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Health forum, light rail, land tax shelved and more...
We have a lot of local and state issues in this quarter.
On Wednesday 19 October Opposition Leader, David Crisafulli, Shadow Health Minister, Ros Bates and I will be holding a Health Crisis Town Hall Meeting so we can hear from you. We need to shine a light on the healthcare issues facing the Southern Gold Coast, so that we can fix healthcare in Queensland. Scroll down for further details.
I am aware many members of our community are worried about the Light Rail Stage 4 development and the lack of consultation with our community. In this e-newsletter, I’ve included some concerning details that the State Government are refusing to provide further information on. I promise to fight in the best interests of our community, and I will always keep the community updated!
Good riddance - the Palaszczuk Government has scrapped their Renters' Tax/Land Tax. We said from the second this tax was announced last year it was a Renters' Tax that would drive up rent in the middle of a housing crisis. Despite this backdown, the confidence of renters and investors has been rocked and Queenslanders no longer trust the Palaszczuk Government to deliver the right policies for our State's future.
As always, if there is any way I can support you, please don’t hesitate to email currumbin@parliament.qld.gov.au and I’ll be in touch as soon as possible.
Warm regards,
Laura Gerber MP
Member for Currumbin
Shadow Assistant Minister for Justice and Youth
Shadow Assistant Minister for the Night-time Economy and Cultural Development
Deputy Opposition Whip
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Calling all local heroes!
From Coolangatta to Elanora and out into the Valleys, if you know an organisation that is doing amazing things for our community, a person who goes above and beyond to help others, an innovator or trailblazer, I want to hear about them.
Help recognise these fantastic members of our community by nominating them today!
Don't delay, nominations close 5pm, Friday 21 October 2022.
You can read about the different categories and nominate a local hero here:
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Health Crisis Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday, 19 October 2022 11:00am (registration opening at 10:30am) at the Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators Rugby Club.
Opposition Leader, David Crisafulli, Shadow Health Minister, Ros Bates and I will be holding a Health Crisis Town Hall Meeting in Currumbin Waters so that we can hear from you.
Patients deserve better. Help us shine a light on the problems we are facing, including service delivery, ambulance ramping, hospital wait times, the planned closure of the Tweed Hospital ED, and the proposed Tugun Satellite Hospital lacking an ED, overnight beds and an operating theatre.
It is my hope that through this forum, together, we can push for the healthcare services we need!
If you are interested in voicing your concerns, please reply to this email to register your attendance.
When: Wednesday 19 October 2022, 11:00am with registration opening at 10:30am
Where: Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators Rugby Club, 15 Bienvenue Dr, Currumbin Waters QLD 4223
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Coolangatta Police Station and Courthouse
The State Government has secret plans to demolish our Coolangatta Police Station and Courthouse to make way for the Light Rail.
I am seeking more information for property owners and a guarantee from the State Government regarding the future of our Police Station and Courthouse. I am yet to receive any of this!
The State Government needs to be upfront with our community about the land they plan to take for the Light Rail and guarantee the future of essential services our community relies on, like our Police Station and Courthouse.
I will keep fighting for our community to be consulted and listened to!
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Congratulations SWELL Sculpture Festival!
The annual SWELL Sculpture Festival is a highlight of the Currumbin events calendar. This year, SWELL celebrated their 20th anniversary.
It was great to see Co-Founder, Artistic Director and Curator, Natasha Edwards, recognised this year for her contribution to our community, winning the Gold Coast Bulletin Woman of the Year Star of Tourism Award.
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Community Win for Devil's Elbow
After a massive community campaign, the State Government has finally committed to safety upgrades for Devil’s Elbow on Tallebudgera Connection Road.
I am very glad that this stretch has been nominated for Safer Roads Sooner funding with proposed works including drainage, signs and delineation improvements, as well as the installation of a guardrail.
A reseal is also expected to begin this financial year to improve the roads surface. As a community, we shouldn't have to wait for someone to die for these safety upgrades to be installed.
A huge thank you to everyone who signed our petition!
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Gold Coast United Football Club
At the end of August, I was delighted to host players from the Gold Coast United Football Club at Queensland Parliament with the Commonwealth Bank Matildas!
The GC United girls are our up and coming Matildas and it was incredible to see them with their idols and connect over the game they all love.
I cheekily asked Football Australia CEO James Johnson to give the GC United girls his Matildas scarf, so they could have it signed by all the players - James graciously obliged - I hope to see the scarf take pride and place in the GC United Clubhouse!
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Flood update
In my last e-newsletter, I advised that TMR agreed to engage hydraulic specialists to investigate the Tallebudgera Creek flooding in February/March. Since then, the State Government has failed to commit to releasing the full report.
Our community is demanding the State Government provide us with an independent analysis, specifically determining if the M1 construction caused or magnified the flooding of their homes.
With the La Nina weather system looming, all our community wants is to be able to go to sleep at night without fear they will wake up knee-deep in water.
We want the State Government to show some leadership, properly investigate this matter, and release the findings to the public so we can prevent homes from flooding again! I will continue to provide you with updates on our fight in this regard.
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State Forensic Lab
We have been calling for a full Inquiry into QLD’s state-run Forensic Lab for months.
The failures of the Government to capture DNA from offenders could have impacted hundreds of cases. There are genuine concerns that the Lab’s failings may have resulted in rapists and murderers walking free.
Public hearings finally commenced this week. The initial findings have been disturbing and the response from the State Government is disgraceful.
This Inquiry must bring justice for victims. Queenslanders deserve the justice they have been denied. We won’t stop fighting to heal Queensland’s health system.
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Land Tax
At a time when Queenslanders are struggling the most, the Palaszczuk Government introduced a new Renters' Tax/Land Tax which would have reduced rental supply, driven up rent and hit struggling families’ budgets.
We were promised 26 times by the State Government at the last election that there would be no new or increased taxes. In the middle of the biggest housing crisis Queensland has ever seen, the last thing Queenslanders need is a government blind to the consequences of their own tax policy.
From the second it was announced, we fought hard against this new Renters' Tax/Land Tax.
I can confirm, in a major win for Queenslanders, the Palaszczuk Government has now backflipped and given up on the new tax.
Annastacia Palaszczuk has conceded that the Renters' Tax/Land Tax was unworkable without the co-operation of the other States, and confirmed the new tax would be shelved.
Despite this backdown, the confidence of renters and investors has been rocked and Queenslanders no longer trust the Palaszczuk Government to deliver the right policies for our State's future.
Queensland deserves better.
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