“I would like to express my extreme disappointment following initial reports that the Land Court has recommended that the mining leases and environmental authority for the revised New Acland Stage 3 not be granted.
“In particular, I am very concerned for the nearly 800 employees and contractors and their families, who today will be wondering if they will have a job beyond the end of 2017.
“We must bear in mind that the Land Court decision is a recommendation and is not binding.
“Approval was given by the Federal Government in January this year. The final decision makers are the Palaszczcuk Labor Government and the ball is now firmly in their court.
“I call on them to back regional jobs and regional families when making their final decision on this important regional project.”
Regional Queenslanders have been kicked in the guts by Annastacia Palaszczuk’s bad electricity policies.
Regional Queensland households will be slugged $105 more because Labor has loaded up government-owned electricity companies with $5 billion* of debt – forcing them to increase prices.
LNP Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart said the do-nothing Labor Government was ignoring the needs of regional Queenslanders.
“Instead of listening to regional Queenslanders who are saying they can’t afford to pay more for electricity, Labor has bowed to government-owned electricity companies which have argued for higher prices, meaning higher profits and bigger dividends for the Government,” Mr Hart said.
“Every energy policy Labor has is driving up electricity prices.”
Mr Hart said Labor’s renewable energy target would see Queenslanders pay over a billion dollars more in the next decade.
“Queenslanders will be subsidising electricity prices in New South Wales and Victoria,” he said.
“Labor’s game of hide-the-debt has left government-owned energy companies with an extra interest bill of hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
“Queenslanders are paying these interest costs through higher electricity prices.
“Labor treats electricity like an alternative form of taxation and we all know Labor is addicted to higher taxes.”
Mr Hart said south-east Queenslanders were also set to pay more on July 1 when electricity retailers jacked up prices because of the debt-laden government-owned generators.
* Queensland Auditor General’s Report – Energy: 2015–16 results of financial audits, Page 26 -
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, says regional families will bear the brunt of the Labor Government and Queensland cross benchers decision to slug Queensland families with their third 3.5 per cent increase on family car rego.
Mrs Frecklington said the continuing increases were hurting local families because in country areas, like the South Burnett and the Somerset it’s almost essential to own your own car.
“In country areas, large distances must be covered to get into town. Our community knows this and they live with it each day, but they are sick and tired of being treated like cash cows year after year, just because they must own a car.
“They keep being milked each year by this Labor Government. Their rego goes up, but they don’t get much in return. People look at the condition of our roads and ask, where is my rego money going?
“In 2015, I joined with my LNP Colleagues to sign the Pledge to cap car rego costs. Three years later, rego costs keep going up by 3.5 percent each year - much higher than the inflation rate.
“When the LNP were in Government, we froze car rego for three years. In stark comparison, as soon as this Labor Government had the chance, they started their rego increases, and they’re not going to stop. They know it hurts the hardest in the bush, but they don’t care, because they don’t care about country people.”
Deb is encouraging the community to have their say and sign the Fairer Rego Petition at: http://www.fairerrego.com.au/
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has launched an online survey for residents of the Nanango Electorate - and one lucky participant will win a $300 wheelbarrow garden pack.
Mrs Frecklington said feedback from her 2016 hard copy survey showed many people thought an electronic survey option would be worthwhile.
“I want to better understand what the current issues are for people living in our region and what needs to be done to make it an even better place to live,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“This year I’ve put together an online survey via the social media website, Facebook. I’m always looking for new ways to contact people to encourage them to share their views, and Facebook is a great option for getting in touch with a broad range of households.
“Plus, one lucky participant will win a wheelbarrow garden pack valued at $300, from which has been purchased from local business, Airds Hardware in Nanango.
“The survey is fairly short and should only take a few minutes to complete, so just head to my Facebook page at ‘debfrecklingtonmp’,” Deb said.
Photo: By participating in Deb’s online Facebook survey, you have the chance to win a wheelbarrow garden pack valued at $300!
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has led calls on the Federal Government to suspend all peanut imports from Argentina pending an immediate review of all associated risks following an outbreak of smut disease.
Mrs Frecklington joined with the LNP’s Shadow Agriculture Minister Dale Last, to highlight growers concerns about ‘Peanut Smut’ which is widespread across Argentinian growing areas.
“The South Burnett is a major peanut growing region and local growers approached me about their very real concerns.
“The big danger is that if smut became established here, there is no way it could be eradicated.
“It is a disease that causes big production losses of up to 20 per cent and more, and once land becomes infected it has to be taken out of production,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“We need to keep our peanut industry smut-free.”
Mrs Frecklington said Kingaroy growers were not impressed with comments from Canberra bureaucrats about “risk-based biosecurity” and the government’s ability to respond to “new and emerging international pest and disease threats.”
“Until there can be an iron-clad guarantee from Canberra that there is no risk from bringing smut in from Argentina, then imports should cease,” Deb said.
LNP Shadow Agriculture Minister, Dale Last agreed that imports of raw and unshelled nuts posed an unaccepted risk to the state’s peanut industry near Kingaroy.
“Pending the outcome, the review could facilitate resumption of imports of lower risk processed peanuts,” Mr Last said
“The last thing Queensland agriculture needs is another exotic disease or pest. If there’s any level of risk then imports must stop.”
Mr Last said it was time to shut the door on any new biosecurity risk given the recent devastation of southern Queensland prawn farms by white spot disease, Panama disease in bananas in North Queensland and the on-going spread of Asian honey bees – carriers of the highly-destructive Verroa mites that could wipe out the local honey industry.
Photo: With Rob Patch from the Peanut Van.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has called on the Labor Government to reinstate much needed funding for highways in the Nanango Electorate.
Mrs Frecklington said she made the plea* in Parliament after hearing of yet another road fatality on the Brisbane Valley Highway.
“Anyone who travels the highways and main connecting networks throughout the Somerset, South Burnett and Crows Nest regions knows these roads can be dangerous,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I spoke in Parliament about the high level of investment made under our former LNP Government to help improve these ageing road corridors.
“We invested $10million through the Royalties for our Regions program for new overtaking lanes on the Brisbane Valley Highway and D’Aguilar Highway. Two more overtaking lanes were also built on the Bunya Highway and again on the D’Aguilar between Nanango and Kingaroy.
“In fact, in the financial year 2013/14, forty percent (40%) of the state-controlled roads in the Nanango Electorate either had works started, or ready to begin.
“But now the investment in the Nanango Electorate road network has dropped away almost entirely under this Labor Government. We have seen some works undertaken, but this funding has come from the Federal Government. There have been no new overtaking lanes and no real promise of future funding.
“For example, we really need overtaking lanes on the New England Highway especially between Crows Nest and Cooyar. There’s also the section of road just south of Harlin on the Brisbane Valley Highway which also needs an overtaking lane and re-alignment to make it safer.
“For people in regional areas, continued road investment is critical. It helps ensure producers can get their product to market, it brings tourists, it transports goods to our region and most importantly, it means our community can get where they need to go safely, each day.
“I’m calling on the Labor Government to remember our regional road networks and make the investments needed to keep our community safe,” Mrs Frecklington said.
Hansard Speech Transcript - http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/Speeches/spk2017/Deborah_Frecklington-Nanango-20170511-069341669222.pdf#search=(AUTHOR
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, says the 2017/18 Federal Budget is a win for regional areas like the those in the Nanango Electorate.
Mrs Frecklington says it was good to see such an emphasis on regional areas, across many different areas including infrastructure, schools funding, mental health services, disability funding and small business.
“It is obvious the Federal Government have been listening to their regional MP’s like Maranoa’s David Littleproud, and Wide Bay’s Llew O’Brien,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Our Federal Agriculture Minister, Barnaby Joyce, and Minister for Regional Development, Senator Fiona Nash have made sure regional Australia is top-of-mind, releasing a special regional budget document – ‘Regional Australia – Driving our Economy 2017-18.
“There is a tangible focus in this budget on creating jobs and economic growth in regions, with 450 initiatives which will benefit regional areas.
“It is great to see infrastructure at the top of the list, with projects like the Inland Rail being funded. This project will connect regions to domestic and global markets, which will give our local producers significant opportunities to grow their business.
“They have also created a $472 million Regional Growth Fund, allocating funding specifically for regional infrastructure projects in an aim to unlock the potential of regional areas. This will also add an extra round of funding for the Building Better Regions Fund, an important funding source which invests in regional projects.
“Another key measure that is a priority for our area is better funding for mental health services. An example of this is Medicare funding for people who live in regional areas to access psychological services via telehealth.
“Small business and primary producers will also give a big tick to the extension of the Instant Asset Write-off program which immediately deducts asset purchases less than $20,000. This is a really popular initiative which improves cashflow for small business.
“And our local schools have all seen an increase in funding. The best way to find out how this affects your school is to go online to the ‘School Funding Estimator’ which gives a really simple overview of funding per school and per student.
“Carers and people with a disability will also benefit, with funding measures to secure the NDIS. This will mean a lot to people in the regions who want certainty around their future funding.
“Plus, it’s great to see the continued commitment to Community Legal Centres, like the services offered by TASC in Kingaroy. There is $39 million for Community Legal Centres and a record $1.73 billion for Legal Assistance Services across the nation. These services offer a lifeline to people who need legal help, but can’t afford it. For our region, it was something I lobbied for and it’s great it will continue.
“I’d encourage everyone to have a look at Regional Australia budget document at: https://infrastructure.gov.au/department/statements/2017_2018/ministerial-statement/2017-18-Regional-Ministerial-Budget-Statement.pdf. It is a great summary of how this Federal Budget will help our regions prosper,” Deb said.
Links:
Regional Australia - Driving our Economy 2017-18 - https://infrastructure.gov.au/department/statements/2017_2018/ministerial-statement/2017-18-Regional-Ministerial-Budget-Statement.pdf
School Funding Estimator - https://www.education.gov.au/sites/education/files/sch/calc/index.html
LNP Shadow Education Minister Tracy Davis wishes all Queensland children sitting NAPLAN tests over the next few days the very best of luck.
“NAPLAN testing starts today for three days and we want this to be a meaningful process and for our kids to do their best,” Ms Davis said.
“This is an important test to mark a set time in a student’s learning progress, but at the same time we don’t want any child to feel stressed by what they are being tested on.
“This year will see one of the largest number of students sitting the test, which is encouraging.
“Our teachers, parents and school communities have worked hard to help students prepare for their NAPLAN test and we look forward to seeing some great results and improvements in certain areas.
“My message to families throughout NAPLAN test week is to support your child to do their best, encourage them to feel confident and ease any worry they may have about the process.”
Photo: During a visit to the Kingaroy Show on Saturday 6th May, Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington and Leader of Oppositon, Tim Nicholls had the opportunity to discuss infrastructure needs for the South Burnett with Mayor Keith Campbell
The Liberal National Party will expand its Royalties for the Region program to ensure South Burnett locals get their fair share of much-needed infrastructure after more than two years of neglect under Annastacia Palaszczuk.
LNP Leader Tim Nicholls said the LNP had written to Queensland mayors encouraging them to provide a list of job-creating projects their communities needed.
“Under an LNP government the expanded Royalties for Regions program would encourage local governments and stakeholder groups to submit their projects for consideration,” Mr Nicholls said.
“We were proud of the hundreds of worthwhile projects and jobs this program delivered right around Queensland, but Labor chose to scrap it and halve the amount it would commit to infrastructure spending in Queensland’s regions.
“That move said it all for us. Labor pays lip service to regional Queensland but we all know it’s the greenie vote in south-east Queensland that keeps many of their ministers in a job.”
LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow Infrastructure Minister Deb Frecklington said the LNP would invest $500 million to ensure regional towns and cities starved of infrastructure under Annastacia Palaszczuk got their fair share.
“Only the LNP truly understands the needs of regional and rural communities and their years of neglect under Labor,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Whether it’s a road upgrade, new bridge, levee bank or upgrades to essential services such as water, waste and aviation infrastructure, we understand investment in Southern Queensland creates jobs, boosts morale and creates a flow-on effect throughout regional economies - something Annastacia Palaszczuk hasn’t got her head around.”
When in government, the LNP’s Royalties for the Regions program delivered projects including:
“Over the past year we have seen more than 43,000 jobs lost in Regional Queensland under Annastacia Palaszczuk’s watch,” Ms Frecklington said.
“I urge local mayors right across Southern Queensland regions to let me know what projects they would like funded under a future LNP government – that list will give us all a head start to Build a Better Queensland.”
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has announced the start of roadworks on Mt Glorious Road (Northbrook Parkway).
Mrs Frecklington said a stretch of 6.1 kilometres would be upgraded, between the intersection of Wivenhoe-Somerset Road and the Red Cedar Picnic area at Dundas.
“The works have started and will take approximately ten weeks to complete.
“Roadworkers will be on the job on week days from 5am until 5pm, so I’d encourage anyone driving this road to take it easy through this section,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“During construction, one lane will be closed with temporary traffic signals in place to assist with the traffic flow, however, Transport and Main Roads have advised me they will aim to minimise impacts to motorists as much as possible.
“I believe these roadworks will go some way towards addressing the concerns I have received about this stretch of road, particularly for the many recreational motorcyclists who travel between the Mount Glorious township and Wivenhoe-Somerset Road,” she said.
