Diary shows no Premier talks O’Rourke role faces LNP fury
STATE politicians have questioned Coralee O’Rourke’s role as Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland after her ministerial diary revealed she had not met privately with the Premier between January and March this year.
Several questions were tabled in Parliament by members from the southeast corner yesterday asking if Ms O’Rourke had addressed Townsville’s unemployment and crime rates with the Premier.
Among those were Caloundra MP Mark McArdle, Cleveland MP Mark Robinson and Coomera MP Michael Crandon.
But Ms O’Rourke said it was wrong to imply she had not had private meetings, insisting she did not wait to make an appointment with the Premier as they had informal meetings “all the time”.
Diaries for April have not yet been released but Ms O’Rourke said she was “constantly in the ear” of Ms Palaszczuk.
“What a load of rubbish from the LNP, who completely ignored the North for three long years,” she said.
“Because of this, we have secured funding for key local projects like the new stadium and the Burdekin hydroelectric power station.
“We have also ensured the signing of the City Deal and establishment of the Water Taskforce, additional police resources, the Stronger Communities Group, new youth justice measures, an ice roundtable to be held next week and Governing from the North late last year.”
Ms O’Rourke said she was the Prem- ier’s representative in the North and would always make sure the region’s interests were front and centre.
However Hinchinbrook LNP MP Andrew Cripps questioned what North Queensland was “getting out of her”.
“We cannot work out what on Earth Coralee O’Rourke is responsible for,” he said.
“That is now being reflected in the fact that she has not met with the Premier to discuss any issues this year about her role.”
Mr Cripps said that, while other ministers had private one- on- one meetings, Ms O’Rourke had not.
“The line that we keep getting fed is that, as the minister assisting the premier, her role is to be an advocate, but if that’s true, where are the meetings where she has met to advocate,” he said.
“What is North Queensland getting out of her?
“One can only take from the government documents that she’s failing dismally to fulfil her role.”
LNP deputy leader Deb Frecklington said she found it disappointing that a Labor minister could not find time to stand up for her community.
“She needs to look to her other colleagues who obviously have formal meetings with the Premier,” she said.
“Would Townsville be facing the issues it is if it had a stronger voice?”