“The secret is out!
The Bundaberg region is one of the best places in Queensland to live, work and raise a family.
The area has been in the tourism spotlight over recent months with the region showcased at number six on the list of top spots to visit in Australia by escape.com.au!
While I welcome all new visitors and residents, it’s vital the State Government reflects this growth in population in their funding for infrastructure, health services and housing.
Overall, the recent state budget reflects a 60 per cent reduction in available funding to Bundaberg and Gladstone Regional Councils.
The lack of funds for our local roads is particularly concerning, with no increase to funding since 2015.
The budget has also failed to address the dire need for health service delivery and infrastructure across the Bundaberg and Burnett region.
The proposed new hospital is still at least two election cycles away and will only have 121 beds.
The people of Bundaberg can’t be fooled; this announcement is a decade away but we need those beds today!
There has been zero commitment of state funds to increase current bed numbers at the Bundaberg Base Hospital and health infrastructure across the Discovery Coast, Isis Shire and Bargara regions.
There was also no funding commitment for the promised adult alcohol and other drug (AOD) residential rehabilitation and treatment facility.
While our population continues to grow, so do our school cohorts.
Our high schools are already overcrowded but sadly we saw no real plan to fix this in the budget.
Finally, there is no commitment for social housing in the Bundaberg and Burnett electorates.
Every week vulnerable people are calling my office as a last resort, with nowhere to shelter their families, animals, or belongings.
Emergency accommodation is full, there is no more social housing available, and the rental crisis is still at an all-time high here in the Bundaberg and Burnett region.
I’m calling on the State Labor Government to re-evaluate their priorities and accelerate their strategy into Bundaberg and the Burnett.
There is so much more that the state government can do to address this issue
Continuing to do the same things over and over again and make the same mistakes is not the answer.”
04/07/22