By ALENA HIGGINS
STILL undecided as to who you will vote for this Saturday?
Well the Free Times has asked all Southern Downs candidates to provide a summary of their election pledges, which we have outlined below.
FAMILY FIRST
Focus on getting royalties back to regions to assist with infrastructure and State Government services.
Stop CSG in our prime agriculture land and ensure that if it is to proceed under the current government that farmers are compensated effectively.
Work towards reducing red tape for small business, including the eventual removal of payroll tax enabling business to employ more local people, creating more local jobs.
Work towards, and put pressure on, the major parties to bring accountability back to government. No more “two party system”. Queenslanders want proportional representation meaning re-establishment of the Upper House which will assist better representation in rural and regional areas like the Southern Downs.
THE GREENS
Stop all CSG and coal mining in the Southern Downs.
Protect our schools and hospitals from cuts.
Ensure that there is accountability and transparency in our government.
No privatisation of Queensland’s assets.
Ensure there is new and innovative economic development in rural communities.
Ensure there is funding for Care Goondiwindi and Granite Belt Neighbourhood Centres
Ensure we have food security and clean water.
LABOR
Restore landholders’ and communities’ right to object to mining projects.
Hire 400 more nurses across Queensland and 4000 graduate nurses over the next four years.
Hire 2500 more teachers statewide, including specialist teachers at Stanthorpe, Warwick and Goondiwindi State High Schools.
Labor is committed to training and jobs and will protect TAFE.
Labor will not privatise Queensland assets.
LNP
* 162 extra doctors, nurses and health practitioners for the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service
* $28,500 new equipment for Millmerran Hospital
* $10,000 boost for Stanthorpe Telehealth service
* $60,500 new equipment for Stanthorpe Hospital
* $33,000 new equipment for Texas Hospital
* $50,500 new equipment for Inglewood Hospital
* $47,500 new equipment for Warwick Hospital
* Over $5 million in funding for community infrastructure under Round 4 of Royalties for the Regions
* The LNP is focussed on strengthening our economy and creating local jobs through support for key productive industries across Queensland and the Southern Downs.
* The LNP will be vigilant over water rights for border rivers communities and resist water stripping under the Murray Darling Plan.
* The LNP has opened affordable pathways to freehold land. We have modernised land tenure for agricultural leases and leasehold land rents are reduced. Our goal is to double farm production over 30 years.
* Following the Newman Government’s approval of Emu Swamp Dam on the Granite Belt, we will continue to work with council to deliver its construction. This will improve horticulture production and water reliability.
* $1.5m in 2014-’15 for the Great Results Guarantee with all schools receiving this additional funding
* We will continue our rollout of new equipment and technology for frontline police such as iPads – which helps get officers out of the station and back on the road (Recently added four iPads for Warwick, four for Stanthorpe and one for Goondiwindi)
* There is $20 million to increase drive tourism throughout the state – this is expected to benefit the Southern Downs region – as it’s an extremely popular destination for ‘drive’ tourists.
