QLD Election 2020 results: Labor’s Peter Russo wins Toohey
Labor’s Peter Russo, LNPs Warren Craze, Greens’ Claire Garton and three other candidates went head-to-head. Now that a winner’s been announced, find out what you’ve been promised.
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Labor’s Member for Toohey Peter Russo has won a third term in parliament, staving off strong challenges from the LNPs Warren Craze and Greens’ Claire Garton.
Mr Russo grew his margin from 10 per cent to 11.8 per cent, a swing of 1.8 per cent, with 45.7 per cent of the vote counted at the time of publication.
QLD ELECTION RESULTS 2020: LIVE COVERAGE OF VOTES, UPDATES
Mr Russo was first elected in 2015, securing a 17.4 per cent swing, as the Member for Sunnybank, which was renamed Toohey in 2017 after a redistribution
Labor has spent big to woo the voters of Toohey, announcing $66 million to finally construct the long-awaited overpass over Coopers Plains Level Crossing late in the campaign.
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Here’s what Mr Russo and Labor have promised the voters of Toohey:
Education
- $500,000 to increase the capacity of Warrigal Road State School Outside School Hours Care service.
- $3 million for a new Industrial Technology and Design lab at Sunnybank State High School to prepare students for jobs in construction or manufacturing as part of a $45 million to upgrade and build industry linked training facilities and trade training centres at 26 schools across Queensland.
- $100 million in funding to upgrade TAFE campuses and training programs across the state. This includes $32 million towards robotics and advanced manufacturing specifically at Brisbane TAFEs.
- $21 million to make TAFE qualifications and apprenticeships free for all Queenslanders under the age of 25. Free Certificate IIIs will be available in 26 priority skills areas such as mining and engineering, electrical, healthcare and early childhood education. Free apprenticeships will be provided for a further 139 priority qualifications, such as carpentry, mechanics, chefs.
- Funding for 6,190 new teachers and 1,139 new teacher aides.
Roads/transport
- $73 million towards funding an overpass for the Coopers Plains Level Crossing, to go with $40 million committed by Brisbane City Council and $73 million by the Federal Government. A business case is due in mid-2021.
Crime
- $624 million investment over five years for 2,025 new police personnel. Of those 1,450 will be deployed to the frontline, including 150 for the South Brisbane Police District. This money will also fund 25 new ‘mobile police beats’.
- $77 million investment over five years in extra police resources. This includes 5,000 additional QLiTE iPads for frontline police officers (taking the total fleet size to 12,000); 250 additional police patrol vehicles (taking the total fleet size to almost 3,000); 4,500 additional body-worn video cameras to bring the total fleet to 12,000; and 12,000 new integrated load bearing ballistic vests to protect police.
Jobs/industry
- $27 million funding towards recycling projects expected to create 303 jobs State-wide and support businesses in the resource recovery sector while reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill. According to Treasurer Cameron Dick, the investment will see more than 957,000 tonnes of rubbish diverted from landfill each year and result in $126 million in additional capital investment into the economy from the industry.
Health
- $12 million for a new ward with 24 beds at QEII Hospital.
- Hiring 9,475 more health staff in Queensland including 5,800 nurses, 1,500 doctors, 475 and 1,700 health professionals.
- $265 million to deliver seven new innovative ‘Satellite Hospitals’ across southeast Queensland to help take the pressure off emergency departments and provide hospital care closer to home. One will be located on Brisbane southside, although its exact location is yet to be revealed.