Groom votes: Ultimate guide to party policies and promises for Toowoomba at federal election

Labor’s Groom candidate has clarified her position on the New Acland Coal Mine. Our rolling coverage on the federal election here:

Labor’s Groom candidate has refused to comment on whether she supports the planned expansion of the New Acland Coal Mine.

Gen Allpass (below) was called on to clarify her position on the project by pro-mine group Friends of New Acland on social media, said the matter was a state issue.

The Queensland Government has not approved the controversial third stage, despite a recommendation from the Land Court last year.

Ms Allpass’ opponent Garth Hamilton expressed support for the expansion, but the Labor candidate said she would not be drawn into the discussion.

“I’m not going to play Mr Hamilton’s game — he’s basing his whole campaign on a state policy because he knows how horrendous his federal policies are,” she said.

“He is trying to wedge (our community) on a divisive issue.

“If it’s supposedly a federal issue, why has Mr Hamilton not done anything about it while the Coalition have been in government?”

Friends of New Acland Mine spokesperson Tom Gaslevich said the community deserves clarity from Ms Allpass and the ALP before heading to the polls.

“We have no idea if Ms Allpass is pro-mining,” Mr Gaslevich said.

“We don’t know if she and Federal Labor support New Acland Stage 3 or the 490 workers who have lost their jobs over the past two years.”

MAY 9: CANDIDATE’S ‘RADICAL’ HOUSING PLAN REVEALED

A “radical” plan to allow Toowoomba residents to own an affordable home has been proposed by an independent running for Groom at the upcoming election.

Kirstie Smolenski says her Housing Affordability Initiative will be introduced as a private members’ bill if she is elected after May 21.

She said the plan is similar to community title schemes seen in retirement resorts, where the land is owned by a single entity (in this case the Toowoomba council) and houses can be bought by residents on 99-year leases.

Ms Smolenski said council’s infrastructure costs would be covered by federal funding, and government bonds would be used to buy the land if it was held privately.

“We’ve put (many ideas) together and come up with a radical plan,” she said.

“We’re putting tried and true concepts together to come up with housing that can be built relatively quickly, in a sustainable way, in areas... around Toowoomba.”

The proposal essentially removes any potential for capital gains to be made, since Ms Smolenski said the homes’ values would be indexed, while new homebuyers would still likely need to get finance.

The independent insisted banks would find the scheme attractive and that there was a large chunk of people who would be interested in escaping the rental market.

“We actually do something similar in retirement villages, where its a leasehold, there is a general tenure to the land but the owners own their home,” Ms Smolenski said.

“We’re talking about people who have a good income, but they’re priced out of the market.”

Ms Smolenski said the initiative also included plans to create community and commercial centres within the parcels.

MAY 6: QUESTIONS OVER CANDIDATE NO-SHOWS AT DV MARCH

Questions have been raised as to why all but two of the Groom candidates did not show up at the National Domestic Violence Remembrance Day march.

On Thursday afternoon hundreds of residents including student leaders, Toowoomba Region councillors, senior police and community organisations marched down Ruthven Street, calling for action on domestic violence.

Sadly, one in six women have experienced violence at the hands of their partner while one in five woman has been sexually abused.

About one third of people living on the street say they are homeless because they are fleeing a violent partner, while nine Australian children have been killed by their parents in the past four months.

Rally organiser and Domestic Violence Action Centre manager Kath Turley said the candidates had been silent on domestic violence despite rising rates of offending.

“As a sector we are absolutely under-resourced around the support services for victims, survivors and for perpetrators,” she said.

“If we are serious about tackling domestic violence we need to look at what drives it.

“We need to look at prevention and that means getting into the schools and getting resources for businesses so they can support staff who are victims or perpetrators.

“This is an issue that affects the whole community.”

ALP candidate Gen Allpass and independent Suzie Holt were the only Groom candidates to support the march.

The Chronicle contacted every candidate and asked why they did not attend.

A spokeswoman for Groom MP Garth Hamilton said he had been unavailable.

Independent Kirstie Smolenski said she “wasn’t informed” but worked with a DV refuge and would have thought twice about using the march as a campaign opportunity.

One Nation candidate Grant Abraham said he had work commitments.

UAP candidate Melissa Bannister said there was a “scheduling issue” that prevented her from attending while Greens candidate Mickey Berry said they weren’t aware it was on.

The remaining candidates did not respond in time.

MAY 5: ALLPASS SLAMS ‘NAIVE’ GREENS OVER PREFERENCES

Labor candidate Gen Allpass has slammed her Greens counterpart, after the party announced it would preference Groom’s two independents ahead of her.

First-time campaigner Mickey Berry has revealed she will ask her supporters to place both Suzie Holt and Kirstie Smolenski higher on their ballot sheets on May 21, ahead of ALP candidate Gen Allpass.

While voters are reminded that they determine their preferences and not parties, Berry said Ms Holt and Ms Smolenski were closer aligned with Greens values than Labor’s national policy on a number of key issues.

“Climate action is a really big thing this time, so both of those independents have better platforms than Labor this time around,” Berry said.

“Labor’s stance on the religious discrimination bill is another — a lot of the independents (nationally) sit on my side of politics. This is both the local branch’s and the Qld Greens’ decision.”

Ms Allpass said the decision was politically “naive” of the Greens.

“This one of the most naive and ridiculous decisions by the local Greens that we’ve seen in quite a while,” she said.

“We are the only party that has costed out and included a workforce to head towards climate change action, with a plan that can actually be done.

“Rather than pie-in-the-sky fluffy ideas that sound nice but literally will not work.”

The Greens made a strong showing in 2019 with well-known figure Alyce Nelligan, polling nearly eight per cent.

MAY 5: HAMILTON BACKS CONTROVERSIAL RELIGIOUS BILL

Groom MP Garth Hamilton has stood behind his government’s controversial religious discrimination bill, declaring he still supported the current iteration that is likely dead in the Senate.

Mr Hamilton’s comments come as the Australian Christian Lobby ramped up its fight to get the original legislation back before the new parliament.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated he would re-introduce the bill, which was changed by several protections for the LGBTQ community by Labor and the Greens.

“I spoke in favour of it before, I spoke on the bill that we put forward, it had gone through a fair bit of changes, but my position hasn’t changed,” Mr Hamilton said.

While advocates say the bill protects the rights of faith-based schools and institutions, critics say it will empower non-secular organisations to discriminate against marginalised groups.

Independent Suzie Holt said she was opposed to the bill, saying it was in contrast to her “strong liberal views that our government should not be dictating how we live”.

“In relation to the Religious Discrimination Bill, my views are strongly in line with the five courageous members of the Liberal party who crossed the floor due to the unfairness of the proposed legislation,” she said.

“Let’s not forget, we already have very strong anti-discrimination laws in this country and all that the proposed legislation was doing was causing division within our communities.”

Mr Hamilton’s Labor opponent Gen Allpass said the LNP’s bill did not improve discrimination laws, but rather weakened them for marginalised communities.

“We moved a number of amendments to prevent religious vilification, home-based services also couldn’t discriminate on the basis of religion,” she said, referring to the added protections.

“A future Labor Government would enact legislation to protect people of faith from discrimination, while also preventing discrimination against students on any grounds and protecting teachers from discrimination at work, whilst maintaining the rights of schools to preference their faiths with hiring.”

Greens candidate Mickey Berry said Mr Hamilton’s support for the bill was unacceptable.

“It’s really disappointing to see our local MP support a bill that discriminates against our LGBTQ community here, including trans and gender-diverse people,” they said.

MAY 4: INDEPENDENTS FIRE BACK AT MP OVER ‘FUZZY’ REMARKS

Groom’s two independent candidates have returned fire at incumbent Garth Hamilton, after the MP accused them of not understanding the role they were vying for.

Suzie Holt and Kirstie Smolenski, who have made gains in recent weeks with voters, were on the receiving end of comments from Mr Hamilton this week.

The LNP candidate doubled-down on Wednesday, saying he wasn’t convinced the minor party candidates knew what issues were the responsibilities of state and federal governments.

“A glance over what they do talk about, there’s a lot of talk about state issues,” he said.

“They were unclear about the role of what it was they were interviewing for.

“We’ve seen what independents can do in terms of a lack of clarity — (independents across the nation) can deliver a Labor/Greens government, that’s the extent of their ability to deliver.”

Mr Hamilton denied his comments meant he took them seriously as a threat, saying he still believed the choice was between Labor’s Gen Allpass and himself.

It comes after The Chronicle’s survey of more than 300 enrolled Groom voters revealed more than 40 per cent of respondents who voted for previous MP John McVeigh in 2019 were considering moving their vote elsewhere on May 21.

Ms Smolenski, who is basing her campaign on a new hospital, passenger rail, water security and housing, said the comments suggested the LNP was nervous about the pair’s success so far.

“I disagree with what he’s saying there, it’s easy to look at my track record,” she said.

“I’ve campaigned before on different issues and platforms, it’s easy for people to see in this electorate who I am and what I stand for.

“I have a clear vision for Groom, I have a platform that will create the recognition and representation we deserve.

“We have a concrete housing policy initiative that we want to put on the table.

“We’re not just ‘fluffy’, we’ve done our homework.

“The talk of the town will tell us the Liberal Party thinks we’re serious threats.”

Ms Holt, who is backed by the Voices of Groom, didn’t address the comments directly but revealed she would be unveiling new policy proposals in the coming days.

She also reaffirmed her previous plans, which included a private-public partnership to help secure a new hospital for Toowoomba.

“For the past 18 months, our team has been progressing a vision for this region,” she said.

“We’ve been working with communities across all of Groom and listening to the people and what they would like for the future of our region.

“We have already been progressing a plan to bring healthcare services to the region now.

“Next week we will outline our plan to address the Inland Rail’s delivery, together with the community, to progress that forward.

“The people of Groom are excited by change, someone who listens and hears the community and understands the community and wants to take that to Canberra.”

MAY 2: CANDIDATES ANNOUNCE PREFERENCES ON HOW-TO-VOTE CARDS

Two major parties have announced their preference lists in the fight for Groom.

Labor candidate Gen Allpass and Liberal National candidate and current Groom member Garth Hamilton have announced their recommendations for voters when it’s time to cast their ballots on May 21.

Mrs Allpass has placed herself as number 1, Greens candidate Mickey Berry for 2, independent Suzie Holt as 3 and independent Kirstie Smolenski as 4.

“We tried to fit in who we thought we most aligned with in our policies and our morals,” Mrs Allpass said.

“It is a very difficult ballot to preference given who we have to choose from.”

Mrs Allpass placed Mr Hamilton in fifth spot, with Melissa Bannister, Grant Abraham and Ryan Otto following behind.

“Regardless of the how to vote cards, they should always put who they think should come next,” she said.

“I am very concerned about the splitting of votes from independents and minor parties.”

The May 21 election provides a clear choice, with real consequences for Australia’s economy – and our local...

Posted by Garth Hamilton MP on Friday, April 29, 2022

Mr Hamilton has placed himself first, One Nation’s Grant Abraham as 2, United Australia Party’s Melissa Bannister as 3, and independent Kirstie Smolenski as 4.

“The May 21 election provides a clear choice, with real consequences for Australia’s economy and our local community,” he said.

“I’m asking for voters to put me first on their ballot sheet, and the parties that pose the greatest threat to our region’s prosperity last. A Labor-Greens, Albanese-led Government would pose an unacceptable risk to our future growth.”

I am not doing a ‘How to Vote’ card. I am not affiliated or aligned with any political party. I am not doing any...

Posted by Suzie Holt 4 Groom on Sunday, May 1, 2022

Independent Suzie Holt has been recommended as the fifth vote, followed by Australian Federation Party’s Ryan Otto, Labor’s Gen Allpass and The Greens’ Mickey Berry.

Meanwhile, Mrs Holt and Mrs Smolenski have said they will not offer preference lists.

“We’re aligning ourselves with true independents that believe the community can decide who they want to preference,” Mrs Holt said.

“That’s true democracy at work and we’re putting out a how-to-vote card. It will have a one next to me and question marks.”

Mrs Smolenski said she felt confident she could win without a list of recommended preferences.

“We trust who you know you would like to preference,” she said.

Further preference lists are expected to be unveiled in the coming days from remaining Groom candidates.

APRIL 29: CANDIDATES TRADE BARBS IN FIRST MAJOR FORUM

Groom MP Garth Hamilton and his ALP opponent Gen Allpass found themselves in a fiery exchange over Toowoomba’s share of the 2032 Olympics, as the first full federal candidates forum saw independents and minor parties make their case.

More than 130 small business owners, supporters and residents packed into the Cathedral Centre on Thursday night for the Chamber of Commerce’s candidate event ahead of the May 21 vote.

All candidates were quizzed on a range of topics, including the region’s skills and housing shortages, climate change, a new hospital and Groom’s status as a safe seat.

But the most contentious moment of the night was created by the major party candidates who clashed over what Toowoomba could expect from the Olympics in a decade’s time.

After Mr Hamilton noted the region was only slated for preliminary soccer matches in 2032 (something he said should be expanded), Ms Allpass accused the incumbent of not working with the State Government to improve Toowoomba’s share.

“What we need is heavy advocating for getting the Olympics here, getting more people here to show what we have in this region,” she said.

“You’re the government and there’s three of you here (referring to Toowoomba North and South state MPs Trevor Watts and David Janetzki), so why isn’t that happening?”

Mr Hamilton replied: “I’ll refer that to the Minister for the Olympics, Annastacia Palaszczuk.”

Allpass: “I’m not Annastacia Palaszczuk.”

Hamilton: “Well you can refer the question to her.”

Allpass: “That’s your job honey.”

A The Chronicle straw poll found audience members favoured independents Kirstie Smolenski and Suzie Holt, along with both Mr Hamilton and Ms Allpass.

MORE CANDIDATES BACK WELLCAMP

More candidates have expressed support for the highly-touted Wellcamp Entertainment Precinct, but Mr Hamilton remained uncommitted on securing the final $40m required for the project to go ahead.

Each candidate was asked by The Chronicle of their position on the project, which has been predicted to generate millions for the region and create hundreds of jobs during construction.

Mr Hamilton, who has been asked repeatedly about his position on it, said the funding would be better suited as part of a new Olympics package for Toowoomba.

“Toowoomba should be pushing for an Olympics package and that would be the greatest chance it would have (to be funded),” he said.

Ms Allpass gave her strongest support of the proposal to date, calling it a major economic driver.

“It will bring in hundreds of jobs and I think it’s $58m to the national economy, $90m in state and federal tax revenue and it brings in our tourism and growth,” she said.

Greens candidate Mickey Berry also supported the project, citing its flow-on effects to other sectors.

“People will go from events held at this facility to our downtown areas for dinner or have drinks afterwards,” they said.

Ms Smolenski and Ms Holt also gave the project their support, with the former arguing it had to be tied to fast rail as part of Wagner Corp’s proposal.

“People need to understand what it is – it’s not just a racetrack to be used one day a year, it would be used constantly and bring a huge amount of tourism and dollars into our region,” Ms Smolenski said.

“I’m very excited by those opportunities, so let’s go forward, elect me and I will work hard to make sure something happens,” Ms Holt declared.

One Nation’s Grant Abraham agreed with the facility in concept but wouldn’t make a commitment, while the United Australia Party’s Melissa Bannister and Australian Federation Party’s Ryan Otto both believed other matters deserved greater priority.

HOSPITAL SHAPING AS KEY ELECTION ISSUE

While its delivery is a state matter, funding for Toowoomba’s desperately-needed new hospital at Baillie Henderson became a key topic of discussion on Thursday night.

Independents Kirstie Smolenski and Suzie Holt made both health and the hospital part of their pitches to voters, with the latter briefly laying out a private-public partnership plan to move the project forward.

“I’ve been collaborating with local philanthropists and the St Vincent’s executive and hospital board and major developers to create a private-public partnership to create health services now, while we negotiate with the state government over our currently unfunded new hospital,” Ms Holt said.

“I support the AMA’s call to increase the federal-state funding ratio to 50-50.

“As part of the PPP, I will advocate for Groom’s health precinct to allow nurses, doctors and allied health professionals to be trained here, building their lives and staying after they graduate.

“Our new hospital is not on the radar (for the State Government) — not even for the next 10 years.”

Both the LNP’s Garth Hamilton and the ALP’s Gen Allpass also addressed the hospital in a question aimed at them.

While the incumbent MP urged the State Government to press forward with the business case, Ms Allpass argued the combative relationship between the federal and state governments was partially behind the delay.

Ms Bannister said the party planned to invest $40bn into hospitals if it was elected, which would not go through the State Government — a proposal described as a “radical change” by moderator Belinda Sanders.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM EVERY CANDIDATES OPENING PITCH

Ryan Otto (Australian Federation Party)

It’s of my opinion that we need honour from our politicians, who have lost sight of what’s important. We also need honesty and authenticity from our politician instead of rife corruption and nepotism.

We need regular and meaningful direct involvement with our community members.

We need to radically rethink the importance of collective and individual input from every member of our electorate.

The average person today stands voiceless and I want to stand up for them.

Mickey Berry (The Greens)

I would love to see our region switch to renewables, because we have such great resources here to support renewable production and manufacturing. If we could transition to that as seamlessly as possible.

I joined the Greens in 2019 and I’ve been active in the party since then.

Halfway through last year, I decided I wanted to run because I wanted to see more diverse people and young people in politics, so why not walk the walk.

I’m very excited to see local politics change to being more diverse.

Gen Allpass (Labor)

I come from true immigrant working class roots - I’m tough, smart and I know how to work hard.

Right now, I’m fighting for my community, because I believe a lot of different people need support right now and a lot of issues need to be addressed.

Right now in this electorate, everything is going up instead of our wages.

Under the current government, the cost of living is sky-rocketing and working families are falling behind and now they also have to worry about interest rates raising.

That’s why Labor has a plan for cheaper childcare, cheaper power bills and more well-paying jobs.

Grant Abraham (One Nation)

I stand for an independent Australia, I’m very much in favour of bringing back local businesses, I want to support farming in the area.

I definitely want to bring back manufacturing in Australia and cut our ties as much as possible, being dependent on multi-national companies.

We’ve got the resources here, there’s no reason we can’t be independent and create industries in Australia.

I’m a supporter of farming and I would advocate for water security for this area to assist the farmer so they’ve got sufficient water supplies.

Suzie Holt (Independent)

My team and I have been meeting the people of Groom, what they all have in common is why want true representation and their fair share of commonwealth funding.

A share they’ve been denied because Groom is a safe seat.

They want housing, they want jobs, they want a region young workers gravitate to.

They want a new hospital, they want mental health, disability and aged care services.

Most of all, they want a politican with integrity who listens to and represents them and not the donors of political parties.

Melissa Bannister (United Australia Party)

Our businesses thrive when government doesn’t put unnecessary burdens on them, which is why UAP will make provisional tax payable at the end of the year, when you’ve actually made a profit, keeping money in your pocket for longer.

Our small business owners work so hard and the community wants to support local and Australian-made and owned. Imagine if that was clearer on packaging and labelling.

Anything in a product or container that is at least 95 per cent Australian-owned should be labelled in green and gold. Anything else should be coloured red and marked “foreign”.

Finishing higher education with a massive burden of HECS debt puts even more pressure on our young people when they’re trying to get ahead — we believe in making higher education free for Australians.

Garth Hamilton (LNP)

We delivered over $40bn in tax relief to more than $11bn Australian workers, we reduced the small business tax rate to a 50-year low of 25 per cent.

The asset right-off has been one of the most popular measures in Groom for small businesses, covering assets from Landcruisers to coffee machines and we now have more apprentices in trades than we’ve ever had before, thanks to the incentives this government.

There is more to this story, with cost of living payments, cashflow boosts, temporary halving of the fuel excise, and the remarkably successful Homebuilder and Jobkeeper programs, which many have told me kept their businesses afloat.

Our response wasn’t perfect - there was no playbook. But we never gave up on our plan for Australia’s economic recovery.

Kirstie Smolenski (Independent)

I am totally committed to this region. I’ve had a lifelong interest in community issues that put me front and centre of the regional water debate in 2006.

This experience of toxic partisan politics cemented my belief that independent representation would affect more change for the people.

As a registered nurse for almost 20 years, with the responsibility of people’s lives in my hands, I learned the value of sourcing correct information and committing to a code of conduct.

To be elected, it is well-documented that the candidate needs a strong track record and a profile. Our door-knockers have engaged with hundreds of households, and found more than 10 per cent either know me personally or have heard of me.

From front and centre in the water debate, to the top 100 most influential people in the region over the past three years, my name is familiar.

APRIL 28: HAMILTON BACKS NET ZERO

Groom MP Garth Hamilton says he is now fully committed to the Coalition’s net zero targets, just months after breaking ranks with the Prime Minister over the issue.

Mr Hamilton, who expressed doubt over setting the target back in September last year, declared his support for Scott Morrison’s pre-election pitch that Australia would join with other nations achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

It comes a day after Senator Matt Canavan (pictured) declared the commitment was “dead”, something Mr Hamilton dismissed.

“Matt is Matt, he speaks his mind, but the government’s position is clear,” he said.

“I sought assurances from the government when this was raised, I got those assurances and I made that conversation clear and I’m quite happy to have had it.

“I’m supportive of the government’s position, I understand that’s our target and I’m very happy we’re moving ahead.”

Mr Hamilton also denied the region was not tapping enough into renewable projects, saying Groom was “energy agnostic”.

Mr Hamilton’s ALP opponent Gen Allpass said the incumbent MP’s previous comments proved he couldn’t be trusted on the issue.

“We should also remember that it was Garth Hamilton who joined his Queensland National colleagues in voicing opposition to the Morrison government’s proposed net-zero emissions target,” she said.

“The Morrison government is both divided and divisive when it comes to energy.”

Independent Suzie Holt said Toowoomba residents and business owners supported a more aggressive plan for climate change action.

“My greatest concern is what we’ve seen in the past couple of days is that the likes of Matt Canavan and the member for Flynn have been flip-flopping,” she said.

“Listening to our business community and our farmers, they want certainty of moving to net zero by 2050.

“Our businesses want us to move forward with that transition and look at the benefits of what we can get for our region.”

Greens candidate Mickey Berry was contacted for comment.

APRIL 28: HAMILTON PLANS LETTER-BOMB OVER LABOR ‘LIES’

Groom MP Garth Hamilton says he has sent out 14,000 letters to Toowoomba pensioners to assure them a Coalition Government won’t force seniors onto the cashless welfare card.

Mr Hamilton said his hand was forced after being “overwhelmed” by the number of pensioners scared by allegations from Labor candidate Gen Allpass that the controversial card scheme would be expanded to include the aged pension.

He also said Ms Allpass should apologise for spreading what he and the government has called incorrect.

“I’ve been overwhelmed with pensioners coming in, some of them quite frankly scared out of their wits about this story that’s being run about us forcing them onto the cashless welfare card,” Mr Hamilton said.

“If the local candidate had apologised and stopped spreading this …, I wouldn’t have to be sending 14,000 letters out to pensioners, confirming this is just a Labor scare campaign.

“The Labor candidate sent out a flyer and continues to advance these claims on social media and I want to put these to bed.”

The pair came to blows on social media last week over the issue, as the future of the card remains a national topic.

Ms Allpass double-downed on her claims, citing statistics from the Department of Social Security that 25 pensioners were already on the scheme.

“It is my responsibility to let my community know that until the commitment is provided to the Senate and appears in the cashless debit card legislation, there is nothing written in law today that prevents the LNP from including more age pensioners on the program at any point,” she said.

“By trying to obfuscate on the aged pension, Mr Hamilton is masking the truth about all the other pensions and Centrelink payments already on the card, such as disability support pension, carer payments, austudy and jobseeker, to name a few.”

Mr Hamilton said no senior already on the card was using it for the aged pension.

APRIL 27: CANDIDATES QUIZZED ON ANTI-CORRUPTION BODY

Three of Garth Hamilton’s election challengers in Groom want a stronger federal anti-corruption commission from the next government, but the incumbent MP says the Coalition’s “law and order” approach is the right model.

The ALP’s Gen Allpass and independents Suzie Holt and Kirstie Smolenski all backed differing models that they said would clamp down on government corruption and boost trust in the political system.

A federal integrity body has become a major election issue for both sides of politics, with the Coalition failing to introduce legislation during the previous term.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government has spent $50m on the proposal but won’t bring it to the floor until it has support from Labor, while Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has expressed serious concerns about the scope of the proposed commission.

Mr Hamilton said he wanted to avoid the body becoming a “star chamber”.

“If we’re going to put this up it should have a focus on law and order,” he said.

“The worst outcome would be if this became a star chamber to be used for political purposes.”

Mr Hamilton also rejected Labor’s argument that the proposal would not allow for retrospective investigations, calling the Opposition’s plan a “two page document”.

Gen Allpass

Ms Allpass called the Coalition’s proposed commission “weak”, saying the ALP supported a more transparent and independent concept.

“Mr Morrison’s proposed integrity commission is so weak that it would be unable to commence its own independent inquiries into government corruption, (it is) prevented from holding public hearings into politicians or public servants, and is banned from investigating any of the multiple past scandals,” she said.

“It has been described by legal experts as a body designed not to stamp out corruption, but help cover it up.

“Mr Hamilton is once again trying to pull the wool over the eyes of our community – we’re smarter than that.”

Suzie Holt

Independent Suzie Holt said both sides of politics should back MP Helen Haines’ proposed bill, which would give whistleblower protections and host public hearings.

“We have been listening to the community, and they’ve had enough of the lack of accountability,” she said.

Suzie Holt.

“I want a strong integrity bill with teeth. I fully support Helen Haines’ bill and it should be adopted by both parties, but it was rejected.”

Ms Holt said the main goal of the legislation was to restore trust in the political process.

Kirstie Smolenski

Fellow independent Kirstie Smolenski said she wanted to see something even broader than Ms Haines’ plan, where a commission would extend to areas like political donations.

“What the Liberal Government is proposing is inadequate — it’s not far-reaching enough, it won’t allow for historical allegations,” she said.

“Helen’s is a great start but it needs to be expanded — finding the truth should be our main priority.”

Grant Abraham

One Nation’s candidate Grant Abraham said he wasn’t opposed to a new anti-corruption body, but believed it couldn’t be used to ruin reputations.

Mr Abraham, a former police officer who left over his stance on the Covid-19 vaccine, cited Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission as an example.

“I think there’s definitely a place for it — obviously, (with) the way politics has gone for so many years without too much accountability,” he said.

“I don’t necessarily think I would like to have a star chamber, it would need to be evidence-based, so it can’t be used the wrong way.

“Some of these things can be extremely unfair if there’s too much power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, no one person should be untouchable.”

Melissa Bannister

United Australia Party’s Melissa Bannister said she backed a federal ICAC, while also taking a swipe at Garth Hamilton’s support for one.

“We haven’t released a specific policy yet, but we will soon,” she said.

Melissa Bannister.

“I believe that it should be historical and it should be very independent.

“We need to ensure it is independent, because that’s the reason we need one.

“Considering it is a broken election promise (from the government) and being our federal member, I haven’t seen (Garth) push for it.”

APRIL 24: INDEPENDENT REVEALS COSTS OF RUNNING CAMPAIGN

Kirstie Smolenski has already invested more than $40,000 of her own money and hundreds of hours into her federal election campaign — and there is still a month until polling day.

“I’m putting my money where my mouth is — I don’t have backing by anybody, some of the independents elsewhere in the country have a billionaire on-board but I don’t,” she said.

Ms Smolenski has revealed the challenges that independents face going up against the major parties, while arguing it makes her ready to represent Groom in the next parliament.

The former nurse and volunteer co-ordinator at St Vincent’s is running on securing funding for the new Toowoomba Hospital, passenger rail and water security projects.

Ms Smolenski said she had amassed a group of 60 volunteers and family members to help her doorknock homes, hand out flyers and speak with residents on the street.

“We’ve probably got about 60 volunteers who are actively doorknocking, doing the letterbox dropping — that includes surrounding areas like Pittsworth and Goombungee who are doing that for me,” she said.

“That’s not counting my five children, who are all very active, including my husband and mother — my kids recruited their friends.”

When asked why residents would see more funding by having an independent instead of a party representative, Ms Smolenski said she could leverage her support for the next government to secure funds for local projects.

“In the case it’s a hung parliament, as an independent candidate I will have enormous sway,” she said.

Ms Smolenski is one of two independents in the seat, along with Voices of Groom-backed candidate Suzie Holt.

APRIL 22:MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES IN ONLINE SPAT

Groom’s major party candidates have erupted at each other on social media over the cashless welfare card and the current government’s future plans for the scheme.

In the first major spat of the campaign so far, sitting LNP member Garth Hamilton accused his Labor opponent Gen Allpass of lying that the program would be extended to pensioners.

The conflict continues the national debate over the card, with Labor suggesting the Coalition would eventually apply to seniors — an accusation staunchly denied by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“The ALP should be ashamed of running a scare campaign based solely on lies aimed at age pensioners,” he wrote on Thursday, while posting screenshots of a previous Chronicle story (see below).

“Unfortunately, the local Labor candidate continues this campaign of Labor lies.

“We will never force age pensioners onto the Cashless Debit Card.”

Ms Allpass fired back the same day, calling the comments a “disgusting slur” before posting what she said was evidence that pensioners had been forced onto the card.

“Given the disgusting slur written about me online once again by Garth Hamilton the LNP member for Groom, I once again post the irrefutable truth,” she wrote.

“I will fight for our community — I will continue to hold this man to account.

“I will not be bullied.”

The video is a clip from Senate estimates earlier this year, where the Department of Social Security said 25 age pensioners were on the cashless debit card across Australia.

APRIL 21: HAMILTON’S $1.6M PROMISE SUGGESTS RE-ELECTION PITCH

Groom MP Garth Hamilton is using flood mitigation to make his pitch for a second term at the upcoming federal election, after announcing another $1.6m for key works along East Creek.

The new $3.3m culvert works at Lake Annand on Perth Street in Rangeville, announced by Mr Hamilton and mayor Paul Antonio on Thursday, will be a 50-50 funding deal between the Federal Government and the council.

It comes less than a week after the pair revealed a $600,000 contribution for improvement works on Ballin Drive, which was Mr Hamilton’s first promise of the campaign.

Mr Hamilton said the works would stem the flow of water during heavy rain events, reducing pressure on the newly-built culverts at the James and Kitchener Street intersection.

“Along Perth Street here, we’ll have culverts put in that will make the flooding that we’ve experienced here that much better for local residents,” he said.

“This is part of an ongoing series of works, there will be more works to come along East Creek as we strengthen flood mitigation.

“The culverts we see here will look similar to what we’ve seen at Kitchener and James Streets, which have been successful at allowing floodwater to flow down here safely.”

Mr Antonio told The Chronicle he welcomed the funding for the project, which had been in the council’s capital works pipeline for nearly a decade now.

“This is a $20m project (for East Creek overall), so this additional funding is always very helpful,” he said.

“You’ll hear me time and again talk about the amount of funding for local government and when funding like this comes in, it shows respect for what we do.

“It’s been on the books since 2013 — after the 2011 floods we had a plan, and that’s the way you get things done.”

Mr Hamilton also said he would look to advance the council’s plans for water security if re-elected, including the possibility of a fourth dam at Emu Creek.

Water security has been a priority for many residents heading into the election.

“While I’m very supportive and have worked closely with council to address a broader view for water infrastructure across the whole catchment area and I think it is very important we solidify those thoughts,” Mr Hamilton said.

“Council has worked towards that with projects we can actually deliver.

“I’m very happy to see councillor Nancy Sommerfield and the mayor join in on that charge — we need projects we can actually deliver.”

APRIL 20: LABOR OPENS DOOR TO MAKE PRECINCT AN ELECTION PROMISE

Labor has left the door open to the much-anticipated Wellcamp Entertainment Precinct an election promise, with Senator Anthony Chisholm indicating he could see the project’s benefits.

The Queensland senator, and the party’s candidate for Groom, Gen Allpass, both spoke in favour of the proposed Wagner Corporation precinct, which requires $40m in federal funding to make it viable.

The company’s chairman John Wagner has courted both sides of politics to secure the final funding component, declaring construction would start the moment a solid commitment was made.

The precinct would be built to host V8 Supercar rounds, as well as massive music concerts and a range of weekend warrior activities like go-karting, 4WD training, motocross and driver training facilities.

While Senator Chisholm stopped short of a full commitment, he said he’d been out to Wellcamp and liked what the project could offer the Toowoomba region.

“On our recent trip up, we were briefed by the Wagners on the Wellcamp proposal,” he said.

“It’s obviously an exciting project for the people of Toowoomba and it’s something we’d still have under active consideration.

“We haven’t made an announcement yet, but we’re certainly excited by the proposal.

“We’ll be back here numerous times between now and election day, and we want a better future for Groom under an Albanese Labor Government.”

Ms Allpass again said she could see the benefits of the project, but remained tight-lipped on whether the party would make it an election promise.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and major heavyweight Bill Shorten have both been briefed on the project.

Mr Wagner has previously lashed the sitting MP Garth Hamilton, accusing him of actively speaking against the precinct.

“We’ll keep lobbying both sides of government until we get the money, because without the money it doesn’t work,” he said in March.

“What was said to the government is we don’t need the money to start, what we do need is a commitment that we’ll get the money.

“What we’ve said is they can pay it off over three to four years, that makes it even easier.”

“The Labor guys have been very supportive of the project, they haven’t promised funding but they have taken the time to work out what it means to our region.

“It’s almost like Garth is negative towards job creation.”

Mr Hamilton told The Chronicle last month he was not opposed to the project, but said any investment needed to be based on a number of factors.

“It was the first week I got elected that I went out to John Wagner and Damian Bell and looked at the site — I got a very firm view of it,” he said.

“I don’t know why that (view) needs to be updated for them.

“It’s clearly a good project and I’ve got no doubt the benefit that will do for the Wagners, (but) not every bit of government funding is right for every project.

“We’re not just interested in return on investment, we’re looking at public good.”

An independent cost-benefit analysis by advisory group KPMG found the WEP could not only create hundreds of jobs during construction and operation and inject $58m into the national economy, but also deliver more than $90m in state and federal tax revenue during the building phase.

The report also predicted the precinct could lead to more than $60m in incremental spending in the Toowoomba region.

APRIL 20: HAMILTON RULES OUT CASHLESS CARD IN GROOM

Groom’s LNP candidate Garth Hamilton says he won’t be advocating Toowoomba as a new trial site for the cashless welfare card scheme, despite praising the program.

The sitting member, who has voted strongly in favour of the program being trialled in regions across four states and territories, also ruled out it would ever be applied to the aged pension.

The scheme moves 80 per cent of a recipient’s welfare onto a special debit card that is restricted in its use.

The LNP’s Toowoomba North branch successfully moved a motion at the party’s state council late last year to expand the trial to more areas in Queensland, but only for unemployment payments.

Mr Hamilton said while he believed the scheme had delivered good results for recipients, it wasn’t a good fit for all forms of welfare.

“It is entirely focused on getting young workers back into work — it’s a very specific tool that really needs to be used in very specific circumstances,” he said.

“We’re talking about people of working age, that’s what it’s designed for — that never meant aged pension.”

Mr Hamilton said Toowoomba was unlikely to be used as a trial site in the future, partially due to the region’s low unemployment rate.

“For a start, if you look at the low unemployment rate and the range of supports we already have, I can’t see a use case for it being here,” he said.

“It’s very clearly got a very specific use, and that’s the aim of the trials.”

Mr Hamilton said he’d received a number of calls from pensioners concerned that the scheme would apply to them, something he denied.

It comes a day after his Labor opponent Gen Allpass slammed the scheme being used on any welfare recipients, saying the party would scrap the card if elected on May 21.

“It is hideous (and) degrading,” she said.

APRIL 19: ALLPASS LASHES HAMILTON OVER CASHLESS CARD

Toowoomba’s Labor candidate Gen Allpass has launched a stinging attack on incumbent Groom MP Garth Hamilton for his support for the cashless welfare card trial.

In her first public appearance since the election was called and flanked by Queensland Senator Anthony Chisholm, Ms Allpass said Labor would kill the controversial Coalition program if it formed government.

Both major parties have been at loggerheads over the trial, which puts 80 per cent of a recipient’s welfare money onto a special card that can’t be used for certain products like cigarettes and alcohol.

The trial is being run in the Northern Territory and in regions across three other states.

Ms Allpass called the scheme “hideous”, arguing it was not only degrading to recipients but also preventing them from buying products they actually needed.

“We will absolutely abolish that card system – it is hideous, degrading and regardless of what Garth Hamilton and (Social Services Minister) Anne Ruston have said, it is on record (that they support it),” she said.

“They are telling people lies — we know they want to expand that, it was our local LNP branch that pushed for that to be expanded.

“That card is already being used now and it’s impacting people now.

“We had a person that had to send photos of herself proving that she had had a mastectomy, before she could get money to pay for a mastectomy bra.

“To hear stories of people being put through this are disgusting, and when it comes to our community, we will not have the card.”

Mr Hamilton did vote in support of the trial in December 2020, and the LNP’s Toowoomba North branch pushed a motion at the party’s state council last week to expand it to more regions.

Mr Hamilton used his response to refute Labor’s allegation that the program would be expanded to include the age pension.

“The Cashless Debit Card is a program for people on working-age social security payments to help stabilise their lives and to get them back into the workforce,” he said.

“The Morrison Government has made it clear we have no plan and will never have a plan to force age pensioners onto the Cashless Debit Card.

“Labor should be ashamed of running a scare campaign based solely on lies aimed at age pensioners.

“It’s disappointing that the local Labor candidate is engaging in such blatant fear mongering.”

Ms Allpass was also pressed on her support for the expansion of Medicare, which has been supported by the Greens to include dental and mental health.

“Looking at the expansion of Medicare and what it does for our community is something the Labor Party will be looking at, and I’m sure we’ll work closely to look at the benefits of Medicare rather than pull it apart,” she said.

“We’ve seen the systemic dismantling of Medicare underneath this government.

“We would fight to make sure Medicare is held and made even better.”

Residents and small business owners will get a chance to meet the candidates next week, with the Toowoomba Chamber hosting a special forum at the Empire Theatre on April 28 from 5.30pm.

APRIL 14: MP Garth Hamilton has made the first local project announcement of the federal election campaign, with candidates expected to deliver a flurry of promises in the lead-up to May 21.

Mr Hamilton used Wednesday to reveal the Federal Government would give nearly $600,000 to the Toowoomba Regional Council to fund flood mitigation works within the East Creek corridor near Ballin park in Centenary Heights.

The project, which includes $200,000 from the council, was part of the second round of the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure program.

“There is $600,000 in federal money, with $200,000 from the council; we’re working together to reduce the risk of flooding in our city,” Mr Hamilton said.

Mayor Paul Antonio said while the funding for the works was appreciated, the region still required significant support from higher levels of government to make Toowoomba and surrounding towns more flood resistant.

“It’s been there (in our capital works program for) quite some time, but the reality is we must get this area to be safe as we can possibly get it during heavy rain events,” he said.

“On behalf of the 70,000 ratepayers of Toowoomba, can I say thankyou to the federal government for this money.

“We’re still seeking further money as we work to make it safer again, and that will be downstream from the confluence of the two creeks where we’ll be focusing.

“The Railway Parklands will be a player in that, so we’ve just got to make it better.

“I brought a resolution to last council meeting and we didn’t quite run out of letters in the alphabet — there are other 20 things we need to have done (with flood mitigation).”

Mr Antonio also used the announcement as an opportunity to urge higher levels of government to show greater “respect” to councils in regards to uncontested funding.

Groom’s seven candidates are currently gearing up to make several policy announcements and promises.

Mr Hamilton himself was tight-lipped about whether Toowoomba would see a visit from Prime Minister Scott Morrison or a high-profile member of the government.

“You’re going to see a lot of action over the next six weeks, but I’m focusing on my campaign,” he said.

Mr Hamilton’s ALP opponent Gen Allpass said she was unconvinced by the funding announcement, believing the sitting MP had made promises during the previous term without fully delivering them.

“The Emergency Response Fund was established in 2019 and as we all know, despite flooding right here in our region, not a cent had been spent on disaster recovery and not a single disaster readiness project had been built,” she said.

“This could have been used to build flood levees, evacuation centres, culverts and drainage systems but instead, it earnt the Morrison-Joyce government over $800 million in interest.

“It’s very interesting that we have an election around the corner and all of a sudden Mr Hamilton is concerned enough to announce funding for a flood mitigation project funded from this very same ‘fund’.”