Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said Labor needs to come clean with Queenslanders on up to six new taxes proposed to pay for a Brisbane rail project.
Mrs Frecklington said Labor had released a heavily edited, five-page document earlier this week that made no mention of higher car registration charges on all Queenslanders to fund Cross River Rail.
“Labor’s been caught out hiding how it really plans to cover the costs of this $5.4 billion project – by slugging families in the the Nanango Electorate for a public transport system they may never use.
“Why did Annastacia Palaszczuk hide her plan for Queensland motorists to fund this project to the tune of $1.2 billion when it released its heavily edited version of the business case two days ago?
“And how we can now believe her now when she says it’s not going to happen? Labor's plan to hit every Queenslander in the hip pocket every time they pay their car registration has been exposed and Labor is in damage control.”
Mrs Frecklington said Labor had form in ruling controversial policies out, only to spring them on Queenslanders at the last minute including breaking its election promise of no new taxes and charges.
“Yet again Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jackie Trad haven't been honest with Queenslanders,” she said.
“We saw it when Labor pushed through compulsory preferential voting, when they wouldn't release the State Actuary's advice on their superannuation raid and now we're seeing Labor hiding the real facts about how Cross River Rail will be funded.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government needs to come clean, publicly release the full business case for this major SEQ project, to assure regional Queenslanders they won’t face higher rego costs.”
New analysis shows the Wide Bay region is missing out on vital projects, with the Brisbane-centric Palaszczuk Labor Government slashing infrastructure investment by almost $1500 per person.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Deb Frecklington said the 2016-17 Budget revealed Wide Bay was receiving less per person than the state-wide average, and far less than when the LNP left office.
“While the average infrastructure spend per person across Queensland for the 2016-17 year is $2232, in Wide Bay it’s just $2211,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Not only are Wide Bay residents getting less than other Queenslanders, the infrastructure spend has declined dramatically under the Labor Government.
“Infrastructure spending has been slashed by more than $400 million, when compared to the LNP’s last budget, which is $1459 less going into vital infrastructure projects, such as flood mitigation, for every man, woman and child in the Wide Bay region.
“As the people of Wide Bay miss out, the Palaszczuk Government is happy to invest more than half of its own infrastructure fund in one project in Brisbane.”
Ms Frecklington said it was clear the Palaszczuk Government had no plan to deliver vital infrastructure for regional parts of the state.
“Labor spent $2 billion less than allocated for infrastructure last year, which indicates how little priority they place on transformative, job-creating projects, almost one in five young people in Wide Bay can’t find a job,” she said.
“It’s clear the people of the Wide Bay region are being left behind by the Brisbane-centric Palaszczuk Government.”
Key facts:
**All figures are based on 2016-17 State Budget Papers and were prepared with the assistance of the Queensland Parliamentary Library
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says three local community groups are celebrating this week with the announcement of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund Grants and the Small Assets Education Grant.
Mrs Frecklington said the local groups carry out diverse roles and include ‘Return to the Wild’ Koala Hospital at Cabarlah, the Goombungee Little Folks Group and the Goombungee-Haden Show Society.
“Return to the Wild is a remarkable community group helping injured koalas in the Cabarlah region. They will receive funding to install solar panels on their new koala hospital facility,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The Goombungee Little Folks have received $49,000 through the Department of Education to purchase resources and conduct minor works. I have visited the Little Folks groups several times and they provide an excellent early childhood service for the Goombungee district.
“And also in Goombungee, the Goombungee-Haden Show Society has received $26,000 to purchase portable grandstand seating. This show grows in popularity every year and I know the seating will be well utilised.
“These are great grants for our hard-working groups who do so much every day to make our community a better place to live and I’d like to congratulate them on their success,” Deb said.
The Gambling Community Benefit Fund is available to Queensland not-for-profit organisations to help achieve key projects and fund equipment. To find out more go to www.justice.qld.gov.au/grants.
Photo: Member for Nanango at the Goombungee-Haden Show in 2016. The Goombungee-Haden Show Society has received a Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant to purchase portable grandstand seating.
Photo: Coalbank Boundary Road - not an acceptable barrier for the tick line
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says the new location of the tick line is a major disappointment for primary producers in the Coalbank area (between Cooyar and Crows Nest), with properties which were previously tick free now back in the infested zone.
Mrs Frecklington said she has been receiving very concerning feedback from producers on the western side of the New England Highway who simply can’t understand why the line has moved so dramatically.
“Following the release of the new tick line maps, I immediately started receiving calls from landholders in the Coalbank/Thornville area about a large movement of the line,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“They have historically been in clean country and now find themselves in the infested zone. They are also extremely concerned that the new line runs along Coalbank Boundary Road, a road which was never put forward as an option by the Department.
“Coalbank Boundary Road is not a suitable barrier for the tick line as it is not fenced for the entire length, and is not even trafficable in parts.
“I have written to the Minister for Agriculture asking how this decision was made, for immediate consideration of this new tick line location and movement of the line back to the New England Highway between Emu Creek and Thornville.
“These producers have spent thousands and thousands of dollars over the years keeping their properties tick free and this outcome is just not acceptable,” Deb said.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has congratulated eight local community groups who have received funding through Round 88 of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
Mrs Frecklington said the groups will share in more than $200,000, including the Blackbutt and District Tourism and Heritage Group, who have secured $35,000 towards the commissioning of a bronze statue celebrating homegrown tennis sporting hero, Roy Emerson.
“It was such a great moment to officially let the Blackbutt Heritage group know they had been successful,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The group officially launched the Roy Emerson Statue project at a special luncheon, with Roy Emerson, in January 2015. Since then the group have been working tirelessly to achieve their goal to honour one of Australia’s tennis greats, here in his hometown of Blackbutt.
“The statue will be placed outside the recently re-named Roy Emerson Museum and will provide locals and tourists with an insight into this wonderfully talented tennis player and his connection to Blackbutt and the South Burnett,” Deb said.
The other successful groups include:
The Gambling Community Benefit Fund is available to Queensland not-for-profit organisations to help achieve key projects and fund equipment. To find out more go to www.justice.qld.gov.au/grants.
Photo: The Kingaroy Soaring Club have received $12,710 to construct an outdoor shelter
An LNP jobs plan will see up to 20,000 young Queenslanders in jobs, encourage apprentices to finish their training and incentivise employers to train and retain workers.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said the plan provides strong incentives for businesses to train and retain young workers, which will be a major boost to employment across the Nanango Electorate.
“The LNP’s plan will provide local businesses with support to recruit young Queenslanders, encourage them to take on apprentices to help them finish their training and provide a boost to employers to cover workers compensation premiums,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Our plan gives young apprentices and tradies in our region that vital first ‘leg up’, and will also encourage more apprentices to complete their training and get into the workforce.
“It will also include support for up to 20,000 Queensland tradies over four years by contributing $500 towards new tools for apprentices upon completion of their training.”
“We understand the costs young tradies in face when they start work, but we’re committed to easing the burden on our young workers.”
Shadow Employment Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the LNP’s plan to Get Queensland Working would include targeted support for small businesses and workers that led to jobs and opportunities for young Queenslanders.
“The LNP has a strong track record of providing pathways to jobs for young Queenslanders, but we recognise more needs to be done to Get Queensland Working,” Mr Bleijie said.
“Labor is all talk and no action when it comes to jobs - it promised to create jobs for Queensland, but its failure to do so has seen 21,300 more young Queenslanders out of work since January 2015.
“In stark contrast, the former LNP government increased funding for vocational education and training and empowered industry so we were training our young people for the high-quality jobs the economy needed.”
The LNP’s Plan to Get Queensland Working
1. Queensland Apprenticeship Boost
Providing a $5000 incentive for Queensland businesses who take on a new apprentice from beginning to end. This boost will provide up to 10,000 new apprentices over 4 years.
2. Tools for Tradies
$500 voucher for tradies who complete their apprenticeship to get the tools they need to get working. This will provide tools to 20,000 tradies over 4 years to help them get ahead.
3. Start Work Incentive
$4000 grants over 12 months to assist small businesses with recruitment and start-up costs for eligible young Queenslanders (15-24) who are unemployed and not enrolled in full-time education or training. This will provide businesses incentives to employ up to 10,000 young Queenslanders over 4 years.
4. Employment Bonus
Thanks to the stewardship of the LNP, WorkCover Queensland is in a strong financial position. A bonus to encourage businesses who employ eligible participants under the Apprenticeship Boost and Job Start Incentive will be provided to further encourage businesses to train and retain young Queenslanders. After 12 months of continuous employment of each eligible participant, employers will have that workers’ wages excluded as part of the next year’s premium calculation.
The Palaszczuk Labor Government is spending up big on the Tree Police to ensure vegetation management compliance officers have new tools to prosecute farmers and landholders in regional Queensland.
Shadow Natural Resources Minister Andrew Cripps said Labor’s budget announcement of $7.8 million to secure high-resolution satellite imagery coverage of Queensland made it clear the government intended to target farmers and landowners managing vegetation on their properties and treat them like criminals.
“The Palaszczuk Government has already proposed changes to Queensland’s vegetation management framework to bring back the reversal of the onus of proof and remove mistake of fact as a defence and now it is spending millions on high resolution images to spy on farmers,” Mr Cripps said.
“These two measures, taken together, makes it clear that Labor intends their reinstated tree police unit within the Department of Natural Resources and Mines to be both armed and dangerous when it comes to dealing with Queensland’s farmers and landowners.”
Mr Cripps said the absence of any mention of the agriculture sector or regional economic development opportunities meant he feared the investment by the Palaszczuk Labor Government in new satellite imaging capability was to undertake targeted compliance activities.
“While I’d normally welcome the use of satellite imagery, Labor’s track record of pandering to green groups and treating farmers like criminals makes me nervous about this government’s true motivations and intentions,” he said.
“In fact, the budget papers for the Department of Natural Resources and Mines state quite clearly that the purpose of the proposed amendments to Queensland’s vegetation management framework is to protect the Great Barrier Reef and reduce carbon emissions.”
Key Facts:
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says the 2016/17 Labor State Budget delivered in Parliament this week is another major disappointment for the constituents of the Nanango Electorate.
Mrs Frecklington said that apart from an allocation g for the New England Highway, not one major infrastructure project across the entire region has been funded.
“I really don’t know how our region is expected to continue on for another year with no funding committed to any projects,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“We have so many important projects that have to go ahead – like the Kingaroy Public Hospital, the South Burnett Clubhouse mental health facility and major road upgrades.
“Premier Palaszczuk and her clueless Treasurer have handed down a budget that fails to deliver the jobs and services that the people of the Nanango Electorate need now and for the future.
“Labor promised a budget that would deliver jobs but unemployment will rise. They promised a budget that would pay down debt but instead debt will increase. They promised record infrastructure but have slashed infrastructure funding to a record low.
“This means our region misses out on vital infrastructure and services, all because Labor can’t manage the books.
“This is a budget of raids, rip-offs and write downs which offers nothing for the people of the Nanango Electorate.”
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said today’s Palaszczuk-Pitt Budget confirmed Labor was incapable of delivering a sustainable long-term economic plan or creating jobs for Queensland.
“Budgets should boost business confidence, infrastructure investment and jobs but the Palaszczuk Labor Government has failed on all counts,” Mr Nicholls.
“Premier Palaszczuk and her clueless Treasurer only know how to deliver short-term sugar hits that will fail to deliver the jobs and services that Queenslanders need now and for the future. What happens when they run out of hollow logs to raid?”
Labor’s budget cuts by portfolio:
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says it is a very disappointing day for the South Burnett, with no announcement of funding in the Labor State Budget for a new public Hospital in Kingaroy.
Mrs Frecklington said it is beyond belief that the Kingaroy Public Hospital has not been included in the 2016/2017 State Budget.
“How long will we have to wait? It is really quite unacceptable that the Kingaroy Hospital can be ignored by this Labor Government,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I don’t know what excuse the Minister for Health could possibly use to explain to the people of the South Burnett why they have missed out again on receiving better health services.
“Our hard-working doctors, nurses and administrators have to work in an outdated, dysfunctional building.
“The Emergency Department is just simply unacceptable, as is the maternity unit, mental health unit and the dental hospital.
“Everyone knows we also desperately need more visiting specialists, but there is just simply no room for them. The Hospital must have more space so specialists can have somewhere to consult, but without this space, they just can’t come to our region.
“The Kingaroy Hospital had been at the top of the list for complete replacement under our former LNP Government – I think the Labor Government must have thrown away this list.
“I won’t give up on the people of the South Burnett and I am more determined than ever that we must have a new Public Hospital in Kingaroy. Labor may have forgotten us, but I haven’t, and this will remain my number one priority,” Mrs Frecklington said.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says petitioning has paid off for several groups of graziers in regards to the positioning of the tick line, while others have lost out completely.
Mrs Frecklington said four out of the eight groups who submitted petitions through her office had achieved the outcome they were seeking, while the four other groups had been denied their requests.
“This means that the Minister ignored the feedback of half of the primary producers in my region, many of whom had had spent a great deal of time trying to demonstrate to the Government their opinion on the location of the tick line,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Hundreds of producers, who have spent thousands and thousands of dollars over the years on keeping their properties tick free will now find themselves in the dirty zone.
“Option three was not the choice of the majority of landowners and it takes a step backwards for large areas of the grazing land. I know many land managers who will be extremely disappointed with this outcome.
“I am pleased however that the petitions I was able to present to the Minister for half of the groups were successful and they have have achieved the outcome they wanted.
“I was particularly disappointed though that when the Minister for Agriculture released her statement on the new tick line, the maps were not available until nearly two hours after the announcement.
“We have had hundreds of producers waiting on this announcement for months, and when it did come, the Department didn’t even have the courtesy of putting the maps up on the website,” Mrs Frecklington said.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has welcomed the successful application by Churches of Christ to build new accommodation in Crows Nest for local people with a disability.
Mrs Frecklington said two projects will be going ahead, the first targeted at providing live in accommodation for younger people with a disability and the second to help provide accommodation solutions for adults with a disability who are cared for by their elderly parents.
“I am really excited that Churches of Christ have identified this need and chosen Crows Nest as the location for this service,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I have been working to help bring this style of disability accommodation to regional areas for some time and I look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition.
“The first project will be a four bedroom house to help care for 3 local people with a disability and have an on-site carer.
“The second project will consist of units where elderly parents can live with their children, but also be supported by an on-site manager.
“I know that Churches of Christ have spent a lot of time on the research and design of both projects. These projects will also provide an economic boost for the Crows Nest region.
“Funding for the second project is coming from the Elderly Patient Carer Innovation Trial which was an initiative of the former LNP Government,” Deb said.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has presented Mr Martin Hirsch of Nanango with a special certificate for achieving 25 years as a Justice of the Peace.
Mrs Frecklington said it is important to recognise people like Mr Hirsch who volunteer their time for the community.
“I think it is so important that we recognise local JP’s, like Martin, who dedicate so much of their time to supporting members of the community when they need help with documents, at often those very important moments of their life,” she said.
“It was great to be able to thank Martin personally and present him with his certificate,” she said.
On World Environment Day (5 June), the LNP committed to a policy that would address one of Queensland’s enduring environmental issues – cans and bottles littering our land and waterways and creating excess land fill issues.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said the LNP would introduce a container deposit scheme (CDS) that would see local consumers, businesses and charities refunded 10 cents for aluminium, glass and plastic drink containers returned for recycling.
“The LNP’s plan would deliver a great win for the environment in our region and result in less visual pollution and could create hundreds of jobs across Queensland in the recycling sector,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Community groups in across the Nanango Electorate will have the opportunity to organise community clean-up events and cash in containers through the scheme to aid fundraising efforts for other activities.
“It’s estimated that Queensland community groups could claim over $25 million from deposits and handling fees, and create hundreds of new jobs across the state in the recycling sector.
“This is a landmark decision to clean-up our region and better protect our environment.
Simon Warner, CEO of SEQ Catchments, a community based not-for-profit organisation, attended the LNP’s container deposit scheme announcement.
“Litter, especially plastic, is one of the most damaging things that we as humans have done to our environment and this especially affects our marine animals and birds,” Mr Warner said.
“The LNP’s announcement should create bipartisan support for the introduction of a container deposit scheme and is a great step forward.
“There should now be no need to delay the implementation of a scheme in Queensland.
“This also gives the community a reason to hope that on the important issues effecting the environment both sides of politics can agree.”
Shadow Environment Minister Christian Rowan said the introduction of the CDS reaffirmed the LNP’s commitment to grassroots environmental policies and would bring Queensland in line with other states across Australia.
“In states where a Container Deposit Scheme has been introduced, more than 80 per cent of consumers return containers and a 2015 Newspoll showed 85 per cent of Queenslanders supported a CDS,” said Dr Rowan.
“While Labor tries to paint itself as the party that cares for the environment, its record shows a party big on rhetoric, but doing little in the way on real, workable policies that help protect our environment.
“The index shows our litter rate miss 41 per cent higher than the national average, with 72 items of litter per 1000 m2, and we should be doing everything we can to clean up Queensland.
“This is a landmark decision to clean-up Queensland and better protect our environment.”
Key Facts:
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington and Shadow Environment Minister, Christian Rowan and Christian’s son, Angus.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says another 8,000 ‘Biggest Community Surveys’ are one their way to residents around the South Burnett
Mrs Frecklington said the initial mailout had generated a fantastic response, however, feedback from residents suggested some areas in postcode area 4610 had missed out.
“We discovered that Australia Post had only delivered to street addresses and unfortunately everyone on our mail runs and PO Boxes had missed out,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I also received a lot of feedback from residents from Nanango, Blackbutt and Yarraman saying would like to be involved, so we took the opportunity to print some more surveys and expand the distribution.
“We now have a further 8000 ‘Biggest Surveys’ going to everyone in postcode 4610 who missed out, plus residents in Nanango, Blackbutt, Benarkin, Yarraman, Manumbar and Kumbia. They will be delivered in the week of 13th June.
“This is a great opportunity to have your say and provide ideas to help shape the future of the South Burnett.
“The surveys are reply paid, so if you have some time, please fill one out and pop it in the post. We’ll be collating the information and providing the results as soon as we can afterwards,” Deb said.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says response from the initial round of the survey has been fantastic and more are on their way around the South Burnett.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, said she is proud that Kingaroy locals have been chosen as Darling Downs South West regional finalists through the Queensland Training Awards.
Mrs Frecklington said the finalists were selected from 660 applications across the state, with just 175 chosen to represent their regions.
The Kingaroy locals are:
Kingaroy Joinery – Finalist in the category of Medium Employer of the YearThomas Hunt – Finalist in the ‘Harry Hauenschild’ Apprentice of the Year (through Huston Motors)
“I’d like to sincerely congratulate Darrin Kefford and his team at Kingaroy Joinery, and Thomas Hunt from Huston Motors for reaching the finals of these prestigious awards,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“These awards are a great way of demonstrating the excellent job our local businesses do and the high level of achievement they are reaching.
“It is excellent for the South Burnett and we should be proud of the business talent coming from Kingaroy,” Deb said.
The regional finalists go on to compete at the Darling Downs South West Regional Final Presentation Ceremony on 22 July, with winners progressing to the Queensland Training Awards in Brisbane on 9th September.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington and Kingaroy Joinery’s Darrin Kefford.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, is extremely concerned households and businesses are being slugged with higher power bills, with the Labor Government unable to outline its plans for driving down costs.
Mrs Frecklington said the Queensland Competition Authority’s (QCA) determination for regional electricity prices showed the average household could expect a $41 increase in their power bill in 2016-17.
“The increase will be even higher for households also utilising tariffs 31 and 33,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I’m really concerned that local businesses are facing double digit percentage increases to their bills.
“Farmers and agricultural producers on transitional tariffs will see their bills increase by 12.3 per cent.
“Typical small businesses on the main tariff will see their bills go up around $236, or 11.2 per cent.
For those businesses on the seasonal time-of-use tariff the average bill will increase by $660, or 15.8 per cent.
“This price hike will hit hard, considering the difficult times many of our small businesses and farmers have been through with recent drought and the floods. Some are only just getting back on their feet and simply don’t need these increased costs.
Deb said the QCA report showed network costs (fixed costs), (often the largest component of customers’ bills), was decreasing.
“This reduction relates to the decisions taken by the LNP when in government to strip billions of
dollars of wasteful expenditure out of state-owned electricity companies and to put an end to the gold plating of the networks that drives up prices,” she said.
“The increase in prices we are seeing today is primarily in relation to higher energy costs.
Unfortunately, the only policies we’ve seen from the Labor Government are going to drive these costs up further.
“The government is even refusing to release a report which contains recommendations on ways of
driving down electricity prices for Queenslanders in the long term.
“This again shows the Labor Government is asleep at the wheel, and unfortunately it’s our local residents who are paying the price through higher power bills.”
Key facts:
