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.

Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (2:19 pm): I rise to condemn the agriculture minister’s disgraceful response in question time yesterday about the future of the Longreach Pastoral College.

The minister seems to think this issue is funny—that it is an opportunity to have a chuckle and a wink. I guess we should not be surprised by the minister’s antics, after all he has form—plenty of form—when it comes to hurting agriculture.

Mr MILLAR (Gregory—LNP) (5.19 pm): I rise to speak to this bill wholeheartedly in support of our veterans and wanting to give voice to their disappointments as expressed in testimony to the Community Support and Services Committee's examination of the bill. I also speak with the hope that the government will address these concerns with amendments to this bill.

Mr MILLAR (Gregory—LNP) (3.30 pm):  In addressing this bill, as deputy chair of the Transport and Resources Committee, I firstly acknowledge my fellow committee members. I also gratefully acknowledge the hardworking secretary, Deborah Jeffrey, her assistant Zac and her colleagues in the committee secretariat.

This is one of the ALP’s favourite types of bill: an “omnibus” bill. Perhaps it would be better called a “dustpan bill”, because the ALP uses these bills to sweep up all kinds of government issues. This bill does a fair bit of energetic sweeping.

Mr MILLAR (Gregory—LNP) (4.34 pm): While the LNP is not opposing this bill, as the member for Gregory I must say for Western Queenslanders entertaining this bill at this time is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, because Western Queensland is facing a housing crisis.

Other members have spoken of the “tight” rental markets in Queensland generally. In Western Queensland the rental markets are so tight they are teetering on the edge of non-existence.

Mr MILLAR (Gregory—LNP) (2.18 pm): I rise to speak about a vexed issued of class exemption border passes and the difficulties they create for my constituents and agribusiness in regional Queensland in general.

The Z pass is a fake class exemption for agricultural essential work and is not fit for purpose. It does not consider Queensland agribusinesses who need to go to New South Wales or Victoria for essential work and return home when the work is completed.

Motion to Take Note of the Transport and Resources Committee Report No. 6, 57th Parliament—Examination of Auditor-General Report 11: 2020-21—Energy 2020 tabled 21 June 2021.

Mr MILLAR  (Gregory—LNP) (5:58 PM): I rise to speak in this debate on what is probably the most important bill that will come before this House in my time as a member of the Queensland parliament. I do so humbly, having consulted with my constituents and given several aspects of the bill and the debate itself careful consideration. It is in this narrow space that we are being asked to debate, because at the end of the debate we will have to cast our votes on a compassionate sounding idea, but actually we will be voting on the meaning of the written law that is in front of us.