Anger at Community Cabinet Visit

FRUSTRATION and anger spilled into the street yesterday as teachers and other union members took their protests straight to the top during Bundaberg's community cabinet.

Flanked by advisors and security, Premier Anna Bligh walked a gauntlet of more than 100 members from different unions to get into Bundaberg North State High School's hall.

About 300 protesters, irate over plans to sell off government assets and low teachers' pay, chanted and held up signs as Premier Anna Blighand her cabinet colleagues arrived.

Inside, a man used the public forum to criticise the Building Services Authority (BSA) for not helping him after he lost "everything" to a dodgy builder who promised to build his house.

"I voted for you. I'm sorry I did," he told Ms Bligh.

Afterwards, he met with Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten to discuss the matter one-on-one.

However, the man was escorted outside by police after he threw a jug of water at the minister and then tried to hit him with it.

Mr Schwarten put his hands out to defend himself as police officers pulled the man away.

The man lost his shoes in the scuffle.

The man arrested was Shane McMullen, a pensioner who lost everything following the collapse of Coral Coast Homes earlier this year.

Mr Schwarten is not pressing charges and said he felt sorry for Mr McMullen who was not covered under the BSA's powers due to the nature of the fraud.

It's understood Mr McMullen paid up front for a kit home but did not sign the appropriate contract that would have afforded him insurance under the BSA.

The 48-year-old man was charged with public nuisance and obstructing police and will face the Bundaberg Magistrates' Court on September 18, a police spokesman said.

Bundaberg Police Inspector Kevin Guteridge said that apart from one disturbance, the event ran safely and smoothly.

Premier Anna Bligh and her ministers covered a range of issues and made a number of announcements during her Bundaberg trip.

She also welcomed outpouring of community suggestions and opinions.

“We want to know what the next things are that you would like us to invest in,” she said.

Sunday's community cabinet, which gives residents outside of Brisbane the chance to meet one-on-one with government ministers and senior departmental officers, attracted the largest number of registered attendees.