For those of us who reside on the Sunshine Coast and northern Moreton Bay, we truly hoped 2023 would be a better year. That the Palaszczuk Labor Government would finally start listening and address the health, housing, crime and cost of living crises gripping our state.
But we end the year disappointed and worse off than ever before.
And we’ve seen again, that Labor will do and say anything before an election to cling to power. They’re more concerned about their own political future than the future and livelihood of Queenslanders.
Let me use three examples.
BRIBIE ISLAND ROAD In the May 2021 budget, the Federal Coalition Government announced a $10 million contribution towards the Bribie Island Road upgrades between Hickey Road and King John Creek. Let me point out, Bribie Island Road is 100% a state road - the Feds didn’t need to chip in. But because of the strong advocacy of the Member for Longman, my friend Terry Young, they did.
Instead of being grateful, what did we hear from the Member for Pumicestone? Nothing but complaints that funding wouldn’t arrive until the 2023/24 financial year.
Roll forward to January 2022 and we have the now Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, announcing that an Albanese Government will fast-track funding. I quote: Under an Albanese Labor Government, I will get straight to work delivering this project now, not years down the line.
And that announcement was lauded by the Member for Pumicestone.
Remember what I said about saying and doing anything in the lead up to the election?
We are nearly halfway through the 2023/24 financial year…has the project been finished? No, it hasn’t even started!
In April 2023, that same Catherine King announced a review of the Infrastructure Pipeline – those projects the federal government had committed to funding.
Just this month, Catherine King announced the outcome of that so-called “90-day review”. Sure, the project hasn’t been cut in the same way the Mooloolah River Interchange was, but will it start this financial year? Nope.
In fact, they’re only rolling out $1 million of the $10 million to do the planning. The planning hasn’t even started.
This is a clear broken promise for Labor’s election commitment. They’ll do and say anything to win an election, because they’re more focused on their own political future than the future and livelihood of Queenslanders.
BRIBIE SATELLITE HOSPITAL Similarly, during the 2020 election, the then Labor candidate for Pumicestone promised a ‘hospital’ for Bribie Island. She promised a ‘hospital’ would be delivered by May 2023.
Well, there’s no ‘hospital’ yet and when it does arrive, it won’t be a ‘hospital’.
The people of Bribie Island were promised a ‘hospital’ by the Member for Pumicestone, but instead they are getting a multi-purpose medical centre, with no emergency department, no 24-hour care, no overnight beds and very limited services. The promised Bribie Island satellite ‘hospital’ is little more than a clinic.
Again, the Member for Pumicestone and the Palaszczuk Labor Government will do and say anything to win an election because they’re more focused on their own political future than the future and livelihood of Queenslanders.
BRIBIE DESALINATION PLANT Which brings me to Labor’s desalination plant plan. Thanks to the people of Bribie Island, you’ve forced the government to rule out the Island as the site for Southeast Queensland’s desalination plant (at least until after the election).
But have you noticed the language – it doesn’t rule out Sandstone Point, Ningi, Beachmere, Toorbul and Donnybrook.
The Member for Pumicestone may well say – she “will never allow a desalination plant on Bribie Island”, but just remember her track record on Bribie Island Road and the Bribie Satellite Hospital.
The Member for Pumicestone and the Palaszczuk Labor Government will do and say anything to win an election because they’re more focused on their own political future than the future and livelihood of Queenslanders.
The only way you get the roads you desperately need, the health services you deserve and the assurance no desalination plant will be built on Bribie or in the Pumicestone electorate is to show Labor the door in ’24.