Mr MILLAR (Gregory—LNP) (3.16 PM):  I would like to contribute to this committee report because the estimates process, and what we do in question time, is important to all Queenslanders.

This House is the House of Queenslanders. It is not the House of the Labor Party, it is not the House of the LNP, it is not the House of any political ideology, it is the House of the people of Queensland. They expect this process to work fairly for everybody.

 I am deeply saddened to rise tonight to mark the passing of three outstanding and loved community leaders in Gregory.

Many will be aware of the recent passing of the former member for Gregory, Vaughan Johnson OAM. I hope to have more to say about Vaughan's enormous contributions to Western Queensland when this House marks his passing with a formal condolence motion. The outpouring of gratitude and affection for Vaughan across Gregory shows he was well loved not only in Gregory but throughout Queensland and in this place as well.

 Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (8.20 pm): I rise to draw attention to the importance of tourism in the Western Queensland economy and ask that the Labor government supports the industry in the seat of Gregory.

COVID-19 travel restrictions in the previous two years have seen western drive tourism expand from a well-established grey nomad market to include a family holiday market, which is fantastic. I am keen to see the expansion sustained and I am keen to see that we continue to support our Western Queensland tourism industry.

Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (12.18 pm): I am pleased to be speaking on this bill to establish a permanent office to be known as the Small Business Commissioner.

 The LNP has always understood that small business is the backbone of the Queensland economy, and that is nowhere truer than in regional and rural Queensland. It is small businesses who maintain the liveability of our communities and who sustain our local economies.

Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (2.24 pm): As members know, for years I have been fighting for renal dialysis services in my electorate. It is heartbreaking to see your constituents having to lock up their homes and move to Rockhampton, Mackay or Townsville to receive this treatment. They live in so-called temporary accommodation because Queensland Health calls it a temporary relocation. It often means caravan parks. I have constituents who have been living like this for six or seven years. That is how temporary it is. Constituents like Ian Williams of Emerald have died waiting for the service to be provided.

 Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (6.58 pm): I would love to but I am going to talk about Western Queensland and the housing crisis that we have out there. We have a housing crisis here in Brisbane at the moment with the floods. I understand that.

My heart goes out to all those Brisbane, South-East Queensland, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast families who have gone through such a tragic situation. We need to get behind them, but we also need to get behind a housing crisis that we have in Western Queensland.

Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (6.48 pm): Firstly, I commend the member for Bonney on his foreshadowed amendments relating to best management practices. I believe that is the right way to go, because best management practices have not just happened; they have been around for over 20 years.

I will give members a bit of a story. In 1996 the cotton industry had to face a big dilemma. There was a contamination of Endosulfan in beef to South Korea. We were at loggerheads with the beef industry.

 Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (3:54 PM): I am not surprised to find us kicking off the sitting calendar of 2022 by debating these bills to provide extra funding for six departments and the parliament.

I do not think the Treasurer is, either. As I said when we debated the 2021 budget, this was a fairy-tale. Every fairy-tale should have a happy ending, and the Treasurer's script called for a surprise surplus just in time for the next election.

Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (3:03 pm): I would like to wish everybody a merry Christmas. I hope members spend some time with family and friends and have a good break. Have a merry Christmas.

I am thrilled to be able to respond to the inquiry into vehicle safety, standards and technology, including engine immobiliser technology, report No. 12 for the 57th parliament. This was probably one of the longest committee reports that we have been involved in.

Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (12:40 pm): I rise to express my support for this bill which puts in place the legislative framework that will allow preparations to commence for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This will be a transformative opportunity and I am pleased that the Premier has said that the opportunity and privileges due to the host will be shared by all Queensland not just Brisbane or the south-east corner. I would like to contribute a few comments regarding issues on behalf of regional and rural Queenslanders.