Apr2014_NEWS from SEATH HOLSWICH MP

State Member for Pine Rivers

Queensland’s Choices – Tackling our State Debt

Queensland is a great place to live and work, but it can be better.  Our four-pillar economy is on the cusp of strong growth – we have grown by 3.6% in the past year and we are currently growing at 4.1% – which means thousands of new jobs.  But this future is being held back by our public finances.

To realise our potential we must cut red tape, invest in road and rail infrastructure, together with frontline health and education services.  We will only prosper and be ready for future shocks if we act now to support all of Queensland, all Queenslanders and businesses. Our $80 billion of debt – the State’s mortgage – is the highest in Australia. Annually, we pay approximately $4 billion in interest payments alone.  And this comes at a real cost for all of Queensland, because the interest paid on that debt could pay for the things we really need – for instance:  20 new primary schools, 1000 new teachers, 10 new 350-bed hospitals or 220km of a new 4-lane divided highway.

 

Clearly we cannot go on like this; we need to reduce our debt and deficit or we won’t be able to invest in essential services and infrastructure across the State.  Our Government knows this and with Queenslanders, we’re developing a long-term vision (‘Queensland Plan’) for what Queensland needs to be. In the short term though, we need to address the debt and deficit issue so that long term vision can be delivered.

 

All of us will have to make some important choices about what we want for this state and so we’re asking Queenslanders to tell us what they want for Queensland’s future – what you think the priorities for investing in our future should be as we address the debt and deficit in a disciplined and methodical way.

 

The choices are clear: we can increase fees, taxes and charges, we can reduce services or we can sell or lease some Government businesses.  In the coming weeks and months we will be undertaking an unprecedented level of community consultation into this issue and the choices we face.  For the first time in this way, Queenslanders will be asked to tell us their priorities for reducing the debt and deficits we inherited from the previous Labor Government, together with their priorities for the future.

 

The conversation with Queenslanders will be broad and many-faceted, encompassing face-to-face meetings, submissions and an education and consultation campaign, as the Government seeks feedback on priorities and goes about framing the upcoming State Budget.  We want to engage as many Queenslanders as possible, from all walks of life and all the regions of Queensland.  If you want to provide input at the moment, please email me your thoughts to pine.rivers@parliament.qld.gov.au

 

Mt Mee Roadworks Update

Department of Transport and Main Roads will be starting work this month (if not already commenced) at the two sites: near Ocean View Rd at Ocean View and Duncan Rd near Mount Mee. Work will include slope stabilisation and road surface repairs.  The project will be completed by the end of September 2014, weather permitting. TMR understand the inconvenience long-term lane closures have on the community and are working to get this work done as quickly as possible now that the contract has been awarded.

 

If there are issues that need to be addressed during this work, please contact my office by email or phone and I will immediately raise these issues with TMR.

I understand that TMR haven’t always provided regular communication to affected residents to date, however I have spoken to the Regional Director and restated the need for regular contact with residents during the reconstruction. Please also follow my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SeathHolswichMP   for updates as they become available.

 

Education Support

Prior to the 2012 election the Newman Government made a commitment to revitalise front line education services in Queensland.  Over the past two years Pine Rivers schools have benefitted from:

• $1.9 million to state schools to fix maintenance backlog issues

• $893,572 to state schools for literacy & numeracy funding in 2014

• 90 e-tablets to state schools for special needs students

• Additional Prep Teacher Aide hours for Strathpine West SS in 2014

• $775,000 for new science centre at Genesis Christian College

• $31,818 gambling community benefit fund grant for Dayboro SS to build new playground

• School Principal Forum held in 2013 with Education Minister – giving Principals their say

• Bray Park High – $500,000 in building upgrades to house year 7 students

• Pine Rivers High also fully equipped and ready for year 7s in 2015

I will continue to advocate for our local schools so that we can provide a high quality education to all our students.

 

Volunteers Week Workshops

I will be holding a number of community and volunteer workshops during Volunteers Week in May.  There will be a Justice of the Peace Training Workshop for existing JPs and a Grant Writing and Social Media workshop for community groups.  All local community organisations and JPs are invited, so please contact my office on 3205 6779 or go to my website (www.seathholswich.com ) if you are interested in attending.  There is also a full page advertisement for the community group workshops in this edition of the Grapevine.

 

Keep in Touch via Facebook

Are you on Facebook?  Please follow my page to get the latest information about what’s happening in our community, as well as important updates from your State Government – www.facebook.com/SeathHolswichMP