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AUTUMN EDITION 2021

You are receiving this e-newsletter because you are a part of the Kurwongbah community.  As your local Member, I would like to let you know what has been happening.  
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Welcome to my Autumn e-news. 

And congratulations on surviving another lockdown back in April.  Because of the awesome response from Queenslanders, we were able to ease restrictions in time for most people to enjoy their Easter holidays as planned, and most recently we've avoided a lockdown because of our willingness to do the right thing and protect each other. 

I want to say a big thank you to:
  • all the locals who've been to get tested with even the mildest of symptoms;
  • all the businesses who supported staff to work from home wherever possible, when required;
  • all the parents, carers and school staff out there who were able to make alternative arrangements for students as schools closed down early in term one;
  • all the small and medium businesses who had to close temporarily, switch back to takeaway only and ensure staff and customers were wearing masks under the temporary return of those restrictions in April.
Our thoughts are with Victorians as they face tougher restrictions again.

And since it's so topical in the media, I'd really like to know what you think about who should take responsibility for the quarantine of returning travellers to Australia.  Do you think we (the Queensland Government) should be managing it in our hotels and hospitals?  Or is it time for the Federal Government step up with a national solution?

Lastly, I've had my first vaccine dose and I'd love to hear from anyone else who has received their COVID-19 vaccination/s.  Was your experience positive, or how could it be improved?
Please send me an e-mail
SPECIAL EVENTS
On Sunday 7 March I joined the Norfolk Lakes Neighbourhood Watch team for their annual Clean Up Australia Day activities.  It's a credit to the considerate and environmentally conscious behaviour of locals that it only took us a couple of hours to clean up.  It took us a bit longer to locate the owners of the furry explorers (pictured) who came down to join in the fun!
ANZAC DAY 2021

It was my honour to attend Anzac Day commemorations at Narangba Valley State High School and at the Dawn service in Burpengary.  The turnout was fantastic in Burpengary - thanks to everyone who attended and the Burpengary Community War Memorial for making it happen.

Our team also laid wreaths at Burpengary State School, Narangba State School and Genesis Christian College while I was in Parliament, as well as at Club Pine Rivers on Anzac Day.

Thanks to everyone who helped to organise these services and a special shout out to all the students who got involved within their schools.  Anzac Day marks such an important piece of our Australian history and it's really good to see such respect reflected in our younger generations.

Lest We Forget 🌺🕯
28 April each year is International Workers’ Memorial Day — a day organised by unions across the world to commemorate workers who have lost their lives at work.  This year, I proudly attended Workers Memorial Day and laid a wreath at Emma Miller Place in Roma Street, Brisbane. 

We remembered the 32 workers who died on the job in Australia up to the end of April.  32 workers who tragically said goodbye to their families, went off to work, and never came home. 
On Monday 3 May we celebrated Queensland Labour Day.  It was great to see members and spectators out in force showing strong union pride (pictured above) after a COVID-19 enforced hiatus in 2020.
 
Labour Day is very special to me as a member of the trade union movement and a member of the Australian Labor Party.  Our Party was founded back in the 1890s to fight for better rights at work.  It’s what drove me to become a union member, then a delegate, then a representative in the Parliament.

You can watch my speech to Parliament about Labour Day and Workers' Memorial Day below.
IN PARLIAMENT
YOUTH INSEARCH PROGRAM

I have been on a mission to raise awareness about a special program called Youth Insearch.  On 25 March I took the opportunity to deliver an adjournment speech about it in Parliament.

Since their inception in 1985 Youth Insearch has helped over 30,000 people and is currently working with around 1000 young people across Queensland, NSW and Victoria.  Peer to peer support is a cornerstone of Youth Insearch’s success, with participants able to listen to each other’s stories and realise they are not alone in their struggles.  The snapshot of results below (sourced from the Youth Insearch 2020 Annual Report) speaks for itself.

Concerned mums, dads and grandparents can all enquire.  Young people can self-refer to start the process.  Community intervention organisations and high schools can also reach out.  If you are or know a young person in need of some help, please visit youthinsearch.org.au .
 
I'M BACKING THE REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS

I was proud to put my support for the Dolphins on the formal record in Parliament on Tuesday 20 April.

The Redcliffe Dolphins are strong supporters of our local rugby league clubs and with a great membership, player and fan base, strong community support and top class facilities, they're the obvious choice to become the NRL's 17th team.

Here in the Moreton Bay region, we've got our own rail line, our own university and now it's time for our own NRL team. You can pledge your support to the bid via Moreton Daily's campaign here or visit and like the Dolphins' facebook page to stay up to date.
INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY 2021
QUEENSLAND LABOUR DAY 2021

My adjournment speech in the Parliament on Tuesday 11 May drew attention to two important occasions we marked in April and May this year - International Workers' Memorial Day and Queensland Labor Day (see pics above).
DEBT REDUCTION AND SAVINGS BILL 2021

Things got a bit heated last sitting week during debate on the Debt Reduction and Savings Bill 2021.  During my contribution I pointed out a few facts the Members opposite didn't like to be reminded of.  Watch my speech to find out why...
QUEENSLAND SMALL BUSINESS MONTH

May was Queensland Small Business Month so I took the opportunity to spruik a few of our awesome local businesses in the Chamber :-)
COMMUNITY NEWS
On March 27, I was so proud to help officially open the new changerooms at Mathieson Park in Petrie.  I've been working with the mighty Pine Rivers Bears and Moreton Bay Regional Council on this project for a couple of years now and it was a proud moment to see it finally come to fruition. 

Cr Mick Gillam and I joined Committee executive members Tracy and Danny to watch the prefabricated changerooms craned in on 5 February (pictured above), ahead of the official opening during the Pine Cup last month (pics below). 

These new facilities will help the Club continue to progress and expand - they have already made it into the Brisbane Rugby League competition, they've kicked off their women's team and are hoping to have U14 and U16 female teams next year.  Up the Mighty Bears!!
I love Burpengary!  It has a train station, a K-Mart, awesome shops and restaurants, Aldi, Woolies, Coles and Foodworks.  And now we have a Seasons IGA Supermarket in the new Station Village.  It was my pleasure to join the Seasons team and other local community leaders to officially open the Burpengary store on Monday 29 March (pictured below on the day before lockdown!).
On 29 April 2021, I joined the Hon Leeanne Enoch, Minister for Communities, and neighbouring MP Hon Steven Miles (pictured below) to officially open the Kallangur Neighbourhood Centre.

This project is very close to my heart - something I fought hard to secure funding for when I was the Member for Kallangur.  And this $4.1m facility - the 126th Queensland Government funded neighbourhood centre - will still support my electorate, servicing the namesake suburb of Kurwongbah, and Narangba too.
Friday 7 May was a big day, bringing together three levels of government to work on issues that affect our area at the Moreton Bay Region Leaders' Summit.  This was the first time all elected members have done this and it was a very positive day with discussion and agreement on: 
  • Fast-tracking the $68.5 million Youngs Crossing Road upgrade
  • Working together to Establish a $125 million Knowledge and Innovation Centre at The Mill
  • Supporting new roads projects to alleviate congestion on the Bruce Highway
  • Backing the Moreton Bay Region Redcliffe Dolphins (Official)’s NRL - National Rugby League Licence Bid
For more information visit the Moreton Bay Regional Council's website.
On May 28 I was proud to support and attend the Domestic and Family Violence fundraising breakfast (pictured below) at the Crow N Arrow.  A huge thank you to all who support this great annual event after it was postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19.
The Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce, an independent, consultative taskforce established by our government in March, is now taking submissions about:

➡️ the experience of women across the criminal justice system
and
➡️ coercive control and whether it should be a specific offence of domestic violence

The taskforce will ultimately make recommendations to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence so I want to encourage local women who have experience with domestic violence and/or who have interacted with the criminal justice system to come forward and confidentially tell your story.

By sharing your experience, you could help create positive change for the future.
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Please note that if anything in this article has brought up concerns, there is help available:
➡️ DVConnect Womensline on 1800 811 811 (24/7)
➡️ Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120 (7.30am to 11.30pm)
➡️ Lifeline on 13 11 44 (24/7)
Queensland Small Business Month (May) delivered some good news for small businesses with three new grants announced.  We've already had around half a million dollars in grants to help small businesses in the Kurwongbah electorate to adapt their operations to be COVID-safe.  It would be great to see more dollars flowing into our community so if you're a small business check out this fact sheet and visit business.qld.gov.au/grants to see if you're eligible to apply.
STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR OUR COMMUNITY
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...

The recipients of Round 108 of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund have just been announced and I'm so pleased that we're delivering over $200,000 more to community groups in the Kurwongbah electorate.  Congratulations to:
  • Australian Federation of Obstacle Sports - $35,000 for equipment, website development & marketing
  • Burpengary Jets Netball Club - $30,000 to upgrade lighting
  • Kurwongbah State School P&C Association - almost $16,000 to purchase IT equipment
  • Meals on Wheels Pine Rivers and District - $35,000 for a motor vehicle & blast chiller
  • Pine Rivers Bears - over $21,000 for a solar system
  • Queensland First Aid Volunteers - QFAV - almost $35,000 for tablets & software
  • YMCA Camp Warrawee & Camp North Pine - $35,000 to install a Zip line structure at Camp North Pine
Calling all creative Queensland primary school students!  Let me know if the kids need a packet of my new coloured pencils (pictured below) and put your thinking caps on because entries are open for the 2022 QLD Farm Safety Calendar competition.  

Entrants are encouraged to draw a picture that promotes farm safety messages such as:
✅ electrical safety
✅ animal safety
✅ tractor and quad bike safety
✅ water safety
✅ health and wellbeing

The 12 winners will not only have their drawings published in the calendar, they'll also win a $250 gift voucher each PLUS $500 for their school.  Students can enter up until June 25 with winners to be announced in September.
Have you got the latest Shane King merch?  Drop into the office and pick up a Shane King coffee cup, or a Shane King air freshener and rego reminder (available in four scents so there's something for everyone), a Shane King pen, some coloured pencils or a limited edition stubby cooler.
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