say on the issue of the construction industry. This is a very serious matter. These people are the
backbone of the construction industry in Queensland, which is worth $30-odd billion. The BSA is
seeking to assist people in this regard.
The seminars will start next week in Cairns. The honourable member for Cairns and other
members in that area will welcome those seminars, no doubt. Members are invited to attend next week.
Then they will flow through the rest of Queensland. They will be coming to a place near you. All
honourable members are invited to come along. Hopefully some of the National Party members will do
that.
The other thing that I have asked the BSA to do is to step up compliance. What we find in times of
downturn is that the cowboys come out. The corner cutters come out and try to compete with the decent
people in the construction industry. We do not want cowboys in the industry.
Speaking of cowboys, did members hear the one about Clive Palmer asking his son what he
wanted for Christmas. He said that he wanted a cowboy outfit, so he bought him the National Party. The
reality is that they are a cowboy outfit. What was evidenced here yesterday was just how they behave
when it comes to the construction industry. They are a bunch of cowboys. They are the people who
yesterday voted not to tell the senators of this state to get ahead of the game and put the stimulus
package through that would release $100 million worth of work for builders in this state and create jobs
as a result.
