Pitt shows Palaszczuk Cabinet In Chaos Over Buy Queensland Policy

  • Media release

An interview by the Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon Curtis Pitt MP, on ABC Radio Brisbane today highlights a division in the Palaszczuk Cabinet over the Government's Buy Queensland policy.

Minister Pitt contradicted Premier Palaszczuk, the Minister responsible for the Buy Queensland policy Minister de Brenni, Agriculture Minister Byrne, and even himself.

This uncertainty cannot continue. Premier Palaszczuk needs to immediately clarify her Government's position.

The Hon Curtis Pitt MP, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment
ABC Radio Brisbane, 1 September 2017

"These policies are not unique to Queensland. We are able to meet our obligations under FTAs. I can't be any clearer than that."

The Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Premier
Statement, 29 July 2017

"In an Australian first, Cabinet has agreed the State Government will no longer be constrained or bound by free trade agreements."

The Hon Curtis Pitt MP, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment
ABC Radio Brisbane, 1 September 2017

"There's a suggestion that we are breaching our fair trade agreements and that's not the case."

The Hon Mick de Brenni MP, Minister for Housing and Public Works
Correspondence, 2 August 2017

"We're breaking the Government's trade agreements – and they aren't happy. But I couldn't give a toss."

The Hon Curtis Pitt MP, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment
ABC Radio Brisbane, 1 September 2017

"We are not resiling from the importance of being an export state. It is clear it is critically important, the FTA we are dealing with here."

The Hon Bill Byrne MP, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Economic Development
Statement, 17 August 2017
"Free trade agreements are problematic and I defy anyone to claim otherwise."

The Hon Curtis Pitt MP, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment
ABC Radio Brisbane, 1 September 2017

"We are not retreating into protectionism."

The Hon Curtis Pitt MP, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment
ABC Radio Brisbane, 1 September 2017

"Ours is a 'subtext p' protectionism, it's a very small area."
(11 minutes later in the same interview.)

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