Burnett MP Stephen Bennett on Queensland state budget

Thousands of new houses and long-awaited funding for Bundaberg’s new hospital are among the top announcements a state MP wants to see in the upcoming budget. Full list:

A level five hospital, flood mitigation and homelessness were hot topics for Burnett MP Stephen Bennett as he braced for next week’s state budget.

Speaking to reporters in Bundaberg on Thursday morning, Mr Bennett called on the State Government to deliver on promises made during the 2020 election.

“Today is a call to make sure that Bundaberg isn’t forgotten in the budget, as it has been in previous years,” Mr Bennett said.

“This state government is ideologically driven, and that is causing these huge issues.

“The local government, the council, the state government and the federal government now need to get in and agree on what the projects are for a start.”

“I can’t believe after 10 years we are still arguing whether it’s an evacuation route or it’s the flood levy.”

On the budget wishlist was allocations to mirror the $40 million dollars promised in the 2020 election so flood mitigation action could be taken.

On the housing crisis Mr Bennett said “we need thousands of homes built, and we need them built now.”

“It’s up to the Local Government to make their infrastructure charges more available and flexible, the State Government to get on with the job of using their land bank and they have got to use the private sector to get on with the construction.”

Reflecting on ongoing issues with the regional health sector, and the strain that the Bundaberg Hospital was under, Mr Bennett called for front line nurses and doctors to be put “back in charge in our hospitals and get on with providing those services to our community”.

BUNDABERG BASE HOSPITAL

He also made calls for the upcoming budget to reflect the Level 5 Hospital that was promised to the region, and stated that if any funds were going to be allocated to begin construction they would need to appear soon.

“If there’s not even a couple hundred million dollars to start early work packages that will be a real testament to the fact that they are not fair dinkum in providing the hospital,” he said

The sentiment carried over to Paradise Dam and the ongoing issues surrounding the funding of its reconstruction.

“We also have to see real money for the restoration of Paradise Dam,” he said.

“If they’re going to complete the build by 2024, they’re going to have to start mobilising those construction crews now.”

Paradise Dam. Photo: Paul Beutel

Roads were also on the list.

“I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, the Rosedale road needs to be exposed for what it is. It’s a dangerous intersection for those communities in the north,” he said

“We want to see tens of millions of dollars committed to the region and more importantly continuing the upgrades of the road network that we rely on.”

These changes, Mr Bennett said, were called for in the hope that the increasing cost of living was not compounded by an increase in taxes to fund the projects necessary to take the region forward.

“Today is a call for the State Government to recognise that Bundaberg is outside the South East corner, and again it is about a funding mix that clearly reflects the aspirations and expectations of the community,” he said.

“We don’t want to come at the expense of those most vulnerable and those doing it tough.

“There has been a lot of promises made to the Bundaberg community over a long period of time and we really do hope that there is tangible funding in this years budget – line items- that actually give us hope that some of the election promises that have been made over two or three years ago will come to fruition.”

Addressing Mr Bennett’s comments, Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith said, “I’m looking forward to a Palaszczuk Labour Government budget that will be delivered for the Bundaberg region.”

“As our local member I will continue to work with the community to deliver real projects for real outcomes,“ he said.

Originally published as Burnett MP Stephen Bennett on Queensland state budget