consumers set to lose more than $1 billion. There is no bigger scam, though, than that coming out of
LNP offices at the moment. After last year’s forged billboard fiasco, the members opposite are up to
their old tricks again. There are documents coming out of LNP offices. This time they have
disenfranchised their own constituents by bodgying up requests for congratulatory messages from the
Prime Minister, the Governor of Queensland and the Premier. They have written into the applications
that the constituent requests only congratulatory messages from the Queen and the Governor. Officers
from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, when checking those instructions with the
constituents, have been told that they would welcome a congratulatory message from the Premier and
also from the Prime Minister.
It seems that the member for Mudgeeraba and also the member for Kawana have taken it upon
themselves to add additional criteria—apparently against the wishes of their constituents. Of course, we
know that in this regard the member for Kawana has a bit of form. He was caught doctoring a letter of
support for Peter ‘Slippery’ Slipper in November 2001. So he has some form in that regard.
Tampering with requests for congratulatory messages just for cheap political gain is really ripping
off the elderly. I think it is a sad indictment on the LNP. Let us be frank: the opposition hardly has a good
reputation when it comes to looking after the interests of the elderly. Just think about Joyce Baker,
whose life savings were dwindled away by a firm by the name of Boyce Garrick. At that time the member
for Caloundra was a member of that firm. These are the new standards for the LNP: rip off whoever you
can, even the elderly, with a congratulatory letter. Even with a congratulatory letter they are prepared to
touch the elderly.
