Election 2006

Election correspondence

Attached are copies of direct mail which I forwarded to constituents, covering many issues, during the 2006 election campaign. Should you wish to discuss any matter raised in this correspondence please don't hesitate to contact me.


New Constituents

As you are no doubt aware there is a State election on the 9th September. Health and water are two of the most important issues; however, from the feedback I have received over the past few years, there are two dominant local issues – the proposed cruise ship terminal and the Gold Coast City Council.

Plans for the cruise ship terminal have now been scrapped. Deputy Premier Anna Bligh made the announcement on Friday the 18th August after receiving advice from the Coordinator-General which was based on the draft findings of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) by consultant GHD. I, along with the Premier, Deputy Premier and other members have always maintained that if the terminal did not stack up from an environmental, engineering and economic point of view it would not go ahead. It didn’t stack up and it’s not going ahead.

Other elements of the proposal, such as the superyacht facility, will proceed with the EIS process and will not necessarily be located in the area known as the Marine Stadium. The upgrade of Doug Jennings Park and Federation Walk (93ha gazetted as environmental open space by the Beattie Government) must proceed as soon as possible.

I can’t let one comment by Lawrence Springborg go unchallenged. He claimed that “the Nationals have protected The Spit from development for 40 years”. This is simply untrue. His party allowed development to commence (Seaworld) and then presided over many other developments such as the Sheraton Mirage, Marina Mirage, Mariners Cove and Seaworld Nara. Mr Springborg himself was a member of a coalition government which approved a Horizon Tank (for making films such as the Titanic) on The Spit. This would have looked like an oil refinery. Thank heavens it didn’t go ahead for economic reasons! Mr Springborg has a very convenient memory!

Several weeks ago, in a speech in Parliament, I proposed that the Gold Coast City Council elections be brought forward from March 2008 to a convenient date next year. The support for this proposal has been quite overwhelming and will allow Gold Coast residents to pass judgment on a Council which has been beset with drama since its election almost three years ago. If elected I intend to continue to pursue this proposal with the Premier.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.


Nurses


The Beattie Government is getting on with the job of improving Queensland’s health system.

Through our Health Action Plan, we are spending an extra $9.7 billion over five years to improve our hospital emergency departments, open more hospital beds and do more cancer, heart, and kidney surgery.

We are also investing in our health staff.

The recent Nurses EB6 Agreement will make Queensland Health nurses among the highest paid in the country.

This three-year agreement – together with a four percent increase from the nurse’s interim agreement – provides a 23% wage increase for nurses. The agreement also provides a number of additional career and professional development benefits.

More than 70% of nurses voted in favour of the agreement.

Nurses are the backbone of our health system. This is a great outcome for nurses, with the package bringing their wages and conditions into line with their interstate counterparts.

That’s why I was disappointed to learn that Queensland Liberal Party politicians have criticised the pay rises because they are worried private hospitals will be forced to grant the same pay levels for their nurses.

I understand that not all nurses in Southport work for Queensland Health but strong public sector wages will almost certainly lead to better outcomes for private and aged care nurses.

Please contact my office on 55 71 1951 if you would like to discuss this matter further.


Industrial Relations


Are you or your family feeling the squeeze at the moment?

You aren’t alone. Many local people have been telling me that their family budget has been hit hard by skyrocketing petrol prices and the recent interest rate rise.

Now with John Howard’s extreme industrial relations laws, people are worried about their overtime, leave loading, entitlements … and whether their job is secure anymore.

I want to assure you that the Queensland Government is standing up for the interests of families. We have:

• Passed legislation aimed at protecting Queenslanders from the radical Federal Industrial Relations Laws, and launched a High Court appeal to overturn John Howard’s un-Australian changes;

• Made sure every last cent from vehicle registrations go towards building roads, and, unlike any other state, Queensland has an 8c per litre fuel subsidy to help ease the burden for people under financial pressure.

• Managed the economy to keep the Budget in surplus and reduced unemployment to a historic low.

I stood up for your interests in Parliament and opposed these extreme industrial relations laws. I oppose:

× Cutting penalty rates and overtime;
× Allowing employees to be sacked unfairly;
× Forcing employees to sign unfair individual work contracts;
× Slashing pay and conditions.

The new laws simply make it harder to balance work and family responsibilities. They take away rights for working people that have existed for generations.

The Queensland Government has set-up a hotline to assist people who are being unfairly treated under John Howard’s extreme IR laws. The Fair Go Advisory Service can be contacted on 1300 737 841 or contact me directly.

I am committed to continuing to fight for your interests in Parliament.


Cruise Ship Terminal


I have previously written to you regarding the proposed development on The Spit and on the Cruise Ship Terminal in particular.

Plans for a cruise ship terminal have now been scrapped. Deputy Premier Anna Bligh made the announcement on Friday the 18th August after receiving advice from the Coordinator-General which was based on the draft findings of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) by consultant GHD. I, along with the Premier, Deputy Premier and other members have always maintained that if the terminal did not stack up from an environmental, engineering and economic point of view it would not go ahead. It didn’t stack up and it’s not going ahead.

Other elements of the proposal, such as the superyacht facility, will proceed with the EIS process and will not necessarily be located in the area known as the Marine Stadium. The upgrade of Doug Jennings Park and Federation Walk (93ha gazetted as environmental open space by the Beattie Government) must proceed as soon as possible.

I can’t let one comment by Lawrence Springborg go unchallenged. He claimed that “the Nationals have protected The Spit from development for 40 years”. This is simply untrue. His party allowed development to commence (Seaworld) and then presided over many other developments such as the Sheraton Mirage, Marina Mirage, Mariners Cove and Seaworld Nara. Mr Springborg himself was a member of a coalition government which approved a Horizon Tank (for making films such as the Titanic) on The Spit. This would have looked like an oil refinery. Thank heavens it didn’t go ahead for economic reasons! Mr Springborg has a very convenient memory!

I again thank you for your interest in this issue and please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.


Petrol

Thank you for taking the time to sign my petition demanding the Federal Liberal-National Government take action about the rising cost of petrol in Queensland.

You weren’t alone. Many other locals have been telling me that their family budget has been hit hard by skyrocketing petrol prices and the recent interest rate rise.

Now with the Coalition’s extreme industrial relations laws, people are worried about their overtime, leave loading, entitlements … and whether their job is secure anymore.

I want to assure you that the Beattie Labor Government is standing up for the interests of Southport families. We have:

• Made sure every last cent from vehicle registrations goes towards building roads, and, unlike any other state, Queensland has an 8c litre fuel subsidy to help ease the burden for people under financial pressure.
• Passed legislation aimed at protecting Queenslanders from the radical IR changes.
• Managed the economy to keep the Budget in surplus and reduced unemployment to a historic low.

There has never been a more important time to have a State Government that is prepared to stand up for Queenslanders.

I am committed to continuing to fight for your interests in Parliament.


New Enrolee

I am writing to you as a relatively new enrolee in Southport. Many new residents have called Southport home in the past three years – and why not, it’s a great place to live.

As your local member I’ve worked hard to make sure we get our fair share from the strong policies implemented by Peter Beattie’s Government.

Managing the economy effectively, delivering on the Health Action Plan and securing water during the worst drought in 100 years have been the main priorities of the Beattie Government.

With unemployment at a 30-year-low of 4.7%, and the Queensland economy outperforming the Australian economy for the tenth year in a row, residents in Southport can feel confident that with the Beattie Government, the economy is in safe hands.

Locally we have seen:

• The first stage of the Frank Street widening (including the duplication of the Loders Creek Bridge) at a cost of $20m;
• The upgrade of the Smith Street with transit lanes (including the replacement of the roundabout at High Street with traffic signals) at a cost of $11m;
• Construction of a new Police Station at Southport at a cost of $5.7m;
• All bar one asbestos roof on schools in Southport replaced;
• Establishment of a Neighbourhood Police Beat by purchase of property in Arundel.

The $9.7 Billion Health Action Plan is the Beattie Government’s plan to tackle the problems in the health system head-on. The Plan has already started delivering more doctors, nurses and allied health personnel and more hospital beds, including at our local Gold Coast Hospital.

An important part of the Health Action Plan is the delivery of a strengthened Health Quality and Complaints Commission, which started operating on 1 July 2006.

The Beattie Labor Government is working to ensure Queensland has water for the next 100 years. Some of the initiatives include:

• WaterWise rebates to help households save water
• two new dams for South East Queensland
• increasing the capacity of the Hinze Dam
• water recycling pipeline for industrial use
• feasibility study for Burdekin to Brisbane pipeline


If you would like any further information on any of these issues or if you need assistance with a State Government matter, please don’t hesitate to contact my office on 5532 5068.

Under 21 year olds

On the 9th September you will be required to vote for the first time in a State Election. It is important that progress which has been made in Southport, and the Gold Coast generally, over the past 6 years continues.

Many younger people have expressed their concern to me about the proposed Cruise Ship Terminal and the effect it would have on The Spit. I have always maintained that if the terminal did not stack up from an environmental, engineering and economic point of view it would not go ahead. It didn’t stack up and it’s not going ahead. Deputy Premier Anna Bligh made the announcement on Friday the 18th August that plans for a cruise ship terminal have been scrapped. She was acting on advice received from the Coordinator General based on the draft findings of the Environmental Impact Study.

The 2006-7 Budget lifted funding to train apprentices and trainees over the four year period from 2006 to 2009-10 by $170 million (39.5%) to a record $600 million. This is available to train apprentices and trainees over the next four years, specifically in industries with skills shortages. Queensland currently has an all time record 77,200 apprentices and trainees in training and it is anticipated there will be 58,000 new commencements in 2006-7. Of all Queensland apprentices 80% undergo training at TAFE.

Unemployment in Queensland is at a record low 4.5%. In Southport the figure is 5.4% as at March 2006, down from 11.5% in June 1998. These excellent unemployment figures result from a strong economy delivered by the Beattie Government.

Although a lot has been achieved for Southport there is still more to be done. I hope to continue as your representative in the next Beattie Labor Government and I therefore request your support at the forthcoming election.