Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth said the likelihood of a more balanced Parliament after the 2015 election would be good for Queensland. ‘We have seen over the last three years with the Newman Government, and with the Beattie/Bligh Government before, that big majorities alienate the government from the people .’ ‘A more balanced parliament means better representation.’ Mr Knuth said regional Queensland was tired of politicians parachuting in and promising to build an inland highway every time the Bruce Highway was cut off but then allocating funds to BAT tunnels in Brisbane. ‘The inland highway would boost regional economies and relieve pressure off the Bruce Highway’ Mr Knuth said ‘KAP will build essential infrastructure like the inland highway, not tunnels to save five mins off Brisbane commute times.’ Mr Knuth said the two major parties have been competing to see who could promise the most jobs but not how they would invest in infrastructure. ‘The way to create real, full time jobs, is to invest in major projects and support local industries’ Mr Knuth said ‘KAP will revisit the Tully-Millstream Hydroelectric power scheme which will create over 700 jobs and provide reliable, clean energy to the Far North.’ ‘We will mandate 10% locally produced ethanol fuel to boost the sugar and grain industries and introduce a Fair Milk Mark to ensure our dairy farmers are paid a fair price.’ Last year, KAP MP’s, with other independent MP’s signed an accord to block the sale of any state assets. Mr Knuth said the sale of assets would inevitably lead to multinational companies outsourcing Queensland jobs offshore. ‘We saw this with Telstra and now Qantas’ he said ‘the last thing we want is our pensioners negotiating power prices with large multinational corporations.’ ‘The price of electricity tripled when we sold off the distribution arm of our energy sector, imagine what will happen when multinationals own the whole industry.’ ‘We will also review the the massive service fee on electricity bills.’ Electricity is not the only cost of living expense KAP will be tackling, insurance is high on the sitting MP’s priorities. ‘KAP will re-establish a State Government Insurance Office to stop the insurance rort’ Mr Knuth said. Mr Knuth said the preference toward southern companies for government tenders was killing local businesses. ‘It is extremely difficult for locals to get government contracts’ he said ‘KAP will preference local business in all government tenders and assist small business through the tender process.’ Mr Knuth said the preference to southern companies demonstrated the Brisbane focus of the major parties. ‘KAP will arrange an independent assessment of the funding difference between Brisbane and regional Queensland’ he said ‘we want to ensure rural and regional Queensland get our fair share.’ END MEDIA RELEASE
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 21:43:20 +0000