Premier Campbell Newman has defended the decision to sell the Brisbane Dental Hospital and the University of Queensland Dental School, saying "governments buy and sell land all the time. That is what they do".
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Mr Newman laughed off opposition criticism of the move because the then-Labor government had wanted to sell the site in 2009.
"That is a fact," Mr Newman said.
"And I have been asked on many occasions about property transactions. Governments buy and sell land all the time. That is what they do. They buy and sell land all the time."
It also gave him an opportunity to play some word association.
"In relation to dental issues, I say this - this is the government that reached out and ensured that over 62,000 Queenslanders who had been waiting for more than two years for dental treatment be seen and we eliminated that list," he said.
"So in terms of the delivery of dental services, we are delivering - the former Labor government didn't."
In a slight cracking of the calm, positive veneer Mr Newman has carefully cultivated over recent months, the Premier gave in to the temptation to hit out at the opposition, responding with the fire and mirth which until recently was his trademark.
"There is a brand new dental college being built at the Royal Brisbane," he said, warming to the topic.
"Please ladies and gentlemen, do not be conned. There is a pile of paperwork, media stories, from 2009. They were going to sell this place.
"The former Labor government, Annastacia Palaszczuk, Curtis Pitt, they were in the cabinet that made these decisions. I mean please, did they really think Queenslanders are silly?
"There was actually an expressions of interest process. I mean they are unbelievable. These people have no policies, no plans. It is scare and smear and innuendo now, because they simply can't deal with the fact that this is a government that delivers for health and education, a better economy. We are making it happen and now they are recycling little tricks like this. Please."
But the opposition was holding firm. Ms Palaszczuk dismissed Mr Newman's attack, claiming that the fact the site was still in public hands was proof the Labor government didn't move forward with its plans.
She would not say if that was an active decision on the part of Labor, but added that Queensland needed more health facilities, not less.
"It should be maintained as a health facility for the public for the future," she said.
"It is in a central location close to public transport and it is going to be a lot of concern for pensioners having to go else where. "This land should remain in public hands."
Referring to an Australian Financial Review story from February 2012 which the opposition distributed to reporters, Ms Palaszczuk said the government had made an "ironclad" promise not to sell real estate before the election and had reneged.
"We won't be selling the real estate without putting it forward to a mandate from the people," Tim Nicholls is quoted in the article as saying.
Ms Palaszczuk said the government had since sold seven buildings, with two more, including the dental hospital site, being put to market.
"It is another broken promise from this arrogant government," she said.
