GOVERNMENT FAILURES AND BROKEN PROMISES HURTING OUR COMMUNITY

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns D.J.Hunt has warned people in the Far North to prepare for further hits in the hip pocket as failed government policies and sneaky taxes place greater strain on locals’ budgets.

Mr Hunt said “As people in Cairns reach into their wallets there will be a gaping hole after failed Labor policies start to bite into peoples’ ability to pay their bills. Cairns rate payers were left with a huge bill when they were forced into amalgamation, such as inheriting the costs of replacing the former Douglas Shire sewerage issues. Cairns rate payers copped it a second time when the state government pulled out of the previous arrangements where they assisted in funding significant infrastructure projects meaning Cairns residents got stiffed with the whole bill. “

“This impacts on more than just property owners, they will be passing those increases on in the form of rent rises. This means mums and dads struggling with the cost of living will find it even harder to make ends meet. Add this to the increases in electricity charges the government said would not happen and the increase in fuel costs resulting from the scrapped fuel subsidy and you can see why so many people are crying out for help.” Mr Hunt said.

“Now we’re told there is going to be a $150 increase in private health cover rates. People will really struggle to maintain this coverage and either drop out, placing further strain on our public system, or have to go without in other areas to maintain their coverage. Registrations and licence fees keep going up at such a rate that pensioners will lose their independence because the governments hand is in their pocket every time they turn around and the pension only goes so far.”

Mr Hunt stated “I just hope people direct their anger where it is warranted. You don’t have to look past the group that paid $70million for a payroll system, that is now going to cost another $210million on top of that to fix it, to see why the average person on the street is struggling financially and that is wholly and solely at the feet of this state Labor government.”

GOVERNMENT VISIT ALL FLUFF NO SUBSTANCE

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns D.J.Hunt has labeled the recent trip to Cairns by the Premier nothing more than a PR stunt with little provided to substantially help the devastated Far North Queensland economy and tourism industry.

Mr Hunt said "Now that the Premier has ridden off into the sunset on her white horse it is time to look objectively at what was offered here. Instead of glamour fluff pieces and massages, where were the hard questions and scrutiny on what was being offered for our region? We get chucked a few crumbs as the Premier fed the chooks like old Joh Bjelke and we’re supposed to fawn about and be thankful we got anything.”

“The money the Far North was given for promoting tourism will be utilized but let’s be real, how far will that go? If the government wants to give the Far North region something of substance, why don’t they subsidise South China Airlines or Air Asia for direct flights to Cairns to the same amount they did for South China Airlines to fly to Brisbane? The Cairns Post reported 50,000 visitors wanted to come here but couldn’t. If those visitors would have spent $1,000 here, that’s $50million our economy missed out on. The government’s original decision, to subsidise direct flights to Brisbane instead of Cairns, shows where the governments focus is and always will be and that is South East Queensland.”

Mr Hunt said “We’re not asking for anything out of the ordinary here. If the government could do it for Brisbane, why won’t they do it for Cairns? Out of sight, out of mind. That’s why. We need the government to prove to the people of Cairns that this trip was more than just a PR stunt. The Premier claims to have listened to the people up here. Had the government dragged themselves away from the stage managed photo stops and asked operators if they had the choice between the current offer and subsidizing direct flights to Cairns from South China Airlines or Air Asia they would have heard that steps like this would provide an immediate boost to our economy. ”

“Also, the issue of dredging the inlet was raised whilst the state was supposedly being run from Cairns. Not a word on that issue. Instead of glamour photo shoots, how about a commitment to looking at the issue of dredging our inlet so that we can take advantage of the booming cruise ship industry market?  The Queensland Party has repeatedly called for action on this issue.  Again real steps, real action that will have a significant and more importantly long term benefit for our area, beyond the next election.”

Mr Hunt stated “The deal the government struck for Brisbane airport has been kept secret. The people of the Far North deserve to know what they missed out on. The Queensland Party calls on the government to honour their promise to make public the amount of the subsidy given so that it can be determined if a similar amount can be provided for the same deal for Cairns. I believe the people of the Far North deserve that much.”

TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT DISMISSES RAIL OPTIONS TO PROMOTE BUS TRANSPORT ON DAY SUNBUS CUTS SERVICES

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns D.J.HUNT has called for a review of the possibility for commuter rail services for Cairns.

Mr Hunt said "It is ironic that on the day the department places the need for rail commuter services in our area in the too hard basket, promoting their own agenda with bus transport, Sunbus announces they are cutting routes and services.”

Mr Hunt’s statements came after proposals for rail commuter services were dismissed outright in favour of bus transport as part of the Cairns Transit Network. On the same day Sunbus, providers of bus transport in the region, announced they were cutting the routes and services.

“We need to have a government with the ability to see past the next election and look at the needs of our area into the future. There are options available to provide rail commuter services using existing infrastructure that would reduce a huge burden on our roadways, particularly the Bruce Highway/Ray Jones Drive bottleneck.” said Mr Hunt.

Mr Hunt stated “We have the opportunity to take hundreds of cars a day off our roadways for a relatively small outlay. The fact Sunbus has had to reduce its services in order to maintain it’s viability shows there are problems and we need to look at alternatives and not put all our eggs in one basket as appears to be happening. That’s why we are calling on the government to review this decision in light of the sunbus announcement to ensure the people of the Cairns region have a viable public transport options.”

CAIRNS NEEDS A NEW HOSPITAL NOT MORE LABOR SPIN

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns, D.J.Hunt has slammed the Premiers announcement regarding the Edmonton Health facility has nothing more than spin and no substance..

"The Premier is once again trying to con the people of the Far North that she is doing something and listening to the people on the issue of an alternate hospital site. In reality she is doing exactly what the former health minister said, but her spin doctors have put it a nicer way.” said Mr Hunt.

 Mr Hunts comments came after the Premier announced she had ordered a review of the regions health services plan and stated that the Edmonton site was going to be used as a health precinct for ante natal checks and physiotherapy but that this could later be used as a back up hospital.

“The Premier thinks the people of Cairns are idiots with this rubbish. Firstly a health precinct is not a hospital. The Queensland Party is talking about an alternate hospital site in times of disaster and a physios office will not cut. Secondly the Premier thinks this spin about the health review can fob us off and hope the issue will go away.” Mr Hunt said

“This shows that the government just does not get it when it comes to the need in terms of disaster management preparedness and mitigation. If the government needs a review they should be asking Emergency Management Queensland and the emergency services agencies. They should be asking the Cairns Council disaster management unit. The reasons it needs to be moved is because of it’s vulnerability to natural disasters, not the health needs of the community. We are calling on people to send a clear message to the government that we are not idiots and sign our e-petition at http://bit.ly/eTjB6h. to make them see sense”

Mr Hunt stated “Every single plan, review and disaster simulation exercise in our Region has highlighted the need to relocate the hospital. It is time for the government to stop play games with words and trying to con people that a health facility somehow equates to an alternate hospital. It is not good enough. I call on the government to stop stalling on this issue and come clean with the people of our area. If you’re not going to find an alternate hospital site and plan for our future, have the courage to say so.”

NQ RECONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY-LEGITIMATE OR LABOR PR STUNT?

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns, D.J.Hunt has called on the NQ reconstruction office to take heed of their Reconstruction principles and fast track an alternate site for a Cairns hospital.

"Major General Mick Slater in his full page ad in the Cairns Post states that the reconstruction principles are ‘people first, recovery will be led locally, building a resilient Queensland and enhancing flood and disaster preparedness and mitigation measures’. ” said Mr Hunt.

“Are these just hollow words or are they committed to this. An alternate hospital puts people first, just ask the evacuated patients still stuck in Brisbane. Local people are screaming at the government we need an alternate hospital site. If we want a resilient Far North Queensland we need to ensure that our hospital is not taken out by the disaster. We have no option B, unlike the Health Minister who is able to take his family to a different hospital if the one nearest to him gets closed.”

Mr Hunt stated “Finally and most importantly there is no greater piece of critical infrastructure in our area that needs disaster preparedness and mitigation measures more than our hospital. Labor’s arguments on this issue are based on crossing your fingers and hoping for the best and whether or not you can buy a kebab nearby. The Queensland Party take it a lot more seriously than that and we urge people to sign our e-petition at http://bit.ly/eTjB6h.”

Mr Hunt stated “This will be the first test for the reconstruction authority to show they are fair dinkum about the role they have been given or if they are simply a Labor spin doctor media stunt to boost the Premiers popularity rating. On the flipside it will be interesting to see if the government will change its position if the reconstruction authority found we do need to find an alternate hospital site.”

    

“The people of Far North Queensland deserve to know whether or not the NQ reconstruction authority will follow the principles as set out by Major General Slater and send the message loud and clear to the government that they are wrong and an alternate hospital site needs to be acted on as a matter of urgency.”

QUEENSLAND PARTY CONTINUES FIGHTS FOR ALTERNATE HOSPITAL SITE

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns, D.J.Hunt recently launched an e-petition to relocate the Cairns Base Hospital and has called on the Queensland government to take head of their own Queensland Reconstruction Authority principles and fast track an alternate site for a Cairns hospital.

"Major General Mick Slater in his full page ad in the Cairns Post states that the reconstruction principles are ‘people first, recovery will be led locally, building a resilient Queensland and enhancing flood and disaster preparedness and mitigation measures’. ” said Mr Hunt.

“Are these just hollow words or are Labor fair dinkum about this. An alternate hospital puts people first, just ask the evacuated patients still stuck in Brisbane. Local people are screaming at the government we need an alternate hospital site. If we want a resilient Far North Queensland we need to ensure that our hospital is not taken out by the disaster.”

Mr Hunt stated “Finally and most importantly there is no greater piece of critical infrastructure in our area that needs disaster preparedness and mitigation measures more than our hospital. Labor’s arguments on this issue are based on crossing your fingers and hoping for the best and whether or not you can buy a kebab nearby. We take it a lot more seriously than that.”

    

“The Queensland Party position is this is not good enough and we need to plan for our future. I urge everyone to have your say and get your voice heard by the ostriches in George Street, Brisbane by going to the link http://bit.ly/eTjB6h and signing our E-petition.”

QUEENSLAND PARTY FIGHTS FOR ALTERNATE HOSPITAL SITE

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns, D.J.Hunt,  has today launched an e-petition to relocate the Cairns Base Hospital, stating that the Deputy Premier and Health Minister, Paul Lucas, is making a big mistake by ignoring the urgent need to find an alternate site. Mr Lucas said only yesterday that his government would not take any moves to relocate the hospital from its current vulnerable position due to the money already spent on the Cairns Base Hospital.

"The Minister’s comments in Cairns show that this bloke is absolutely clueless when it comes to the principles of disaster management. To say that it is more important to put the lives of Far North Queenslanders in danger because his government has already spent millions on the Cairns Base Hospital shows how out of touch his government is,” said Mr Hunt.

“As usual, his government is trying to use smoke and mirrors to avoid the issue by making the evacuation the focus and not the reasons why it had to occur.”

Mr Hunt’s comments came after patients from the Cairns Base Hospital had to be airlifted to Brisbane due to fears that the storm surge caused by Cyclone Yasi could inundate the hospital.

“The people of Cairns have made their desires clear to this government in the media and in discussions they have had with me. The doctors and health professionals have made their position clear. The disaster management experts have made it clear to this government that the Cairns Base Hospital is vulnerable.”

“The Labor party themselves looked at moving it previously, so they are well aware of the risks. Why then does this Government continue with this ridiculous head in the sand approach and place the lives of Far North Queenslanders in danger?” Mr Hunt said.

“The Queensland Party are a viable alternative to the current Labor government and unlike the LNP we are not afraid to put our policies and ideas forward and let the people decide.”

“Because our four local Labor members are more interested in toeing the party line than sticking up for the Far North I have commenced an e-petition to have this matter addressed which was sponsored and tabled in Parliament by Queensland Party Leader Aidan McLindon on Thursday 17^th February 2011. I urge everyone to have your say and get your voice heard by the ostriches in George Street, Brisbane by going to the link http://bit.ly/eTjB6h .”

“Given that the Premier is going to be spending the week in Cairns it should be a priority to have a look at the situation involving the Cairns Base Hospital. I extend an invitation to the Premier to sign the petition as well and show the people of Far North Queensland in a bi-partisan manner how much she cares about our safety because Cyclone Yasi has shown us that the time for excuses is over.”

Privatised QR National Puts Profits Before Cyclone Recovery

The Leader of The Queensland Party, Aidan McLindon, today cited massive price increases by the recently privatised QR National as evidence that the State Government’s privatisation plan had sold Queensland out.

“If the state’s rail network was still publicly owned, the State Government could manage transport and logistics infrastructure strategically to assist Queensland recover. This means that it could absorb some of the cost of finding alternate transport for flood and cyclone affected areas.”

“However, as QR National is now a private enterprise it is not surprising that freight costs into regional areas like Cairns have gone up by 48%.”

“I now call on the State Government, as the majority shareholder, to intervene so that those businesses suffering in Cairns are not hit with a double whammy of massive transport cost increases and delayed delivery timeframes. The State Government should either pressure the board to lower costs, or it should use its own revenue from QR National profits to subsidise transport costs in flood and cyclone affected areas for the greater good of Queensland’s recovery.”

“On top of the redundancies offered to rail workers last week, this price increase does not cover the State Government’s privatisation policy in glory. The unfortunate reality is, however, that the LNP’s philosophy and platform is more pro-privatisation the Labor Party’s position.”

“The Queensland Party is the only party represented in State Parliament that actually has a platform to put Queensland first.”

“BARTER” DISCOUNT HOLIDAYS COULD AID RECOVERY

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns D.J.Hunt has suggested a unique concept to aid recovery to the devastated Far North Queensland and increase tourism.

Mr Hunt said "With the community calling for suggestions to increase overseas visitors and attract Australians to the Far North instead of overseas introducing a volunteer “Barter” type holiday package could be one solution. If airlines, resorts and other operators took part, tourists could be offered discounts on airfares, accommodation, shopping and attractions for performing volunteer work in the recovery efforts with recognized government or volunteer organisations.”

Mr Hunt’s comments came after the Far North economy was rocked by the effects of TC Yasi and calls were made for strategies to attract tourists to the area in order to send out the message that the area was open for business

“One of the reasons we have difficulty competing with overseas destinations is the cost difference. By introducing discounts in return for volunteer work performed would appeal to peoples altruistic traits and they might holiday in the Far North instead of overseas.  Australians who would be able to volunteer but could not afford the trip, may be tempted to do so if such a program was available. The tourists could volunteer in clean up or recovery activities one day and go on a tour the next. The more you do the more /discount benefits you get.  It injects some money back into the economy, brings volunteers to the area to assist in order to reduce costs so that funds can be spent where they are needed most. ”Mr Hunt said

Mr Hunt stated “It would only take one airline to come on board and the others would follow. Local operators would benefit from tourists and clients they may not have had otherwise. It is a win-win for everyone.”

Help protect our cane industry

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns D.J.HUNT has called on the State government to take real steps to help save jobs in the far north sugar cane industry after the announcement the Babinda mill would be closed down.

Mr Hunt said "This closure is a real kick in the guts for communities struggling with the impact of cyclone Yasi and the downturn in the economy. It is not only the mill workers impacted by this decision. The towns of Babinda, Mirriwinni and other nearby towns will feel the impacts of this decision.”

Supporting the establishment of an ethanol industry is one step the government could take to protect jobs and the long term viability of the sector, according to Mr Hunt .

Mr Hunt said “There are a lot of other communities in far north Queensland that would be feeling nervous after hearing of the Babinda mill closure. If we want to keep those jobs and the communities that rely on them we need to help diversify those economies and establishing an ethanol industry is one step that can be taken to help achieve this.”

“If the government had the vision to see through the proposed ethanol blending it would help create the industry overnight. The Far North is perfectly placed given our cane industry in the area. It value adds to a product we already grow. It allows waste from sugar production to be used in a useful purpose maintaining the viability of cane production. We have the storage and transport capabilities. It provides a renewable source of fuel and decreases our reliance on overseas oil imports. It creates jobs. Exactly which part of this doesn’t the Labor government think is a good idea for Far North Queensland?” Mr Hunt said.

Mr Hunt stated “The solution is simple. Introduce the proposed blended levels of ethanol in Queensland fuel. Legislate that all fuel used by the state government entities to produce electricity using fuel powered generators in remote areas uses ethanol blended fuels. Finally, re-instate the fuel subsidy for fuel sold in Queensland blended with Australian made and produced ethanol from Australian growers.”

“It appears the only down side is that major overseas oil companies might stop making large donations to political parties.” Mr Hunt said

New hospital site vital

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns D.J.Hunt has called for the second Cairns hospital to be fast tracked after Cyclone Yasi demonstrated the urgent need for an alternate facility to the Cairns Base Hospital.

Mr Hunt said "The recent evacuation of patients from the Cairns Base hospital demonstrated how well plans for evacuations in our area can be mobilized when given time. The other thing it highlighted was the urgent need we have for a second hospital in our area in case that time is not available or the hospital is destroyed by a disaster.”

Mr Hunt’s comments came after the patients from the Cairns Base Hospital had to be airlifted to Brisbane as a precaution when the predicted cyclone and associated storm surge approached Cairns.

“The Cairns Base Hospital due to its location is prone to natural and man-made disasters of various kinds. Again the city of Cairns was lucky in that we did not get a direct hit from the cyclone or excessive storm surge experienced in nearby areas. But it is time we considered what would have happened had our hospital been taken out in Cyclone Yasi. Where would the large numbers of injured be taken? Innisfail, Mareeba, Atherton? They wouldn’t have the capability even if you could get through. Airport operations are compromised so air evacuations become difficult if not impossible. ”Mr Hunt said

Mr Hunt stated “If we are looking at the critical infrastructure we need to address in order to better prepare our area for disaster situations, then surely a second hospital has to be our highest priority. We need to make sure that the site we select is right not only for our current needs, but the needs of our area into the future. The longer we wait the shorter will be the time before our luck runs out.”