October 9, 2016
There was a fresh set of faces in the chamber at Parliament House recently for the annual YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament sitting.
It was terrific to have a chance to sit down with the Youth Member for Nanango, Kirsten Butters, from Maidenwell, and discuss how she was enjoying the week.
These types of opportunities are important for our young people so we can encourage them to get involved and learn more about how they can initiate change to tackle issues and help improve our communities.
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‘Mason’s Law’ Helps Protect Children
Queensland’s youngest and most vulnerable children will be better protected after the LNP Opposition successfully passed laws which make it mandatory for early childhood workers to report suspected cases of child abuse.
The passing of the Child Protection (Mandatory Reporting – Mason’s Law) Amendment Bill 2016 will extend mandatory reporting obligations to include workers in early childhood education and care, bringing Queensland into line with other States and territories.
The new laws would never have come about without a long-running and dedicated campaign by John and Sue Sandeman, the grandparents of toddler Mason Parker who was tragically murdered in 2011, and who have been calling for these laws ever since.
These laws will empower the dedicated workers in our childcare centres to speak up for the children entrusted to their care each day.
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Funding For New Respite Room
Nine South Burnett groups have been successful in the latest round of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, including SBcare in Kingaroy who will now be able to construct a special Respite Room.
SBcare is always striving to improve services for the community and this new facility will allow them to be responsive to community need.
The room will be like a ‘home away from home’ for local people who need respite services. It will be safe, and familiar with a kitchenette, computer area, table and comfortable chairs.
The list of successful local groups for Round 89 are:
- SBcare – $31,818 to construct a Respite Room
- Nanango Golf Club – $29,105 to upgrade facilities
- South Burnett Karate Association – $5050 to purchase equipment
- Coolabunia P&C – $34,782 to install an irrigation system
- Nanango Arts Network Alliance – $25,615 to set up facilities and purchase equipment
- Kingaroy Kindy – $7764 to install a solar system
- South Burnett Equestrian Group – $3009 to purchase equipment
- Nanango & District Netball Association – $35,000 to upgrade the netball courts
It is also important to note that the online grants application process for the Gambling Community Benefit Fund is being updated, so community groups can expect to see changes to the website and application.
The next round (Round 91) will close in late January, rather than late November.
This is to allow everyone time to get used to the new process, and I’d encourage groups considering or preparing an application to visit the GCBF website and note the new details.
One important change is that groups who are already registered with GCBF will need to re-register, and a new organisation number will be issued.
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Local Hero Grant First Round Winners
It has been really exciting presenting cheques to the first four recipients of my ‘Local Hero Grants’.
First round winners are:
- Kingaroy Christmas Carnival
- Jayde Novak (South Burnett equestrian)
- Maclagan – Windemere Kindergarten
- Esk RSL Sub-Branch
The next round is now open and closes on March 30, so there’s plenty of time to send through a submission.
There are three rounds each year and four successful applicants from around the Nanango Electorate are selected in each round.
If you would like to apply, please go to my website or contact the Electorate office on (07) 4190-7100.
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Wind Farm EIS Now Open For Comment
The Coordinator-General has released the Environmental Impact Statement for the Coopers Gap Wind Farm Project and it is now open for public comment.
Submissions close on November 7, 2016 and I would encourage local residents and businesses to get involved.
You can view the draft EIS online, or at libraries in the South Burnett and Western Downs Regional Council areas.
This is an extremely important step in the process and I will continue to push for consideration of those residents who have raised concerns about the potential impact of noise.
This project has the potential to make a significant economic contribution, and I have made it clear to AGL that I expect them to maximise the benefits to the Kingaroy community through local employment and procurement opportunities.
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Pensioners Hit Hardest By Fishing Fee Increases
Recently I have been contacted by local pensioners and families who have raised concerns about being hit by increased freshwater fishing permits fees.
There has been a sneaky rise in the fees by the Labor State Government which means families will pay at least $100 for a fishing permit that cost $36 last year, and a pensioner couple now forks out $72, up from $36.
As an example, the Wondai Social Fishing Club wrote to me expressing their concerns that the new fees were brought in with very little if any consultation with fishing clubs or the general public.
They are concerned that this rise could reduce their membership as the club comprises mostly pensioners, who may be unable to pay double the price for a freshwater fishing permit each year.
Freshwater fishing in our local dams is an important tourism and recreational activity for our region and I’m really disappointed Labor is targeting our local families and pensioners in this way.
I’m keen to hear from as many people as possible about the impact the rise is having on them.
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Biggest Survey Fuel Voucher Winner
Everyone who participated in my recent South Burnett Biggest Community Survey had the chance to win a $100 fuel voucher.
I launched the survey to find out what issues are important to South Burnett residents right now and I was really pleased at the response, which was much better than the normal response rates community surveys receive.
The lucky winner of the fuel voucher was the Hartley family of Kingaroy – well done!
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Bookarama Always A Favourite
Congratulations to the Taabinga Rotary Club of Kingaroy for another fantastic Bookarama in September.
Bookarama is always one of my favourite events, and I attend it this year with my daughter Elke.
My total was 15 books, and Elke bought 12 and 2 jigsaws!
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100 Years Of DAF In Kingaroy
Happy 100th Anniversary to the Department of Agriculture in Kingaroy!
Damien O’Sullivan and the staff at the Joh Bjelke-Petersen Research Station put together a special field day recently to celebrate 100 years of the DAF in Kingaroy.
This is a wonderful milestone, and well done to everyone involved.
We have a remarkable legacy of agricultural research and work which has been carried out here in Kingaroy.
Here’s to the next 100 years!
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Nanango History Preserved
When the Nanango Historical Society contacted me a few months ago about the demolition of two old Nanango Hospital buildings, I agreed with them that it was important to preserve these important links to Nanango’s history.
I took the opportunity to contact the Hospital Board and negotiated having the buildings moved to the Nanango showgrounds.
The buildings were recently relocated there, and will now be used by the Nanango Show Society.
It is excellent this has been achieved – these buildings will remain for the use of the Nanango community for many more years to come.
[Photos: Nanango Electorate Office]
