Premier's journal
2010 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
1 September 2010
On 19 August, I opened a world class Queensland event in a world class Queensland city.
In only its second year, the Art Fair attracted almost 11,000 international and domestic visitors.
During three full days it showcased and celebrated our state's two unique indigenous cultures at Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns Regional Gallery and more than eight venues across the city.
The program was jam-packed with exhibitions, artist talks, dance, music, debate and demonstrations.
The Art Fair has fast become a must-see event for people wishing to immerse themselves in Queensland's Indigenous cultures.
The 2011 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair takes place from 19-21 August and I suggest that everyone start booking their flights and accommodation now.
Read the Premier's media statement
View the interview with Anna Bligh
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Healthy Queensland Awards
24 August 2010
Living in Queensland provides us with a great climate and many opportunities to live happier and healthier lifestyles.
Communities across Queensland are making their towns, streets, suburbs, schools and workplaces much healthier places to live, work, learn and play; and we want to hear about these successes.
The Healthy Queensland Awards provides an opportunity to celebrate and recognise local community actions helping Queenslanders be more active, make healthier food choices, achieve and maintain a healthy weight, be smoke free and to encourage responsible drinking.
The Queensland Government is committed to helping Queenslanders become Australia's healthiest people. Challenges we are tackling head-on include those associated with unhealthy lifestyles and preventable disease. Health is one of five priorities of Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland, my government's vision for Queensland over the next 10 years and beyond.
The Queensland Government is pleased to be supporting the Healthy Queensland Awards, in partnership with Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland.
Supporting these awards, by offering a total prize pool of $1.6 million toward state 'winners', is one way my government is rewarding and celebrating the valued contribution and successes of local communities, organisations and individuals in creating healthier lives and environments for Queenslanders.
I strongly encourage all communities, including schools, workplaces, towns, streets, suburbs or other network, to submit an application for these awards.
Learn more about these awards.
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Red Hot Right Now – tourism marketing campaign
12 August 2010
The State Government is launching a new $550,000 tourism marketing campaign that will see Brisbane's art, cultural, entertainment, dining and sporting experiences profiled to southerners to actively get them across the border into our capital city.
The exciting Brisbane's Red Hot Right Now campaign centres on a range of experiences for visitors to Brisbane while at the same time developing the region's reputation as a cultural hub.
Its aim is to get even more southern tourists to come to SEQ than the 4.1 million who visited our city last year, spending $2.2 billion.
The campaign includes print and online components and is an initiative of our government in collaboration with Tourism Queensland, Queensland Events, Brisbane Marketing, the South Bank Corporation, Brisbane Festival, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Queensland Arts Gallery.
Our government will do everything possible to give our tourism industry a boost as it emerges from the global financial crisis. At the same time we will do everything we can to promote our region's cultural attractions – and this campaign achieves that dual purpose.
Visit the Tourism Queensland website and discover what's hot in Brisbane right now.
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The 2018 Commonwealth Games logo unveiled
10 August 2010
Today I unveiled the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games logo which features vibrant colours symbolising the energy and excitement that is the Gold Coast.
This logo captures the energy of the Gold Coast in a blast of colour.
I know Australians will get behind this logo, get behind this bid and go for Gold Coast 2018.
It was important to get the logo out front and centre now with the first opportunity to really push the Gold Coast less than two months away.
The Commonwealth Games Federation will hold its General Assembly in Delhi, India on October 2, the day before the Games begin, and the cities bidding for 2018 have been invited to make a presentation.
First impressions count and this will be our first formal opportunity to spell out just why the Gold Coast is the ideal location for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
It's currently my intention to lead the delegation and it will include bid committee chair Mark Stockwell and Gold Coast City Council representatives.
Visit the website for more information.
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State Budget - building a strong Queensland
8 June 2010
This year's State Budget demonstrates the government's commitment to building a strong Queensland for the future.
We're on the road to recovery but we're not out of the woods yet.
That's why it's as important as ever to stay focused on delivering on our strong economic plan for the future - that's what this Budget does.
We're continuing our massive investment in building vital infrastructure for tomorrow's Queensland, with this year's $17.1 billion investment in our building program, protecting 106,000 Queensland jobs.
We're investing in better frontline services - including more doctors, nurses, teachers and teacher's aides, police, ambulance officers and fire officers.
The government is also committed to easing the cost of living pressures on Queenslanders.
And this year's budget includes an electricity rebate boost for pensioners, as well as a reduction in CTP costs for Queensland motorists.
As part of this commitment, the government has released a number of tips to help you save on:
- power and water bills
- public transport
- ambulance cover
- council rates
- first home ownership.
Read these tips and find out how you can save.
Visit the Building Queensland website to find projects initiated by the government in your community.
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Daylight savings
14 May 2010
Should we have a referendum on daylight saving in SEQ?
The Independent MP for Nicklin Peter Wellington has introduced a Private Member's Bill into Parliament to have a referendum on daylight saving for South East Queensland.
Before government decides whether to support the bill, I want to hear your views on holding a referendum on daylight saving for South East Queensland only and also on having a trial run.
It has been 18 years since Queensland has had a referendum on the issue of daylight saving and a whole generation is yet to have a say.
I was overwhelmed by responses on twitter and facebook by people wanting to let me know what they think.
This survey has closed as of midnight 31 May 2010. Thank you for your views and valued feedback on the issue of Daylight Saving in South East Queensland.
We are reviewing all responses and will provide the results shortly.
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Do the Bright Thing
14 May 2010
Making Queensland the solar state
The state government is making it easier for Queenslanders to do the bright thing! We've announced a new solar hot water rebate with a $1000 rebate for pensioners and low-income earners and a $600 rebate for all eligible applicants.
Additionally, our Solar Bonus Scheme has attracted more than 22,400 customers so far who feed electricity back into the grid while saving on their bills and boosting the state's use of renewable energy.
750 schools now have solar panels installed thanks to the solar schools program, resulting in more than 10,000 megawatts of energy savings.
By tapping into solar, businesses, households and communities are panel by panel building a 500 megawatt virtual solar power station transforming Queensland into the solar state.
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Facebook tips
26 March 2010
In February I wrote to the CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg following some alarming incidents in our state.
In the space of a week we had two incidents of sickening and illegal material posted on tribute pages set up for children who have had their lives cut short in the most terrible of circumstances.
In response, I have put together a few Facebook tips to assist in the prevention of these terrible actions happening again.
Facebook have implemented many privacy and security options which are available to all accounts. Facebook tips highlight the options available to secure your own profile and manage your fan, group or tribute pages safely.
Education is the key to keep yourself and your family safe online.
Read the Facebook tips (.doc, 214 KB)
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Cyclone Ului assistance
25 March 2010
In the early hours of Sunday March 21, communities in North Queensland were hit by Cyclone Ului – almost four years to the day since Cyclone Larry wreaked its path of destruction.
On Sunday afternoon, I visited the affected areas of Proserpine and Mackay with Emergency Services Minister, Neil Roberts.
Hats off to the affected communities who once again proved their resilience in the face of extremely tough conditions.
This was no doubt a severe and significant weather event and with the recovery effort continuing, help is at hand.
A broad range of services from the Queensland Government, Red Cross, Lifeline and Centrelink can be accessed through Information and Coordination Centres in Mackay, Cannonvale and Proserpine.
Financial assistance is available through the centres or by calling 1800 173 349.
Find out about financial assistance (external site)
To help families affected by these natural disasters, I have extended the South-West flood appeal to include the areas affected by Cyclone Ului. The Queensland Government donated $500,000 to the appeal.
You can donate in a variety of ways including by phone, online, in person, mail or internet banking.
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A focus on managing growth
17 March 2010
Queensland's lifestyle is the envy of the world, but if we want to keep that lifestyle for our children we need to manage our growth.
The Growth Management Summit is little more than two weeks away and will be attended by over 200 experts in the areas of business, environment and planning.
The summit will be facilitated by 7:30 Report host, Kerry O'Brien, and will be held at the State Library.
Visit the Growth Management Summit website for details. (external site)
To continue our focus on growth we are also holding the second People's Question Time on Wednesday 24 March, 12.30pm-1.30pm.
Participate in the next session by submitting questions around the challenges and opportunities of population growth in Queensland.
I encourage anyone who is interested in the future of Queensland to take these exciting opportunities to contribute to this issue.
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SEQ Futures now online
11 March 2010
Today the State Government launched a new interactive tool on the Growth Management Summit website (external site) to get Queenslanders involved in shaping our future.
The SEQ Futures program invites users to list their priorities for the future, such as less traffic congestion and walkable town centres. It lets you, the public, tell the government what you value most about the region - like environmental protection, quiet neighbourhoods or local amenities.
I invite all Queenslanders to take the challenge and explore different options to accommodate the expected population growth through SEQ Futures.
After you select from a range of priorities that reflect what you value for our future, you can make choices about how to manage growth, and see the possible futures based on your selections. The program allows you to see the implications of different choices around elements like housing and transport.
The growth that is happening in our State means that we need to make hard choices today to shape the Queensland of tomorrow. By using SEQ Futures the government can ensure we identify Queenslanders' priorities and views on the future.
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Remembering the AHS Centaur
5 March 2010
This week I attended the memorial service for the AHS Centaur at St John's Cathedral in Brisbane – a moving service to remember and honour 268 lives cut short.
While there was never going to be a happy ending to this story, after 67 years there is finally the opportunity for some comfort and healing.
The supreme sacrifice these men and women paid while on a mission of mercy will never be forgotten.
The Queensland Government feels privileged to have been involved in the search for the Centaur and play its part in helping to bring peace and comfort to the Centaur families and friends.
And we join search director, David Mearns in sincerely thanking and congratulating those who so tirelessly campaigned for this quest from the very beginning.
View video footage and images of the Centaur story
Read more about the AHS Centaur memorial service
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The Future of Education
4 March 2010
Every child deserves the best education and the Queensland Government will do whatever is necessary to ensure they get it. Here are some initiatives we've launched.
Ready Readers
Last week I launched a campaign to boost the literacy skills of Queensland students. We have begun recruiting an army of 3000 volunteers to read with children in our schools.
Find out about Ready Readers (external site)
Book Vouchers
The Queensland Government has joined forces with the Sunday Mail and Queensland Bookstores to offer a 10% discount off children's books statewide in March. Get your coupon in this weekend's paper.
Premier Bligh and the Sunday Mail join forces to offer affordable children's books (external site)
Community Forums
The first of the education forums are underway with the community contributing lively discussion and feedback about the government's green paper.
Share your ideas or participate in a forum (external site)
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