Appropriation Bill 2010 – Vicky Darling MP
Mr Speaker, I want my children to grow up in a Queensland that offers them the best education, job opportunities, public transport choices, top class hospitals, affordable housing and a sustainable natural environment.
The 2010-2011 State Budget is a sensible budget that provides protection for those most in need while sticking to the plan of delivering the services and building the infrastructure Queensland needs to provide the jobs and security to drive our economic recovery and maintain and improve our standard of living.
The Bligh Government went to the last election with jobs as our key platform.
We promised to create 100,000 new jobs for Queensland and yesterday’s job figures show that we are almost half way there with the remaining target now 50,700.
8800 new jobs were created in Queensland last month which is the most of any state and nearly half of all jobs created nationally.
8200 of them were full time jobs.
This Budget will continue our record infrastructure building program with another $17.1 billion allocated for 2010-11.
Building means jobs and jobs mean dignity and financial security for all those Queenslanders who are able to work.
This budget delivers those services and facilities that must be provided by government – schools and teachers, hospitals and health workers, roads and transport infrastructure.
Our government made difficult decisions to formulate last year’s budget and this year we are seeing the start of our economy recovery.
Our economic strategy is working and it is delivering more jobs and higher growth.
We will divest specific government owned corporations that can be run well by business – rail freight and coal, forestry, port and toll services - so that we can invest more in education, public transport, health and safety.
In the Sandgate electorate, this budget delivers on rail, roads, education and community services.
Upgrades to the local road and rail networks within the Sandgate electorate will support economic growth in the community and deliver jobs to local tradespeople.
Half-a-million dollars will be injected into improvements for commuters at Sandgate train station with the start of works to build at least 100 new car parking spaces – a huge win for Northside commuters.
The construction phase is planned for funding in the following Budget and will contribute to job creating and job sustaining projects in the electorate.
$1 million will go towards additional and upgraded platforms at Park Road, Kuraby, Manly and Sandgate stations as well as an improved rail timetable as part of a $90 million project.
$200 million has been allocated for Railway Station renovation to upgrade almost one-third of train station across South East Queensland.
Deagon railway station certainly deserves a renovation and I have asked the Minister for Transport to consider including Deagon in this program.
I’d like to see the installation of electronic screens with real-time service information for commuters and well as new seats, fresh paint and improvements to the toilet facilities.
The rail spend is on top of $260,000 to upgrade traffic signals on Deagon Deviation at Deagon Road on and the off-ramp and Bracken Ridge Road intersection, Brighton as part of
the Bligh Government’s Safer Roads Sooner program.
These upgrades will improve traffic flow and safety. I know it can be very difficult negotiating the off-ramp and traffic flow the round-about at Bracken Ridge Road so these improvements are very welcome.
Commuters to and from Redcliffe will not only notice improvements on the Deagon Deviation following the spending of this budget allocation, they will also benefit from the brand new $315 million Ted Smout Memorial Bridge which officially opens on 11 July with traffic moving across the bridge later in the week.
Local schools are also winners in the State Budget with money for new and upgraded facilities and the introduction new education programs.
The education of our young people is integral to the future of our state and I welcome spending in excess of $1.14 million for new learning centres, upgrades to amenities and general maintenance at our local schools.
$667,000 has been allocated to replace an amenities block at Sandgate and District State High School.
The school was devastated by a fire last year which destroyed an entire building block.
This funding will enable the replacement of an existing amenities block that is in extremely poor condition, and replacing some toilets that were lost in the fire.
Sandgate State School will be able to spend a further $368,000 in 2010-11 to complete the major upgrade of four classrooms under the State Schools of Tomorrow Round 2 program.
$8.272 million has also been allocated for refurbishments at Skillstech Australia North Brisbane with work earmarked for the Bracken Ridge and Eagle Farm campuses.
Extra maintenance funding for Bracken Ridge State School ($28,000), Sandgate State School ($17,400), and Sandgate High School ($292,000) will help improve our educational facilities.
I mentioned earlier in my speech that the government is doing all it can to provide more jobs for those who are able to work.
Many members of our community are unable to work full time because of their disabilities and need our support.
There are also many living with disabilities who are able to work or further their education and it is just as important to provide them with opportunities to contribute to our community.
I am thrilled that the 2010-11 budget will deliver a record $1.61 billion for disability and community care services across the state.
Extra funds allocated for 2010-11 will go to supporting young people with a disability who are leaving school and looking for training and work options, extra support for people with spinal injuries and early intervention and support services for families of children with disabilities.
We are determined to continue assisting young people to move out of aged care facilities and to make sure they don’t end up there in the first place.
The Bligh Government’s record $9.99 billion health budget for 2010-11 is a ten per cent increase on last year’s budget and is catering not only for population increases but for professional, medical and technological advancements as well.
Our $7.33 billion health infrastructure program, the largest in our nation’s history, is building and expanding hospitals and health services where they are needed.
In the Sandgate electorate, the budget provides for another 44 transition care beds at Eventide to help people get out of hospital sooner and rehabilitate at Brighton before going home.
This builds on the significant federal and state funding that has resulted in the refurbishment of Dolphin House to a state of the art transition care facility.
The Queensland Government is continuing to make good progress on the $45.6 million development of a paediatric emergency department at The Prince Charles Hospital, to be completed by 2012.
Once completed the paediatric emergency department will provide 12 new emergency treatment spaces and a 20-bed short-stay observation unit for Northside families and their children.
Extra funds have also been allocated to fix the health payroll system that has impacted on many health staff in the Sandgate electorate.
The mistakes with the payroll system are unacceptable and should never have happened.
Our dedicated health employees deserve every dollar they have earned for their hard work and I urge them to contact the payroll helpline or contact my office if they are having any outstanding pay problems.
While the economy rebuilds there are still so many people who will never be able to own their own home and cannot afford the rising rents that are being experienced in the Sandgate electorate.
It is so important for people to stay connected with their community and not be forced to the fringes of suburbia in the search for affordable housing.
The Fitzgibbon Chase development is shaping up as a state-of-the-art environmentally sensitive and community focussed precinct and I am pleased that the first people should be moving into their affordable homes by the end of the year.
Those freehold houses have sold quickly but there is also construction under way by Brisbane Housing Company to provide a range of apartments in a small complex near Carseldine station.
$4.37 million in this budget to provides for the completion of 48 units with a total contribution of $10.95 million.
BRIC Housing has also been allocated $7.71 million to build 49 units in Brighton with a total cost of $13.42 million.
Bluecare and Bayside Community Options do so much to help older people and people with disabilities to remain supported at home and I am pleased to see over $5 million allocated for both organisations to continue this great work.
The Bligh government recognises that current economic conditions are placing a lot of pressure on low income households.
Last year we increased the rebate for pensioners’ power bills and this budget increases the cash back amount even more.
From 1 July 2010, the maximum rebate will increase from $190 per year, to around $216.
People with medical conditions who need their airconditioners be set to regulate their body temperatures have asked the government to consider their plight.
We’ve listened and this budget establishes a new Medical Cooling and Heating Electricity Commission Scheme to assess those eligible for a rebate.
Pensioners can also apply for assistance with their water bills. Up to $100 is available for eligible pensioners.
And of course we will continue our ClimateSmart Home Service program which can help all households save money on power and water and help save the planet in the process.
Participants can save up to $325 per annum following a home service.
The Bligh Government is also delivering for the environment.
The new industry waste levy will encourage recycling and hopefully make dumping a last resort.
This is not a residential waste levy.
In fact, the revenue raised will be directed to targeted programs to assist business and industry to reduce the amount of waste they generate, and to encourage industry investment in recycling technologies, and to councils to spend on environmental projects, focussing on better waste management facilities and practices.
Any surplus funds will be dedicated to environmental initiatives, including the acquisition of national parks.
A significant funding boost will also help the Bligh Government reach its target of achieving 7.5 per cent or 12.9 million hectares of national park.
Over the next five years we will spend $55.9 million on acquisition programs so we can protect more of Queensland.
The thoroughbred racing industry is an important part of the Sandgate area so the $95,000 allocated to Deagon racecourse for ongoing cost and maintenance of the training facilities is welcome.
Queensland Racing is expanding its headquarters at Deagon to be able to accommodate the additional staff moving over as part of the amalgamation of the racing codes.
Of course, our growing population relies on our Police service which provides great community protection, support and programs in the Sandgate electorate.
An additional 203 police positions will be funded across the state and I have asked for extra recruits to be considered for the northside of Brisbane.
18 new first year constables who graduated today have been sent to work in Brisbane North region.
Sandgate Ambulance Station has also just received its new vehicle on Wednesday this week.
The collection of suburbs, residences and people that make up the Sandgate electorate are diverse yet community focussed. We love our lifestyle and reach out to those in need and I trust this budget will support all that we do to make our community a special place to live.
I thank and acknowledge all of the wonderful community organisations that provide services and friendship to local residents and I am pleased to see the budget allocations including recurrent funds for these groups.
I look forward to working with local sporting groups on their grant requests, with local schools on improving our education system, with seniors groups on service and rebate information, and with any of my constituents who need my assistance.
I am pleased to serve my community and I welcome the initiatives in this budget.
