A Word From Wayde

MP Wayde Chiesa at the Men’s Breakfast in Rollingstone. Photo credit: Offices of Wayde Chiesa MP

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By Wayde Chiesa MP, Member for Hinchinbrook

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Over the past fortnight, I have enjoyed getting out across the electorate and spending time with the community.

I recently joined locals at the Men’s Breakfast at Rollingstone, alongside representatives from a number of community organisations. These local groups are the backbone of our smaller communities. They bring people together, look out for those who need a hand and provide the volunteers who are there whenever our community needs them. It was great to catch up with everyone and hear directly about what is happening locally.  

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I also enjoyed visiting Bluewater State School, where the Year 6 students put me through my paces with plenty of questions about leadership and the qualities that make a good leader. It was a great morning with some impressive young people preparing to head into high school next year.

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Another issue I have been focused on is proposed changes to Commonwealth disaster funding. For North Queensland, this matters enormously.

Cyclones, floods and severe weather are a reality of where we live, and when disaster strikes, councils are often responsible for repairing enormous amounts of damaged local infrastructure.

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Under existing Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the Commonwealth can contribute up to 75 per cent of eligible expenditure for key categories of assistance, once relevant thresholds are met.

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We cannot accept changes that simply shift more of that financial burden from Canberra onto the Queensland Government, local councils and ultimately local ratepayers.

The Commonwealth raises around 80 per cent of Australia's tax revenue. It is therefore unreasonable to expect state and local governments, with much smaller revenue bases, to continually pick up a greater share of the cost of rebuilding communities after natural disasters.

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That is cost shifting, and I will stand with our North Queensland councils in opposing it.

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Finally, our Breach Bail, Go to Jail laws are continuing their journey through Parliament. Public hearings will now be held in Townsville and Cairns, giving North and Far North Queenslanders another opportunity to have their voices heard.

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For too long, our communities have lived with the consequences of repeat offenders being released on bail and going on to offend again.

Bail is a privilege, and there must be consequences when that privilege is abused.

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These hearings are an important next step in ensuring these tougher laws are scrutinised, progressed and passed by Parliament before the end of the year.  

Breach Bail, Go to Jail – it is what our community asked for, and I will keep fighting to see it delivered.

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