Media | Local News

Local News - October 2018

Deb puts Labor Government on notice about Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme

31st October 2018

Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says continued and lengthy delays for the reimbursement of Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) applications for South Burnett patients are simply unacceptable.

Mrs Frecklington said she has now raised her complaints in State Parliament, with a Question on Notice to the Minister for Health, asking him to come clean about why subsidy payments are still taking so long.

“I have been fighting for our community on this issue for a full year now and it seems the situation is actually getting worse,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“I have South Burnett locals ringing my office every day to ask why their PTSS are taking so long to be reimbursed. Some are waiting up to six months for their payments and this is just simply unacceptable.

“In March this year I wrote to the Minister for Health asking why reimbursements were taking so long and his response clearly showed he had no understanding of the frustration and anxiety this is causing our community.

“The Minister has an obvious disregard for how important these payments are, and how the delay in receiving this reimbursement seriously affects the most vulnerable members of the community, many of whom are pensioners and are undergoing treatment for cancers and other serious conditions.

“I don’t think he understands that this is not a choice for people from the South Burnett. We must travel at least two hours to see a specialist or undergo surgery, as most specialist services are not available at the Kingaroy Public Hospital.

“Over the past months, we have been given many excuses for why these payments are taking so long, so now the Minister has been put on notice and I expect honest answers and real solutions to fix this ongoing problem,” Deb said.

Deb supports Toogoolawah Speed Reduction Petition

Deb supports Toogoolawah Speed Reduction Petition

31st October 2018

Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has tabled a petition in State Parliament supporting a speed reduction on the Brisbane Valley Highway at the intersection with Old Mount Beppo Road.

Mrs Frecklington said the Toogoolawah State High School P&C Association had approached her to support their request to lower the speed at this location and increase road safety.

“This has been a long term issue for Toogoolawah residents and the last formal review of the speed limit at this location was more than seven years ago in 2011,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“Old Mt Beppo Road is the turnoff to the High School and the community believe that 100km/hr at this intersection is too fast and has resulted in many near misses,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“The petition calls on the State Government to begin the 80km/hr section at least 100m south of the Old Mt Beppo Rd intersection, to adjoin the current 80km/hr section currently in place through the Toogoolawah township.

“I’d like to congratulate the Toogoolawah SHS P&C who coordinated the petition, in particular P&C President Vincent Versace, who acted as the Principal Petitioner, and Secretary Monique van der Molen. The petition has 170 signatures which is a great result and shows the depth of community support for this speed change.

“The Minister for Transport and Main Roads now has four weeks to respond to the petition and I call on this Labor Government listen to the community and understand the need for this change,” Deb said.

Photo: Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has tabled a petition calling on the State Government to lower the speed limit on the Brisbane Valley Highway at the Old Mt Beppo Road intersection.

Time to act on electricity tariff crisis

30th October 2018

It’s time for the Palaszczuk Labor Government to pull its head out of the sand and deliver the rural electricity tariff reform our farmers are desperately calling for.

Queensland Liberal National Party Shadow Minister for Agriculture Tony Perrett has called on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to put an end to the crisis facing more than 10,000 customers on existing obsolete farming and irrigation tariffs (T62, 65 and 66), which are set to be switched off in 2020.

“The Liberal National Party is calling for a complete overhaul and restructure of Queensland’s tariff structure designed to support our agricultural businesses,” Mr Perrett said.

“We are hearing loud and clear the industry doesn’t just need a single new ‘Agriculture tariff’ to solve its concerns - it needs a suite of new electricity tariffs that appropriately reflect the diverse needs of modern agricultural production in this state.

“Through the Liberal National Party’s, Agriculture, Energy and Water Council, we continue to engage with key agricultural groups such as the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, CANEGROWERS, Cotton Australia, Growcom and AgForce to find industry-led solutions.

“The difference between this Labor Government and the Liberal National Party is that we are working with agricultural industry groups on solutions to mitigate the damage caused when the tariffs end.

“Unfortunately, Labor does not have a plan at all.

“Unlike Annastacia Palaszczuk, a Deb Frecklington Liberal National Party Government will deliver a suite of tariffs that reflect modern agricultural production in this state.

“We will end the divide between the southeast and the rest of regional Queensland by introducing competition into the retail electricity market.

“We will continue to fight for lower electricity prices and increased access to affordable water for Queensland agriculture.

“As a party, we wouldn’t tell the agriculture industry how to operate. We would work with our farmers and listen to stakeholders, which is exactly what Labor isn’t doing.”

Weekly nurse for Kilkivan confirms real need

Weekly nurse for Kilkivan confirms real need

30th October 2018

Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, says the appointment of a community health nurse to the township of Kilkivan twice per week is confirmation of the high level of need for better access to health care in the region.

Mrs Frecklington said this is a huge boost for the community and it was only through the tenacity and determination of the community that the service was finally provided.

“The community first came to me in February this year to highlight the need for a community health nurse, but when we asked the Minister for Health for support, he showed no interest and rejected our request,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“Instead, this Labor Government has been more focussed on renaming hospitals in Brisbane, than realising the health needs of people in regional areas.

“This didn’t stop the people of Kilkivan though, and with the support of the community, we tabled a petition in State Parliament with 354 signatures, which was a significant achievement for the small township of Kilkivan.

“In June, following the tabling of the petition, we saw a Health Forum held in Kilkivan and finally the evidence became too strong and a three month trial of a Nurse Navigator was announced.

“I will always push for better services our regional areas and I will always support better access to health services for people in the country. The need for a Community Health Nurse in Kilkivan has now been validated and I’m very pleased the township will benefit from the services of the visiting nurse practitioner, Jenny Doherty. I welcome her to her new role and I know the community will greatly appreciate her experience and support,” Deb said.

“Once again, I applaud the Kilkivan community for their determination and assistance in pushing for better community health services in their township,” she said.

“Congratulations must go to Mavis O’Neill, Jan Kirby and Joyce Koy who first raised this issue with me and then worked very hard to coordinate the petition in Kilkivan and Goomeri. It goes to show that if you believe in something strongly enough, you can create change,” Deb said.

Photos – Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, with Kilkivan community members, Mavis O’Neill (right) and Jan Kirby.

Racing deal welcome, but why didn’t Labor listen?

26th October 2018

LNP leader Deb Frecklington today welcomed the deal struck to end the racing strike, but said Labor had given up any semblance of good government.

“We welcome news that a deal has been struck with the racing industry – but it should never have come to this,” Ms Frecklington said.

“This issue has shown the Palaszczuk Government’s true arrogance and incompetence.

“Labor doesn’t care about racing and they only acted to make a political problem go away.”

LNP Deputy Leader Tim Mander congratulated the racing industry on standing up to the Palaszczuk Government.

“Only the LNP voted against this blatant tax grab,” Mr Mander said.

“Well done to the racing industry for standing up and saying enough is enough.

“Labor’s contempt for the racing industry won’t be forgotten at the ballot box.

“Tomorrow’s unprecedented strike action is a stark reminder of Labor’s botched implementation of this new racing tax.”

QCA report backs LNP’s regional electricity plan

26th October 2018

LNP Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart has called on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to implement retail competition in regional Queensland, with the benefits highlighted in today’s Queensland Competition Authority report.

“Labor’s own Queensland Competition Authority report, released today, shows the benefits of competition in the electricity market for customers in southeast Queensland,” Mr Hart said.

“In June, the LNP announced we would introduce competition into the regional electricity market and today’s report is another endorsement that competition in the market works.

“Southeast Queenslanders have up to 16 retailers to choose from, but regional Queenslanders have just one.

“People in Southeast Queensland are getting up to 20 cents per kilowatt/hour for their solar feed-in, more than twice the amount offered by Ergon Energy in Regional Queensland.

“This means they are missing out on hundreds of dollars of savings.

“Based on the experience in the southeast, introducing choice for customers in regional Queensland will reduce electricity bills by hundreds of dollars a year.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to stop treating Regional Queenslanders as second-class citizens and adopt the LNP’s policy of introducing competition into the regional electricity market.

“Retail competition will boost incentive to install solar panels in regional areas.

“While Annastacia Palaszczuk continues to ignore key recommendations from her own electricity enquiry, regional Queenslanders will continue to miss out on the benefits of retail competition.

“Only the LNP will fix the divide between the regions and Southeast Queensland.”

Enough is enough - more home invasions spark call for more police

22nd October 2018

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington has warned more police and tougher laws are desperately needed in Murgon following another spate of violent home invasions.

“These home invasions are terrifying and police must immediately release details of the incidents,” Ms Frecklington said.

“I have been calling on Labor’s Police Minister Mark Ryan to put boots on the ground and bring the crime wave in the South Burnett under control since February.

“Labor is soft on crime and its putting community safety in Murgon at risk.

“Repeat young offenders need to be held accountable for their crimes and Labor need to bring back breach of bail as an offence.

“Enough is enough. Home invasions, vandalism and car thefts can’t be allowed to become the norm in Murgon.

“In July, Minister Ryan allocated a temporary senior copper but it’s a Band-Aid solution and falls well short of what is required.

“We need an urgent increase in police numbers - not just back-filling vacant positions.

“The community deserves a long-term strategy to ensure police resources are appropriate and are backed up by tough laws.”

Racing faces ruin under Labor’s betting tax

19th October 2018

The unprecedented action to trigger state-wide strikes is a last ditch effort by the Queensland racing industry strangled by Labor’s $367million racing tax.

“Once again the Queensland racing industry has been let down by the Annastacia Palaszczuk and her government,” LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said.

“This is a $1.2 billion industry that employs thousands of Queenslanders and provides enjoyment to many others.

“Stirling Hinchliffe failed as Transport Minister in the last term and he has now failed the Queensland racing industry.

“Labor need to be supporting the racing industry, but instead they’re taxing it out of existence.”

LNP Shadow Racing Minister John-Paul Langbroek said racing in Queensland directly employed some 10,000 people.

“Those people have a bleak future thanks to this greedy, short-sighted government,” Mr Langbroek said.

“We have been the only party to oppose the tax since day one because when it comes to Labor and taxes, you just can’t trust them.

“Racing stakeholders have been begging Labor to provide guaranteed income to the industry from the Point of Consumption Tax.

“It’s disgraceful that racing is only getting a one-off payment from a permanent tax on the industry.

“What needs to happen is that Labor needs to sit down and work out a better deal.

“This could all be averted tomorrow, if Jackie Trad and Stirling Hinchliffe had consulted and actually listened in the first place.”

Labor cuts vital agriculture education program

16th October 2018

The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s decision to cut the School to Industry Partnership Program (SIPP) undermines the future of agriculture in Queensland, LNP Leader Deb Frecklington warned today.

When pressed by the LNP in Parliament today, Agriculture Minister Mark Furner confirmed the program would no longer be funded by Labor.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to cut funding to ag education shows just how out of touch her government is,” Ms Frecklington said.

“This is a hands-on education program that showcases where food comes from and highlights agricultural job opportunities to school students.

“We need to be encouraging our kids to explore careers in agriculture to ensure the industry has a strong future.

“We also need to be encouraging people to buy our produce and education is a key stepping stone.

“This successful program has been running for 14 years and is vital for farmers and Queensland kids.

“More than 10,000 Queensland school students a year benefit from the program.”

LNP Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett said the SIPP cut continued Labor’s anti-farmer agenda and followed the introduction of the devastating vegetation management laws, cuts to biosecurity staff and the failure to deliver a proper cattle tick line review.

“Agriculture in Queensland won’t survive if it keeps getting kicked in the guts by Labor,” Mr Perrett said.

“Why do we keep seeing these attacks on agriculture and farmers?

“I call on Annastacia Palaszczuk to restore the funding to the agriculture education program.

“It’s clear that only a Deb Frecklington LNP Government in 2020 will deliver the jobs and support agriculture in Queensland needs.”

Paradise lost in damming move to hurt farmers

12th October 2018

A Palaszczuk Labor Government proposal to lower the Paradise Dam by over 17 metres instead of repairing the damaged walls is the latest move in Labor’s anti-farming agenda.

Paradise Dam was completed in 2005 and was specifically designed to provide water for irrigation for the agriculture sector in the Wide Bay/Burnett region but sustained damage in 2013 from flooding which compromised its safety and viability.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington slammed the move by Labor, describing the decision to lower the dam walls instead of repairing them as an abandonment of the people of the Wide Bay/Burnett region.

“Instead of making an investment into the region’s future and economic prosperity, Annastacia Palaszczuk has caved to inner-city green groups, once again putting the needs of those in regional Queensland second to those in the Southeast,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Worse still, Labor neglected the safety of Queenslanders by not resolving the dam safety issues putting Queenslander’s lives at risk.

“It is an absolute disgrace that Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor are ignoring the communities this decision actually affects.”

LNP Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the decision to lower the dam walls would have direct implications on farmers and irrigators in his region.

“By drastically reducing the amount of water available for irrigation, high value tree crops are put at risk,” Mr Bennett said.

“Crops including macadamias and avocadoes that require a constant and reliable water supply are just some of the growth crops in our region that will be put at risk.

“These industries are high value and create thousands of local jobs. It is simply inexcusable to put these industries and their jobs on the line.

“The LNP acted by completing emergency repairs to the spillway dissipater and reinforced the primary spillway apron in June 2013 to stabilise the damage.”

LNP Member for Callide Colin Boyce said that when it came to agriculture more water meant more production resulting in jobs and prosperity for rural and regional communities.

“The fact that Labor has been sitting on its hands for the last three years since the initial damage to the dam walls putting downstream communities are risk is simply outrageous,” Mr Boyce said.

“Shockingly, we’ve found out that the State Government has completely rejected Federal assistance to repair the dam wall, instead they’ve just going to pull it down and hurt the entire community.

Ms Frecklington said that in contrast to the Palaszczuk Labor Government the LNP had a plan for developing the state’s water assets and infrastructure, creating jobs for our rural and regional communities.

“If elected, an LNP Government will raise the Burdekin Falls Dam wall, get the Urannah and Nullinga Dam projects shovel ready and finally deliver Rockwood Weir for Central Queensland,” Ms Frecklington said.

“We will also develop of a 30-year water security plan for Queensland in consultation with Seqwater, Sunwater and local governments and establish a mechanism for reviewing the current price targets.

“The LNP has a plan for water in Queensland unlike Labor who clearly has no plan.”

Media Statement from LNP Leader Deb Frecklington: Queensland storm damage

12th October 2018

‘We’re used to extreme weather in my patch, but this was something else.

‘The supercell hit the community in many different ways – crops have been written off, properties damaged and animals injured.

‘My first thoughts are for the safety of everyone in the community and I am sure we are all relieved no lives were lost.

‘People are picking themselves up and dusting themselves off, but the recovery will test us.

‘The coming days and weeks are going to be tough for a lot of people as a massive clean-up continues and farmers try to recover crops.

‘I urge everyone to look out for each other and we’ll get through this.’

Media statement from LNP Leader Deb Frecklington on Nanango storms

11th October 2018

“The storms that swept through my electorate this afternoon have hit and hit hard.

“There has been significant damage and we’ve heard reports of at least three people injured.

“People are shaken up - it was a huge storm system and there may be more storms tonight and over the weekend.

“The coming days are going to be tough for a lot of people in my community as they clean up. We are a resilient bunch but this will test us.

“A lot of farmers were getting ready to pick their crops at this time of year and this will be a massive setback.

“I urge everyone to stay safe and stay indoors tonight and listen to the authorities.”

Labor puts Queenslanders at bushfire risk

10th October 2018

The Palaszczuk Labor Government has failed to fully action the Auditor-General’s 2015 report and recommendations to keep Queenslanders safe from bushfires.

LNP Shadow Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Lachlan Millar slammed Labor Minister Craig Crawford for failing Queenslanders by not taking the necessary basic precautions when it comes to protecting them from bushfires.

“Bushfires are terrifying and devastating events but most importantly we know that their impact can be mitigated and managed through responsible and proactive planning,” Mr Millar said.

“Unfortunately, what we have seen in the Auditor-General’s report into the Labor Government’s bushfire prevention and preparedness has been shameful and simply fails Queenslanders.

“I don’t understand why the Palaszczuk Labor Government has not taken the basic and necessary safety precautions to ensure the safety of Queenslanders.

“In 2014 the former LNP Government committed to implementing the agreed recommendations from the Auditor-General’s original report by 2015, but here we are in 2018 and we are yet to see any of the recommendations fully implemented*.

“The report quite clearly states that more work is needed to be done to ensure Queensland communities are not exposed to higher levels of risk than they need to be*.

“Of the seven sensible recommendations, which were fully accepted by the government, not one has been fully implemented and all seven remain partially implemented.

“Probably the most damning outcome of the report was the Palaszczuk Government’s oversight of the state’s bushfire risks.**

“I think a lot of Queenslanders will be quite rightly outraged at the Palaszczuk Labor Government for dropping the ball when it comes to ensuring their safety from bushfires.”

*’Follow-up of Bushfire prevention and preparedness (Report 5: 2018–19)’ Page 8: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Documents/TableOffice/TabledPapers/2018/5618T1579.pdf

**’Follow-up of Bushfire prevention and preparedness (Report 5: 2018–19)’ Page 4: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Documents/TableOffice/TabledPapers/2018/5618T1579.pdf

 

Labor’s regional electricity bill rort is revealed

5th October 2018

The Palaszczuk Labor Government skimmed $309m from the revenue of Energy Queensland in the last financial year alone, the LNP revealed today.

Deputy Leader Tim Mander said Labor’s massive rort of the government-owned corporation – the parent company of Ergon – should be ended and the funds used to support retail price competition in regional Queensland.

Such a policy would save regional Queensland households an estimated $300 a year and would be introduced by a future Deb Frecklington LNP Government.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government is pocketing bumper profits for itself, when they could be used to introduce retail price competition into regional Queensland,” Mr Mander said.

“Householders in the Southeast are seeing bills fall thanks to retail competition introduced by the LNP, but Labor is reserving regional Queensland as a monopoly for Ergon.

“In fact, the $309m that the Palaszczuk Government is creaming off Energy Queensland’s profits would cover the costs of introducing regional retail competition twice over.

“An LNP Government would stop treating regional Queenslanders like second-class consumers and bring down their power bills.”

The Energy Queensland annual report, released in the wake of the mass-dumping of 75 government reports on Friday evening to avoid public scrutiny, revealed that the company returned $1,161 million to the Palaszczuk Government in 2017/18.

Labor used the cash to fund subsidies and rebates totalling $852 million – leaving it with a clear $309m paid for by Queensland households and businesses.

LNP Shadow Energy Minister Michael Hart said Labor was taking the regions for a ride.

“Labor should stop ripping off regional Queenslanders and give them access to the cheaper electricity that consumers in the Southeast are now getting,” Mr Hart said.

“Queenslanders deserve a fair deal no matter where they live.”