Matt DennienUpdated July 21, 2026 — 10:06am,first published July 21, 2026 — 9:46am10.06amGovernment quadruples cost of CFMEU inquiryBy Julius DennisMeanwhile, the treasurer has taken time out of his estimates prep this morning to join Attorney-General Deb Frecklington and housing minister Sam O’Connor for an announcement about the CFMEU inquiry.The inquiry was supposed to wrap up by July 31, but has been extended to until the end of next year. We now know the cost of that move: the $20 million inquiry has become a $95 million inquiry.Speaking outside parliament, Frecklington insisted it was money well spent, and fobbed off any insinuation the announcement was aimed at drawing attention away from budget estimates.“When you start a commission of inquiry, you never know what you’re going to uncover. This commission of inquiry also includes investigators [and] seconded police – people that are getting to the bottom of corrupt conduct in this state,” she said.The inquiry has held 40 hearings, with a further 21 scheduled this year.9.44amPremier, treasurer and their officials in focus todayBy Today’s 9.5-hour session has kicked off, with a two-hour block examining Premier David Crisafulli’s portfolio areas, including as minister for veterans, until a break for lunch at 1.15pm.Queensland Premier David Crisafulli.Dan PeledTreasurer David Janetzki’s portfolio areas of treasury, home ownership and energy will then take place from 2pm until 7pm.Government and opposition MPs will use the time to quiz both Crisafulli and Janetzki, along with the various public sector officials who sit within their areas of responsibility.We’ll be posting updates here throughout the day with everything you need to know out of the session.9.43amGood morningBy Budget estimates are back in Queensland parliament for day two of a nine-day block, after an initial session yesterday encompassing the parliamentary service itself.You can catch up on the main takeaways from that here, including questions about a 400 per cent increase in the tax bill for MPs using parliamentary annexe accommodation for personal reasons.Tim Mander among parliamentary colleagues.AAPThe use of parliamentary accommodation was raised in last year’s budget estimates, with Labor asking how many personal nights had been used by Premier David Crisafulli and Olympics Minister Tim Mander.Mander’s use of the annexe was further scrutinised in April following reports he was enrolled to vote at the address of a staffer and had been living in parliamentary accommodation after splitting with his wife.He was stood down from his sport and Olympic portfolios pending an investigation by Australian Federal Police, but was cleared of any wrongdoing and reinstated as minister last week.With Courtney Kruk1 of 1