Oct2012_NEWS from SEATH HOLSWICH MP
State Member for Pine Rivers
2012 State Budget
On 11th September the Newman Government handed down its first State Budget.
This budget sets the foundations to rebuild the state’s economy and will help to grow a strong four pillar economy based around construction, tourism, resources and agriculture.
The budget also contained a number of cost-cutting measures, including the well publicised cuts to the Public Service. These significant cost-cutting measures have been difficult, but necessary decisions to ensure that we get the state’s $65 billion debt under control.
This budget provides many benefits to Pine Rivers residents and businesses, some of which I have listed below. For more comprehensive information about the 2012 State Budget, go to www.budget.qld.gov.au
Lowering the cost of living
• Freezes car registration for family vehicles for this term of government
• Delivers a one off rebate of $80 per household water connection
• Halves public transport fare increases due in 2013 & 2014
• Reinstates the principal place of residence stamp duty concession, saving up to $7,175 on the purchase of a family home
• Freezes the standard electricity tariff (Tariff 11), saving families an average of $120 per year on electricity bills
• Rewards regular commuters with free travel on Translink network after nine journeys in a week
Local Infrastructure
• $160,000 for every state school to help fix their maintenance backlogs
• $3.6 million to upgrade North Pine Water Treatment Plant
• $7.3 million towards adding a third track between Lawnton and Petrie Railway Stations
• Sharing in over $5 million in social housing upgrades in our region
• $66 million towards Moreton Bay Rail Link
Business
• Increasing the payroll tax threshold from $1 million to $1.1 million in 2012-13, with further increases of $100,000 each year until 1st July 2017
• Scrapping sustainability declarations and other unnecessary red tape
• Increase the First Home Owners Grant on new homes from $7,000 to $15,000, supporting housing construction industry.
Disability & Community
• $11 million in on-going disability service funding
• $368,000 on-going funding for Home Assist Secure at Petrie
• $920,000 for new disability respite services in Strathpine
• Delivering an additional 300 police officers across Qld this year
• $15 million statewide trial to assist elderly parent carers make care arrangements for disabled children
Public Service Job Losses
I understand that the recent public service job cuts have impacted the lives and families of those who have been made redundant. I have made a personal commitment to assist any public servant who lives in Pine Rivers and has been made redundant as part of this public service restructure.
I worked for a number of years with various employment agencies and recruitment organisations locally and throughout Queensland. I have significant expertise in recruitment. If any redundant public servant needs assistance with resume preparation, job searching strategies and linking with suitable recruitment services, then please contact my office and I am happy to assist.
I also remind Pine Rivers residents that the tough decisions taken by the Newman Government are an unfortunate necessity given the state of the Queensland Government’s financial situation.
It is unfortunate that our government had to make this tough decision to significantly reduce the size of the public service. But we faced little choice given the extreme nature of the state’s debt and deficit.
We could not let our state debt situation continue to go unchecked. This year our state hit $65 billion in debt and projections, if no corrective action was taken, showed us heading towards $100 billion debt.
Land Wanted to Help Protect SEQ Koalas
The Newman Government wants to purchase land identified as suitable for the long-term protection of koalas and is inviting expressions of interest from property owners.
The Government has allocated $22.5 million over the next three years to buy land and expand koala habitat in areas where their territory is under significant pressure.
Expressions of interest will be competitively assessed against a range of criteria with habitat being a major focus.
Wherever possible, the land would also be available to the public for recreational use and increased opportunities for people to see koalas in the wild.
Expressions of interest opened on 14 August and will close on 31 October.
For more information visit: www.ehp.qld.gov.au or telephone (07) 3330 6317.
100% Local Christmas Challenge
This year I am again sponsoring the 100% Local Christmas Challenge. The Challenge is to support your local businesses by buying 100% of your Christmas needs locally.
If you run a business and want to receive free publicity as part of this initiative, then please register your interest on the website. There are also limited low cost advertising opportunities available.
If you are a resident who wants to know more about taking up the Challenge, please visit the Facebook page.
The Honourable Jann Stuckey MP (Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business, and the Commonwealth Games) will be launching the Challenge in late October. More details of the Launch will be posted on the Facebook page.
Website: www.christmaschallenge.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook/com/LocalChristmasChallenge
Sign Up for Newsletters
If you would like to receive period email updates from me, you can subscribe to my newsletters via the front page of my website: www.seathholswich.com
The budget also contained a number of cost-cutting measures, including the well publicised cuts to the Public Service. These significant cost-cutting measures have been difficult, but necessary decisions to ensure that we get the state’s $65 billion debt under control.
This budget provides many benefits to Pine Rivers residents and businesses, some of which I have listed below. For more comprehensive information about the 2012 State Budget, go to www.budget.qld.gov.au
Lowering the cost of living
• Freezes car registration for family vehicles for this term of government
• Delivers a one off rebate of $80 per household water connection
• Halves public transport fare increases due in 2013 & 2014
• Reinstates the principal place of residence stamp duty concession, saving up to $7,175 on the purchase of a family home
• Freezes the standard electricity tariff (Tariff 11), saving families an average of $120 per year on electricity bills
• Rewards regular commuters with free travel on Translink network after nine journeys in a week
Local Infrastructure
• $160,000 for every state school to help fix their maintenance backlogs
• $3.6 million to upgrade North Pine Water Treatment Plant
• $7.3 million towards adding a third track between Lawnton and Petrie Railway Stations
• Sharing in over $5 million in social housing upgrades in our region
• $66 million towards Moreton Bay Rail Link
Business
• Increasing the payroll tax threshold from $1 million to $1.1 million in 2012-13, with further increases of $100,000 each year until 1st July 2017
• Scrapping sustainability declarations and other unnecessary red tape
• Increase the First Home Owners Grant on new homes from $7,000 to $15,000, supporting housing construction industry.
Disability & Community
• $11 million in on-going disability service funding
• $368,000 on-going funding for Home Assist Secure at Petrie
• $920,000 for new disability respite services in Strathpine
• Delivering an additional 300 police officers across Qld this year
• $15 million statewide trial to assist elderly parent carers make care arrangements for disabled children
Public Service Job Losses
I understand that the recent public service job cuts have impacted the lives and families of those who have been made redundant. I have made a personal commitment to assist any public servant who lives in Pine Rivers and has been made redundant as part of this public service restructure.
I worked for a number of years with various employment agencies and recruitment organisations locally and throughout Queensland. I have significant expertise in recruitment. If any redundant public servant needs assistance with resume preparation, job searching strategies and linking with suitable recruitment services, then please contact my office and I am happy to assist.
I also remind Pine Rivers residents that the tough decisions taken by the Newman Government are an unfortunate necessity given the state of the Queensland Government’s financial situation.
It is unfortunate that our government had to make this tough decision to significantly reduce the size of the public service. But we faced little choice given the extreme nature of the state’s debt and deficit.
We could not let our state debt situation continue to go unchecked. This year our state hit $65 billion in debt and projections, if no corrective action was taken, showed us heading towards $100 billion debt.
Land Wanted to Help Protect SEQ Koalas
The Newman Government wants to purchase land identified as suitable for the long-term protection of koalas and is inviting expressions of interest from property owners.
The Government has allocated $22.5 million over the next three years to buy land and expand koala habitat in areas where their territory is under significant pressure.
Expressions of interest will be competitively assessed against a range of criteria with habitat being a major focus.
Wherever possible, the land would also be available to the public for recreational use and increased opportunities for people to see koalas in the wild.
Expressions of interest opened on 14 August and will close on 31 October.
For more information visit: www.ehp.qld.gov.au or telephone (07) 3330 6317.
100% Local Christmas Challenge
This year I am again sponsoring the 100% Local Christmas Challenge. The Challenge is to support your local businesses by buying 100% of your Christmas needs locally.
If you run a business and want to receive free publicity as part of this initiative, then please register your interest on the website. There are also limited low cost advertising opportunities available.
If you are a resident who wants to know more about taking up the Challenge, please visit the Facebook page.
The Honourable Jann Stuckey MP (Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business, and the Commonwealth Games) will be launching the Challenge in late October. More details of the Launch will be posted on the Facebook page.
Website: www.christmaschallenge.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook/com/LocalChristmasChallenge
Sign Up for Newsletters
If you would like to receive period email updates from me, you can subscribe to my newsletters via the front page of my website: www.seathholswich.com
