Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington is urging all residents to slow down and drive with caution during the 2018 Easter period.
"Every death on our roads is one too many. It’s time for drivers to take check and to slow down. Getting somewhere 10 minutes late is far better than not getting there at all," Mrs Frecklington said.
"Easter is the time for loved ones to get together and enjoy the long weekend with friends and family, not be mourning the loss of a loved one.
"Speeding is one of the biggest killers on Queensland roads. I encourage drivers to wear a seatbelt, focus on the road and to slow down because the consequences of speeding are tragic, real and long-lasting.
"And don’t forget, ‘If it’s Flooded, Forget it’. Our country roads have many creek and river crossings which flood, so keep an eye out for these conditions as well.
"Let’s make sure everyone makes it home in the South Burnett to enjoy the Easter festivities," Deb said.
"I was very saddened to learn of the terrible fire that claimed three lives in Kingaroy today," Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington said this evening.
"My thoughts are with the family and community affected by this tragedy.
"I would like to thank all of the emergency services who attended this incident.
"I also thank the courageous passers-by who rushed to the scene and saved the life of a young boy apparently trapped in the home. They are true heroes."
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, says communities like Murgon will be the ones that will feel the impact of the Palaszczuk Government’s massive 85 per cent funding cut for Neighbourhood Watch.
Mrs Frecklington said she was appalled that funding for the state’s 400 Neighbourhood Watch groups has been slashed from $500,000 a year to just $75,000.
"In communities like Murgon, we need a funding boost for crime prevention, not savage cuts like we’re seeing with this Labor Government," Mrs Frecklington said.
"At my Mobile Office in Murgon last week, I met with many people who are concerned about the level of crime in the region.
"I just can’t believe the Palaszczuk Government would target groups like Neighbourhood Watch for spending cuts.
"Neighbourhood Watch volunteers are a vital link between police and communities and we have several successful groups around the South Burnett including Kumbia, Wondai and Murgon which have been operating for many years.
"We need to boost community involvement in crime prevention, not destroy it," Deb said.
Murgon Neighbourhood Watch Area Coordinator, Darren Buckley met with Deb at the Murgon Mobile Office and agrees the funding cuts are very concerning.
"I’ve been involved with Neighbourhood Watch for about 15 years. It’s disappointing to see funding cuts, especially in Neighbourhood Watch’s 30th year, when we should be celebrating our many achievements," he said.
You can get involved by signing the 'Save Neighbourhood Watch' petition online at https://queensland.typeform.com/to/jQWd2V
Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington today said the first true analysis of Labor’s election eve tax grab will hurt Queensland businesses and hardworking Queenslanders.
"It is becoming increasingly clear that every Queenslander will suffer over the next three years of Annastacia Palaszczuk’s tax hungry government," Ms Frecklington said.
"Sneakily, Labor announced four new taxes on Queenslanders two days out from an election and yesterday announced another under the cover of darkness without even bothering to give Queenslanders a say.
"These new taxes were announced before any critical analysis on these tax measures could be undertaken.
"This massive act of political deception on Queenslanders is only now starting to be revealed.
"I would never treat Queenslanders with such disrespect and I’d treat their hard earned money as if it was my own.
"Put simply a tax on business is a tax on jobs."
Analysis on just the new property taxes shows the devastating effect it will have on Queensland’s economy.
"It is sobering and quite frankly disgusting that new homebuyers will be hit with an extra $1000 in costs while small business rents are likely to rise $1500," she said.
"The Premier calls it a ‘Robin Hood’ tax when in fact she is nothing more than the Sheriff of Nottingham.
"Queenslanders just want to get ahead but how can they when Labor’s only answer for its economic mismanagement is new taxes?"
LNP Shadow Treasurer Tim Mander said the announcement of another waste tax by Labor yesterday shows how out of touch Annastacia Palaszczuk is becoming.
"Maybe the Premier should spend less time advocating for tax cuts for Hollywood Producers and more time helping out hard working Queenslanders," Mr Mander said.
"The waste tax has nothing to do with the environment and is just another slug on families.
"It has no detail, no analysis, Labor can’t even get their lines straight about whether it is a tax or a levy.
"You can't tax your way to growth."
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, is encouraging groups and individuals to submit applications for Round Five of her ‘Local Hero Grants’.
Mrs Frecklington said grants of $250 are available for community groups from the Nanango Electorate, and also for individuals needing assistance to travel to sporting events or other competitions.
"The grants provides an opportunity to show my support, thanks and appreciation for all our hardworking volunteer groups who make such a difference for our community. And to encourage people who are attending sporting or other events and need assistance to make it possible," Deb said.
The closing date is 31 March, so get your applications in! If you would like to apply, please go to my website or contact the Electorate office on 4190 7100 for the guidelines.
"Labor’s commitment to install solar panels in Queensland schools is welcome but why is solar more important than air-conditioning our schools?
"We all know that when kids are sweltering, they struggle to learn effectively. This is about priorities and the LNP believes Labor should be air-conditioning more Queensland schools.
"We’ll be keeping a close eye on this solar scheme to ensure it runs to budget and taxpayers aren’t unfairly slugged.
"Labor has a bad history of allowing project costs to drastically blowout and then expecting Queenslanders to pick up the tab.
"We also need to ensure that the solar panel rollout is done on a needs basis and isn't blatant pork barrelling of Labor electorates."
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said Annastacia Palaszczuk’s promised upgrade of the Ipswich Hospital is years away from construction, let alone completion.
"Despite all the media hype and spin, the fine print shows construction of new wings at the hospital won’t start until 2020 and the proposed upgrade would take place across the next half decade.
"The problem is that Ipswich needs more hospital beds now.
"The latest Queensland Health performance data indicates that ambulance ramping is at 15 per cent and almost half (45 per cent) of patients admitted to the emergency department are not seen within clinically recommended times.
"Lazy Labor have wasted the last three years and the planning for this upgrade should have happened a lot earlier.
"Queenslanders deserve a world-class health system that Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor aren’t delivering.
"Our hard working nurses, doctors and paramedics need more resources now to provide the frontline health services that a growing Ipswich region needs."
Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington today said she would fight tooth and nail to defend farmers and their property rights.
"Sadly, Labor have today launched an unfair attack on farmers, their families and farming communities right across Queensland," Ms Frecklington said.
"Labor’s proposed vegetation management laws are offensive and I will fight them at every turn.
"Instead of supporting farmers Annastacia Palaszczuk is tying them up in more red tape and threatening their ability to grow the food we put our tables and the fibre we put on our backs.
"I will do all I can to convince Queenslanders that this legislation is bad not just for regional Queensland but the South East as well.
"It will affect housing affordability, it will affect food security and it will make battling drought much more difficult.
"We need less emotion and more facts in the vegetation management debate.
"The fact is that over the last 3 years, since the LNP’s balanced vegetation management laws were passed, the clearance rate is 17% lower than the long run average.*
"Protecting the reef is vital but scaremongering about the impact of farmers is disgraceful."
LNP Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and North Queensland Dale Last said Annastacia Palaszczuk’s new laws will make it nearly impossible to bring new land into high value agricultural production.
"This is a real kick in the guts for North Queensland where so many farmers are keen to grow more food for our state and for export," Mr Last said.
"Labor’s laws will mean we can’t supply more Queensland avocados, mangoes and macadamia nuts.
"They’ll mean Queensland will be forced to import more fruit, vegetables and nuts, even though we have the ability to grow our own here.
"Smashed avocado, mango salsa and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts are better if they come from Queensland. Clearly Labor doesn’t understand and doesn’t care about growing Queensland agriculture."
Ms Frecklington and Mr Last said a petition is now up at fightforfarmers.com.au are encouraging Queenslanders to download and share the Fight for Farmers video.
Download video here: http://bit.ly/2Fpnzfk
Community crime-fighting in Queensland will be crippled by the Palaszczuk Government’s massive 85 per cent cut in funding for Neighbourhood Watch.
Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington said she was appalled that funding for the state’s 400 Neighbourhood Watch groups was being slashed from $500,000 a year to just $75,000.
"We need to boost community involvement in crime prevention, not destroy it," Ms Frecklington said.
"What is the Palaszczuk Government thinking in targeting Neighbourhood Watch volunteers for spending cuts?
"They should be backing community-spirited volunteers to the hilt, not stabbing them in the back."
Shadow Minister for Police Trevor Watts said Neighbourhood Watch played a major role in crime prevention and detection.
"Neighbourhood Watch volunteers are a vital link between police and communities," Mr Watts said.
"The volunteers give valuable information to police and keep their communities alert.
"Neighbourhood Watch is celebrating its 30th birthday this year – what a lousy present Annastacia Palaszczuk is giving its volunteers."
Tonight in State Parliament, I called on Annastacia Palaszczuk to adopt the LNP’s real time fuel price monitoring policy.
Labor continued to rip off Queenslanders, not supporting the LNP’s motion on real time fuel pricing.
It was also disappointing to see Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party vote against real action on fuel prices and the Greens Party didn’t even bother to show up.
Our state has some of the highest fuel prices in Australia.
Queensland motorists are being taken for a ride every time they fill up.
A car isn’t a luxury for most Queenslanders, it’s a necessity – a very expensive necessity.
The LNP understands that high fuel prices are hurting households and that’s why we’ve been pushing for real-time fuel price monitoring in Queensland.
This Government needs to give Queensland drivers a break and adopt the LNP’s fuel policy.
I will always put Queensland first.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, will be holding second mobile office in Murgon on Friday 16th March.
"My first mobile office was booked out, so I really wanted to come back and provide the community with the opportunity to talk to me about local issues," Deb said.
"The Murgon Mobile Office will be at the Rotunda in the main street. It’s essential to make a booking, so please call my office to lock in a time," Deb said.
To make an appointment, please contact the Nanango Electorate Office on 4190 7100 or email nanango@parliament.qld.gov.au
Summer has officially come to an end and for many around the South Burnett, some cooler weather will be welcome. I hope it will also be a welcome change for our Emergency Services personnel who have been kept extremely busy as the storms have rolled across the South Burnett.
The storms have brought drenching rain which is a relief for our primary producers, but I know they have also caused much damage.
I would like to send a huge thanks, on behalf of our community, to these dedicated men and women who work all hours of the day and night to reconnect our power and help our communities recover from the storm destruction. We couldn’t get by without you and we send our heartfelt thanks for the work you do.
Nanango MP Deb Frecklington says Labor’s claims of creating jobs in the South Burnett are just more spin from a government that doesn’t understand regional Queensland.
"Regional Queenslanders know that the real jobs in the bush come from supporting small business and getting on with building the infrastructure our region needs," Ms Frecklington said.
"Sadly, Labor has stripped almost $2 billion from Queensland’s infrastructure spend in regional communities.
"The proofs in the pudding, Labor had the chance to support Queensland businesses during the Commonwealth Games but instead they bought Chinese mattresses and sent bus contracts to Melbourne.
"If the Premier wants to supports jobs in the South Burnett she could start by having Queensland wines at the Commonwealth Games.
"I’ll keep fighting for the people of Nanango and all of regional Queensland to make sure they get their fair share."
