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.”