Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has congratulated the Somerset Regional Council on being the first Council in Queensland to offer their support for the LNP’s Tourism WiFi policy.
Mrs Frecklington said it was great to see the Somerset being proactive in supporting the plan, which would see 500 WiFi hotspots provided at key tourism destinations across Queensland.
“The LNP wrote to all Councils about our plan, if elected, to enhance local tourism by investing $3m over three years in capital infrastructure for WiFi hotspots,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The hotspots would be established through grants to local councils and I was so pleased to hear that the Somerset Regional Council was the first to stake their interest in being involved.”
“Mayor Graeme Lehmann understands the benefits free WiFi hotspots would offer for tourists and the flow-on opportunities for local tourism operators. While the Somerset is within an hour’s drive of Brisbane, there is still limited access to reliable internet outside the main townships.
“We want visitors to our region to have access to world-class technology so they can stay connected to the world and post their happy snaps to social media or to send them to family or friends.”
Mayor Lehmann caught up with Deb while she was in Esk recently to discuss the plan and its potential benefits for the local economy.
“The Somerset Regional Council actively supports the LNP’s plan to introduce free WiFi hotspots as it would be a welcome boost for our rural townships, local tourism operators and small business owners,” Mayor Lehmann said.
“It would encourage visitors to stay longer in our smaller townships and spend their dollars locally. It would be another drawcard that will enable them to investigate additional attractions while experiencing the Somerset,” he said.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, with Mayor Lehmann discussing the benefits free WiFi hotspots at key tourist attractions would bring for the Somerset.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has personally congratulated members of the Toogoolawah Fire Brigade Social Club for raising $30,000 for the children’s burns unit.
Mrs Frecklington said the efforts of the group show how small regional communities like Toogoolawah can achieve amazing results.
“Raising $30,000 is no small feat and demonstrates the dedication and caring attitude of our small towns,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Congratulations must go to Graham Francis and the members of the Toogoolawah Social Club who have volunteered their time to raise this money.
“The group achieved their fantastic total by taking on the contract to clean fire hydrants across four Somerset towns including Toogoolawah, Esk, Somerset Dam Village and Linville.
“All the funds they raised have gone straight into this donation to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Foundation to help children with burns.
“And this isn’t their first donation. The Social Club has been involved in fundraising for the Burns unit since 2007 raising a total of $75,000 in this time.
“These are the quiet achievers of our community who deserve recognition and thanks for the efforts they have made to help improve the life of children who have suffered severe burns,” Deb said.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, with members of the Toogoolawah Fire Brigade Social Club. The Club members have raised $30,000 for the children’s burns unit. From l to r Sam Turner, Deb Frecklington, Tim Coleman, Graham Francis and Graham Lewis.
The Liberal National Party knows that Regional Queensland is the driving force behind the state’s economy.
Unfortunately, the regions have been neglected under Annastacia Palaszczuk who has slashed more than $3.6 billion from the infrastructure budget since being elected.
Regional Queensland has felt the brunt of those cutbacks.
Labor governments have long denied Regional Queensland the infrastructure investment it desperately needs, and deserves, to keep up with growth.
Over the past year we have seen more than 43,000 jobs lost in Regional Queensland under Annastacia Palaszczuk’s watch.
That is unacceptable.
The LNP knows that people living in Regional Queensland are hurting, we know they are finding it tough to get a job and we know they are sick to death of lip service from Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The LNP understands investment in Regional Queensland creates jobs, boosts morale and creates a flow-on effect throughout regional economies.
That is why the LNP will reinstate our successful Royalties for the Regions program should we be successful at the state election.
We will invest $495 million over four years to ensure regional towns and cities that have been starved of infrastructure under Annastacia Palaszczuk get their fair share.
The LNP believes royalties collected by the State Government should be invested back into the regional communities that generated them.
Be it for a road upgrade, new bridge, levee bank or upgrades to essential services such as water, waste and aviation infrastructure.
Regional Queenslanders are sick to death of playing second fiddle to their city counterparts, an all too familiar scenario under Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The LNP has a rich history and bond with Regional Queensland spanning more than a century.
Regional Queenslanders will always have a friend in the LNP – a unique bond that has been built on the back of trust, respect and loyalty.
Deb Frecklington
Queensland Deputy LNP Leader
This week the LNP Opposition will introduce tough new laws to State Parliament to tackle the growing scourge of domestic violence in the Somerset and across the state.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said the Private Members Bill would include reversing the onus of proof for bail, establishing a DV alert system, GPS monitoring for high-risk offenders on bail and introducing immediate appeal rights against bail.
“While the Palaszczuk Government has been sitting on their hands saying they will ‘look into’ strong domestic violence laws the LNP has actually gone ahead and done it,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“By introducing a DV alert system, victims will be notified when the alleged offender is applying for bail or having their parole reviewed.
“We will also introduce GPS monitoring as an option for bail to ensure an alleged attacker can’t go near the victim.
“I have worked in this field and we have seen far too many tragedies. The last thing we want to see is another one.”
Deb said Queensland accounted for a quarter of all domestic-violence related deaths in Australia in 2016.
“In 2015-16 there were more than 22,000 domestic violence orders breached across the state – up 39 per cent from the year before,” she said.
“Despite this alarming surge, the Palaszczuk Government still hasn’t implemented even half of the recommendations from the Not Now, Not Ever report from two years ago.
“I hope Members from all sides can look past the politics and support these strong laws because the longer we wait, the longer vulnerable women and children will be put at risk.”
Bail (Domestic Violence) and Another Act Amendment Bill 2017
Congratulations must be extended to Jaye-Lea Francis and the team of hardworking volunteers and staff at the Kilcoy Kindy who have secured a full-time kindy program for 2017 with 40 children now enrolled.
They have worked extremely hard over the past several years to ensure their C&K Kindy has remained open. Their passion and determination is proof that if you keep trying, great things can be achieved.
It has been a pleasure to work alongside the families to ensure our children have access to a quality, local, early childhood education and I’m glad I was able to support them by attending community meetings, sponsorship of the parliamentary petition and representations to the Education Minister.
We must always remind our city cousins that regional communities such as ours place so much value on retaining services locally and we will always fight to retain them. This is a great success for Kilcoy and I look forward to seeing the Kindy go from strength to strength.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, is encouraging young people from the Nanango Electorate to apply for a position in the upcoming 2017 YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament.
Mrs Frecklington said this year’s youth parliament would kick off with a forum from 7-9 April in Brisbane, including a formal launch at Parliament House.
“More than 90 young people aged 15 to 25 will be selected to discuss the issues facing our youth and develop legislation that they will debate later in the year,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“These young parliamentarians are selected to represent the 89 Queensland electorates based on their enthusiasm, ability to represent their communities and interest and passion for issues affecting Queensland. Four Indigenous members will also be selected to participate.
“Last year our Youth Member was Kirsten Butters from Maidenwell. These types of opportunities are so important for our young people so we can encourage them to get involved and learn more about how they can initiate change to tackle issues and help improve our communities.
“All Youth Members are involved in committee meetings, mentoring, training and research to help produce the Bills to be debated at Parliament House during the residential week from 24-30 September.”
“Applications for the 2017 program close on 27 February, so I would encourage anyone interested to get in quick,” she said.
“Youth Parliament teaches young people about the government decision-making process, while providing an excellent leadership opportunity for those who may one day become our future decision makers,” she said.
The YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament is also a Queensland Studies Authority accredited educational program. Young people currently in Year 11 or Year 12 who undertake the YMCA QYP program will receive one (1) point towards their Queensland Certificate of Education upon their successful completion of the program.
For more information about the YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament, go to http://www.ymcaqyp.org.au/
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington with Kirsten Butters, Nanango Youth Parliament Member during the 2016 Youth Parliament in Brisbane.
