The Qld State Budget was handed down on 21 June and unfortunately it has not delivered for the people of the Nanango Electorate. In relation to roads funding (or should I say the absence of roads funding), there are some calculations I wanted to share with you.
For the entire of the South Burnett, an area of 8,382 square kilometres, just 5.7% of the Wide Bay Burnett region roads TMR budget has been assigned to roads in this area.
And for the Somerset it’s even worse. Just 2.6% of the North Coast region TMR roads budget has been allocated to Somerset roads. Let’s put that into perspective… the Somerset area is half of the entire North Coast district area – and it gets just 2.6% of the funding.
In fact, the whole of the Nanango Electorate area has been completely overlooked and once again our regional communities will have to continue to put up with a third class road system. This State Budget continues the Labor Government’s chronic neglect of our regional road upgrades and maintenance.
There is no new funding for our major highways like the Burnett, Wide Bay or Bunya Highways. And in the Somerset, no new funding for the D’Aguilar or Brisbane Valley Highway. I am bitterly disappointed that once again the seriously dangerous Tanduringie Creek Bridge and the Running Creek Bridge still have no funding prospects. Over the past year I have continued to advocate for funding for key roads projects - but the following remain unfunded:
Labor really needs to start looking at our regional areas and the huge opportunities we have here.
But it needs backing with better roads, better health services, and less red and green tape for our primary producers and small business.
I had hoped to see funding for important projects like the flood gauges for the Boonara Creek, the Barlil Weir or upgrades to the Scrub Creek Causeway. In relation to health, I will continue to advocate for a full-time Paediatrician, a Specialist Cancer Nurse, Telestroke and a Persistent Pain Clinic for the South Burnett.
And I support my colleague, the Member for Gympie Tony Perrett and his slamming of the budget for not funding any improvements to the Gympie Hospital, where members of my Gympie community must travel. I’ll continue to push for these issues on behalf of our community. For further information here is a link to my interview on Rural Queensland Today, and to my full speech in Parliament.
Photo: Going over the Budget Papers at Parliament.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, says the 2022/23 State Budget has not delivered for the people of the western Gympie area
Mrs Frecklington said it was particularly disappointing that no funding had been announced for the road network.
“There is no new funding for our major highways like the Burnett and Wide Bay Highways, or key connecting roads like the Kilkivan-Tansey Road, or Running Creek Bridge on the Woolooga-Brooweena Road.
“In fact, the western Gympie road network has been completely overlooked and once again our regional communities will have to put up with a third class road system. This State Budget continues the Labor Government’s chronic neglect of our regional road upgrades and maintenance.
“Labor really needs to start looking at our regional areas and the huge opportunities we have here.
“But it needs backing with better roads, better health services, and less red and green tape for our primary producers and small business.
“I had hoped to see funding for important projects like the flood gauges for the Boonara Creek and repairs to the Kingaroy-Kilkivan Rail Trail.
“And I support my colleague, the Member for Gympie Tony Perrett and his slamming of the budget for not funding any improvements to the Gympie Hospital.
Mrs Frecklington said it was disappointing when looking at the regional budget analysis just one project was listed for the area.
“There is $18.6million for the refurbishment of the Kilkivan substation to improve network performance. I would also believe this is to cater for the new solar farm at Widgee,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I want to assure my community that I will continue to push for the important projects we need funded in our region. Our area must be recognised and our voices heard,” Deb said.
Photo: Boonara Creek in full flood
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says just 2.6 per cent of the North Coast region roads budget has been allocated to Somerset roads.
Mrs Frecklington said this is an unacceptable amount, given the continued deterioration of the major connecting roads throughout the region.
“It seems unbelievable that our region will be receiving just 2.6% of the total budget for the North Coast region given the Somerset covers an area of 5,373 square kilometres.
“There is no new funding for our major highways like the D’Aguilar or the Brisbane Valley Highway within the Somerset Regional Council area,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“In fact, the Somerset road network has been completely overlooked and once again our regional communities will have to put up with a third class road system. This State Budget continues the Labor Government’s chronic neglect of our regional road upgrades and maintenance.
“Labor really needs to start looking at the Somerset and the huge opportunities we have here.
“But it needs backing with better roads, better health services, water security for irrigators and less red and green tape for our primary producers and small business.
“Most of the projects listed in the Budget for the Somerset are not new projects, they are just reannouncements, like the Kilcoy and Toogoolawah SHS halls.
“I had hoped to see funding for important projects like the Scrub Creek Causeway or the Lockyer and Somerset Water Collaborative pipeline project.
“I’ll continue to push for these issues on behalf of our community,” Deb said.
Photo: The new temporary Scrub Creek Causeway
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says just 5.7 per cent of the Wide Bay Burnett region roads budget has been allocated to South Burnett roads.
Mrs Frecklington said this is an unacceptable amount, given the continued deterioration of the major connecting roads throughout the region.
“It seems unbelievable that our region will be receiving just 5.7% of the total budget for the Wide Bay Burnett region, given the area covers 8,382 square kilometres.
“There is no new funding for our major highways like the Burnett Highway or the Bunya Highway within the South Burnett Regional Council area,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“There is absolutely nothing for key connecting roads like the Mundubbera-Durong Road, Kingaroy-Barkers Creek Road, Memerambi-Gordonbrook Road or Byee Road.
“I’m particularly disappointed that no funding has been allocated to upgrade the dangerous Tanduringie Creek Bridge and once again the GS Bond Bridge on the Chinchilla-Wondai Road has completely dropped off the radar.
“In fact, the South Burnett road network has been completely overlooked and once again our regional communities will have to put up with a third class road system. This State Budget continues the Labor Government’s chronic neglect of our regional road upgrades and maintenance.
“The only road improvement I can find in the budget papers is a small co-contribution of $607,000 to help widen and seal the Blackbutt-Crows Nest Road, but this is not due to be undertaken until 2024/25.
“Labor really needs to start looking at the South Burnett and the huge opportunities we have here.
“But it needs backing with better roads, better health services, water security for irrigators and less red and green tape for our primary producers and small business.
“Most of the projects listed in the Budget for the South Burnett are not new projects, they are just reannouncements.
“I had hoped to see funding for important projects like the Barlil Weir, Telestroke services, or a Persistent Pain Clinic for the South Burnett.
“I’ll continue to push for these issues on behalf of our community,” Deb said.
Photo: Deb on the Memerambi-Gordonbrook Road.
Voters in Callide have opted for generational change with the convincing election of Bryson Head at today’s by-election.
Bryson was born on a farm in Callide and is an exploration geologist working in the mines.
He’s young, he’s hungry and he’s ready to advocate for a better future for his area.
Person after person told me their stories of being caught up in the Queensland Health Crisis, being a victim of youth crime or struggling with bad local roads. There’s a clear view the State Government has given up on integrity and given up on delivering the services they deserve.
When I became Leader of the Opposition, I committed to generational renewal for our party which included ensuring more young people were elected to Parliament.
At just 26 years old, Bryson Head becomes the youngest member of Parliament serving Queenslanders.
He has a future as bright as the diverse electorate he will represent.
The big two-party preferred swing towards the LNP shows the importance of choosing strong local candidates who are focused on issues that matter to Queenslanders.
The Palaszczuk Government’s woeful track record on affordable and social housing for Queenslanders has been exposed.
Less than a 1% increase in social housing since the end of 2020 with more than 50,000 people on the waitlist is an absolute disgrace.
This government is letting down the most vulnerable Queenslanders who just want a roof over their head.
The facts are the facts.
The Palaszczuk Government spends less than any other state or territory in the country on social housing.
It has also built the least social housing with just 337 additional homes coming online in the past 16 months.
The government’s so-called housing investment fund has been exposed as nothing but a farce.
The Palaszczuk Government sells its headline glossy $1 billion figure, but the reality is there is barely a drop of cash in this fund.
Glossy headlines aren’t building homes for Queenslanders.
Genuine investment and action does.
Queenslanders deserve so much better than this.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says she has written to the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service about the use of the Murgon Palliative Care Unit as a COVID ward.
Mrs Frecklington said she had received enquiries about the Murgon Palliative Care Unit and when it would be returned to its intended purpose.
“I understand the Murgon Palliative Care Unit has been converted into a COVID-19 ward,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Given we have just had National Palliative Care week (22-28 May), it is timely to highlight this issue and advocate on behalf of the Murgon community who deserve the right to high-quality palliative care when they need it.
“In fact, the Palliative Care Unit at the Murgon Hospital was made possible by the generous donations of the community and the hard work of the Murgon Hospital Auxiliary and other community groups.
“The community rightly want to know whether this is a permanent or temporary change.
“We know the staff at Murgon Hospital do an amazing job, but the community want to know how and where palliative care patients are currently being cared for at Murgon.
“The conversions of wards into COVID-19 care facilities is occurring at other small regional hospital, such as at Chinchilla, where the maternity suites are now a COVID ward.
“These types of decisions have wider implications, and in Chinchilla, it means expectant mothers must travel to Dalby for the birth of their child.
“I believe the community deserve to understand what is happening with the Murgon Palliative Care Unit, and on their behalf I have written to the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service seeking answers to these questions, and communication with the Murgon community,” Deb said.
