COST of living is a top issue facing people in Scenic Rim as voters head to the polls.
That is the word from the five candidates the Beaudesert Bulletin approached after nominations opened for the October 26 Queensland Election.
Candidates (in ballot paper order) are Wayne Ziebarth (One Nation), Nicole Thompson (Greens), Shireen Casey (Labor), incumbent Jon Krause (Liberal National) and Louise Austin (Family First).
We asked each candidate what they see as the top three issues facing the state seat and how they will address them. We also asked if they live in the electorate.
Wayne Ziebarth (One Nation)
Lives in Gleneagle
Top issues: Transport and roads, emergency services, business
ZIEBARTH describes local roads as ‘second rate’ and pledges that if elected he will ensure money allocated for roads in the electorate is properly utilised.
Ziebarth says his party would ensure the public transport system ‘pays for itself’ and investigate routes to link the electorate’s major towns and connect to the cities.
He said ambulance resourcing was another major concern and if elected, his party would review emergency services assets.
Ziebarth also pledged his party would remove ‘red and green tape’ holding back businesses, particularly with regards to the inland rail at Bromelton.
Nicole Thompson (Greens)
Lives on Tamborine Mountain
Top issues: Population increase, cost of living, potential ‘incinerator’ at Bromelton
BUILDING more homes will help address an increase in population facing the Scenic Rim and beyond, according to Thompson.
“The Greens want to build 100,000 more homes in Queensland. But they need to be well designed, environmentally friendly and affordable,” she said.
“We also need more homes built to clear the social housing wait list. There are currently 45,000 people on this list.”
Thompson pledged her party would cap prices for essential groceries to help address cost of living pressures.
Thompson is also against an Energy from Waste (EfW) Cleanaway is proposing to build in Bromelton, known as the Bromelton Energy and Resource Centre (BERC) which she describes as an ‘incinerator’.
Shireen Casey (Labor)
Lives at: unknown
Top issues: unknown
A BRIEF online biography for Casey says she is a lawyer, teacher and former police officer and ‘knows the importance of listening to and serving the community’.
The website mentions cost of living, community safety and quality public services among issues which matter to Casey.
The Beaudesert Bulletin saw Casey set up for a roadside meet and greet near Beaudesert High on October 2 and stopped for a chat. She was not able to give an interview on the spot but was happy for us to contact her via email.
Casey was the only candidate who did not respond to questions sent via email.
Jon Krause (LNP, incumbent)
Lives in Boonah
Top issues: Roads, improved health and police services, cost of living
THE Mount Lindesay Highway between Jimboomba and Beaudesert, Beaudesert Beenleigh Road through Birnam and roads across Tamborine Mountain are in Krause’s sights.
His election pledges include $7 million from the LNP, if elected, for planning Mt Lindesay Highway upgrades.
His health promises include fighting against taxes which impact General Practitioners, addressing ambulance ramping and ongoing advocacy for Beaudesert Hospital, including working towards an upgraded emergency department.
Krause pledges greater police resources for Tamborine Mountain and Canungra and a commitment to addressing youth crime.
He lists rising insurance expenses tied to youth crime, higher electricity costs and the ‘patient tax’ (a payroll tax for GPs) as major contributors to the rising cost of living.
Krause pledges, if elected, his government would scrap the patient tax, stabilise electricity prices and address youth crime to bring down insurance premiums.
Louise Austin (Family First)
Lives at Cedar Vale
Top issues: Energy production, cost of living, homelessness
MORE consultation on how and where to generate electricity is one pledge from Austin.
She described solar farms as ‘ugly monstrosities’ and said they did not belong in the Scenic Rim.
“I don’t believe the renewable energy sources the current government has come up with are very useful at all, they don’t create the kind of energy we are consuming,” she said.
Austin said cost of living was a major issue for families and more efficient energy production would help address this.
She said homelessness was another key issue to address and described it as heartbreaking.
“Our party (has a policy around) reducing immigration so housing supply and infrastructure can keep up,” she said.
