ABOUT THIS BLOG

With a long family history that goes back many generations in this area it pains me to see the impact that government neglect is having on our area. The two major parties are simply not up to the job anymore. I can no longer sit back and watch this happen and have decided to run for the state seat of Cairns.

It is time we had a voice in parliament again, not puppets of faceless party machines from Canberra. By posting media releases on this blog the people of Cairns can determine if we have policies and concepts that they agree with.

I ask you to join me in ensuring that Cairns and Far North Queensland gets a fair go.































Thursday, October 20, 2011

INSENSITIVE CAMPAIGN NAME COMMENCED

Yesterday I came across a tweet from the Premier talking about a new campaign called Harden Up. Turns out it is an awareness campaign about preparing for disasters. I thought it was extremely crass and insulting given the recent disasters in our area. We still have people not able to return to their houses due to ongoing delays and issues with insurance companies.
We need to place greater pressure on insurance companies to do the right thing given the amount of people still displaced.
Since people have began showing their displeasure at this name it has been stated the name came from a 2009 Australian study called hardening Australia. Well that's fine, but here in Queensland telling people to 'harden up' is insensitive and when people are still hurting the government should have known better or at least changed the name.
It is blaming the victim and making them feel that they shouldn't complain and just get on with it. If this govt. wants to tell victims to harden up, I think people will have something to tell this govt very shortly.

Here is the media release put out
The Australian Party Candidate for Cairns Darren Hunt has called on the government to take action on an offensive and insulting awareness program titled “Harden up”.
Mr Hunt said “The term used in this awareness campaign is extremely insensitive given the recent developments in FNQ and across Queensland. We have people around Tully and Cardwell still unable to return to their houses and this stupid government is telling these people ‘Oh you need to harden up’. How insensitive and stupid can you be? I challenge the Premier and people who came up with this campaign to go down to Tully and Cardwell and tell the people living in sheds and tents through no fault of their own that.”
“I think the people impacted by the recent natural disasters would prefer their tax money was spent on pressuring insurance companies to get them back in their homes instead of on programs telling them they need to harden up.”
“The government needs to review this offensive campaign and take action immediately and divert that money to getting victims of natural disasters back in their homes.”
Darren Hunt
Candidate for Cairns

No comments:

Post a Comment