Member for Burnett seeks to end mandates

Claims small business owners have been ‘gagged’ over the impact of Covid mandates have led to a fiery exchange in and out of Queensland Parliament.

Ongoing uncertainty within Bundaberg’s small business community amid Covid mandates has led to another fiery exchange in parliament.

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett claimed in a statement on Wednesday that small businesses had been “gagged” after speaking up following months of struggling to keep their doors open and that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith failed to understand the impact the restrictions were having on livlihoods.

“For the second time in one month I’ve stood up in parliament in an attempt to expose the lack of attention for our small businesses by the Premier and the Member for Bundaberg,” Mr Bennett said in the statement.

“Despite only sticking to the facts and raising our community’s concerns, my every word was interjected, ousted, and debated in the House last night.

“It was shameful display by some Labor MP’s.”

Picture: Shae Beplate.

Mr Bennett was adamant the issue was more dire than the Labor Government was leading people to believe, with many local businesses unsure of their future.

It comes just days after business owners in Hervey Bay flagged similar concerns with leaders of the city’s hospitality industry holding crisis talks amid a steep decline in customers since December.

“Under the current mandates, many of our local businesses are struggling to survive,” he said in the statement

“They are desperately calling for help.

“The Member for Bundaberg has risen to speak about small business issues many times, but not once has he stood up for them.”

Mr Bennett’s speech in parliament took further aim at Mr Smith’s contribution to issues in the local community.

“It’s time for the people who make promises to our community to back them up and stop squibbing their opportunities.

“It’s been weeks since our business community wrote to the Premier and Mr Smith, but so far they have been completely ignored.

“When members speak in this House, they need to speak for the people they represent instead of trying to gag the truth.”

Mr Smith defended the accusations, saying a planned meeting with Health Minister Yvette D’Ath to discuss the impact mandates had on small businesses was delayed due to the minister testing positive to Covid and labelling Mr Bennet’s behaviour as “unbecoming” for an MP of 10 years.

“Twice the Member was asked to withdraw his comments by the speaker and his erratic behaviour and language in the chamber was disappointing to observe,” Mr Smith said in a statement to the NewsMail.

Bundaberg Labor MP Tom Smith.

“Recently I met with local business owners to hear their concerns and how the covid-19 pandemic had affected them,” Mr Smith said in a statement to the NewsMail.

“I made a commitment to take those concerns to the Health Minister and to provide a response to those business owners.

“Unfortunately, the Health Minister contracted Covid-19, which delayed our opportunity to meet and discuss these issues.

“I stand by this promise and will provide a response from the Minister to our local business owners.”

“I will continue to work with our local businesses who have been faced with a variety of challenges over the past two years of the covid-19 pandemic.”

After speaking with Mr Bennett, co-organiser of two recent Business Confidence meetings, Judy Plath, told the NewsMail restrictions imposed on businesses were severely affecting the business community’s mental health.

“The recent data from the CCIQ cannot be ignored,“ Mrs Plath said in a statement.

“Business owners and their staff are feeling the impact of ongoing uncertainty and downturn in trade as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and it’s having a serious impact on their mental health.

“Business owners are not only concerned for their own futures, they are concerned for their staff who have car loans and house loans to cover.”

The exchange comes days after Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey wrote to the Premier, voicing his ongoing concerns over continuation of mandates.

“It’s now just over a year since the start of the vaccine roll-out and 99 per cent of Wide Bay residents have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine,” Mr Dempsey wrote on his Facebook page.

“More than 93 per cent have received their second dose (aged 12+).

“In my view, vaccine mandates are no longer required and should be removed unless there’s a new risk to public health.”