CRIME SPREE SHOWS NEED FOR HELICOPTERS

After the recent crime spree in Cairns and the chase down south it is further proof of the need for a strategic helicopter fleet for use by the Qld Police Service. here is the media release put out by me-

The Australian Party spokesperson for police, corrections and emergency services Darren Hunt has called for a strategic helicopter fleet for Queensland Police after a spate of dangerous incidents.

Mr Hunt said “The recent events in Cairns and the Gold Coast highlights the need for a strategic helicopter fleet for police instead of having to rely on news crews. This government has dragged it’s feet for too long on this issue. Innocent people had their lives put in danger at Cairns and the Gold Coast in the past two days and it is time for this to end.”


“We have a pursuit policy so restrictive police are too scared to do their job and supervisors don’t even ask details anymore, they just automatically terminate pursuits as displayed last night.


“The Australian Party has been calling for a fleet of strategically based helicopters to service the state. Of course it makes sense to have the first one based in South East Queensland. But there should also be one based in Cairns to service the Far North and if viable a third based in Central Queensland. Police currently rely on other agencies, such as Emergency Management Queensland, which has seen their fleet grounded over recent weeks, limiting police options.”


“Last year the Queensland Police Service did not spend a significant amount of their budget, which would easily cover the costs associated. Instead of focusing on buying fixed wing aircraft to ferry politicians around pork barreling marginal electorates, this government should be focusing on giving police the resources they need to do their job and that starts with a strategic helicopter fleet.”




Darren Hunt
Australian Party Candidate for Cairns

MORE ASSAULTS ON POLICE

Another vicious attack on a police officer in Bundaberg. The laws are soft and need to change.
here is the copy of the media release put out by me-

The Katter’s Australian Party Cairns candidate Darren Hunt says the governments’ soft on crime approach is contributing to assaults on emergency services staff.

Mr Hunt said “Here we go again. Another day, another serious assault on a Queensland police officer. This is unacceptable and it is the governments soft on crime approach that is contributing to these attacks. The LNP don’t have the guts to follow through on their previous position of mandatory sentencing for serious assaults on police anymore. This leaves the Australian Party as the only one prepared to stand up for our emergency service staff.”


Mr Hunts calls come after a Bundaberg police officer was seriously injured when kicked in the head whilst tending to someone lying on the ground.

“Queensland Police have become punching bags for local thugs with a busted jaw and facial injuries suffered by one officer doing their job on the weekend. It is time this government grew a spine and introduced legislation that will provide a deterrent to assaults on Queensland emergency service personnel.”

“The Australian Party extends our best wishes to the officer assaulted trying to keep Queensland safe and hopes they have a speedy recovery during what is an extremely traumatic time.

Darren Hunt
Australian Party Candidate for Cairns

ALP/LNP BICKERING OVER THE BIG ISSUES, AS THEY SEE IT

What an utter disgrace we have seen in Queensland Parliament today. the major parties are more interested in arguing like little children than discussing the real issues and this is why time should be up for both of them.

Honestly how much more petty bickering is going to go on over whether or not Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane is a "world class stadium" or not. With all the issues impacting on Queensland at the moment is this really the most important topic? Does this issue relally rate this many questions and discussion in parliament.
What about education? What about our health system? What about infrastructure? What about police/fire/ambulance staff issues?What about upgrading the Bruce Hwy?

Oh no here we go now Paul Hoolihan is going to chip in, oh here we go now it's Mike Horans turn. No wonder our state is struggling if the major parties think this is what is important to spend so much time in Queensland parliament on.

Way to focus on the big issues impacting on Queensland, you bunch of clowns.

CAIRNS AND FNQ FORGOTTEN IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEBATE

The recent debate about Campbell Newman and his maybe, maybe not support or funding for the $8billion Brisbane rail bridge shows neither party gives a stuff about FNQ and Cairns. This debate came a few days after  the LNP leader in Townsville failed to commit to supporting the required upgrades to the Bruce Hwy. The ALP has continued to put the issue on the back burner using smoke and mirrors and hiding it in the back pages of 50 year plans.
This road floods every year. We get cut off year, after year, after year. We don't need this fixed in 50 years, we need it fixed now. Here's a tip to Campbell and Anna. Queensland does not end at Noosa.

The people of Cairns need to know that the proposed rail bridge for Brisbane they are arguing over will cost $8billion. Coincidentally, that is how much it was estimated it would cost to complete the entire roadworks required on the Bruce Highway all the way to Cairns.
With an election looming do you think the govt and LNP will commit to funding the needed works to the Bruce Hwy or porkbarell their SEQ electorates?

FARM FUNDING RESEARCH AXED

Another example of the short sightedness of the govt. with their decision to stop funding farming research. At a time when we need to be innovative to be competitive in the international market it is a strange time to axe this research. The anti-competitive tariffs and govt supports provided to some overseas farmers puts us at a disadvantage.Monitoring/accountability and workplace health and safety prcatices that increase our costs are not present in some other countries. The wages paid to Australian workers compared to other workers impacts on our ability to compete.
With the impacts that the governments new carbon tax will have on farming, this is not the time to be pulling research that helps keep us competitive.We need a diversified economy and we can not neglect our rural and primary production industry.

Here's the link-

 http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/finance/farm-research-funding-cuts-disappointing-nff/2281096.aspx?src=rss&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=Queensland_Online&utm_source=RoamMedia

PAYROLL DEBACLE CONTINUES

and so it goes on..... The health payroll system has STILL not been fixed. This lemon that cost $70million to buy and is now costing another $250million to fix shows how hopeless this government is and why it needs to go.
Further evidence has emerged the government was made aware of the concerns by IT professionals yet this stupid know all, know nothing government ignored the warning and bluinder on through this $300million fiasco. Still not one minister has been held accountable, including the Premier. When we think that we are spending about $250million on the current Cairns Base Hospital re-development stage it just goes to show how much better this money could have been spent.
Such an appaling waste of tax payer monies should have one outcome only for the Government responsible.

here is the Courier mail link of the advice provided-

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/payroll-debacle-they-were-warned/story-e6freon6-1226130030193?from=public_rss&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=Queensland_Online&utm_source=RoamMedia

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD

The recent polls conducted by the Courier mail shows what everyone else has been saying. The ALP and LNP are two heads of the same beast and both are more concerned with their own political future than coming up with effective long term policy for the benefit of Queenslanders. It is time for a new force in Queensland politics.

The government continues to learch from one disaster to another. They sold assets that made a profit and are looking for the next piece of silverware to sell off to get them out of strife because the last asset sale didn't. Electricty is next and anyone who doesn't think is going to happen under the ALP believes in the tooth fairy.

The LNP are no better. They sided with the government opposing the moratorium on CSG fracking. Campbell Newmans just vote 1 campaign shows that he would rather let Labor get back in if it means one of his stooges doesn't win the seat. This stupidity begs the question what if one of you candidates is an absolute stinker that does not have community support and that community is looking to vote for someone other than Labor? Would you really prefer that preferences didn't go to someone other than Labor so they don't get back in?Just proves Campbell and the LNP are only in it for what they can get.

People want change and that is why they are turning to the Katter Australian Party. Here's the courier mail link-

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/bob-katters-australia-party-poised-to-receive-major-support-at-next-queensland-election/story-e6freon6-1226129974891?from=public_rss