{"id":65459,"date":"2014-04-28T18:14:17","date_gmt":"2014-04-28T08:14:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=65459"},"modified":"2020-08-09T15:59:39","modified_gmt":"2020-08-09T05:59:39","slug":"virtual-forums-start-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/04\/28\/virtual-forums-start-tonight\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Virtual’ Forums Start Tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tim<\/a>
State Treasurer Tim Nicholls <\/figcaption><\/figure>April 28, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first of four Strong Choices “virtual town hall” teleconferences organised by the State Government will get underway this evening with residents from the Darling Downs and western Queensland invited to take part.<\/p>\n

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the four teleconferences would give thousands of Queenslanders an opportunity to participate in the Strong Choices discussion on paying down the State debt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to ensure that every Queenslander who wants to take part in this once-in-a-generation challenge has the opportunity to do so,\u201d Mr Nicholls said<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a challenge which affects us all regardless of where in the State we live.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur $80 billion accumulated debt with an interest bill of $4 billion a year is holding us back. Queensland is on the cusp of strong growth but we can\u2019t seize the opportunities that growth presents while we have such a massive interest bill.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe teleconferences are an innovative approach to consultation which makes it easy for people to just pick up the phone when it rings on a designated night and opt in or out.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter brief instructions and using the telephone key pad people can indicate when they would like to ask me a question, just like being in person at a community hall and putting their hand up for the mic.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhone numbers will be chosen at random in selected regions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese Strong Choices teleconferences, in conjunction with the interactive People\u2019s Budget website tool, the community forums, the shopping centre booths and advertising, represent unprecedented community consultation for an unprecedented challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

The four Virtual Town Hall Teleconferences will occur at 6:00pm:<\/strong><\/p>\n