Statement from Jarrod Bleijie, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
The State Government has given up on the bush.
Labor has walked away from Central Queensland.
This is a third term State Government that has become so out of touch, locals are telling us the Premier isn't even bothering to run a candidate in the Callide by-election.
This by-election is a test for the Premier and if she fails to run she is running from her record.
The Queensland Health Crisis has become catastrophic, it’s clear the State Government doesn’t want to front up to the people of Callide.
LNP Candidate Bryson Head was endorsed last December.
He is an outstanding candidate who will fight for Callide, compared to the State Government that has turned its back on the region.
What an absolute disgrace from Labor.
The only way voters can send a message to the State Government is by voting for the LNP's Bryson Head on June 18.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has urgently written to the State Government seeking an immediate solution to the loss of the causeway over the Brisbane River at Scrub Creek (near Toogoolawah).
Mrs Frecklington said the causeway was washed away on 25th May, leaving residents of Scrub Creek completely isolated.
“There is no alternative evacuation route for the residents. They have already experienced long periods of isolation during the Feb-March floods and more recently, have been isolated for two weeks following the rain of early May,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Now that the causeway has given way, the outlook is even worse for these residents.
“The Somerset Regional Council are assisting, but remedies for fixing the issues at the causeway have been drawn out due to the need for State Government approvals to undertake works in the Brisbane River.
“I have written to the Deputy Premier, Minister for Water and Minister for Main Roads seeking an urgent intervention and solution,” Mrs Frecklington said.
Photo courtesy Julie Watson.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, says the decision by the State Labor Government to not inform GP’s and Pharmacists before making its free flu vaccine announcement has created chaos for doctors and patients across the region.
Mrs Frecklington said the announcement caught health professionals who deliver flu vaccines completely off guard and scrambling for information.
“Our local GP’s and Pharmacists were not warned about this announcement and only found out about the change via the media after patients started contacting them,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“They are rightly upset they received no notice as it caused a great deal of confusion, anxiety and upset for their staff and their patients.
“This is a just another example of the Labor Government’s inability to plan, and also their lack of respect for our hardworking health professionals.
“It comes hot on the heels of the Deputy Premier’s disgraceful slur against GP’s after he blamed them for his own Government’s health crisis.
“The Labor Government needs to start showing some respect for our health professionals,” Mrs Frecklington said.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has congratulated two local South Burnett groups who have secured funding to undertake major lighting projects at their grounds.
Mrs Frecklington said the Wondai Proston Wolves Rugby League Club, and the Nanango Show Society were successful in securing funds totalling almost $210,000 through the Active Gameday Projects Fund.
“These are important projects for the South Burnett which certainly deserved support,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Lighting of our grounds grows participation in local sport by providing the option for clubs to train and compete in the evenings when more people are available outside of work hours, and when it is cooler during the summer months.
“The Wondai Wolves are undertaking an infrastructure improvement plan at their grounds and this grant will help upgrade their existing lighting,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The Nanango Show Society will use the grant to install new lighting at their main arena. This provides opportunities for the sport and recreation clubs based at the Nanango Showgrounds to attract large state and national events from their affiliated groups such as Equestrian Qld, Dogs Qld and the Qld Rodeo Association,” Deb said.
Nanango Show Society President, Les Schloss, said the lighting project had been a goal of the Show Society for many years.
“Along with the grant, we could not have made the project happen without a substantial contribution of $30,000 from the Heritage Nanango Community Fund, and our own Show Society, which is also making a large investment.
“A project like this also has flow-on benefits for the whole community as it helps increase visitors to the region for major events and provides a broader economic and social boost for Nanango and the South Burnett,” Mr Schloss said.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington with Wondai Wolves President, Mick Astill.
The Opposition is demanding the State Government release the latest hospital and health figures for Queensland, as the state’s health crisis deepens.
The State Government has repeatedly refused to release any data this year.
It comes after it was revealed health bosses were caught discussing ways to change the way the data was reported to make it look better than it actually is.
Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli says Queenslanders deserve to know why Queensland has the worst ambulance ramping figures on the country.
“Queenslanders are finding it increasingly harder to trust this government,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“The State Government is yet to find a way to fix the health crisis because it spends so much time trying to fudge the figures.
“Queensland has the worst ambulance ramping in the country and unfortunately you can’t fix what you don’t measure.
“The Government is losing control of health care and Queenslanders deserve to know the truth.
“I want to thank our hard working doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals who are working around the clock to help keep the health system on the rails.”
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said Labor is more interested in fudging the figures than fixing our hospitals.
“As a registered nurse and former hospital administrator, I know how frustrating it is for our frontline staff,” Ms Bates said.
“Ambulance ramping is just one of the many issues affecting our hospitals.
“The embattled Health Minister thought throwing $100 million at the problem would fix it.
“Hiding the true state of our hospitals from Queenslanders wreaks of a cover-up from a third term government more interested with how things look than how they are.”
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has congratulated the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce for leading the way when it comes to mental health support for small business.
Mrs Frecklington said the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce had been recognised for their “Smile4Biz” mental health support program, with funding awarded to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) to roll out the program to business Chambers across Queensland.
“The rolling out of the program across Queensland acknowledges that the Kingaroy Chamber’s Smile4Biz program is truly best practice when it comes to mental health support initiatives,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“We should all feel very proud of our local Kingaroy Chamber, and the implementation of this unique program that helps support small business with the mental health challenges faced by owners and their staff each and every day.
“Smile has helped save lives.
“’Smile’, stands for Supporting Mental Health through Information, Leadership and Education, and is a proactive education program and face-to-face counselling service run in conjunction with Bunyarra Counselling.
“I want to thank the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce President, Mr Damien Martoo and his Committee for their hard work and foresight in offering this service to our local businesses, and congratulate them on having their program recognised for its success, and now extended to help business across Queensland,” Deb said.
Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington with the KCCI Committee at the launch of the Smile4Biz program last year.
