26 September National Police Remembrance Day

On this day we remembered those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

With honour they served.

27 September Lawnton Coffee Shop

I introduced a bunch of friends to Lawnton Coffee shop for a great Saturday morning breakfast and coffee. It’s been a while but was worth the wait.

1 October Murri Rugby League Carnival

I had the honour of representing Minister Grace Grace at the opening of the Murri Rugby League Carnival at the South Pine Sports Complex. I was joined by Councillors Peter Flannery and Mike Charlton.

1 October Youth Parliament

Meet Ewan Smith, Ewen is Kurwongbah’s youth member for Kurwongbah in the QLD Youth Parliament. The opening ceremony was held in the red chamber at Parliament House.

2 October Bell Fire and Rescue

I visited Bell Fire and Rescue in Narangba to see the way they turn bare Cab Chassis trucks into Fire Appliances to be used all over Australia. Quite a few will be seen getting around in Qld.

4 October – Mobile Office

We had a Mobile Office in Buchanan Park.

8 October Multicap
I presented a certificate along with the great news that Multicap at Old Petrie Town have been given a grant to upgrade their bathroom facilities. Thanks to Alex for showing me where the money will be spent as well as the new kitchen that the last grant went towards.

9 October Firefighters’ Remembrance Day
With the recent fires these heroes have battled and a long fire season ahead, I think we all should acknowledge these brave people who put their lives on the line to make Queensland a safer place to call home.

16 October One Month Rego

We’re introducing one month rego to make it even easier for Queenslanders to manage their payments!

The Palaszczuk Government is reducing the living pressures for all Queenslanders through new monthly vehicle registration direct debit service.

Active Clubs Funding
OPEN NOW

Local clubs can apply for a Palaszczuk Government grant of up to $2000
This is to cover equipment like bats and balls, helmets and padding, or resources and support for their coaches and volunteers.
Clubs have until 15 November 2019 to apply here: www.qld.gov.au/activeclubs.

22 October School Parliamentary Visits
It was great to meet up with the team from Lawnton State School at Parliament House. They were in the finals for the Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools.

24 October Apprentices’ Rights

The Newman Government introduced legislation in 2014 that essentially took away support and fairness to Queensland apprentices
Our amendments to the Further Education and Training Act were passed in Queensland Parliament.
The amendments will ensure that there is protection for young Queenslanders and their training contracts.

24 October World Teachers Day

I proudly wore a ribbon in Parliament acknowledging World Teachers Day on the 25th October. My sister is a teacher and I think most of us will have had that one special teacher who has positively influenced us during our life. I certainly remember mine.

24 October Child Abuse Survivors

The Palaszczuk Government has implemented major reforms to make it easier for the survivors of all kinds of child abuse to sue the institutions where the offences occurred.

The Civil Liability and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018, which passed yesterday, has made several significant changes. 

• imposing a duty of care on institutions to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual abuse and serious physical abuse of children in their care, supervision, authority or control to apply prospectively;
• in future, requiring the institutions prove to the court that they took all reasonable steps to prevent the sexual abuse and serious physical abuse of children in their care;
• proper defendants can be appointed in claims against unincorporated associations;
• survivors can target the assets of institutions held in associated trusts, that previously were inaccessible; and
• removing the limitation period for survivors to commence an action against an institution for serious physical abuse and psychological abuse connected to sexual or serious physical abuse.

This coincides with the first anniversary of the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.

24 October GPS

Something unique which doesn't happen every day.

Queensland is on the move and a Bill before Parliament is going to help us catch up, so we can get where we want to go.

The Minister for Natural Resources introduced legislation into Parliament to change the “reference frame” for location information used in natural resources and transport legislation.

And he’s doing it, literally because the earth’s crust has moved.

“Currently we are using reference point data from 1994 and by next year, Australia will have moved about 1.8 metres to the north-east since those points were set,” he said.

“We rely on location information in many ways from getting to places using our smartphones to running automated technology remotely, such as driverless cars and tractors, mining equipment and drones.

“The practical effect of this legislation is that location information like GPS will be spot on, once again.”

Currently Australia is using a spatial reference frame that is a quarter of a century old – the Geocentric Datum Australia 1994 (GDA94).

Movement in the Earth’s surface occurs naturally, and this is the third time the national reference frame has been updated since 1966.

As part of the latest round of updates, Queensland is working with other Australian governments to pair up national coordinates with global positioning systems. New Zealand will also update its data.

The Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham said Queensland’s business systems, laws, data and processes would need to be geared and ready for GDA2020.

“Updating to GDA2020 will benefit businesses in construction, agriculture, insurance, emergency services, mapping, surveying, transport, tourism, environmental management, scientific research, automation, telecommunications and entertainment,” he said.

“We’re working closely with the spatial information sector to transition systems, data and processes so they are ready to adopt GDA2020 by 30 June 2020.”

For more information visit: https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/…/initiativ…/gda2020-queensland

26 October Narangba Rangers

Thanks to the Narangba Rangers for the invitation to the Awards Presentation and the opportunity to present a Grant Certificate for $35000 for the lighting upgrade.

27 October QBuild

QBuild is being rebuilt, and this means that they are looking for Apprentices and Tradespeople throughout Regional Queensland for the first round of intakes.

Plumbing Apprenticeship: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-327486-19
Plumbing Tradespeople: https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-327537-19

28 October Electoral Reforms

Queensland is leading the way with a number of Electoral Reforms planned.

The Palaszczuk Government are working to ensure integrity in our democratic system.

The reforms will:
• Introduce donation caps;
• Introduce expenditure caps; and
• Increase public funding, making it fairer for all.

The Premier announced these changes recently and you can read more about her announcement here: http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/10/29/sweeping-electoral-reforms-to-make-elections-fairer-and-more-transparent

29 October Narangba Tavern

Thanks the the team from the Narangba Valley Tavern for inviting us along tonight to see the new dining room and sample the new menu. The renovations look great and the food was awesome.

30 October Try Water Skiing

If you would like to try waterskiing on Lake Kurwongbah, come along on the 24th November and for a small donation to a charity you can.