Last edition, we asked our readers what questions they has for the three main McConnel candidates for the state election: Grace Grace (Labor), Christien Duffey (LNP) and Holstein Wong (Greens). Here are their responses.
Q: What’s the number one issue in the McConnel electorate? How would you fix it?
Grace said it is cost of living, and they are providing $1,000 rebates to every single energy bill, rising to $1,372 for pensioners and seniors; they have cut car rego by 20 per cent; and their game-changing 50c public transport fares are delivering savings.
Holstein said it is the housing crisis, and they have a comprehensive plan including an emergency rent freeze measure followed by caps on rent increases; bringing back a publicly-owned bank to offer cheaper mortgages; and building more public housing.
Christian said it is cost of living, and they will deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable power; affordable car rego and licences; plus will take pressure off rents by working with councils to approve more homes and abolish stamp duty for first home buyers.
Q: How will you harness the opportunity the Olympics provides to create improvements in McConnel?
Holstein said shegrew up in Sydney and saw the impacts of the 2000 Games on housing affordability and local communities. She said she will fight to ensure community greenspace is preserved, build more public housing and work to create more frequent public transport routes to help ease congestion.
Christien said the Games must deliver generational road and rail infrastructure and a 20-year tourism plan. He said they will establish an independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority and their Gold CityGlider plan will connect Portside Hamilton to key hubs like Newstead, Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, the CBD, and Woolloongabba.
Grace said the Games will be a winner for small businesses by attracting visitors. Service providers will benefit from the estimated $200 billion in Queensland Government procurement opportunities. She said they have a dedicated website which allows businesses to register for business opportunity updates.
Q: Fortitude Valley has a lot of potential – How would you support entertainment venues there which are struggling, and how do you think this area should be developed?
Grace said they have a $3 million Live Music Venue Business Grants program. They also appointed John Collins as the first Queensland Night-Life Economy Commissioner, who will work with local industry to boost the night economy. They also announced $1.6 million through the Growing Gigs Fund and Live Music Venue Business Grants to help venues diversify.
Holstein said to secure smaller arts venues, State government should buy them and lease out management rights to locals. She wants to impose a vacancy levy on long-term unused spaces like those in the Waltons and McWhirter’s buildings and consult the community on their use. The Greens also plan to abolish payroll tax for small and medium sized businesses.
Christien said he will work with the Council to support local venues, through reducing overheads by lowering energy and water costs and reducing red tape. To reinvigorate the night-time economy, he said we need state-led initiatives like promoting local events and entertainment. By keeping the Valley vibrant and diverse, we can ensure it remains a central cultural and entertainment hub in McConnel.
Q: Waste management – how will you improve the recycling system?
Christien said the LNP’s priorities for the environment include preserving our environment with additional focus on local environmental projects and enhanced invasive species management and improving the health of our waterways.
Grace said their container refund scheme has diverted over 8 billion containers and given $800 million back to Queenslanders and charities. She said they have banned or are phasing out many single-use plastics. They have introduced minimum shopping bag reusability standards, and they provide funding to supply Food and Garden Organic bins.
Holstein said for too long, the onus on recycling has focused on the consumer. She said that producers and big corporations need to be accountable for their part in the circular economy, and they need to consider waste management in overall product design.
