Thursday, October 24, 2024

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Key Issues

Labor's Focus on Healthcare
Premier Steven Miles has revealed a significant $365 million investment aimed at establishing bulk billing GP clinics across Queensland. The priority locations for these clinics have been identified based on areas with gaps in bulk billing primary care and rapidly expanding populations. In the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region alone, six clinics are set to be established.
Premier Miles expressed his commitment to improving healthcare access.
“Too many people can’t access a bulk billing GP, especially in regional Queensland.
“What I’m doing is delivering the infrastructure needed to get more GPs working in communities where their services are most needed.”
Statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics highlight the urgency of this initiative, revealing that 7 per cent of people who needed to see a GP in 2022-23 delayed or did not see one due to cost, which Labor says was double the rate from the previous year. This situation puts additional pressure on local emergency departments, which are witnessing increased presentations of chronic conditions that could have been managed at a primary care level. Between April and June 2024, over 592,000 people presented at emergency departments across Queensland, marking a 1.4 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
“More doctors, nurses, ambos, hospital beds, bulk billing GPs, and satellite hospitals will help alleviate that pressure and improve the health outcomes of Queenslanders,” Premier Miles asserted.
Labor’s initiatives also include the establishment of a Satellite Hospital in Mackay. This facility will feature a Minor Injury and Illness Clinic operating from 8 am to 10 pm, providing free treatment for non-life-threatening conditions such as fevers, earaches, cuts, burns, and broken bones, all managed by qualified doctors and senior nurses. The Satellite Hospital will also offer specialist outpatient services tailored to local community needs, including renal dialysis, chemotherapy, oral healthcare, and mental health support.
Belinda Hassan, the Labor candidate for Mackay, expressed her gratitude to the Premier, stating, “I want to thank the Premier for listening to our local Mackay community.
“If elected, I will deliver the healthcare Mackay locals need, closer to home.”

LNP's Stance on Crime
The LNP is framing its campaign around the pressing issue of crime, which has left local businesses and residents in Mackay feeling frustrated and fearful. Shadow Minister for Police and Community Safety, Dan Purdie, visited Mackay earlier in the campaign to highlight alarming crime statistics and present the LNP's proposed solutions under their “Adult Crime, Adult Time” policy.
Mr Purdie noted that crime rates in regional areas have surged significantly, with Mackay reporting 953 offences per 100,000 people.
“The crime crisis has torn communities apart. Proud regional cities like Mackay have been hijacked by a generation of untouchables,” he added.
The LNP's approach includes revising the Youth Justice Act, ensuring that youth offenders face the same sentences as adults when committing serious crimes. Nigel Dalton, a former police officer and LNP candidate for Mackay, echoed the call for stronger measures.
“If you commit a crime, you should be getting appropriate repercussions for those actions.”
The LNP plans to extend post-prison supervision for young offenders from 72 hours to 12 months, providing essential support to help them secure employment or education and reducing the likelihood of reoffending.
Leader of the opposition, David Crisafulli, said “Youth criminals have been running riot through our communities, knowing there are no consequences and little punishment for serious crime, but this will end under the LNP’s Adult Crime, Adult Time plan.”
“If you commit a serious crime, you will pay with adult time.”

State Owned Businesses From The Greens
The Greens are determined to reshape Queensland's political landscape by aiming to win up to ten seats and disrupt the traditional two-party system. Their campaign focuses on addressing the cost of living and housing crisis, tackling climate change, and ensuring that big corporations contribute fairly through taxation to fund essential services.

One of the Greens' flagship proposals is the establishment of a Queensland State Bank, designed to alleviate the financial pressures faced by mortgage holders. The current dominance of the Big Four banks—Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB, and ANZ—has led to substantial profits at the expense of everyday Australians. In the wake of the housing crisis, these banks have raked in $30 billion annually, with what the Greens describe as “excessive” interest rates that significantly burden families.
The Greens plan to create a public bank that will offer owner-occupier mortgage holders rates 1.5 per cent  lower than those of the Big Four, saving the average first homebuyer an estimated $6,165 each year. This initiative aims to drive down overall home loan interest rates by introducing genuine competition in the banking sector. In addition, the Queensland State Bank would provide fair rates for credit cards, savings accounts, and EFTPOS facilities for small businesses, all without any fees.

The Greens are also advocating for a publicly owned mining company, Queensland Minerals, to manage the state's critical mineral wealth. With an estimated $500 billion in critical minerals, the Greens say that Queensland stands on the cusp of a new mining boom.
Queensland Minerals would ensure that the profits from mining activities are reinvested back into the community. By taking a direct ownership share of critical minerals, the Greens anticipate generating $14 billion in public revenue from 2030 onward, while also creating 1,000 mining jobs—prioritising employment for former coal and gas workers and aiming for 15 per cent representation of First Nations staff in management.
The proposal includes an initial investment of $4 billion from the Queensland Treasury, funded by raising royalties on coal and gas. This investment would facilitate the transition of strategic mineral sites from private to public ownership, ensuring that Queensland's resources benefit all residents.

One Nation's Commitment To Education And Energy
One Nation has shown its dedication to addressing the urgent needs of teachers and students, while also committing to sensible energy policies that will reduce household costs.
One Nation candidate for Whitsunday Julie Hall attended the Queensland Teachers Union Rally alongside Kylee Stanton, the candidate for Mackay, where they expressed their gratitude to teachers for their tireless dedication amid challenging circumstances. “Teachers and the education system are in dire straits right now,” Ms Hall said, acknowledging the critical need for reform.
While funding for teacher housing and regional incentives is crucial to attract and retain educators, it is equally important to understand the underlying reasons why teachers are leaving the profession in increasing numbers. Ms Hall highlighted the shocking statistic that home schooling has surged by over 200%.
“The conditions under which our educators currently endure are abhorrent, and change needs to happen fast. Our kids cannot be learning under these conditions,” she said.
As Queenslanders seek relief from soaring energy bills, Ms Hall highlighted both major partys’ 75% emissions reduction target by 2035. One Nation firmly opposes what it describes as a “radical” target set by major parties, which could lead to serious restrictions on diesel fuel use—critical for the transportation of goods across Queensland's vast landscape—as well as further clearing of prime farmland for wind farms and solar panels.
Ms Hall voiced concern over the potential consequences for Queensland's industries and the resulting increase in energy costs for households.
“We will not support crippling our economy or reducing our standard of living based on the ideology and fearmongering of the cult of climate change,” she asserted.
One Nation has also taken a stand against the Pioneer Burdekin Pumped Hydro project, advocating for the protection of natural habitats over renewable energy initiatives that threaten local ecosystems.
“We refuse to watch the destruction of natural habitats in the name of renewable energy.”

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