the oldest living civilisation in the world. I pay my respects to both the Jagera people and the Turrbal people and their elders, past, present and emerging. 2 Estimates—Education, Industrial Relations and Racing 9 Dec 2020 I am Kim Richards, the member for Redlands and chair of the committee. Mr James Lister, the member for Southern Downs, is the deputy chair. The other members of the committee are: Mr Mark Boothman, the member for Theodore; Mr Nick Dametto, the member for Hinchinbrook; Mr Barry O’Rourke, the member for Rockhampton; and Mr Jimmy Sullivan, the member for Stafford. Today the committee will consider the Appropriation (2020-2021) Bill 2020 and the budget estimates for the committee’s areas of responsibility. I remind everyone present that any person may be excluded from the proceedings at my discretion as chair or by order of the committee. The committee has authorised that this hearing is broadcast live, televised and photographed. Copies of the committee’s conditions for broadcasters of proceedings are available from the secretariat. I ask that all mobile phones now be switched off or set to silent mode. I also remind everyone that food and drink is not permitted in this chamber. The committee will examine estimates for its portfolio areas as follows: Education, Industrial Relations and Racing from 9 am until 2 pm; and Employment, Small Business, Training and Skills Development from 2.30 pm until 5.15 pm. The committee will now examine the proposed expenditure contained in the Appropriation (2020-2021) Bill 2020 for the portfolio of the Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing until 2 pm. The committee will suspend proceedings during this time for breaks from 10.30 am to 10.45 am and from 11.45 am until 12.30 pm. The committee will commence with the examination of estimates for the Education portfolio area. The following non-committee members have sought and been granted leave to participate in the hearing in accordance with standing orders. There will be a number of members moving in and out of the chamber. I note that we have the shadow minister for education, Dr Christian Rowan, the member for Moggill, currently present. I also acknowledge the Assistant Minister for Education, the member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga. I remind those present today that the committee’s proceedings are proceedings of the Queensland parliament and subject to the standing rules and orders of the Legislative Assembly. It is important that questions and answers remain relevant and succinct. The same rules for questions that apply in the Legislative Assembly apply in this hearing. I refer to standing orders 112 and 115 in this regard. Questions should be brief and relate to one issue and should not contain lengthy or subjective preambles, argument or opinion. I intend to guide proceedings today so that relevant issues can be respectfully and fully explored and to ensure there is adequate opportunity to address questions from government and non-government members of the committee. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the minister, the director-general, officials and members of the public to the hearing. For the benefit of Hansard, I ask officials to identify themselves the first time they answer a question referred to them by the minister or the director-general. I now declare the proposed expenditure for the portfolio areas of Education, Industrial Relations and Racing open for examination. The question before the committee is— That the proposed expenditure be agreed to. Minister, if you wish, you may make an opening statement of no more than five minutes. Ms GRACE: Thank you, Chair. I will make an opening statement. Good morning, everyone, and welcome. I really do welcome the opportunity to address the Education, Employment and Training Committee. I am joined at the table today by Tony Cook, the Director-General of the Department of Education; Duncan Anson, the Acting Deputy Director-General; and Ms Sharon Durham, my Chief of Staff. The re-election of the Palaszczuk government for four more years has afforded me the privilege of continuing my role as Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations while adding the very important portfolio of Racing. During my time as education minister, I have visited schools across the length and breadth of the state including more than 150 school visits in the past two years. This was despite schools being shut for part of term 2 and all the COVID restrictions being in place for most of 2020. It is an honour to meet all of the students and school staff everywhere I go and to see the great work that they are all doing. The 2020-21 state budget delivers for every single student across Queensland. Once again, the Palaszczuk government is delivering a record Education budget, with more than $14.2 billion being allocated over the next 12 months. That also includes a record spend of $1.9 billion on school infrastructure over the next 12 months, with the highlight being the five new schools—adding to the eight we opened this year—that will open on day one of the 2021 school year. 9 Dec 2020 Estimates—Education, Industrial Relations and Racing 3 We will also spend an additional $1 billion over the next four years, including almost $400 million for nearly 50 new classroom buildings, creating 1,300 jobs; $235 million for 26 new halls and performing arts centres, creating 775 jobs; $100 million for refurbishment and renewal projects in schools; and $45 million for local shovel-ready projects in schools. We are also investing an additional $180 million over three years for new school infrastructure in Catholic and independent schools. It takes our total infrastructure funding support to that sector to $350 million over three years. Building new school infrastructure is important for the world-class facilities it provides and the jobs it creates. Having a world-class education system is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about investing in our people and investing in the future. Our teachers truly are the foundation of the world-class education system we have here in Queensland, setting up our kids for a great future. We will employ 6,190 new teachers and 1,139 new teacher aides over the next four years. In addition, we will provide 300 aspiring teachers with financial support, mentoring and a paid teaching internship to complete their teaching qualification and take up a guaranteed teaching position. The budget also provides increased mental health support for students, with an additional $100 million being allocated for the additional 464 wellbeing professionals and 20 GPs. In the Industrial Relations portfolio, the budget strengthened workers’ rights by employing eight additional frontline inspectors to ensure compliance with labour hire licensing laws and to stop wage theft. The amount of $6.1 million will be invested over the next four years to pursue targeted campaigns in the construction, security and contract cleaning labour hire industries, with a particular focus on regional Queensland. We have also committed up to $5 million for medical research into improving the health and wellbeing of workers suffering from occupational dust lung diseases. In Racing, we see the continuation of the hugely successful country racing package, with further funding committed through to July 2023, as well as two transformative infrastructure projects at the Gold Coast Turf Club and a new Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre. Thank you for the opportunity, Chair, to make an opening statement today. Now I am happy to take questions from the committee. CHAIR: Thank you, Minister. I acknowledge the arrival of the member for South Brisbane, Dr Amy MacMahon. I call the member for Southern Downs. Mr LISTER: I defer my question to the member for Moggill. Dr ROWAN: With reference to SDS volume 2 page 24, my first question is to the director-general. Director-General, is the Deputy Director-General, Jeff Hunt, currently suspended on pay or without pay? Mr Cook: Mr Hunt is currently suspended on pay. Dr ROWAN: I refer to the Crime and Corruption Commission report titled An investigation into allegations relating to the appointment of a school principal. The CCC has offered a confidential report to the chief executive of the Public Service Commission in relation to disciplinary action. Director-General, can you confirm whether you are named as a subject officer in the Public Service Commission disciplinary determinations? Mr Cook: I am aware of that matter. That would be a question for the Public Service Commission.