State election 2017: Mike Brunker, Burdekin

Coal miner, former mayor knows jobs

MIKE BRUNKER

ALP candidate for Burdekin

I was born and raised in Collinsville and now run a news agency with my wife Kylie, as well as serving on Whitsunday Regional Council as the representative for Bowen.

As a former coal miner and mayor of 17 years, I'm the only candidate for Burdekin with the right mix of drive and experience to get the job done.

I have a proven track record of delivering outcomes for the people of Bowen and Whitsunday and I want to take that to the next level. The new electorate boundaries have given Burdekin all but two of the Bowen Basin mines.

The seat will be Queensland's powerhouse and it needs a powerhouse representative to fight for its fair share.

My background in mining and local government has given me a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by communities, families and local businesses from the coalfields to the coast.

I know what the issues affecting people are and I know how to get them fixed.

I might not win every battle but I always give it my best.

That's why I'm standing for the party who will look after workers, keep power prices and the cost of living down and create jobs instead of slashing them.

Jobs and economic growth

I can't stress enough the importance of local and State Government working together to grow our economy and the number of people in jobs.

I would work with all three of the region's mayors on their economic strategies, ensuring our local and State Government spending was aligned to create jobs and maximise economic opportunities.

I would also be focused on protecting existing jobs through fighting for the right outcomes on issues like workforce casualisation.

Only Queensland Labor's policies like the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Bill and Labour-Hire Licensing Scheme are addressing the problems of 100% FIFO and casual labour abuse.

Roads and infrastructure

Just this week the Palaszczuk Labor Government has announced a Bruce Highway Trust - an initiative that takes the politics out of road funding and puts the spend where it's needed most.

I would be working on ensuring our regional state roads and roads from the Bowen Basin were up to expected standards.

As part of a Queensland Labor Government I would also be supporting vital infrastructure such as the raising of the Burdekin Falls Dam wall and progression of the Urannah Dam - two big projects for water security in the seat and ones that unlike the LNP, we were involved in long before an election campaign.

Health and education

Queenslanders should have a decent health system no matter where they live and that's why Labor has spent the last three years restoring frontline services that Campbell Newman cut.

A great education will prepare our kids for the jobs of the future and that's why Labor is bringing our schools up to date with better facilities and resources.

Our community was hard hit by the Newman Nicholls cuts but Labor has turned this around.

The burning season

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Originally published as State election 2017: Mike Brunker, Burdekin