Investing in the Way Back for Redcliffe and Caboolture

The Liberal National Government will invest $1.2 million to secure the future sustainability of The Way Back Support Service and to expand their suicide prevention support beyond the Redcliffe Hospital to also deliver services to patients from Caboolture Hospital.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the funding means that The Way Back Support Service, delivered by the Richmond Fellowship Queensland, will be able to continue providing their high quality one-on-one, non-clinical and practical support to patients discharged from Redcliffe and Caboolture Hospital.

“I visited The Way Back Support Service in December with Luke Howarth and saw the fantastic and vital work they do in the Redcliffe community to support patients get back on their feet following an attempted suicide, so I was only too pleased to be able to make this important investment.

“Luke Howarth has been a strong supporter of this service and has lobbied strongly on behalf of the Richmond Fellowship Queensland to secure this funding,” Minister Hunt said today.

Member for Petrie, Luke Howarth, said he was delighted to be able to secure this increased funding for patients discharged from Redcliffe and Caboolture hospitals.

“The Way Back Support Service is all about keeping people safe, connected to services and well-supported following discharge from hospital when they are most vulnerable.

“The service fills a vital gap in community services and I am proud that the Liberal National Government is not only ensuring that patients discharged form Redcliffe in my own electorate will have access to this service, but patients discharged from Caboolture, in neighbouring Longman, will also now benefit from the service’s expansion,”

“It’s only because of the strong economic management of the Liberal Nationals Government that we can invest in essential community services like this,” Mr Howarth said today.

The Liberal National Government’s strong economic management ensures the continued record investment of funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and hospitals.

Construction starts on Moreton Bay’s latest specialist disability accommodation for young people

Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher today turned the first sod at Youngcare’s specialist disability accommodation (SDA) development in North Lakes, Brisbane, marking the start of construction.

Minister Fletcher said this new specialist housing will help younger people with disability, aged between 18 and 64, in Moreton Bay move out of aged care and into a home that encourages independence – enabling them to live in their community.

Minister Fletcher said the Morrison Government is taking action to improve housing outcomes for people with disability, with changes to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) SDA rules announced today.

“Across the country, there are around 11,000 people benefiting from this type of accommodation, which supports NDIS participants with an extreme functional impairment or very high care needs,” Mr Fletcher said.

“The Government is removing barriers to SDA funding so that NDIS participants can get SDA included in plans sooner.

“All state and territory governments are now on board with the first tranche of reforms, which will build market confidence and drive stronger investment in SDA, stimulating construction and supply of SDA properties.”

The announcement builds on the Government’s action plan to get younger people with disability out of residential aged care, unveiled last week.

“This innovative new housing development here in North Lakes will provide seven two-bedroom homes that will be fully equipped with state-of-the-art high care technology and tailored to people’s needs.”

Federal Member for Petrie, Luke Howarth welcomed the investment into specialist disability accommodation in the Moreton Bay region.

“Investment in specialist disability accommodation by organisations like Youngcare enables young Australians to live more fulfilling lives.”

Youngcare CEO, Anthony Ryan said, “Every younger person, regardless of their care needs, deserves to choose where they live, who they live with, and how they live their lives.

“This North Lakes development offers seven two-bedroom High Care Housing apartments, a rehabilitation clinic, and retail tenancies on the ground floor.

“Together with the community, Moreton Bay Regional Council and Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane, we are creating real choice and dignity for these young people.”

This specialist housing development is expected to be completed by late 2019.

When the NDIS is fully rolled out, around $700 million in SDA payments will be made each year to support around 28,000 eligible NDIS participants to live in their own homes.

GATEWAY UPGRADE NORTH NOW COMPLETE

South-East Queenslanders are getting home sooner and safer after the opening of the newly widened section of the Gateway Motorway.

The completion of the section means the massive $1.1 billion Gateway Upgrade North project is now finished. The project supported over 1,000 jobs during its construction.

Federal Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said the project was part of the Morrison Goverrment’s plan to bust congestion across the region – one of the fastest growing in Australia.

“And there is more relief to come – only last month we announced $244.25 million under the Morrison Government’s Urban Congestion Fund,” Mr Tudge said.

“We want people to be spending less time in traffic, and more time at home with their families and doing what’s important.”

In addition the Morrison Government has $7.2 billion invested into major urban infrastructure projects across South East Queensland.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the gateway upgrade would help to unlock major economic growth in Queensland by busting congestion for motorists and vastly improving freight access to the Australia TradeCoast (ATC), Port of Brisbane and Brisbane Airport.

“This is a $214 million investment by the Queensland Government that has transformed the Gateway Motorway and improved Bruce Highway connectivity for the thousands of Queenslanders and businesses who rely on this important corridor every day,” the Premier said.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said extra lanes on the motorway and Deagon Deviation are already significantly reducing congestion while the upgraded Nudgee Interchange will improve access, traffic flow and driver safety on and off the motorway in each direction.

“Daily, more than 83,000 vehicles travel along motorway between Nudgee and Deagon. The Gateway Upgrade North will provide relief for motorists today and allow for growth in the future,” Mr Bailey said.

Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth said works involved widening 11.3 kilometres of the Motorway from four to six lanes between Nudgee to the Deagon Deviation and the construction of an off-road shared pathway.

“The bike path will provide a safe and efficient off-road connection for local cyclists along the Gateway Motorway between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge.” Mr Howarth said.

The $1.1 billion Gateway Upgrade North project was jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, with the Australian Government committing $861.78 million and the Queensland Government committing $214.45 million.

HOWARTH URGES LABOR TO PUT COMMUNITY INTERESTS AHEAD OF POLITICAL INTERESTS

 Local MP Luke Howarth is calling on the State Labor Government to progress plans for a car park at the Mango Hill Train Station, with the project gaining funding certainty from both sides of politics.

Mr Howarth said, State Member Steven Miles had shelved plans for the car park pending the outcome of the Federal Election, before the funding was committed by the Liberal National Government in January.

“The Prime Minister and I announced months ago that the Government would deliver the funds needed to build the car park, yet we are still waiting for Mr Miles to press the start button.”

“While locals drive around each morning in frustration looking for a park or trenching through mud, the State Labor Government is holding up the solution for their own political gain.”

Mr Miles had previously directed the Department of Transport and Main Roads to stop the Expressions of Interest process for the development of the land, citing Labor’s election commitment as the reason for the delay.

With the funds now readily available, Mr Howarth said Mr Miles and Labor had run out of excuses.

“Holding up this car park in the hope of scoring a cheap political win is a shameful way to treat the community he represents.”

“The money is there – let’s get on with it!” Mr Howarth said.

Mr Howarth said he had written to Mr Miles and asked for an update on plans to build the car park.

When I talk to parents, teachers and principals, I keep hearing the same thing over and over.

People want the Government to invest in schools so their kids get a quality education.

We know the world is changing. Over the last ten years, major economic, social and technological changes have been reshaping employment, the economy, society and individuals.

That means our education system has to respond to these changes.

This week, I invited local school principals to talk to Federal Education Minister, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, about the future of education in the Petrie Electorate, and in Australia.

Parents, teachers and principals want to know their school is getting enough money.

Funding is important, and that’s why the Morrison Government is providing record, needs-based funding of $307.7 billion for state schools, Catholic schools and Independent schools, including $65.8 billion for Queensland schools.

But common sense is one of our greatest natural resources in Queensland and there were plenty of principals who made the point that spending more money won’t improve results unless you have a plan on how that investment will improve outcomes.

I agree. When it comes to improving our education system, much work has been done but there is still more work to do.

In return for our Government’s record investment, the Queensland Government has committed to introducing important reforms recommended by David Gonski that will lift education standards.

These include: new tools for teachers, changes to the curriculum and a national student identifier.

The Federal Government will lead the way on data collection and research to further improve our understanding of performance and to guide future reform.

We are also ensuring our next generation of teachers are better prepared to provide a top-class education from day one.

Every teaching student must pass a test that puts them in the top 30 per cent of the adult population for literacy and numeracy before they can graduate. Starting this year, graduates will also be required to pass a teaching performance assessment before they graduate.

Like passing a driving test before being allowed on the road, teachers will be assessed on things like managing challenging behaviour and how they teach literacy and numeracy before they’re allowed in the classroom.

This year, the Federal Government has also embarked on a nationwide consultation to hear from parents, teachers and principals about what they want to see in the nation’s goals for education, which is called the Melbourne Declaration.

It’s timely to have a frank discussion and to ask: is our education system delivering the results we want? And just as importantly: what are the results that we want?

The feedback provided at the forum will be used as part of this process and there will be more opportunities for the people of Petrie to have their say. Everyone has a stake in our education system.