Like many others in the South Burnett and surrounding regions, I am struggling to come to terms with the tragedy we have experienced on our roads during the past few weeks.
It seems like every time we hear the news, another family has been impacted by the loss of a loved one because of a fatal road crash. No one can explain why so many fatalities have occurred in our region over such a short period of time, and we can only hope and pray this trend does not continue.
My heart goes out to the families and victims. These lives have been lost in an instant and their loved ones will spend a lifetime in mourning.
Our thoughts and thanks should also go to the first responders, the Police, Ambulance, QFES, SES, Council and many more for the difficult job they have had. I read with great sadness Snr Sgt Dave Tierney’s heartfelt plea. It is powerful, and I encourage everyone to make the time to read his full message.
Living in the country we all spend a lot of time in our cars getting from A to B, and our journeys are often on single-lane highways, or unsealed roads which require extra attention and concentration. I support Snr Sgt Tierney’s urgent call for us all to step up and realise that we are the key to improving road safety. When we get behind the wheel, we must slow down, drive to the conditions, stay off our phones and focus.
These past few weeks remind us that road safety really does affect us all. Please stay safe on our roads.
Deb Frecklington
Member for Nanango
Small businesses right across Queensland will be better off under a Deb Frecklington LNP Government, as confidence under Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk collapses.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington and Shadow Minister for Small Business Fiona Simpson unveiled two new LNP policies, as part of Queensland Small Business Week.
Ms Frecklington said an LNP Government will prioritise procurement to support Queensland small businesses and inspire the next generation of business owners.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Queensland’s economy and the LNP’s plan delivers the support they deserve,” Ms Frecklington said.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government has turned it’s back on small businesses and can’t be trusted to create jobs.
“We want to help existing businesses get ahead and support the next generation of small business leaders.
“That’s why we have a plan to mentor 8000 young Queenslanders and provide them with the tools to launch their own small business.”
As part of the new initiatives announced, the LNP will prioritise government procurement to ensure small businesses get priority consideration for contracts under $250,000.
Ms Simpson said Queensland taxpayers already spend more than $15 billion a year on goods and services but local small businesses miss out because they can’t compete.
“Labor’s procurement policy has no specific provisions for Queensland small and medium sized enterprises,” Ms Simpson said.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is anti-small business and does not recognise the significant contribution SMEs make to Queensland’s local communities.
“Our prioritising procurement policy will put Queensland SMEs front and centre in procurement decisions to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent supporting those businesses that support our communities.
“These LNP policies deliver value for money and back small businesses to grow, invest and succeed.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk is out of touch and doesn’t listen to small business owners.
“There is high unemployment, a youth jobs crisis in regional Queensland, low wage growth and a lack of confidence.
“The March Sensis Business Index ranked the Palaszczuk Labor Government as the least popular government among small and medium sized businesses for the fourth consecutive quarter.
“While the April CommSec State of the States report ranked Queensland in 6th place nationally.
“The statistics speak for themselves and only the LNP is committed to making Queensland the economic powerhouse it once was, while backing small business in the process.”
LNP Government policies to back small business:
1. No new taxes
2. Fair pay policy
3. Red tape reduction
4. Inspire the next generation
5. Prioritise procurement
6. Cheaper electricity
Further reading:
https://www.deb2020.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SmallBusiness.pdf
A joint campaign by the LNP and 13 disability organisations has successfully forced the Palaszczuk Labor Government to delay its callous decision to scrap the Taxi Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities by a year.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington welcomed the decision and said the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s cut would have made it harder for those with disabilities to travel to work, go to the shops, access support services or visit their doctor.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s backflip is a huge relief for an estimated 10,000 Queenslanders who would have lost access to low cab fares,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Queensland would have been the only state in Australia without a taxi subsidy scheme if the Palaszczuk Labor Government had followed through on its cold-hearted decision.
“The decision to axe the scheme should never have been made in the first place.
“I want to thank the 13 disability organisations who so fought hard on behalf of Queenslanders to force the Palaszczuk Labor Government to reverse its appalling decision.”
The subsidy scheme provides half the cost of a taxi (up to a maximum subsidy of $25 per journey), as well as a $20 ‘lift payment’ to drivers of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis (WATS).
The axing of the scheme coincided with Queensland’s NDIS roll-out, even though the NDIS did not replicate the subsidy and every other state had agreed to maintain their own taxi subsidy schemes.
Shadow Minister for Disability Services Dr Christian Rowan said the Palaszczuk Labor Government was playing politics with the lives of our most disadvantaged Queenslanders by blaming the Federal Government.
“The NDIS was meant to make people with disabilities more independent but the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s threat to axe the taxi subsidy scheme would have done the opposite,” Dr Rowan said.
“Many of those who use this scheme are already struggling financially and struggling psychologically and the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s backflip is a victory for those who rely on the scheme.
“The LNP joined 13 organisations advocating for the scheme to stay because we should be helping people living with disabilities, not making their lives harder.”
A petition supporting Taxi Subsidy Scheme, signed by 5649 people, was tabled in Parliament.
The petition was supported by:
The petition can be accessed at: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=3108
The LNP also launched a petition, which can be found at: https://queensland.typeform.com/to/Fctuc4
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has visited the Glengarry Education Centre in Mt Tarampa to officially congratulate them on securing $150,000 to expand their facilities.
Mrs Frecklington said the Centre, run by the Boys Brigade Qld, will now be able to install two new multi-purpose ball courts.
“The new courts will greatly expand the sports capability of the Centre, as well as providing access for the local community to sports facilities previously not available in the area,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“This will be of great benefit to the community and an important way to improve participation in sports for many different types of groups across the region.
“I was really pleased to support the Boys Brigade’s grant application, and I would like to congratulate them on the work they do here at the Glengarry Education Centre. They are quiet achievers who are committed to the community and providing programs to help children and young people.
“The Centre is used by the Boys and Girls Brigades, schools, youth groups, Duke of Edinburgh groups and churches for a wide variety of recreational, social and sporting activities,” Deb said.
The new multi-purpose courts will accommodate tennis, volleyball, badminton, basketball, netball, Olympic handball and other recreational activities. The Boys Brigade secured their funding through Round 7 of the Get Playing Places and Spaces grant program.
Photo: It was great to meet with Mr Ian Walters (Director) and Mr Gordon Wallace (President) of Boys Brigade Qld, along with Caretakers Terry Kelly and wife Pam, at the Glengarry Education Centre to see the Centre and hear about plans for the new courts.
The LNP is backing a call by 13 disability organisations for the Palaszczuk Labor Government to reverse its cold-hearted decision to scrap the Taxi Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities.
An estimated 10,000 Queenslanders will lose access to low cab fares when the scheme is axed for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants on June 30.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the move would make it harder for those with disabilities to get to work, go shopping, access support services or visit their doctor.
“This cruel cut will make people with disabilities prisoners in their own homes,” Ms Frecklington said.
“The LNP introduced the taxi subsidy in 1987 because we recognise many Queenslanders with disabilities can’t drive a car or use public transport.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government should be ashamed that Queensland will soon be the only state in Australia without a taxi subsidy scheme.”
The subsidy scheme provides half the cost of a taxi (up to a maximum subsidy of $25 per journey), as well as a $20 ‘lift payment’ to drivers of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis (WATS).
The axing of the scheme coincides with Queensland’s NDIS roll-out, even though the NDIS does not replicate the subsidy and every other state has agreed to maintain their own taxi subsidy schemes.
Shadow Minister for Disability Services Minister Dr Christian Rowan urged Labor to think again.
“We should be helping people with disabilities become more independent, but this cut will only make them more isolated,” Dr Rowan said.
“I’m appalled that Queensland, unlike other states, thinks it’s OK to axe the tax subsidy scheme.
“Many of those who use this scheme are already struggling financially and struggling psychologically.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is playing politics with the lives of our most disadvantaged Queenslanders.”
A petition supporting Taxi Subsidy Scheme, signed by 5649 people, has been tabled in Parliament.
The petition was supported by:
• Able Australia
• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Network
• Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia
• Blind Citizens Australia
• Disability Advocacy Network Australia
• Endeavour Foundation
• House with No Steps
• Inclusion Moves
• Life Without Barriers
• Macular Disease Foundation Australia
• MS Queensland
• Spinal Life
• Vision Australia
The petition can be accessed at: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=3108
Shocking new figures have revealed thousands of patients have walked out of over-crowded emergency departments, across the state.
The Queensland Health data for March 2019 found 5841 patients left emergency departments without getting any treatment.
That’s a significant increase of 65% or 2300 patients, since Annastacia Palaszczuk became Premier in February 2015.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said patients are giving up after four years of failed Labor health policies.
“Many of our public hospitals are bursting at the seams thanks to Labor and it’s clearly impacting patient care,” Ms. Frecklington said.
“Our hard-working nurses, doctors and paramedics are doing the best they can, but they simply need more help on the frontline.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s priorities are all wrong, instead of investing in health she’d rather waste taxpayers’ money changing a hospital name and spend millions on botched IT programs.
“When it comes to managing our public health system, you can’t trust Labor.”
LNP Shadow Minister for Health Ros Bates said Labor’s health crisis is impacting patients across the whole state.
“Emergency departments are over-crowded, ambulance ramping has skyrocketed and surgery waiting times are blowing out, that’s the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s record,” Ms. Bates said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to show some leadership and starting fixing our health system.
“The CEO of Metro South Hospital and Health Service Stephen Ayre was sacked last week, when it should have been Health Minister Dr. Dolittle Steven Miles.
“As a former ED nurse I know how stressful it can get and under Labor patients and staff deserve better.
“Only the LNP will fix ramping, boost beds, improve resources and restore confidence in the health system.”
Individual Health Services – ranked in order
• Metro North 946
• Gold Coast 850
• Metro South 740
• Cairns 535
• Darling Downs 402
• Sunshine Coast 376
• Townsville 340
• Central Qld 320
• Wide Bay 312
• West Moreton 279
• North West 240
• Mackay 166
• Children’s Health Qld 91
• Torres and Cape 70
• South West 56
• Central West 4
March 2019 data source – 5841 patients
http://www.performance.health.qld.gov.au/HospitalHealthService/EmergencyDepartment/99998
Feb 2015 data source – 3546 patients
The chronic dysfunction in Queensland’s public health system has been laid bare in a damning indictment of Labor failures putting patient health at risk.
The LNP moved a motion in Parliament today condemning the Palaszczuk Labor Government's health crisis for undermining confidence in Queensland's public health system.
LNP Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said the recent overcrowding crisis and the sensational sacking of the Labor-appointed CEO of Metro South HHS were among a series of disastrous failures.
“Ambulance ramping is up, bed numbers are down, and code yellows are the norm in Queensland hospitals,” Ms Bates said.
“We’ve had just over four years of failed Labor health policies and what we are seeing now is the result.
“It has been a series of broken promises, crisis management and political scandals.
“When it comes to health, Labor’s priorities are all wrong.
“Steven Miles has proven he's fraud, a phoney, and a failure, and Annastacia Palaszczuk should sack him now.
“As a nurse, I know our hard-working nurses, doctors, midwives and paramedics are struggling on the frontline to improve patient care.
“It’s time for patient care to come first and that means fixing Queensland’s health crisis under Labor.
“Unlike Labor, we won’t waste time and taxpayers’ money tearing down hospital names.
“The LNP will bring back competent management of our health system.”
Private Members’ Motion by Mudgeeraba MP and Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates:
1) Condemns the Palaszczuk Labor government's health crisis for undermining confidence in Queensland's public health system;
2) Notes:
(a) The recent unprecedented overcrowding crisis which has seen patients turned away and left untreated;
(b) That it has taken only four years for Queensland Health to be taken back to the bad old days of dysfunction;
(c) Doctors have said that Queensland Health is in crisis;
(d) The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union has said Queensland Health is in crisis;
(e) Nambour GP and AMA Councillor Dr Wayne Herdy issued a public plea to save one of his patients who was at risk of death;
(f) A young mum suffering from endometriosis was kicked out of her bed and discharged, still in excruciating pain; 1 May 2019 Questions Without Notice 1309 006
(g) The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine warned about unacceptable and intolerable delays, calling Queensland Health's emergency wait times 'inhumane';
(h) The Australian Medical Association Queensland called on the Palaszczuk Government to urgently stop the digital hospital IT rollout because patient safety was at risk;
(i) The United Voice union has said Labor's rapid offload policy is putting lives at risk;
(j) The sensational sacking of the Labor appointed CEO of Metro South HHS;
3) Calls on the Palaszczuk Labor government to implement real-time public reporting every time a 'code yellow' is declared so that sick Queenslanders can have confidence that when they turn up to a hospital, there will be a bed; and
4) Expresses no confidence in Labor's Health Minister.
The LNP will introduce a Private Members Bill for harsher penalties for animal extremists and is calling on Labor to support the plan.
It follows high-profile cases where law-abiding businesses were targeted by protestors, but the outcry from the public fell on deaf ears by the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
In one case, 120 protestors stormed an abattoir near Warwick and chained themselves to machinery.
Ms. Frecklington said Annastacia Palaszczuk has turned her back on Queensland farmers and must support the LNP’s unprecedented crackdown.
“The deliberate actions of these protestors were disgraceful and caused significant stress to business owners and their families,” Ms. Frecklington said.
“The best Annastacia Palaszczuk can do is threaten these low-life protestors with new on-the-spot-fines of $652.
“It’s laughable and pathetic.
“The LNP is proposing three new criminal offences; Aggravated Trespass, Serious Criminal Trespass and Organised Trespass. *
“Whether you’re an individual, a group or an organisation, you will face severe punishments for industrial sabotage.
“Hefty fines and lengthy jail time are the only way to stamp out this disruptive, pre-meditated and sophisticated behavior.
“Mining activists will also face the full force of the law under the LNP’s strong and detailed plan.”
Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last said these ratbag protestors are hell bent on causing as much economic harm they can.
“This industrial sabotage has no place in Queensland, yet under the Palaszczuk Labor Government they’re getting away with it.
“Labor is soft on crime, always has been and always will be.
“Farmers are the lifeblood of this country and they aren’t getting the respect they deserve from Annastacia Palaszczuk, who is under hypnosis from the Greens and far left.
“The LNP’s three new offences will protect businesses and send a strong message to these protestors to nick off and go home.
“Labor should stop playing politics, back the farmers and support the LNP’s plan.”
*Current Trespass laws
Labor Trespass fines (biosecurity regulations):
LNP Trespass:
