Queensland Labor and Katter’s Australian Party MPs have rolled out the red carpet to criminal gangs giving them the green light to peddle drugs to kids in regional communities.
Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker said Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth had failed regional communities after they backed the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s watered-down criminal gang laws.
“Bikies were banking on this soft-on-crime government to deliver them an early Christmas present and Annastacia Palaszczuk and her merry bunch didn’t disappoint,” Mr Walker said.
“Bikie clubhouses will now reopen, bikies will be allowed to carry weapons and bikies will once again be free to run licensed premises.
“People of Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba beware – the bikies are back.
“The bikies now have an additional weapon in their armour – a get-out-of-jail card, thanks to Annastacia Palaszczuk, Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth.
“KAP struck a dirty deal with Annastacia Palaszczuk and regional families will be worse off because of it.”
Mr Walker said thanks to the Palaszczuk Labor Government, bikies would be back peddling ICE to our kids, standing over business owners and shouting from the rooftops that they once again ruled the streets.
“The LNP’s tough stance on organised crime saw criminal motorcycle gangs driven out of Queensland,” he said.
“Thanks to Labor, aided and abetted by Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth, bikies are now free to ply their evil and life-destroying trade in regional communities across the state.
“I wonder if Annastacia Palaszczuk, Robbie Katter or Shane Knuth will have the guts to face the families of Queensland kids who die from drugs supplied by bikies?”
Mr Walker said lawyers who represented bikies said their clients were “absolutely petrified” of the LNP’s tough laws.
“We were happy to see bikies flee the state because it meant that crime rates plummeted and Queenslanders were safer,” he said.
“Labor’s watered-down laws are a political solution to a problem that does not exist.
“The majority of Queenslanders support the LNP’s tough laws that were working to keep them safer.”
Sign the petition to bring back tough criminal gang laws at https://www.lnpq.typeform.com/to/No73IW
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has welcomed the LNP policy whereby convicted killers who fail to tell authorities where they have dumped their victim’s body will be refused parole.
Mrs Frecklington said that for far too long the scales of justice in Queensland have put the rights of criminals ahead of community expectations, victims’ families and loved ones.
“A future LNP Government will implement No Body, No Parole laws in Queensland, aimed at empowering victims not offenders,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“We will do this in consultation with victims groups, the parole board and key organisations involved in the justice system in the Somerset, South Burnett northern Toowoomba regions and across Queensland.
“This is all about criminals showing genuine remorse and helping to give families, friend and loved ones closure.”
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said the LNP’s policy would put Queensland in line with South Australia, while New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia were considering implementing similar laws.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is soft on crime and favours criminals ahead of victims,” Mr Nicholls said.
“While other states and territories have moved to implement strong parole reforms, Queensland Labor have sat idle with their heads in the sand, not wanting to upset the inner-city, bleeding heart brigade.
“Our laws will apply to offenders serving a jail sentence for murder or conspiracy to murder.
“To grant parole, the parole board must be satisfied the offender has co-operated to identify the location, or last known location, of the remains of the victim.
“This policy will apply to criminals who have not yet been released from jail on parole.”
If you want to see our 'No Body, No Parole' policy become a reality in Queensland, sign the petition at www.nobodynoparole.com.au
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has congratulated ten local clubs who have been successful in the latest round of sporting club grants.
Mrs Frecklington said the Crows Nest and District Pony Club was one of the three groups to receiving funding.
“This is the second major grant for the Crows Nest and District Pony Club and I’d really like to congratulate the club on their commitment to improving equestrian facilities in the region,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Through this grant they will receive $100,000 to construct a new amenities block. This adds to the $86,000 grant they received in early 2016 to build a multipurpose arena. Overall, it’s a great boost for the Crows Nest community and as a whole will really support and encourage families to become involved in the Pony Club and equestrian sports in general.
“The other successful group to secure a major grant was the Kilcoy Bowls Club who will recieve $60,315 to upgrade their clubhouse.
“Plus, the South Burnett Regional Council aslo secured $100,000 to construct an exercise track,” she said.
A further nine clubs receive smaller grants for equipment and come and try days including:
The funding comes from the State Government’s ‘Get Playing Places and Spaces’ funding program and the ‘Get Going Clubs’ program.
“These are great results for the region and I look forward to hearing how the funds encourage more people to get involved in sport,” Mrs Frecklington said.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said a future LNP Government would phase out supermarket-style plastic bags across Queensland, including in the Nanango Electorate.
Mrs Frecklington aid single-use plastic bags had an average lifespan of just 12 minutes but could take more than 1000 years to fully decompose.
“I’m proud to lead our community in cutting public waste, reducing landfill and providing a safer environment for our wildlife and families,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Queenslanders use around one billion plastic bags every year and the average family collects more than 60 per week.
“By phasing out single-use plastic bags from our local supermarkets, we are making an important investment in our future.
Deb said the LNP’s commitment to phase out plastic bags has been fully endorsed by Clean Up Australia, Wildlife Australia and the Boomerang Alliance, which represents 45 different environmental groups.
“In 2005, all Australian Governments agreed to phase out plastic bags by 2008, but so far only South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and ACT have fulfilled that promise,” she said.
“There are plenty of alternatives to the single-use plastic bag – by making a simple lifestyle change, local families can make a huge difference.
“Green, or bring-your-own bags, heavy retail bags, paper bags and barrier bags for fruit vegetables and meat will not be banned.
“The LNP is committed to protecting our world-class environment, after recently introducing a container deposit scheme that would give consumers, businesses and charities a 10 cent refund for aluminium, glass and plastic drink containers returned for recycling.”
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has congratulated South Burnett CTC, Heritage Nanango Community Fund, South Burnett Regional Council and the community on the completion of a major project to provide independent living for people with a disability and their elderly parents.
Mrs Frecklington said the project was of great importance to the township of Nanango and the whole South Burnett.
“The provision of this type of facility in regional areas is wonderful for families who have a child with a disability. It’s reassuring for elderly parent carers, knowing a local facility like this will help provide accommodation solutions for their loved ones, so they can live the life they choose,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I know how hard Nina Temperton and her team from South Burnett CTC have worked to complete this project and I’m proud to have been able to assist to make it a reality.
“In 2014 the then Treasurer and now Deputy Opposition Leader, Tim Nicholls and I officially donated the land for the project, and just a few weeks after that I was able to announced that South Burnett CTC had also secured $488,000 in funding through the Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Trial.
“This funding program was an initiative of our former LNP Government. At the time, Labor had left a legacy of significant unmet need in long-term housing for adults with a disability and their carers.
“The Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Trial was a three year, $15million fund developed to revitalise frontline services for families and the trial aimed to provide a wider range of accommodation options for adults with a disability who have parents aged over 60 years.
“Heritage Lodge is a wonderful example of the community coming together to identify a need and find a solution. Congratulations must also go to Heritage Nanango Community Fund, South Burnett Regional Council and Hotondo Homes for their involvement in helping to make this project a reality,” Deb said.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington with Andrew and his mum Michelle in Andrew’s new home at Heritage Lodge.
Queensland’s farm, fisheries and forestry sectors have been dealt yet another blow with the re-cycling of the lethargic Bill Byrne.
Shadow Agriculture Minister Dale Last said Minister Byrne’s appointment was a sad indictment of the total disconnect between the Palaszczuk Labor Government and rural and regional Queensland.
“Bill Byrne proved he had little empathy with agriculture and absolutely none with fisheries during his first shot in this important portfolio,” Mr Last said.
“Now he’s back following the resignation last week of disgraced former minister Leanne Donaldson.
“It’s hardly a day for rejoicing in Goondiwindi, Emerald, Longreach, Atherton or Mareeba, let alone Rockhampton and Gladstone where Bill Byrne has trashed the local commercial fishing fleets, seafood businesses and their workers.”
Mr Last said Minister Byrne was a person who thought it was okay to shoot rats in his roof but deny law-abiding farmers the short-arm weapons they needed for feral animal destruction.
“Minister Bill Byrne thinks by wearing RM Williams boots he has a connection with regional Queenslanders,” he said.
“During his previous stint as Ag minister he routinely refused to meet with industry stakeholders or lift a finger on any key issues in the portfolio.
“Bill Byrne stood by the rest of his union mates in State Parliament to try to deny farmers common sense vegetation management laws.”
Last night in Queensland Parliament, the Palaszczuk Government with the support of the Katter’s Australia Party and independent MPs, passed legislation likely to destroy hundreds of jobs at the Acland Coal mine at Oakey on Queensland’s Darling Downs.
Deputy Opposition Leader, Deb Frecklington, said she had already received calls from Acland workers and their families devastated by last night’s events and the callous disregard Annastacia Palaszczuk had shown for their future.
“In one fell swoop, Labor has plunged the future of local families into uncertainty,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to explain to the employees of the Acland mine why their livelihoods weren’t worth saving from her job-destroying legislation.
“We do not at all begrudge communities in Central and North Queensland for the fact that Labor has finally seen fit to excuse the Adani mine from unnecessary extra water approvals, but why didn’t she do the same for the Acland mine?
“Without a timely approval for the Acland expansion, the project will literally run out of coal, leaving nothing to mine and further job losses.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk promised Queenslanders she would create jobs and yet has sacrificed jobs to save her own.”
“Let me be clear, the LNP fully supported the make-good provisions in this legislation to protect farmers’ groundwater, but we fought hard against the unfair provisions that would force mining projects that had already received environmental approval from both state and Federal Governments into another lengthy approval and objection process.”
Member for Condamine, Pat Weir, said he was very worried about the future for the hundreds of employees at New Hope’s Acland Mine.
“Many of the workers coldly cut adrift by Annastacia Palaszczuk live in my electorate in the town of Oakey and surrounds, and their futures are now in absolute limbo,” Mr Weir said.
“The prosperity of the Oakey community depends on the mine being able to expand and, already, workers, small businesses and local contractors are fearful of how the local economy will cope after being ignored by this reckless Labor Government.”
Member for Toowoomba North, Trevor Watts, said Labor’s job-destroying legislation would affect people far beyond the local area.
“The residents who work directly at the mine and the families who spend their money at all the retail stores and other shops in my community have had their livelihoods placed in jeopardy by this sneaky Labor government,’ Mr Watts said.
“It will put families under a lot of stress and pressure knowing they’ll be going into Christmas with no idea what the future holds for them.
“It’s a very disappointing result for an Australian-owned, 100 per cent local employment mine with a fantastic record of rehabilitation.”
Member for Toowoomba South, David Janetzki said he was shocked Labor had chosen to ignore warnings about the impact of its legislation on local communities.
“Local families in Toowoomba South are desperately disappointed in this decision. They will need to move away - uprooting their families from everything they know,” Mr Janetzki said.
“Small businesses that rely on this project as their lifeblood are in shock today at this decision. This Labor Government just doesn’t understand and doesn’t care about regional Queensland.”
The Palaszczuk Labor Government was today forced into an embarrassing back-down on new water laws that could have killed the Adani mine and the thousands of potential jobs for North Queenslanders.
Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps said after sustained pressure from the LNP and the resources sector, Annastacia Palaszczuk was forced to concede that her new water laws would open the door to years of legal action against the Adani project.
“Labor’s hypocrisy on the Adani mine has been astounding and they should be condemned for creating untold angst and uncertainty as they pander to the Green movement,” Mr Cripps said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk has been saying one thing when she’s in North Queensland and doing the opposite when she’s back in Brisbane sucking up to the Greens to keep herself in the job.
“She says she wants the Adani project to proceed, yet she allowed ministers in her Cabinet to introduce job destroying legislation that would tie the project up in green law-fare.
“Why did it taken her so long to end the uncertainty for this important project?”
Deputy Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said Annastacia Palaszczuk’s hypocrisy on job creation was astounding, having tonight killed off close to 700 jobs at the Acland Coal mine on the Darling Downs as a result of her legislation.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to explain to the employees of the Acland mine and their families – as well as the businesses who have relied on this mine – why their livelihoods aren’t worth saving from this job-destroying legislation,” Ms Frecklington said.
“These laws will plunge the Acland mine into another round of unnecessary environmental assessments, despite it having already satisfied both state and federal environmental laws.
“The LNP fought for a review of make-good provisions in this legislation, to protect the interests of our farmers while ensuring these vital projects aren’t held up - but Labor wasn’t interested.
“Labor was warned of the dire consequences their new groundwater laws would pose for the desperately-needed expansion at the mine - but they didn’t listen and don’t care.
“Without a timely approval for the Acland expansion, the project will literally run out of coal, leaving nothing to mine and further job losses.
“The LNP fought hard for amendments to ensure the Acland mine would not be jeopardised by Labor’s new laws, but Labor did a dirty deal with crossbench MPs and voted instead to kill this important project.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk promised Queenslanders she would create jobs and yet has sacrificed jobs to save her own.”
Sunday 6th November was a long and very challenging day for the South Burnett and Swickers community after the devastating fire at our local meat processing facility.
I would like to thank all emergency workers, fire, police, ambulance and the SES for their professionalism and hard work throughout the day and continuing through this evening.
Our concern is always for our people and we have been blessed that no one has been injured in today’s fire.
Swickers management has reassured staff this evening that they are working towards a plan to reopen as soon as possible, and I welcome SunPork’s stated commitment to rebuilding and continuing to be a major supporter of our region.
A special thank you to management at the plant, particularly Lincoln Hawks and Bec Humphrey, who have done a great job under very trying circumstances today to get information out to staff, and for organising tonight’s employee meeting - thank you Lincoln and Bec.
We are a strong community and I know we will all pull together to help one another. I offer my own personal support, and the full support of my electorate office, should anyone feel they need a helping hand at any stage.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says the LNP Opposition has overturned regulations in Parliament this week which severely impacted gun dealer businesses.
Mrs Frecklington said the Labor regulation automatically suspended the licences of gun dealer businesses if the representative on the licencse died or lost their authority to represent the business.
“The LNP Opposition moved and passed a Disallowance Motion to the Weapons Regulation 2016 which said a license held by a business is automatically suspended when the person endorsed on the license dies or that person’s licence is suspended, revoked or expires.
“As the licence was attached to a person, and not the business, this automatic suspension meant that police were forced to seize all stock while the licence was suspended - a huge waste of Police time and resources which could be devoted to targeting the misuse of firearms.
“Now it will simply be a matter of updating the dealer’s license - meaning businesses won’t be thrown into limbo for weeks, if not months, while police freeze their stock.
“These changes have put Queensland into line with New South Wales and Victoria, meaning we’re no longer at a commercial disadvantage to our interstate counterparts.
“They will have absolutely no impact on the way the public usually applies for firearms – the existing process remains in place.
“All of this could have been avoided if the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Bill Byrne, had bothered to listen to industry representatives.
“After the automatic 10-year review of regulations the Minister chose not to change the Weapons Regulation 2016 on August 11th. Instead the Minister dug in and preferred to demonise hard working business owners and law abiding gun owners,” she said.
“The Minister seems to have a deliberately targeted agenda to make it harder and more difficult for regional and rural Queenslanders, primary producers, sporting shooters and gun business owners to conduct their lawful business,” she said.
The LNP Opposition has moved to end the damaging uncertainty facing Adani's Carmichael coal mine project and New Hope's Acland Stage 3 coal mine project in the face of more green tape from the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
Shadow Mines Minister, Andrew Cripps, said the LNP had moved a motion to bring forward the parliamentary debate on Labor's Environmental Protection (Underground Water Management) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, in an effort to end the endless uncertainty about the future of these two projects.
“Today's rally outside the Queensland Parliament by employees and supporters of New Hope's Acland Stage 3 project on the Darling Downs shows how desperate workers and local communities have become to get their message across to this Labor government,” Mr Cripps said.
"Today’s cry for help follows last week’s open letter from business, industry and civic leaders across North and Central Queensland calling on the Palaszczuk Government to ensure Adani's Carmichael project faced no further delays.
“Why won’t Annastacia Palaszczuk listen to rural and regional communities crying out for the jobs and business opportunities these mining projects deliver?
“She pretends to be right behind the Adani project when she’s in North Queensland, but as soon as she’s back in Brisbane she does anything and everything to keep her greenie friends happy.
“If she’s so supportive of Adani, why is she letting her Environment Minister Steven Miles introduce laws that jeopardise the project?
"Only the LNP is providing the leadership to protect current and future jobs in our resources sectors.”
Mr Cripps said he was surprised and disappointed to learn yesterday that the CFMEU had directed its members attending the rally outside the Queensland Parliament today not to wear any clothing that would identify them as members of the Union.
"I would have expected that unions like the CFMEU and the AWU would have seized this opportunity to support the efforts of their members to secure their jobs, which are being but at risk by Labor's ongoing relationship with the extreme Greens,” he said.
"It appears union members are only allowed to be 'union proud, union strong' when the union bosses think it won't hurt the political fortunes of the Palaszczuk Government - despite the jobs of its rank and file members hanging in the balance."
