Premier's newsroom

Statement from Premier Anna Bligh on special protection of flood engineers
Premier Anna Bligh makes a statement regarding the hiring of special protection for flood engineers.

7 February 2012

Statement from Premier Anna Bligh on Commission on Inquiry
The full statement Premier Anna Bligh provided on Monday to the Floods Commission of Inquiry has now been made publicly available.

7 February 2012

2,000 more international visitors a week scoot to the Gold Coast
Premier Anna Bligh has today announced a major aviation deal with a new airline – worth an estimated $65 million a year – which will bring thousands of international travellers to the Gold Coast each week.

7 February 2012

Disaster relief and recovery arrangements extended in South-West Queensland
Premier Anna Bligh said due to the exceptional nature of this flood event in South West Queensland she has requested assistance to cover primary producers, small businesses and not-for profit organisations.

6 February 2012

Premier launches Disaster Relief Appeal as flood disaster unfolds in South-West Queensland
Premier Anna Bligh has today activated the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal for the 2012 Regional Queensland Floods to help those affected by wide-spread devastating flooding.

6 February 2012

Premier Bligh pays tribute to remarkable monarch
Premier Anna Bligh paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II today, on the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

6 February 2012

Mandatory evacuations declared for St George
At a joint meeting of the St George LDMG and State agencies, it was decided that mandatory evacuations were required to ensure the safety of the members of the public in St George.

5 February 2012

St George to face record flooding
Premier Anna Bligh and St George Mayor Donna Stewart have urged people living in St George to evacuate the town in the face of record flooding.

5 February 2012

State disaster declared and coordinator appointed
A STATE disaster has been declared and State Disaster Coordinator appointed in reaction to the natural disaster unfolding in the South West of Queensland.

3 February 2012

State Government Agencies in action in flood stricken south west
State Government Agencies are in action across the state as floods threaten towns in the south west of Queensland.

3 February 2012

Premier offers support to PNG in wake of ferry disaster
Premier Anna Bligh has offered condolences and help to Papua New Guinea in the wake of the sinking of a ferry with up to 350 people on board.

2 February 2012

Disaster relief and recovery arrangements activated in Western and North Western Queensland
Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh, Federal Minister for Emergency Management Robert McClelland and Queensland Minister for Emergency Services Neil Roberts, today announced that joint State and Federal Government disaster relief and recovery arrangements had been activated in eleven local government areas.

2 February 2012

Yasi’s legacy – Tully State High School being rebuilt better than before
Students attending Tully State High School will benefit from millions of dollars in additional facilities that didn’t exist before Yasi tore through the school, Premier Anna Bligh said today.

2 February 2012

Over $1.5m to help reinvigorate Yasi-affected communities
Premier Anna Bligh today announced more than $1.5 million in grants to help “reinvigorate” communities affected by Cyclone Yasi.

2 February 2012

Premier gifts $1.85 million in ‘Yasi’ housing to boost Cassowary Coast
TULLY: Premier Anna Bligh today gifted $1.85 million in Cyclone Yasi temporary housing to the Cassowary Coast as she visited the area to commemorate the one year anniversary of the devastating cyclone.

2 February 2012

Premier lauds Yasi rebuilding progress
TULLY: Premier Anna Bligh today praised the spirit of North and Far North Queenslanders who’ve made tremendous progress in rebuilding their homes, businesses and lives one year on from Cyclone Yasi.

2 February 2012

Disaster situation declared
Premier Anna Bligh and Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts this morning declared a disaster situation for the flood-affected township of Mitchell.

2 February 2012

Premier’s statement to Floods Commission of Inquiry
Premier Anna Bligh said today she would submit a written statement to the Floods of Commission of Inquiry following a request received late yesterday afternoon.

2 February 2012

Nominations now open for Queenslanders making reconciliation their business
Premier Anna Bligh has launched the 2012 Queensland Reconciliation Awards encouraging Queensland businesses, community organisations and educational institutions to nominate.

1 February 2012

All Stars rivals team up to launch third annual NRL clash at the Gold Coast
ival All Stars captains Benji Marshall and Johnathan Thurston are fierce competitors and Rugby League superstars, but both agreed today the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars is all about “community” and not about them when they joined forces to launch this weekend’s third annual clash at the Gold Coast.

31 January 2012

Floods Commission of Inquiry seeks further statements
The Floods Commission of Inquiry has issued a number of new requirements for statements to the Commission Premier Anna Bligh said today

31 January 2012

Specialised police facility opens in Burleigh
Premier Anna Bligh and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson today joined Member for Burleigh Christine Smith to officially open the refurbished Burleigh Heads Police Complex, which houses specialist investigative police units.

31 January 2012

New Queensland Mental Health Commission to have wide reaching powers
The new Queensland Mental Health Commission will be the most powerful agency of its type in Australia matching the importance of the issue in the wider community.

30 January 2012

Queensland first to trial tougher trans-Tasman checks
Premier Anna Bligh today welcomed a trial between Queensland and New Zealand to strengthen background checks on people with criminal histories.

29 January 2012

Queensland demands action on trans-Tasman criminal checks
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to enable cross-Tasman criminal checks, using today’s meeting between Prime Minister Julia Gillard and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to reach agreement on the issue.

29 January 2012

Bligh Government to deliver paediatric intensive care unit for Townsville
The Bligh Government today committed to establishing a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in Townsville, expected to commence operation in July.

28 January 2012

Locals grasps opportunity to build our bright future
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today said Gladstone residents were grasping the opportunities presented by Queensland’s new LNG industry with both hands.

27 January 2012

Premier condemns 'un-Australian' attack on Rocky MPs
Premier Anna Bligh has expressed concern and condemnation after an apparently politically motivated attack on two Labor politicians yesterday.

26 January 2012

Stay away from flooded roads as big wet continues
Premier Anna Bligh is urging motorists not to drive into floodwaters as the heavy rain continues across parts of Queensland...

25 January 2012

Transcript – Press conference – Wednesday 25 January
Premier Anna Bligh addresses the media, announcing the date of the 2012 Queensland election...

25 January 2012

Australia Day celebrations at South Bank cancelled
The Queensland Government has cancelled the annual Australia Day celebrations scheduled tomorrow at South Bank due to continuing heavy rain across South East Queensland...

25 January 2012

Premier sets state election date as Commission of Inquiry extended
Premier Anna Bligh has set the date for the State election as March 24 - almost exactly three years since she became the first elected female Premier in Australia on March 21, 2009...

25 January 2012

Statement from Premier Anna Bligh on Flood Commission of Inquiry
A statement from the Premier regarding an extension to the Flood Commission of Inquiry’s reporting date...

25 January 2012

Build it and they will come - Queensland to become smart engineering state
Premier Anna Bligh has appointed an engineering expert to drive the Government’s plan to make Queensland a world centre of engineering excellence...

23 January 2012

Premier: one contract will slash red tape in the housing market
Premier Anna Bligh has announced a plan to slash red tape in the housing market by creating a single contract for the sale of a home...

23 January 2012

Premier welcomes more investment in LNG industry
Premier Anna Bligh has today welcomed increased investment in the LNG industry that will boost jobs in Queensland...

23 January 2012

First State School to pilot Year 7 in High School opens
A group of 155 students made Queensland history today as the first state school kids to start Year 7 in High School...

23 January 2012

Back to school – 2012
Premier Anna Bligh and Education Minister Cameron Dick said about 495,000 state school students go back to school tomorrow with 2012 one of the most important reform years in decades...

21 January 2012

A new beginning for health in Queensland
Premier Anna Bligh has today released a comprehensive plan to abolish Queensland Health and start a new beginning for health in Queensland....

21 January 2012

Queensland’s 2012 Australia Day Ambassadors spread the spirit of Australia Day
Premier Anna Bligh today announced that 34 Australia Day Ambassadors will help bring Queensland communities together to celebrate our national day...

19 January 2012

A new beginning after tragic Slacks Creek house fire
Premier Anna Bligh has helped to turn the sod on a new home at the site of the devastating fire that killed 11 members of the Taufa family at Slack's Creek last August...

19 January 2012

Let's celebrate what's great at the 2012 Australia Day Festival
For South East Queenslanders, the Parklands at South Bank is the place to be this Australia Day with a jam packed program of events planned, Premier Anna Bligh announced today...

17 January 2012

Kindy more accessible for Queensland families
The door to low or no- cost kindergarten education will be opened for thousands more young Queenslanders under an initiative unveiled today by Premier Anna Bligh...

17 January 2012

Premier hands over keys to brand new kindy service at Mackay North
MACKAY: Mackay North C&K Community Kindergarten will open its doors for the first time later this month, delivering 44 new kindergarten places for local kids...

17 January 2012

Brisbane's skyline to light up again in 2012 and 2013
Brisbane’s skyline will light up in a kaleidoscope of colour for the next two years with the Queensland Government announcing today continued support for Brisbane Festival’s Santos City of Lights laser light show...

17 January 2012

Bligh: Eastern rail ready to roll
TOWNSVILLE: A proposed major upgrade to Townsville’s rail freight system can be built, will be profitable and will deliver far reaching benefits to the North...

16 January 2012

Bligh brings bigger investment for bumper Cairns economy
Premier Anna Bligh is in Cairns today with more than $2.2 million in additional economic initiatives for the region...

16 January 2012

Smartphone app to mobilise Queensland volunteers like never before
The next generation of disaster volunteers will be mobilised with the touch of a button, thanks to a new Smartphone App launched today....

15 January 2012

Tenders to open for vital interchange upgrade
Premier Anna Bligh today announced momentum on the Blacksoil interchange upgrade project was building with the tender process kicking off on Monday 16 January 2012....

14 January 2012

Premier announces dates and locations for next Work for Queensland expos
More Queenslanders will be able to reap the rewards from the state’s resources boom next month by attending the next round of Work for Queensland Expos in the South East....

14 January 2012

Queensland floods – One year on
It has been a long road to recovery for so many people whose lives were turned upside down by the one of the biggest natural disasters our state has ever seen...

13 January 2012

Premier announces permanent tribute to Brisbane’s mud army
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today announced the State Government will commission a statue of the mud army to commemorate the thousands of volunteers who rose up to help Brisbane residents clean up after January’s devastating floods...

12 January 2012

Ipswich remembers the floods a year on
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh will today join Ipswich residents to mark the anniversary of the day the Bremer River broke its banks, inundating the city....

11 January 2012

Agreement on $35.4 million upgrade to Gold Coast Turf club
Gold Coast Turf Club and Racing Queensland Limited have signed an historic agreement to spend $35.4 million on upgrades to the Gold Coast Turf Club...

11 January 2012

Lockyer Valley and Grantham communities pause to remember and reflect
Premier Anna Bligh will today join the Lockyer Valley and Grantham communities to mark the anniversary of the day flood waters ravaged the tiny communities...

10 January 2012

Reconstruction journey will continue as thousands rebuild their lives
Queensland is on the road to a more resilient future said Premier and Minister for Reconstruction Anna Bligh today as the State marks the one year anniversary of last year's devastating floods...

09 January 2012

Queensland marks first anniversary of floods
Premier Anna Bligh will this week visit communities hardest hit by last year's January floods to remember victims of the disaster and show support for families who lost loved ones and property...

09 January 2011

Ask Premier Bligh about Queensland's future on the OurSay forum
Premier Anna Bligh is participating in an OurSay forum. OurSay is a community project that allows you to post a question and vote on your favourite submissions from other contributors...

19 December 2011

Queenslanders celebrate life of league legend Artie Beetson
Friends and fans will converge at Suncorp Stadium at 12pm today for the Arthur 'Artie' Beetson public tribute, Premier Anna Bligh said today...

18 December 2011

Stockwell appointed games organising committee chair
QUEENSLAND Premier, the Hon Anna Bligh has formally announced the appointment of Mark Stockwell as Chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) today...

16 December 2011

Endeavour Foundation building a brighter future after floods
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh joined Endeavour Foundation CEO David Barbagallo and clients today in Durack to turn the sod on a new $1.066M building project, with assistive technologies to promote greater independence...

16 December 2011

Agreement reached with visiting medical officers
Premier Anna Bligh said Queensland patients - particularly those in rural and regional areas - would be the beneficiaries of an agreement reached last night with Visiting Medical Officers...

16 December 2011

Historic plan to develop agriculture in North Queensland
The Gillard and Bligh Governments will invest $10 million in an historic plan that marks a significant step forward in realising the potential of new irrigated agriculture in the Flinders and Gilbert catchments in north Queensland...

15 December 2011