Tribute to Rosa Lee Long ( Former MP for Tablelands)

 MEDIA RELEASE

ONE NATION (NSW DIVISION) MEDIA RELEASE Feb' 26th 2010.

WILL WE NEXT HAVE BABY FOOD CONTAMINATED WITH MAD COW DISEASE ?

Australian mothers might be feeding their babies baby - food made with with meat contaminated by mad cow disease (BSE), if a proposal by the Labor Government to allow beef imports from affected countries goes ahead.

We have assurances from  Simon Crean (formerly a failed ALP Opposition Leader)   that   strict protocols are in place to prevent that happening, but BSE is only detectable in its advanced stages and remember  this is the same crowd that gave us the roof batts fiasco.

One Nation wants 100 per cent protection against imports for our lucrative and healthy beef industry   anyway, but if beef is to be imported, and  there is the slightest  possibility it could be contaminated, One Nation says the answer must be "No." Products that could contain BSE are already surreptitiously allowed into Australia and not a word about it from the Opposition or mainstream media.

To understand this   insanity you must realise that in 1975 the  Whitlam Government acquiesced in  the Lima agreement to  shift primary production and manufacturing to the developing world when any excuse appeared. The socialist mentality of Keating's  level playing field also means contamination and risk must be evenly distributed  across the world. The third key to understanding is that the ALP and their fellow travellers in Treasury and the coalition simply  have it in for our  farmers.

Has it occurred to them  that any beef we import will come from a competitor in the international beef trade, and it would be in their interest to   give us infected  meat and thereby ruin our reputation?

In recent years we have already had imported Brazilian beef discarded onto a tip because of foot and mouth disease, and according to SBS Dateline of August 3, 2005  on Biosecurity Australia's recommendation, Australia   allowed in pork from countries infected with post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome or PMWS that  killed 4 million pigs in Europe. Luckily this decision was beaten in the Federal Court where  In a damning 100-page judgment,the judge   found Biosecurity's risk assessment for pork imports to be "bizarre...unreasonable and unsupported by any fact, scientific evidence or scientific expertise."

In a slip of the tongue on Thursday, Kevin Rudd has already admitted there is  risk of BSE in imports by describing it as “neglible”. For “negligible”. In Rudd-speak, read a “measurable” risk.

 One Nation calls on the Australian media, unless they have the usual contempt for the people of Australia,  to unreservedly expose this latest perfidy by our so-called leaders, just as they exposed the roof batt fiasco.

Statement released 25th February 2010 on behalf of the Media Unit of One Nation (NSW Division)  by Bob Vinnicombe, Publicity Officer.

10th Nov' 2009

On Friday 6th November I attended the Supreme Court of Queensland in Toowoomba, Qld’ to witness the proceedings where an application to dismiss (from the Crown Solicitor) a former hearing where Peter Beattie,(former Premier) Anna Bligh, ( current Premier) Andrew Fraser (former Member for Local Government and current Treasurer) and Warren Pitt (former Minister for Local Government)  were named as respodents in an action brought by Christopher Barton seeking orders to reinstate the Clifton Shire Council, arguing that its amalgamation into the Toowoomba Regional Council was ‘ultra vires’, (beyond the Government’s Legal Power or Authority).

The action if successful will show the limit of the Government’s ability to legislate against the Federal Constitution and the Queensland Constitution and have far reaching effect on a number of issues they have till now taken for granted. ie; I’m  the Government, I can do anything. Well maybe- maybe not!!!!

 The Crown Solicitor didn’t bother to attend the first hearing and attempted to have the matter dismissed over  the phone, the Judge told them to do more homework before an application to dismiss would be heard. So to Court on the 6th.  

Because this matter is alleged to be a breach of  both Constitution’s it could be forwarded to the High Court for determination. The AEC was ordered by John Howard and conducted  public referendums on this matter but Anna Bligh made statements before the result was known, (it was a majority NO vote) that she would go ahead anyway and so she did.

Many people felt they were disenfranchised by this and hence this action was started by Chris’ Barton, whom it could be said is acting on behalf of all those who feel they are ignored.

Oct' 13th 2009

The global warming scam has again flashed its “Made in Britain” label, in Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull’s sudden brinkmanship on the emissions trading scheme. During the Rudd Government, no issue has been more divisive in the parliamentary Liberal Party than Rudd’s CO₂ emissions trading legislation, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. Instead of waiting for his party to agree to a position, Turnbull blew up the situation on 2^nd October, by publicly attacking Liberal MPs who don’t support an ETS as “reckless and irresponsible” and “anonymous smart-arses”, and issuing an ultimatum-of-sorts, that he wouldn’t “lead a party that is not as committed to effective action on climate change as I am”. What is being called Turnbull’s “brain snap” caught everyone by surprise, but what’s most telling, is its timing—immediately after he returned from two weeks in Britain.

Britain is the birthplace of both the “science” and the “politics” of climate change superstition. The so-called science was invented by the British oligarchy’s genocidal “eugenics” project, originally founded by Charles Darwin and Sir Thomas Huxley, and led for the decades of the 1930s-1960s by Sir Thomas’s grandson, Sir Julian Huxley. Eugenics was race science—purifying the British Empire of “undesirable” strains through population reduction, euthanasia and forced sterilisations. Post-WWII, Hitler’s genocide was recognised as bad PR for eugenics, so Julian Huxley repackaged it as “environmentalism”, and helped to found Prince Philip’s population reduction charity, the World Wildlife Fund, in 1961.

Sir Julian Huxley’s cousin, Sir Crispin Tickell, another avowed population reductionist, launched climate change as a political issue in 1987, when as science adviser to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he convinced Thatcher to issue a call at the United Nations for urgent international action to combat climate change. Thatcher’s call led to the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), under Tickell’s supervision. Current British Tory leader David Cameron, with whom Turnbull fraternised on his visit, is firmly in the “Maggot Hatcher” tradition on climate change, and is said to be even more radical than Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the subject.

And, of course, Turnbull has his own, personal, motivation—Goldman Sachs. Turnbull made his fortune heading the Australian division of the giant Wall Street-City of London investment bank, which is now the world’s single biggest vested interest in an emissions trading scheme. The bank owns 10 per cent of Al Gore’s Chicago carbon exchange, and Gore’s three partners in his Generation Investment Management hedge fund in London, David Blood, Mark Ferguson and Peter Harris, are like Turnbull, all former Goldman Sachs executives.

In “The Great American Bubble Machine” published in the July edition of Rolling Stone magazine, author Matt Taibbi characterised Goldman Sachs as “a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money. …

“The formula is relatively simple: Goldman positions itself in the middle of a speculative bubble, selling investments they know are crap. … They’ve been pulling this same stunt over and over since the 1920s—and now they’re preparing to do it again, creating what may be the biggest and most audacious bubble yet. … the new game in town, the next bubble, is in carbon credits … a groundbreaking new commodities bubble, disguised as an ‘environmental plan,’ called cap-and-trade. The new carbon-credit market is a virtual repeat of the commodities-market casino that’s been kind to Goldman, except it has one delicious new wrinkle: If the plan goes forward as expected, the rise in prices will be government-mandated. Goldman won’t even have to rig the game. It will be rigged in advance.”

Turnbull’s recklessness underscores the City of London’s desperation to launch carbon trading, as their current financial system implodes. It is a vehicle for more globalisation, to block moves back to national sovereignty, and it provides a new financial infrastructure, a variation on classic British monetarism: reduce everything to a monetary value—“thin air” in the case of carbon trading—so it can be controlled by the money power. (statement from Craig Isherwood, CEC)

Sept' 10th 2009

IS INTEGRAL ENERGY PULLING A SCAM????

Your brochure states, "We have therefore included a new "emissions charge" in clause 21, to cover our costs of complying with any new CPRS that is introduced.......". Nothing in clause 21 makes clear the situation at all in regards to your new charges.

The above sentence clearly infers the "new" charges are a fait accompli. It does not state these charges will only apply should the CPRS actually pass the senate and become law.

1/ Therefore I ask you to confirm whether or not it is your intention to charge me and thousands of other customers for something which in fact does not actually exist, and may never exist?

2/ Should  you, in my opinion, illegally charge me for a "proposed only" CPRS levy, will you refund all charges if the legislation is not passed?

3/ Why are you proposing to start charging BEFORE the CPRS is even through Parliament, and in fact law?

I phoned your company today but your staff were unable to answer these questions. The supervisor on duty also did not know anything about when these charges commence. Surely if you provide a phone number for me to call regarding any enquiries on this particular subject you would at least have your staff knowledgable of the subject.

I expect a complete and satisfactory answer to these questions well before your self appointed expiry date of 8th. September.  Basically I consider  you are breaking a contract and giving busy people two weeks to deal with it or it is assumed they accept it ( in most cases in ignorance).

The Energy Ombudsman advised me today in their opinion they are not acting within the law and as a result of many complaints Integral have stopped sending out the letters to customers.    info' from Jim Savage.   Integral Energy is a major distributor and retailer of electricity in New South Wales, and a retailer in Queensland.

3rd Sept 2009.

Well, isn't the celebration of National Literacy and Numeracy week plastic and meaningless. This infers that Australians generally care about a good education; and there is nothing further from the truth.
 
After all, one only has to listen to:-

• television and radio presenters;
• television and radio news readers;
• television and radio commercials;
• etc.;

and observe: -

• restaurant menus; and
• business signs and billboards;
• etc.;

to realize that we are, at the very best, semi-illiterate and generally without any idea or concern about: -

• spelling; or
• pronunciation.

 
It is not only very obvious that present day teaching methods are inadequate but there is an even greater problem. From this point of view, it's bad enough that our teachers are not teaching their students how to spell, but it's blatantly obvious that the students are also picking up poor word pronunciation habits from their poorly educated teachers; and so the degeneration of our education system continues.
 
Fancy suggesting that we have anything at all to celebrate about our so-called current education system.

(statement courtesy B Blake)

August 19th.

One Nation agrees that the two issues, due to be voted by conscience vote ie; (same-sex access to surrogacy and  legal parenting under proposed new laws,) should be separated and not tied together. This is a typical ploy by Labor to get shonky legislation through. Legal surrogacy for Gays will see them able to subvert all current requirements needed for adoption including all the normal character and economic checks. We urge all Pollies to vote NO to this proposal. Ordinary people wishing to adopt will be pushed to the rear if this is allowed to go through and the current waiting time is 6 years already.  

7th July 2009

People's Bank

Today, on ABC 612am, Senator George Brandis, talking to Madona King said, "he would not support a 'populist' 'Peoples Bank' the 4 major banks we have are enough". He talked about the failure of the former State Banks which failed, he did not talk about why they may have failed. Fairly easy to see who pulls his strings.While the subject is hot call your Federal Members and tell them to support a New National Peoples Bank.

Yesterday 8th April 2009, The Reserve Bank announces half a percent reduction in interest rates.........Australia's Major (foreign) Banks say they will not pass on these savings.......And you wonder who really runs this country!!!!! wonder no more.

You should know that all banks in this country are licensed to operate by the our Federal Government, but they refuse to curb them from such as the above.

Thinking people cannot help but to agree with the recent actions in Fiji, in particular, the way the new military Chief moved immediately to take over their Federal Reserve Bank, thereby halting any attempt by foreign bankers to race to remove a flood of money from the economy and cause unnecessary hardship to the people. This is the same action the President of Malaysia took to avoid the Asian meltdown some years ago.                  ( Do you remember? Keating called him a recalcitrant)

Our Government of course deplores this action under their instruction from our foreign banker masters, although they dress it up, ably assisted by our foreign owned media, under the banner of 'human rights'!!!!!   The moral, do not blindly believe the press.  (comment by Rod Evans)

23 June 2009.

An open letter to;

 Dear Sir/ Madam/ Senator,

Because it is becoming obvious to all and sundry that there is NO definitive evidence, (as stated by Senator Nick Xenophon last night) on information from Government officials, that man made CO2 is to blame for so-called global warming and in fact recent evidence provides that there is currently a trend of global cooling.

I urge you to vote against the proposed (Penny Wong) Bill currently before the house dealing with Climate Change/Carbon Tax Scheme. 

One Nation has consistently released information to this effect for a number of years and pointed out that Carbon Trading Tax in any form is just that, another tax, and will, if enacted be responsible for a major detriment to the Australian lifestyle, and will not contribute any benefit to the environment.

9th June. 2009

In an action heard in the Federal Court of Australia, New South Wales Registry, on Friday 29^th May 2009 No. NSD 52-2009, in front of Judge. Foster J. between Peter Lewis Davis and Insolvency and Trustee Service of Australia and others.

Arguments developed over whether the Local Court of New South Wales could issue resumption orders over a property located in Queensland, either through its supposed conferred Federal Powers or if it did or did not have power to rule on a family court matter without consent. The Judges decision has been reserved, apparently indefinitely……….

Below is an Act purported to have been in effect since 1988, but which appears on the face of it to never to have been proclaimed in the appropriate manner under the Commonwealth of Australia’s Constitution. Or so searches indicate.

As is shown below,     (copy) (3)         (The Governor‑General may, by Proclamation, fix a day as the day on and after which proceedings in relation to matters arising under this Act may not be instituted in, or transferred to, a court of summary jurisdiction in a specified State or Territory.),

 it has been contended that this Act has never been proclaimed therefore it would follow that any decisions made under the below legislation are invalid.

If this is the case it could have very far reaching results and could mean that any decisions coming from this Act could be subject to appeal and result in claims for damages for unfair judgements. 

It has been suggested to me that many Act’s to empower Courts in this country have never been proclaimed in the required manner (above) and when you appear in a court it is assumed you are there by ‘CONSENT’ which in effect means you consent to the judgement even though it may not be a properly established Court….

Makes one think, doesn’t it? How much justice is available and how much separation do the courts have from the legislators in Australia, given that was the inherent rights of people under the Westminster System of democracy we are supposed to enjoy here.  

Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988

1  Short title [see Note 1]

                 This Act may be cited as the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988.

2  Commencement [see Note 1]

                 This Act shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act.

58. When a proposed law passed by both Houses of the

Parliament is presented to the Governor-General for the Queen’s

assent, he shall declare, according to his discretion, but subject to

this Constitution, that he assents in the Queen’s name, or that he

withholds assent, or that he reserves the law for the Queen’s

pleasure.

104  Jurisdiction of courts under Act

     (1)        Jurisdiction is conferred on the Family Court and the Federal Magistrates Court and, subject to subsection (7), the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, and each Family Court of a State is invested with federal jurisdiction in relation to matters arising under this Act.

     (2)        Subject to subsections (5) and (7), each court of summary jurisdiction of each State is invested with federal jurisdiction, and jurisdiction is conferred on each court of summary jurisdiction of each Territory, in relation to matters arising under this Act.

     (3)        The Governor‑General may, by Proclamation, fix a day as the day on and after which proceedings in relation to matters arising under this Act may not be instituted in, or transferred to, a court of summary jurisdiction in a specified State or Territory.

     (4)        A Proclamation under subsection (3) may be expressed to apply only in relation to:

         (a)        proceedings of specified classes; or

         (b)        the institution of proceedings in, or the transfer of proceedings to, a court of summary jurisdiction in a specified part of a State or Territory.

     (5)        A court of summary jurisdiction shall not hear or determine proceedings under this Act otherwise than in accordance with any Proclamation in force under subsection (3) of this section.

     (6)        The Governor‑General may, by Proclamation, declare that a Proclamation under subsection (3) is revoked on and from a specified day and, on and from the specified day, this Act (including subsection (3)) has effect as if the revoked Proclamation had not been made, but without prejudice to the effect of the revoked Proclamation in relation to the jurisdiction of courts before the specified day.

            (7)        Jurisdiction in relation to a matter arising under this Act in relation to which a proceeding is instituted under this Act                         is not conferred on a court of a Territory unless at least one of the parties to the proceeding (not being the               Registrar) is, on the day of the institution of the proceeding or the day of the transfer of the proceeding to that court, ordinarily resident in the Territory.

     (8)        The jurisdiction conferred on or invested in a court by this section includes jurisdiction in relation to matters arising under this Act in relation to which proceedings are transferred to that court under another law of the Commonwealth.

     (9)        The jurisdiction conferred on or invested in a court by this section is in addition to any jurisdiction conferred on or invested in the court apart from this section.

6^th June 2009.

Anna Bligh, Queensland’s Premier, announces that all taxpayer owned assets/corporations are up for sale, probable buyers being overseas investors.

Whilst Anna Bligh probably has the strictly legal right to dispose of taxpayer assets acting as the leader of our elected parliamentarians, she does not have the moral right, under her election to office or otherwise.

Taxpayers of the past paid for the assets she now wishes to dispose of the raise monies to settle a government debt she and others has created by overspending on the state budget. It is not important that she claims this debt is out of her control, which of course is untrue.

She would show true leadership and justify the trust voters put in her and her government if she simply raised the money needed for the state’s shortage from a State Development Bank, instead of selling money making enterprises, (taxpayer assets) and instead of borrowing from outside financiers such as private banks.

Anything a Private Bank can do, (lend money), so could a State Development Bank, and a development bank could issue this money at no interest with the debt being reduced gradually from general revenue. (ie; taxes)  This is what the Commonwealth Bank did following the First World War.

That could ensure taxpayer assets remain in taxpayer hands, administered by government appointees, with their profits remaining for the benefit of the people.

Not that I expect this to happen with Anna Bligh like other Australian pollies doing the bidding of foreign bankers and leading our people into financial oblivion.

Statement by,

Rod Evans.  Queensland State Secretary.

09/01/2009

LEE LONG FOR DALRYMPLE

ONE Nation Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long will be contesting the new State electorate of Dalrymple at the election due this year.

"It has been an extremely difficult decision to make as I would have preferred to continue representing all the people of the Tablelands," she said.

"However the redistribution last year eliminated Tablelands and instead divided most of it between Cook and the new seat of Dalrymple.

"The division was approximately 40 per cent of the former Tablelands to Cook, and 60 per cent to Dalrymple.

I have chosen to contest Dalrymple as it gives me the opportunity to continue to represent the largest portion of Tablelands voters. I have been honoured by the loyalty they have shown me over the past three terms and this will allow me the best chance of returning that loyalty to the majority.

"I want to emphasis that the new seats do not come into effect until the next election and until then I will continue to work as hard for the whole of the Tablelands electorate as I always have."

Ms Lee Long said the elimination of Tablelands had been proposed by both the Liberal and National Parties, and carried out under a Labor Government.

"All of the major parties carry responsibility for this outcome and it demonstrates how little interest they really have in rural Queensland.

"I believe the ONLY way forward for rural Queenslanders is to elect representatives who will provide them with a strong voice in Brisbane, and not a major party "rubber stamp" who will be hamstrung by having to follow the party line."

Ms Lee Long said she would work hard to connect with the southern parts of the new seat of Dalrymple, centred on the town of Charters Towers and Moranbah,

"Many issues, from excessive regulation of primary production to lack of, or cuts to, health and other services affect the entire electorate and I believe my experience with these issues will help me give good, effective representation to the people of Dalrymple."

04/12/08

New laws may wind back rental investment

Laws aimed at protecting tenants may wind up cutting private investment in rental properties, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long has warned.

Speaking during debate on the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Bill 2008 the Member for Tablelands said it was landlords who provided the premises. “If it becomes too expensive or too difficult to make a reasonable return, then landlords will move out of the rental market,” she said. “We have seen that occur in recent times, when people found investing in shares and superannuation a much more attractive investment than in the private housing market.” The new laws were described as setting out the rights and obligations of tenants, residents, lessors, agents and accommodation providers renting residential premises in Queensland. However they made no mention of goals clearly spelt out in the minister’s second reading speech when he referred to ‘increasing rents driven by a lack of supply resulting in record low vacancy rates’.

“The minister referred to the need to be balanced and reasonable with regard to lessors, but I believe the direction of this bill is abundantly clear.

 Ms Lee Long questioned the introduction of a two-month notice period for terminations “without grounds” on fixed-term agreements.“If agents or owners strike one of the terrible tenants, then it is essential that they have the capacity to move them out as quickly as possible. It is far too easy for a troublesome tenant to cause damage that adds up to far more than the bond allows for and it is the landlord who has to pay the extra cost. “Not only that, but the terrible tenants often make life a misery for all around them with noise, fighting, swearing and partying at all hours of the night and day, not to mention those who refuse to pay their rent. “They certainly impact on others’ rights to the quiet enjoyment of their premises. The capacity to move these kind of tenants is vital before they can cause any more damage. They are not the majority, but they exist.”

The Bligh Government has exempted its own Department of Housing from many of their own new requirements. “I dare say the private rental market will have to cope with these changes but I think it is unfair to restrict those in the private sector while excluding the Queensland Department of Housing.

 “As we are finding more and more, there is one rule for the government and another for ordinary people.”

03/12/08 New laws affect rental market

 The State Government has exempted itself from a host of new laws designed to protect tenants in rental properties.

Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said the Government had clamped down on the rental industry and imposed new burdens on landlords. “The changes have been described as setting out the rights and obligations of tenants, residents, lessors, agents and accommodation providers renting residential premises in Queensland,” she said.“But it appears that these rights are not to be extended to tenants of the Department of Housing. “While the Minister has said that in the present environment it was: ‘even more important to ensure that tenants get a fair go’ it appears that does not apply to public housing tenants.” Ms Lee Long said that while private landlords would have to give two months notice of a proposed rent increase, the Government had exempted the Department of Housing from that requirement.“Rules allowing a tenant to apply to a tribunal about a proposed rent increase also do not apply to the Department of Housing and nor do rules banning rent increases within six months of the last increase.” Speaking during debate on the bill, Ms Lee Long told Parliament that while the bill was aimed at making rents as affordable as possible: “the government itself has preserved its own right to hike rents as often as it likes, to skip out on providing notice and even strips away a tenant’s rights to appeal to the tribunal.” “One might wonder just whose rights are being protected.”

UPPER BARRON S.S. SHOULD

NOT BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK  27/11/08

UPPER Barron State School, on Education Queensland’s chopping block over low enrolments, deserves at least one year to prove it can boost student numbers, State Parliament has been told.

Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long told the most recent sittings of Parliament that parents desperate to save their children’s school had canvassed the area and discovered a surge in enrolments was possible for 2009.The parents, she said; “have found that there are at least seven prep children who wish to commence the 2009 school year at Upper Barron State School. While canvassing they have found that there are at least 19, and possibly as many as 22, students who wish to enrol in 2009.

26/11/08

GOVT MOVES TO MAKE “WHISTLE STOPS” ILLEGAL

FOR bush travellers taking a tinkle behind a roadside tree is set to become fraught with danger. Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said yesterday that the Bligh Government had introduced laws creating a new offence of “public urination”.

“This means that anyone, including bush travellers forced to use a roadside tree, will run the risk of a Police Officer whipping out their ticket book and smacking them with a fine of up to $200,” she said.

“This will be similar to the way traffic offence notices are issued.

“It is impossible for people to cross their legs and hang on, when there are massive distances between public facilities. I believe this is more about the tinkle of fines pouring in to government coffers than it is about anything else.”

Ms Lee Long said the laws were originally reviewed with the intention of creating a lesser offence than the existing ones of wilful exposure, or public nuisance. “However, what they are looking at is something that provides practically no defence and instead, relies on Police having to use their discretion.

“What is being proposed however, is simply that urination in a public place become an offence. This could easily mean a traveller hundreds of kilometres from anywhere who is forced to use a tree is, technically, committing an offence.

“While this law may be aimed at problems in city areas, it will also cover rural and regional ones where circumstances can be different.”

“Whilst the 2008 enrolment was nine and the previous year was also low, the parents believe that doubling or even tripling those figures in 2009 is more than enough reason to keep the school open.”

Speaking after Parliament Ms Lee Long said believed Education Queensland would be hard-pressed to ignore such a massive jump in student numbers.“I believe these smaller schools are the heart of their communities. The parents dig in and give have strong community support. Upper Barron  has everything it needs including computers and a nearly new playground. It would be a shame to see that all go to waste when there are so many potential new students.”

Ms Lee Long said she had raised the issue directly with the Education Minister and would continue to lobby for Upper Barron to retain their school. “One more year will prove the case one way or another, and I believe it will justify the school staying open,” she said.

“We need to keep services open and available and stop the constant centralisation of education, health and so on.

“The students, the parents and the community all deserve to keep their school and that is what I will continue to fight for.”

ACCC in line to control Queensland water 27/11/08

 The way has been opened for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to take control of water pricing in Queensland.

 Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said amendments in the Water (Commonwealth Powers) Bill passed recently had strengthened the role of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

 “These changes initially refer to the ACCC having an extended role ‘within the Murray-Darling Basin’ in relation to water charge rules and water pricing under the Commonwealth Water Act,” Ms Lee Long said.

 “However, later on in explanatory documents it becomes clear that the ACCC could eventually have control of all water charging and market rules right across Queensland.

 “It is described in this way— “strengthening the role of the ACCC by extending the application of water market rules and water charge rules to cover, respectively, all bodies that charge regulated water charges and all irrigation infrastructure operators, and by providing for any State to ‘opt in’ such that the water charge rules and water market rules apply to water resources outside the Murray-Darling Basin.

 “Irrigators on the Mareeba-Dimbulah irrigation scheme, the Burdekin and elsewhere could find their water charges under the control of the ACCC.

 “This is the organisation that apparently believes the disgraceful mark-ups between farmgate price and supermarket prices are quite acceptable.”

 Ms Lee Long told parliament the ACCC: “has little credibility in the bush”.

 “The thought of it playing a role at any level in something as important as water prices is nightmarish stuff,” she said.

 “The question needs to be asked: how quickly is this government planning to sell out its irrigators and hand over control of Queensland’s water, and especially its pricing, to one of the most discredited agencies of the federal government?

 “If the ACCC believes that grocery pricing chains are working just fine, then heaven forbid if we ever have to find out what it thinks about how water should be priced.”

NEW BOATING REGISTRATION FEES   15/10/2008

Increased registration fees for recreational vessels are due to take effect from 20^th October, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said yesterday.

The new fees are based on the length of a vessel and discounts apply for Pensioners and Senior Card holders while totally and permanently incapacitated war pensioners are able to access an exemption.

The new fees are: Up to and including 4.5m $81.50 (pensioners/Seniors Card holders $48.80); 4.51m to 6m $161.30 ($88.70); 6.01m to 10m $268.05 ($142.10); 10.01m to 15m $393.85 ($205.00); 15.01m to 20m $488.30 ($252.20) and 20.01m and over $614.50 ($315.30) “Anyone with enquiries about these new fees can get further information on line at boatinginfrastructure@transport.qld.gov.au or by contacting my office,” Ms Lee Long said.

NEW ECO-LAWS SLAM INNOCENT 09/10/08 

People and companies with no responsibility for environmental contamination incidents will be held liable and lumbered with clean-up costs under new environmental laws passed in Parliament recently. Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP slammed the changes as a major breach of fundamental principles. Speaking after Parliament, Ms Lee Long said the government was deliberately passing laws they knew would make innocent people liable.“As I said in the debate, the explanatory notes describe this as ‘obligation to comply with notice even if not responsible’,” she said. Ms Lee Long said one example of the new laws could be when someone who owned chemicals, was having them transported by a third party.

“The owner may have no control over the chemicals while being transported yet if there is an incident and the chemicals contaminate an area, the owner of the chemicals will be held liable by the State Government.“Surely it is better to hold liable someone who is responsible for the incident, rather than someone who is not. “The Bligh government argued that someone who has been held liable by the government, even if they did not cause the incident, can then sue the person they believe did cause it.

 “It appears the ALP is happy to deliberately hold the wrong person responsible, on the basis that person can then sue someone else.“They have also argued owners of contaminants and parent companies would be encouraged, by these laws, to get insurance to cover their risk. “How they expect someone to get insurance for something that is outside their control is hard to imagine, let alone how much the premiums might be. “This is another example of the totally bizarre laws that are being brought in by this out-of-touch ALP government with the support of the LNP. “The major parties are so out of touch they all appear to think it is OK to blame the innocent!” Ms Lee Long said.

TABLELANDS ELIMINATED IN DRAFT REDISTRIBUTION 23/06/08

The elimination of the seat of Tablelands in the proposed redistribution has been slammed as “unforgiveable” by Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP.

“The existing Tablelands seat is huge and is in a growing area – the State Government’s own Draft 2025 Regional Plan predicts another 100,000 people moving to FNQ over the next 17 years and Tablelands would certainly be getting its share of that extra growth,” she said.

“This area has just experienced a massive explosion of population and there are record building approvals to back it up. The voting population increased by nearly 1000 people in just one year.

“I do not believe there is any democracy in this State anymore. More than half of all objections submitted to the Electoral Commission of Queensland supported the retention of Tablelands yet it appears they were ignored.

“The northern end of Tablelands which includes Mareeba has been thrown in to Cook which covers as far as the Cape and Torres Strait – already a huge electorate.

“The southern end of Tablelands has been placed in the new seat of Macrossan, which is also massive and crosses Far North, North and Central Queensland boundaries.

 “I have the option of running for either of those two seats.

“I am very disappointed the Tablelands has been split in two because both ends are vital to the Queensland economy. It has a strong community of interest that binds the region together.

 “To show such disregard to the people of the Tablelands and the Far North is unforgivable.

“This is all happening because Premier Anna Bligh wants more seats in that little sliver which includes Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine coasts that already contains two-thirds of the seats –and therefore the power - in this state. “Yet she is not satisfied with that, she wants more and she wants it at the expense of rural and regional Queensland.”

ENDS

03/03/08

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT LAWS

UNDERGO HARSH AMENDMENTS

 NEW amendments to the controversial Vegetation Management Act were a direct assault on the rights of Queenslanders, State Parliament has been told.

 Speaking after debate on the changes, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said she was strongly opposed to any law which retrospectively applied criminal liability.

 “Yet that is what these changes have done, and that is what the ALP have voted to do,” she said.

During debate, Ms Lee Long described the amendments, dealing with definitions and methodology, as raising a number of red flags.

 “The first is that I do not in general support retrospective legislation. The people of Queensland are entitled to act according to the legislation of the day and to be secure in the knowledge that both they and the government are bound by the same set of rules, definitions, procedural requirements and so on.

 “Someone found guilty is not going to be declared innocent under retrospective legislation and nor should someone who is innocent later be made guilty.

 “Similarly, grounds for appeal should not be removed from someone seeking to challenge a government decision. Yet that is exactly what this bill will do.

 “It is a direct assault on the rights of average Queenslanders. '“I am particularly alarmed by the criminal implications, and I again quote from the explanatory notes, which state, ‘The retrospective application of criminal liability is justified because the accepted view within Government and the community’ and it goes on to argue that there was some acceptance of the definitions.

 “So it appears that there may very well be people who operated legally or at least had access to grounds for appeal to justify their actions who will now retrospectively be stripped of those things.

 “Frankly, it is an approach to legislative standards that Chairman Mao and Stalin would have envied. It is certainly exceptionally brutal treatment of citizens’ rights.”

 Ms Lee Long also attacked the Government’s deliberate decision not to consult with stakeholders.

 “The stakeholders most directly affected--the ordinary people who may as a result of these changes be retrospectively made criminals--were deliberately not given a chance to comment. That is beyond disgraceful.

 “That is a total betrayal of the people of this state and is a dark stain on the reputation of the ALP.”

 ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE

03/03/08 

2008 Queenslander Awards open

 The 2008 Queenslander, Young Queenslander, and Queenslander Great awards are now open for nominations, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said.

 “Nominees do not have to be well-known, or even known to the nominator personally, but they do need to have made a significant contribution to Queensland,” she said.

 “Those nominated for the Queensland Great award (either individuals or institutions) should be making ongoing contributions and achievements which have played a significant role in the history and development of the State.”

 Ms Lee Long said the Suncorp Queenslander, Young Queenslander and Queensland Great awards helped acknowledge the contributions of outstanding Queenslanders.

Nomination forms are available by going on line at queenslandweek@premiers.qld.gov.au or by calling 3405 5215. Nominations close on 28 March.

 ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE

 03/03/08

CDMA PROBLEMS CONTINUE

 MOBILE telephone users with ongoing concerns and issues about the impending scrapping of the CDMA service have been urged to contact Telstra.

 Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP said she was aware that the introduction of Telstra’s Next G service, was not satisfying all users.

 “I have raised these concerns with the Federal Government and have been advised that they are not yet permitting the CDMA network to close.

 “They are instead waiting for a report by the end of this month into whether the Next G technology will provide equivalent service.”

 Ms Lee Long said it was important for CDMA users to make informed choices when they did change over.

 “It is important for customers to understand that different mobile devices have different capabilities and how each device performs on the network is dependent on both the network coverage and the particular device.

 “Telstra labels those devices that it recommends for rural handheld coverage with a “blue tick” to make it easier for customers to choose the right device.

 “They also need to do a “like for like” upgrade by ensuring that, if they are using a car kit or external antenna with their CDMA device, they use  a car kite or external antenna with their Next G device.

 “In the meantime, anyone with concerns about the change from CDMA, or with difficulties with their Next G service, should contact Telstra on 1800 888 888 as a matter of urgency.”

 ENDs

19/11/07

 FUNDS FLOW FOR TABLELANDS SCHOOLS

MORE than $550,000 is flowing in to non-state Tableland Schools for a range of capital works, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said yesterday.

The funding has been made available under the Capital Assistance Scheme and the Cooler Schools Subsidy Program.

Ms Lee Long said the largest subsidy, of $252,073, had been provided to St Theresa’s School, Ravenshoe for a physical education covered area and store, site works, external services and equipment.

That school had also received $9938 to refurbish classrooms, the library and student amenities.

St Thomas’ School, Mareeba was provided with $198,261 for refurbishment of four general learning areas, site works and external services, and $12,205 for playground equipment and softfall material.

St Josephs’ School, Atherton received $41,731 for airconditioning and $10,070 for upgrade to information technology infrastructure while Mount St. Bernards at Herberton was allocated $10,311 for furniture, equipment, lockers and interactive whiteboards.

Dimbulah’s St Anthony’s School will get a new outdoor store with power with the help of $9626 and St Stephen’s Catholic College, Mareeba, information technology equipment and a shade structure with $9175.

Welcoming the funding, Ms Lee Long said she believed education was one of the foundations upon which young Tablelands could build their future.

ENDS

19/11/07

NEW ARTS FUND LAUNCHED

A new State Government arts fund is now open for applications for projects complementing both the built and natural environments, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said recently.

“The $12 million art+place fund replaces a previous scheme which only allowed funding for works of art as part of a capital works project.

“Under this new scheme councils, not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations, festivals, private sector developers and government departments and agencies can all apply.

“These applications can be for either permanent or temporary commissions.”

Ms Lee Long said applications for the first round of the scheme formally closed on November 30 but for this inaugural round, expressions of interest would be accepted until 1^st February 2008.

More information and guidelines can be found by contacting Ms Lee  Long’s office on 4092 3654 or going on line at www.arts.qld.gov.au/art+place   ENDS

15/11/07

 WATER MADNESS SPREADS

 NEW laws allowing water restrictions to be enforced even when drought conditions have broken have been passed by the State Government.

 Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP said it beggared belief that: “in the midst of the wet season, with torrential rains and floods inundating the tropical coast, that we could see Cairns, Tully and the Tablelands subject to water efficient practices.

 “Yet water service providers in areas outside of south-east Queensland will now be required to have an outdoor water conservation plan for reducing outdoor water use and promoting efficient water use. Again, this is to apply not only in times of drought but at all times.

 However, that was just one of the bizarre changes made under the Water and Other Legislation Amendment Bill passed this week.

 “It is now law that, for areas of Queensland outside of the south-east, the chief executive of NRW will have the power to manage urban water supplies where a significant threat exists to the sustainable and secure water supply.

 “I believe that means a bureaucrat could take over control of Cairn’s water supply, or Mareeba’s, Atherton’s or elsewhere under this law.

 “It seems the Bligh government’s entire strategy even in times of abundant supply will be water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.”

 Ms Lee Long said the real issue was: “the complete and utter failure of governments, both Labor and Coalition, over decades to provide enough water storage infrastructure for the growing needs of Queensland’s swelling population.

 “How many significant dams have been built in Queensland in the past 20 years? One!”

 "We have wild rivers legislation locking up rivers and watercourses in the one part of the state and country that experts are predicting will continue to have decent rain in the supposed climate change future, that is, in Far-North Queensland.

 “We have soaring prices on water, not because it has suddenly vanished from the planet but because the amount harvested and held by infrastructure has remained practically unchanged for decades and is now insufficient for the needs of our growing population, industry, agriculture, tourism and the list goes on.

 “However, instead of building more and bigger dams, we are told that the first objective is to cut consumption.

 “Drought is part of this nation’s existence. So, too, are the wet seasons that sweep across it. It is vital that this precious resource is harvested and stored for the maintenance of jobs and industry.

 “While that should not happen at any cost, it is certainly madness to let millions and billions of litres of rainwater flood out into the ocean each wet season, just to turn around later on and try to take the salt back out of it in massive power-hungry desalination plants.

 “In Far North Queensland the Nullinga Dam on the Walsh River is now subject to a feasibility study. It needs a firm commitment to be constructed as soon as possible.

 “This government’s own statistics indicate that all available water allocations for rural purposes in the Far North will be used up some time within the next 15 years and the lead time for Nullinga is estimated at around the 10-year mark.

 “A clear and firm commitment must be made soon. The mighty Tully-Millstream project, which offers massive clean green hydro-electric power and sustainable irrigation benefits, also needs to be back on the front burner.”

 Ms Lee Long said among other changes was the creation of a “mid-path” method of assessing applications to upgrade the security of water allocations when a water Resource Operations Plan was released or amended.

 ENDS

14/11/07

KYOTO IMPACT COULD

HIT FARMERS

PRIMARY producers could face a raft of new taxes, fees, levies and charges if a Federal Labor Government signed up to the Kyoto Treaty, Queensland Parliament has been told.

Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP questioned the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation on the likely impact of Kyoto on the bush.

Ms Lee Long said she expected that signing up to Kyoto: “will result in huge financial burdens on many of Queensland’s primary industries such as dairy, grazing, pig and poultry, agriculture, horticulture and so on.”

The Climate Change Minister, responding to Ms Lee Long’s pressure, said primary producers would “need to play their part”.

“The Minister did not deny that there would be a burden, instead he said he believed dealing with climate change would take a “total” commitment.

“While he promised that impacts would be considered and discussed with all relevant stakeholders he did not give any assurance other than that they would be discussed, and that the State government had no intention of taking anyone by surprise.”

Ms Lee Long said that given the track record of burdens being placed on rural industries and regional areas, she would closely monitor any moves to add to government-imposed costs on essentials such as primary industries.

“Whatever else happens, we need the essentials and that includes food to eat – we can not make it so expensive to produce that we end up with none at all.”

END

03/10/07

FUTURE OF FORMER ATHERTON

STATE SCHOOL SITE STILL UNCLEAR

No decision had yet been made to hand the old Atherton State School site to developers or the Atherton Shire Council, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said yesterday.

Ms Lee Long said she had been advised in writing by the Minister for Natural Resources, in response to a tabled petition on the issue, that the Government was still considering the matter.

“The Minister has advised me that his department has been very active in this matter and that officers have attended every public consultation that has been held on the issue.

“In deciding the most appropriate use for the site, and who the land should be vested in, issues including future accommodation for existing tenants, ecological and socioeconomic values and the needs of both Atherton Shire Council and the community would have to be considered.

“I believe that the Government needs to be responsive to community concerns about what happens on this site, as it will have a major impact not only on the town but also on the future of many organisations.

“It also needs to ensure that, whatever does become of the site, it does not become a financial burden on ratepayers.

“I urge anyone with an interest on this matter, or who supports any of the proposals for the site, to become active participants in the consultation process.

“The community needs to make its voice heard, so that its council representatives have the clearest possible understanding of their desires.”

ENDS

03/10/07

AMALGAMATION  PETITIONS ANSWERED

THE NEW Bligh Government was proving as deaf to the wishes of Queenslanders as the previous Beattie regime by so far ignoring thousands of petitioners opposed to forced Tableland council amalgamations.

 Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP said she had tabled petitions with 2465 signatures since August 8, all calling for Atherton, Eacham, Herberton and Mareeba Shires to remain unamalgamated.

 “New Local Government Minister Warren Pitt has proven as single-minded as his predecessor and will not change the severely flawed amalgamation proposal.

 “He admits that the change may not be easy for everyone but that it will happen anyway.

 “And while the Minister talks about a government commitment to a smooth transition, ratepayers who do not want this amalgamation are now being expected to pick up some of the tab for it.

 “I will continue to oppose this forced amalgamation and urge everyone to have their say when the plebiscite on the issue is held in the near future.

 “It is up to us to keep the pressure on and fight for our councils.”

 ENDS

06/09/07

NEW CRIME VICTIMS REGISTER

NOW IN PLACE

A redesigned register for victims of crime is expected to allow those affected by violent or sex crimes more information about their attacker.

Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP said the Queensland Corrective Services Victims Register applied not only to the victims, but to immediate family members of a deceased victim, and parent or guardian of a victim under 18, or with a legal incapacity.

“Other recent changes to the former Concerned Persons Register mean that those included on it will be able to get information about a prisoner’s release date, be assured of confidentiality and make submissions to a parole board.”

Ms Lee Long said the interests of victims and the wider community needed to be at the forefront of dealing with crime.

“The victims, and their community, are entitled to have their concerns and issues taken in to account at every stage. They are not the ones who committed the crime.

“At no stage should the system leave them feeling as if they were the criminals.”

More information about the Victims Register can be gained by contacting Ms Lee Longs office at 210 Byrnes Street Mareeba, or by telephoning 4092 3654.

06/09/07

NEW HOUSING BODY FORMED

A NEW statutory body with extensive powers to override normal planning constraints has been created to take control of urban development in designated areas.

Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said the Urban Land Development Authority was expected to plan, carry out, promote, coordinate and control development in urban development areas.

“The ULDA was created by legislation passed in the most recent sittings of Parliament and has the authority to act anywhere that an “urban development area” is declared by the State Government,” she said.

“And the FNQ2025 strategic plan will be the first statutory development plan outside the South East to come in to effect under this new planning regime.”

The ULDA has been described as being intended to focus on the operation of the land supply pipeline from raw land right through to completed development.

“The government claims this will help make more land available more quickly for housing, with the intention that it will in turn help ease the housing crisis.

“The Tablelands electorate is desperately short of public and private accommodation options.

“Families on public housing waiting lists can wait for up to 10 years, while median wage earners in my electorate can expect to see half or even more of their take-home pay disappear on rent for a basic three-bedroom home.”

“The Tablelands is going through an extended period of strong population growth and we need to ensure there is sufficient land available for subdivision to house the low, medium and high income earners of the region.

“The cutting of so much red tape would help in that regard.”

 However Ms Lee Long also sounded a warning over just how far the ULDA powers would stretch, citing seven breaches in fundamental legislative principles including stripping away many appeals process, its’ capacity to over-ride or ignore town planning schemes and to bypass environmental and other planning concerns.

“Let us remember that there would not be a housing affordability crisis if our state and federal governments had been doing their jobs instead of spending so much time trying to blame each other for the problem.”

06/09/07

Cyclone Larry Insurance Issues

ALMOST 18 months after Cyclone Larry struck some Far Northerners are still battling to overcome its impact – despite having had paid-up insurance policies on their homes, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long has told Parliament.

Ms Lee Long, speaking during the most recent sittings, said she wanted to highlight: “the disgraceful way some sectors of the insurance industry have acted.”

“In one instance an Indigenous pensioner who had managed over many years to own her own home and who had been paying full premiums to her insurance company was told she would get nothing because it claimed the home had not been adequately maintained,” Ms Lee Long said.

“In another instance, the insurer of a family that again had paid insurance cover over their home which was damaged by Cyclone Larry had workmen replace the iron roof and had them rip out most of the electrical fittings and plumbing but then they walked away after making a take it or leave it offer of just some $70,000.

“I am advised that when Ergon inspected the home later it found four serious defects and three minor ones in the electrical system.

“In a third example, a constituent’s home was blown sideways off its stumps and suffered other severe damage. This third insurer initially made the house safe but left a lot of other repairs still undone. Soon after, the house suffered more damage which was exacerbated by the still un-repaired damage from Larry.

“Today, so long after the event, no further repairs have been authorised by this insurer and that has left the owners to struggle through a winter where temperatures fell to minus-10 degrees with a leaky roof, broken windows and a home open to the elements of the weather.

“This is an abysmal situation for families who have dutifully met their obligations and paid their insurance premiums. Much of the insurance industry did respond rapidly and responsibly and provided the expected level of support for policy holders, but not so in these cases.

“In each of these instances I am aware that the constituents made extensive efforts to resolve these matters by negotiation, yet here they are, three families struggling to overcome a massive natural disaster who have discovered that the safety net they thought they had, the safety net they in fact paid for, was either worthless or largely worthless.

“These families only want what they paid for: they want their homes back and to be warm, safe and dry once again.”

19/03/07

 CORPORATISATON LEADS TO WORSE SERVICE

CORPORATISATION of public functions such as water supply, energy and railways meant public interest was torn out and replaced by the profit motive, State Parliament has been told.

Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP said that while corporatisation, and the spread of government-owned corporations, had been part of government policy on both sides of politics for many years it had reaped a harsh toll on ordinary Queenslanders.

“The mad drive to corporatise has nothing to do with the management skills of public servants,” she said.

“The difference between public sector entities and corporate entities rests on just one factor. Public sector entities take into account the public interest in their decisions. Corporate entities, including GOCs, do not. Instead, they bow down to the all-powerful profit motive.

“The public good disappears as an issue compared to the lucrative siren-song of higher and higher profits and earnings.

“The dollar is everything and be damned to anyone who might have to suffer along the way to generating a bit more revenue.”

Ms Lee Long said the focus on profits suited Governments as they reaped the rewards through being the sole shareholders.

“When these kinds of corporations are established we do not see them employing hundreds more Queenslanders. Instead, time and again, we see them rationalising their workforces and putting Queenslanders out of jobs. Again, for one simple reason, to make as much profit as possible and be damned whom it hurts.”

Ms Lee Long said she believed governments had a very clear role to play in funding nation-building schemes such as the Snowy Mountains scheme or the Ord River scheme.

“Leaving decisions about how we build this state and this nation at the mercy of profit-riven executives is, I believe, a recipe for disaster.”  ENDS.

                   19/03/07      SAFER ROADS FOR TRUCKS MEAN

SAFER ROADS FOR ALL

The Beattie Government has admitted it needs to spend more on roads to improve safety, especially for heavy vehicles, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said yesterday.

Ms Lee Long pressured the government on road conditions, particularly the provision of rest stops, during debate on new regulations imposing harsh penalties on truck drivers for log book and driving hour offences.

“There is no doubt road safety is an important issue, but it really needs far more commitment on the part of this government to make a real difference,” Ms Lee Long told Parliament.

“These kinds of regulatory changes in reality do nothing more than make it more and more difficult for our heavy transport operators to meet the growing demands that are placed upon them.

“Instead of improving roads and instead of making a physically safer environment for all drivers, we get cheap and nasty solutions such as harsher penalties and tighter conditions.

“Let us consider the reality facing our heavy transport operators. A truck carrying freight for Far North Queensland leaves Brisbane. The driver is required to stop after 12 hours. He is then required to rest for a certain period, then drive for a set period and then stop to rest again and so on. That is a regulatory requirement. If he does not do that he faces penalties which directly affect his ability to earn a living.

“But are there rest stops at 12 hour intervals? Are they safe and large enough for a number of heavy transport trucks, of firm footing and useable in all weather? Do they have such very basic facilities such as toilets, a tap and maybe even a table with a roof over it where a driver can have a meal? Are there such stops 12 hours in each direction from Townsville, Cairns, Mount Isa, Mackay, Toowoomba, Kingaroy, Karumba and all of the other places that heavy transport travels to and from?

“If this government is going to insist on these driving restrictions for heavy transport drivers, then surely it is reasonable to think that it should provide at least the most basic facilities to make it possible for drivers to abide by these regulations.”

Responding to those comments, the Transport Minister agreed that more money needed to be spent on roads.

Ms Lee Long said she believed the government had a duty of care to ensure drivers could operate in a reasonable and safe road environment.

ENDS

19/03/07   HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MEET WITH WIDOWER

THE grieving husband of a 29-year-old mother of five, who died after seeking treatment three times at Mareeba Hospital, is to have a meeting with senior Health Department officials.

The meeting follows repeated attacks on the Beattie Government by Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long over both the woman’s death, and a Health Department statement that her treatment in the days before was “appropriate”.

Speaking in Parliament last week Ms Lee Long detailed the treatment provided during three visits to Mareeba Hospital as being: “almost negligible.”

“In the four days between when this mother of five first presented at this hospital to when she left to attend another hospital, her treatment consisted of about half an hour on a drip and twice being told to go home and take her own painkillers.” 

The “appropriate” description of this treatment was, she said: “simply an insult not only for the family but also the community and to all mothers, particularly nursing mothers.”

Ms Lee Long repeated her call for an independent investigation into the incident and also called for answers to a range of questions, including what the doctor’s qualifications were, if they required supervision, if there were any instructions to turn people away, if enough beds were available and why this woman received little or no treatment until reaching Cairns Base Hospital.

Ms Lee Long said that since then the Acting Health Minister had arranged for the woman’s husband and herself to meet with senior Health Department officials about the matter.

However Ms Lee Long said the entire health system had not seen any real change since the Bundaberg Hospital debacle and the Forster, Davies and CMC inquiries.

“Just last week recognition of Labor’s failings was made by the acting health minister, who admitted that there are still about 500 beds fewer in our hospitals than there were 10 years ago, even though today we have about a million more people in Queensland--and the population is rising.

“The reasons this woman died are probably many and varied, but it is difficult to reasonably conclude that her treatment at the Mareeba Hospital was appropriate.

“If that really is Queensland Health’s conclusion, then I believe that anyone presenting at a Queensland public hospital should be very concerned indeed.”

Ms Lee Long said she had written to the Attorney General requesting an investigation into the matter. 

ENDS

LIABILITY INSURANCE RELIEF FOR

SMALL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Many small community groups will be freed of the public liability insurance burden following changes to laws governing incorporation, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP said yesterday.

Ms Lee Long was speaking after Parliament agreed to alterations which dump the existing mandatory requirement for all incorporated groups to take out public liability cover.

“As welcome as this is, it does not apply to all incorporated community bodies,” Ms Lee Long said.

“Those which hold land on trust under the Land Act 1994 must still take out public liability insurance. This will be the case for any organisation which owns or leases land. The reasoning is that those organisations are generally considered to be larger and more likely to take out public liability insurance as a result of a risk assessment.

“None the less, many smaller associations – as we all know, there are many thousands of them – will be freed of this public liability burden.

“It has been a very onerous burden. Some organisations were completely unable to obtain affordable public liability cover and ceased to operate completely. One of these in my electorate is the Jacaranda Festival in Herberton.”

Ms Lee Long said groups that no longer faced a mandatory requirement to take out public liability cover were required to investigate whether they should still have it or not, and to report their decision to members and other parties that may be affected.

In other changes, financial reporting and auditing requirement have been changed, especially for small organisation with total income and gross assets of less than $100,000.

“Those groups which qualify will no longer have to meet full audit and reporting requirements. For those groups it will be possible for a financial statement to be accompanied by a signed statement from the president or treasurer indicating financial records are kept in a way to properly record income, expenditure and dealing with assets and liabilities.”

Other amendments made minutes more accessible to members, what constitutes a quorum and other minor matters.   ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE 23-02-07

TIGHT NEW LAWS FOR YOUNG DRIVERS

 TIGHT new laws will mean major changes to how young drivers earn their licences, and what and how they drive for years afterward, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said yesterday.

“The learner licence age is to be reduced to 16, while the minimum period someone will have to be on their learners licence will be extended to 12 months,” she said.

“Learner drivers will have to record 100 hours of certified supervised on-road driving experience. Learner licences will be valid for three years and those wanting a motorbike licence will now be required to have held a provisional car licence for 12 months before being able to gain a motorcycle learners licence.

“There will also be changes to the provisional licencing system, A two-stage process is to be put in place with much tighter restrictions in the first stage, particularly for those under 25. These restrictions include compulsory P-plates, passenger restrictions between 11pm and 5am and only being able to carry one non-family member passenger aged under 21 during these times.

“High-powered vehicle restrictions for first and second stage provisional drivers will apply. Other restrictions will affect all mobile phone use and mobile loud speaker functions for supervisors and passengers of learner-drivers.

“Late night restrictions will apply for young drivers returning from a licence suspension or disqualification or for driving under a good behaviour licence, and they will have to pass a 12-month hazard perception test to progress to a second stage provisional licence.

“Provisional and open licence holders under 25 who have been disqualified will be required to recommence at the first stage provisional licence.”

Ms Lee Long said these changes were very wide ranging and would have a major impact on young drivers.

ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE

22/02/07

NO NUKES FOR NORTH

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK nuclear solutions to power supply issues were an insanity, especially when the Far North was rich in hydro-electric generation options, State Parliament has been told.

Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long, speaking in debate on the Nuclear Facilities Prohibition Bill in the last sittings of Parliament revealed that the Far North had been slated for two massive hydro-electric schemes as far back as the 1950s.

“These hydro-options need to be brought back to the table as a clean, green viable alternative to Howard’s mad nuclear plan, and they are a better answer than more dirty coal-fired power stations,” Ms Lee Long said after parliament.

 While one of the schemes, the Tully Millstream, was widely recognised as having the potential to generate 500 megawatts of power, an even bigger scheme on the Herbert River had been left to languish on the shelf for almost 50 years, she said.

“In a follow-on to Koombooloomba Dam and the Kareeya hydro scheme, a dam and seven weirs were planned for the Herbert River in a project that would have created a truly enormous water storage area, provided flood mitigation for the coastal lowlands around Ingham and, importantly, provided even more hydro-electric generation capacity than Tully-Millstream.

“I understand that all the engineering and other works had been completed, and that the dam was to have been built south-west of Mount Garnet.

“It was ready to go when the conservatives took power in Queensland in the late 1950s and killed it off.

“This project, and the Tully Millstream, are both far better answers to our future power needs and deserve to receive commitments from this government to go ahead as soon as practicable.

ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE

23-02-07

 WIDER FOCUS NEEDED ON ROAD SAFETY

 GOVERNMENT attention needed to be directed to all areas of road safety, and not solely on enforcement, State Parliament has been told.

Speaking during debate on laws introducing drug-driving testing provisions to Queensland, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said that while the Government was creating harder and tougher laws governing drivers, it also had a duty of care to do much better in meeting its own responsibilities.

Those responsibilities, she said, included: “the level of maintenance on our Queensland road networks, including the roadside environment, road cambers, the grip or glasslike smoothness of some asphalt, the sealing of shoulders, widening and so on.

“Road users are already paying far more in fuel taxes excise, registration and so on than is being spent on our roads.”

 The new drug-driving laws will operate similarly to the existing drink-driving laws and will allow police to stop drivers at random for testing. That testing will involve a roadside saliva testing process that could take up to 10 minutes or more. For a first offence, penalties of up to $2,100 and or up to nine months jail would apply.

However, unlike drink-drive testing where a blood alcohol concentration of .05 or above must be detected before an offence is committed, drug-drivers face a 0.0 limit on a drug-saliva test.

 “That is, if ANY concentration no matter at what level, is detected of a relevant drug, then an offence will be considered to have been committed,” Ms Lee Long said.

ENDS

23/02/07

 TRUCK DRIVERS TRAPPED BETWEEN

RULES AND REALITY

TRUCK drivers were being trapped between harsher and harsher laws, tighter and tighter schedules and a growing lack of vital infrastructure, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long has told Parliament.

 Speaking during debate on the Transport Legislation and Another Act Amendment Bill at the last sittings of parliament – which introduced drug-driver testing - Ms Lee Long said  government needed to do more to improve safety in the heavy transport industry.

 Drivers in the long-distance trucking industry had been identified as among those most likely to be affected by drugs while driving, because stimulants were used to help them stay awake.

 “While impaired driving is unacceptable, here is a clear example of how only part of the problem is being addressed,” she said.

 “We expect our transport needs to be met on demand. This means that drivers are often forced to cover long distances on extremely strict schedules.

 “Government laws deem that they are also expected to stop at designated times, to rest for designated times, and to keep log books showing this.

 “Clearly all these things clash with the commercial imperative and the fatigue management requirements.

 “Add to that the fact that there are very limited rest areas – let alone rest areas with even basic toilet facilities – suitable for heavy transport to park in and drivers wind up in an unenviable position. Surely this government has a duty of care in meeting its obligations in making it possible for those drivers to meet their conflicting goals.

 “Increasing penalties – for example demerit points now accumulate on log book offences, with maximum penalties which can go as high as $4500 all applying to the driver. Those hard-working drivers can ill-afford to lose $300 or $600 per week, or nearly a week’s pay, let alone anything higher.

 “The drivers believe it is high time that this government faced up to its workplace health and safety obligations and provided them with suitable truck stops. As yet, there is no help for the driver to resist the pressure of delivery times and no provision of more rest stops with basic things like toilets, let alone a covered table and bench to sit on”.

 Ms Lee Long said she supported action against drug-impaired driving in the heavy transport sector but believed one of the first things that should be done was to reduce the need for so many drivers to feel as if they have to take such substances.

ENDS

14th December 2006 MAREEBA SCHOOL’S

$1 MILLION BOOST

 Mareeba’s St Stephen’s Catholic College has been granted more than $1 million in State funds to help build new class rooms and other facilities, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said yesterday.

The funding has been provided under the Capital Assistance Scheme which is aimed at easing the cost of projects at eligible non-State schools.

“This is great news for St Stephens and its students,” Ms Lee Long said.

“I have been advised that $1,062,785 will be made available.

“It will be used to help fund construction of five new general learning areas, pupil amenities, administration, pedestrian travel, physical education and art facilities.

“Site works, external services, furniture and equipment are also covered.”

Ms Lee Long said the funding would be a welcome boost for the school which has just completed its first academic year.

28/07/06

  MASSIVE FUNDING STREAM OPENS

Local councils and community organisations have a chance to snare a share of $100 million in State funds, set aside to help celebrate Queensland’s 150^th birthday in 2009.

  Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP said the money was divided in to two strands.

  “There is $80 million set aside for partnership projects with local government, for capital works that leave an enduring legacy of the 150^th anniversary,” she said.

  That money was available as a 50 per cent subsidy, with projects required to address the celebration’s vision “Reflect on our past, imagine our future.”

  “The other $20 million is for projects that have demonstrated significance to all Queenslanders, are accessible to the public and benefit the broader community.” 

  Applications for the funding are open with anyone interested needing to submit Registration Forms by August 11.

Ms Lee Long said guidelines and registration forms were available on the internet at www.dlgpsr.qld.gov.au or by contacting her office.

23/06/06

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WASHES

HANDS ON DIESEL PRICE

THE Federal Government, which collects 38 cents per litre in fuel excise, has washed its hands of any responsibility for the high price of diesel fuel, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said yesterday.  

Ms Lee Long said she had put mounting community concern on the issue before the Federal Treasurer Peter Costello, who had admitted high fuel prices were bad for consumers and the economy and were causing immense difficulty for drivers.

“However he has insisted that the prices are caused by factors outside the Government’s control,” Ms Lee Long said. “In fact, he has written to me and tried to argue that instead of being responsible for the high price of fuel, the Federal Government is responsible for SAVING drivers around 15.4 cents per litre.

“It is a bizarre argument that a government already taxing road users via a fuel excise wants credit for not taxing us even more than they do now. And even the present level of fuel excise is not all spent back on roads".

“It is classic Liberal/National arrogance to try and tell us we should be grateful we only have a crippling tax burden, because they could easily be slugging us for even more.”

  Ms Lee Long said that even for users able to claim tax breaks on their diesel, it was Federal Government policy to peg the price to an international benchmark in Singapore.

“We have our own reserves, our own oil rigs and our own refineries and that should be taken into account. By the Treasurer’s own admission these high prices are bad for everyone.”

  ENDS                                                              22/06/06

CAIRNS MENTAL HEALTH UNIT

DENIED NEW INQUIRY

  CALLS for an independent inquiry into resourcing, funding and staffing of Cairns Base Hospital’s Mental Health Unit have been rejected by the Health Minister.

  The calls were contained in a petition put before Parliament by member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long late last month, following the tragic death of local teacher Patricia Van Putten.

“In his response the minister spoke about recognising the value of external reviews, he spoke about action plans, he spoke about updated policy and procedures but he said nothing about an independent inquiry,” Ms Lee Long said. “What he did say was that as of last month, a Patient Safety Officer had started work at the Cairns Base Mental Health unit as part of a national safety priority trial for six months".

  “This is welcome, but only a full investigation will ever get right to the bottom of the issue.”

Ms Lee Long said she would continue to push for adequate services not only at Cairns Base, but in Mareeba and Atherton hospitals as well.

ENDS

01/03/06

GOVT' MUST IMPROVE CAIRNS BASE OR FACE HEALTH MELTDOWN

THE STATE GOVERNMENT must “unreservedly” commit to better facilities, staffing and resources to head off a meltdown at Cairns Base Hospital, Parliament has been told.

Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long MP, speaking on the floor of Parliament about the traumatic circumstances behind the suicide of a local former schoolteacher, also called for a higher priority on mental health.

“There is a high focus on road deaths these days, and rightly so but I think equal attention should be given to our increasingly depressed society and methods to fix their problems as well,” she said.

Earlier on the same day Ms Lee Long put the Health Minister under the microscope over the issue of a woman with seven previous suicide attempts succeeding on her eighth, only a few days after being released from Cairns Base.

“On the seventh attempt she cut her throat and was rushed to Cairns Base Hospital,” Ms Lee Long said.

Speaking outside Parliament Ms Lee Long said the woman was originally going to be released without even having been seen by a doctor.

“I intervened and the patient was seen by a professional, but the result was still the same. She was deemed fit enough to go home and was released. Just six days later, on her eighth attempt, she succeeded in doing exactly as her family and friends feared.

“Cairns Base Hospital is in melt down. Staff members are dedicated and hard working but they are crippled by a lack of beds, funding, resources and staff. That is more reason for the Atherton and Mareeba hospitals to be more fully utilised.”

Ms Lee Long said the Beattie Government had been ignoring warning bells for years.

“This penny-pinching government must commit unreservedly to improving the facilities available, increasing staff and properly resourcing the Cairns Base Hospital to ensure that people in their hour of need get appropriate help.

  “This is what people across Queensland pay their taxes, fees, levies and charges for – that is, for decent services that keep people alive. “It is not too much to expect that in a crisis, help will be available. It is not too much to think that someone who has tried seven times to kill themselves will not just be sent home to try again. “There are times when people do need to be protected from themselves until they are well again. If we fail these people, we run the risk of repeating this kind of tragedy over and over again.”

ENDS

21-04-06.    HEALTH CRISIS A COMPLEX ISSUE

THE FEDERAL government’s abysmal failure to provide enough doctor training places did not let the Beattie Government off the hook for its part in the collapse of public health services, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long has told Parliament.

She was speaking during debate on a motion attacking the Federal Government for not training enough doctors and nurses, as identified in a recent Productivity Commission report.

Ms Lee Long said the crisis crippling the provision of health services has been coming for decades, with warning stretching back 20 years.

“There is no doubt that the Productivity Commission was correct in finding that the federal government is responsible for funding university based education and training places for health workers,” she said.

“Instead of funding additional training places, it has deliberately chosen to sit back and let health services collapse.

There had been more than enough time to train young Australians and Queenslanders to meet the need, spelt out in the Commissions report as being 955 extra medical places and 6,430 extra nurse training places nationally.

“What do we get from those in the pampered halls of federal power? A promise of less than half the necessary number of doctor places and less than one-sixth the necessary nurse numbers,” Ms Lee Long said.

“That is a total betrayal of every Australian and Queenslander on hospital waiting lists and a total betrayal of every Australian and Queenslander in a regional or rural area who has to travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres for medical attention. “It is a total betrayal of mothers who are forced to give birth on the side of the road as they struggle to reach a distant maternity ward in time.”

Ms Lee Long condemned the Federal coalition: “for their arrogant disregard of the people of this nation in failing to ensure enough doctors and nurses are trained right here in Queensland.”

However a large measure of fault lay with the State government which is responsible for the public hospital system.

“It is the state government--and for most of the past two decades in Queensland that has meant an ALP government--that manages that vital service,” she said.

“It is the state that is solely responsible for having created a work environment so bad that hundreds and hundreds of doctors and nurses have left year after year.

“Surely, as obvious as the need to train more doctors might have been, so, too, was it blindingly obviously that we needed to keep those doctors and nurses that we were lucky enough to already have.

 “We have heard nothing to convince us that we should suddenly trust the assurances of the same government that insisted for years that our public hospital system was just fine, thank you very much.

“Much more needs to be done. This motion recognises that responsibility for creating university places lies with an uncaring federal coalition but, significantly, the other part lies with this ALP state government. They all need to get real.  

“We need to realise that the health of our constituents is the first and primary responsibility of every level of government,” Ms Lee Long said.

ENDS

18/11/05 DAMS THE ONLY ANSWER

NEW dams were the only answer to Queensland’s worsening water crisis, State Parliament has been told.    Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long spelt out this argument during recent debate on water legislation aimed at addressing that crisis . While the legislation included provisions allowing service providers to pass on costs of any necessary works to users, and increased their powers to make restrictions, Ms Lee Long said it missed the point.

                    “I think a most telling comment in documents accompanying this bill says that: “The current water supply shortage being experienced in south east Queensland raises immediate and longer-term issues about the actions necessary to protect the security of the State’s essential water supply needs,” she said

                “There is only one way to ensure we have enough water, and that is to store it in dams. “Desalination, recycling, rainwater tanks, they all have their place and all serve useful functions. But none provide the same large-scale, long term answers as do dams.

                “We simply need to build more dams. It is not complicated. It is the policy which has worked for decades, that has watered our towns and cities, and opened up vast stretches of country. And it is the dumping of that policy which has led us directly into this crisis.”

                        Speaking after parliament Ms Lee Long said she would continue to push for Nullinga Dam on the Walsh, and to have the Tully Millsteam hydro electricity generating scheme put back on the drawing board.

                          “These two projects would transform the entire north while, in the case of Tully-Millstream, providing clean, green power in massive quantities.

                         “We live in the wettest part of the driest inhabited continent on the planet, surely we can do better.”

ENDS

18/11/05     GOVERNMENT AGREEMENTS BEHIND WATER WOES

WATER woes now plaguing Queensland had their genesis in a joint Federal-State agreement made in the mid-1990s, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long said yesterday.

Ms Lee Long said the current no-dams, charge-for-everything attitude to water was based firmly on a 1994 Council of Australian Government agreement which claimed not enough was being charging for water in rural areas.

“Those COAG participants then agreed that full cost pricing for water must be implemented across Australia,” Ms Lee Long said.

 The Member for Tablelands outlined the background to the existing water regime in debate on the Water Amendment Bill at a recent sittings of Parliament.

“In 1994 we had a federal Labor government under Keating, a Labor government in Queensland and a variety of Liberal and Labor governments in all the other states and territories,” she said.

“Since then, the federal government has changed hands to the Liberal-National coalition under Howard and Anderson and then Vaile which currently has the Nationals holding the balance of power.

“In Queensland, we had a term of a National-Liberal coalition in conjunction with the federal coalition before the state returned to Labor in 1998. Yet nothing was turned around during these terms in favour of the rural conservative voters.

“The changed control of the water in this country and this state is now through bipartisan or converged political agreement and control.”

Things were not likely to get better anytime soon, she said.

“The Queensland Water Plan 2005-2010 will bring in new charges next year, and they will be reviewed again just two years after that.

“Where have all our taxes, fees, levies and charges gone?” Ms Lee Long asked.

“Not into health, not into our water supply and not on our roads. We do not even seem to have enough for anything. But we can afford to fly the Premier around the world and, more recently, to the Melbourne Cup.

“I hope his cup runneth over, because for the rest of us it is a damned dry drink indeed.”

27/10/05

  LABOR MISMANAGEMENT CAUSES HEALTH CRISIS

THE Beattie Government should hand its head in shame at being responsible for the crisis in public health, Member for Tablelands Rosa Lee Long has told Parliament.

Ms Lee Long, speaking after the Government announced it would be raising taxes to pay for vital repairs to the public hospital system, said Queenslanders already paid for a free public health service.

“We already pay more than enough to have first world facilities and a full complement of top-flight medical professionals--but what do we get? We get hundreds of millions of dollars of public money spent on football fields and pedestrian bridges and cultural precincts while our hospitals are running down, our few remaining doctors are overworked and our nurses are nailed to the wall,” she said.

“For nearly 16 years, health in this state has reflected the priorities of Labor governments.

“Who caused it--who sat on top of the heap and directed money into high-profile vote- buying projects, instead of looking after the health of Queenslanders? None other than Premiers Goss and Beattie--that is who,” she said.

“Who stood up in this place year after year and said everything was fine in Queensland Health? ALP premiers and ALP health ministers.

“Who told us just months ago, while Queenslanders were dying under the knife, that it was all okay and that our waiting lists were the shortest in the country? This ALP government--that is who.”

Ms Lee Long said the Beattie Government did not own up to anything until they were caught out by “one gutsy nurse.”

“And what is the best they can do now? Bring in higher fees and charges and consider means testing for surgery, specialist outpatient services, spectacle subsidies, pharmaceutical safety nets and dental health services,” Ms Lee Long said.

Speaking after parliament she said it was “disgraceful” that the people of Queensland were being asked to fork out to fix the under-funding of health which had gone on for most of the past two decades.

“Now that they have been caught out, the best they can come up with is to betray the very basis of a free public hospital system.”

“‘Sorry’ is not good enough. Everyone in this so-called Team Beattie should hang their heads in shame, shame and more shame.”