On Friday last week I had the pleasure of running a mock parliament for the very talented and intelligent students of 6SB at Gumdale State School.
I must say they were absolute pros, especially handling a very controversial topic amongst school students—that homework should be banned in all Australian schools.
Whilst that certainly won’t be happening any time soon, I was greatly impressed with the level of debate, the points raised and the willingness of students to get up, have a go and have their voices heard.
Having a strong understanding of how our democracy works and the importance of respecting free speech and differences of opinion is an all-important skill for children to learn.
I also want to acknowledge Ms Bateman. It is clear 6SB has a fantastic teacher who provides a wonderful learning environment for her students to thrive.
There are definitely some future politicians in 6SB, and I can’t wait to see the positive impacts they have on our community.
Ensuring Australia has strong, reliable and resilient sovereign capabilities is a priority we all should and must share.
In Australia, it’s no small thing to say that we are lucky to have some of the best researchers, developers and specialised manufacturers in the world.
One such company that is pushing the boundaries in research and development is AnteoTech. AnteoTech is located in Brisbane Technology Park, and I had the pleasure of recently visiting this great Australian company.
The team at AnteoTech introduced me to their two key areas of research—the first being life science, encompassing point-of-care diagnostic testing and solutions, and the second being energy, with a core focus on revolutionising battery design.
Both areas are key to securing Australia’s future.
The life science team at AnteoTech have developed AnteoBind. AnteoBind is a unique and powerful solution that makes point-of-care testing and diagnosis more effective, efficient and, more importantly, accurate.
Not only can AnteoBind be used to test for diseases like COVID-19, it has the potential to be used for testing in other areas, such as the agricultural industry, which is worth over $71 billion to our economy.
Foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia still poses a very real and very current threat to the Australian livestock industry.
Whilst we can be thankful for our strong biosecurity measures that have so far kept this disease from re-entering Australia, we cannot become complacent.
Imagine having a point-of-care test at the airport, ready to use for returning Australians and for incoming tourists.
A point-of-care test for foot-and-mouth disease would help prevent this disease from re-entering our country, which would devastate our livestock industry and would endanger our food security.
Research into secure, dependable and cheap electricity and storage is vital for Australia’s future, and that is exactly what the team at AnteoTech’s energy division are doing.
With the ever-increasing performance demands for energy storage systems, consumer electronics and electric vehicles, AnteoTech’s research and development into more cost-effective, lighter and more compact silicon based batteries is crucial for the development of a green economy.
I am pleased to say that I’m working with the Minister for Industry and Science and the member for Moreton, and together we’re organising a joint visit to this great Australian and Brisbane company.
I’m looking forward to visiting AnteoTech with my colleagues so that they can see first-hand the incredible potential this company has in helping to ensure a stronger and more resilient Australia.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, my question is to the Assistant Treasurer and concerns the Government’s new super tax.
If an Australian who owns an asset through his or her superannuation fund receives a tax bill because of an unrealised gain in one year, but this asset is subsequently revalued resulting in a loss, will that Australian be eligible for a refund of the tax paid?
Speaker: I give the call to the Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer has the call.
Assistant Treasurer (Steven Jones MP): I thank the Honourable Member for his question.
It’s a good question. And, it’s why when we have announced the policy to ensure that we can maintain the integrity of superannuation and superannuation tax concessions, which are costing the budget in excess of $50 billion a year, more than we spend on Medicare, more than we spend on the NDIS – significant budget expenditure.
It’s why when we announced this policy we put in place a lengthy period for the implementation of it, and a lengthy period to ensure that we can consult on some of these details, including details which go to the question that the Honourable member has asked about the capacity to bring losses forward or backward.
We will consult on the specific design implementation of these issues as any Government would, and indeed as the previous Government did when they introduced their $6 billion worth of taxation changes to the superannuation system.
I’m sad to inform the House of the passing of a veritable giant of the shooting industry, Mr David Auger. David was a larger-than-life character.
A person to always speak his mind, David was brutally honest. We often joked that he was a great salesman but would make a terrible politician.
Born in the UK, David emigrated to Australia when he was 19. He brought his spirit and energy with him, as well as his lovely wife, Julie.
When David was 24 and Julie was 20, they bought their first business together: Gladstone Guns.
Due to their hard work, dedication and David’s incredible knack for selling, they grew their business and moved to Brisbane, opening a business in Fortitude Valley.
When David acquired the rights to sell Rigby rifles in Australia, the previous distributor said to him, ‘You won’t sell one in this country.’ Unfazed and—knowing David—taking the statement as a challenge, he went on to sell more Rigby rifles than the rest of the distributors worldwide combined, outside of the UK.
However, David’s greatest pride and joy were his children and grandchildren. I know he was very proud of his son, Tom, for all that he’d achieved in his life, including taking over the business that David and his wife had created.
Thank you, David, for your friendship over many years.
Earlier this year, devastating floods hit many Queensland communities hard, including in my electorate of Bonner.
During the floods, my team and I were out in the community delivering sandbags, removing equipment from local sporting clubs and checking in on local residents during this very uncertain time.
It was heartbreaking to see the impact of the floods on family homes, businesses and community infrastructure.
Two sporting clubs that were hit hard by the floods in my electorate were the Wynnum Wolves Football Club and the Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club, located at Carmichael Park.
The clean-up effort to support these great local clubs was an amazing show of community spirit.
I spent many hours with my team, volunteers and club members helping rip up damaged carpet, removing waterlogged plaster from the clubhouse and cleaning off sporting equipment.
As part of my local flood recovery plan and working alongside Wynnum Wolves president Rabieh Krayem I was able to secure $4 million of federal government funding to help rebuild, expand and future proof Carmichael Park.
I’m glad to see the new government has honoured this investment.
This funding will go directly into the execution of the Carmichael Park master plan, creating a more resilient and sustainable venue for all the community to enjoy.
There will be not only state-of-the-art cricket and soccer facilities but also a family clubhouse, an art precinct and an array of dining options.
An Indigenous canoeing adventure trail along Bulimba Creek, which backs onto Carmichael Park, is also in the works.
Overseen by bayside legend and Quandamooka man Cameron Costello, this will help bring economic, social and cultural benefits to our community.
At 101 years old, the Wynnum Wolves Football Club currently has 960 members, with predictions to grow to 1,200 next year.
It is exciting to see that 30 per cent of the participation comes from female players, with female participation expected to make up 40 per cent of the players by 2025.
The Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club is an integral part of our sporting community and I’m proud to say that it is one of the integral clubs of Brisbane, with 350 juniors and 250 senior players at the club.
This expansion and rebuild will allow the clubs a chance to host high-quality state and national championships.
It will also deliver the opportunity to connect our local community to international counterparts for the upcoming 2032 Olympics.
Once complete, I’m proud to say, Carmichael Park will be one of the best sporting multi-user facilities in South-East Queensland.
To the team behind this project—Rabieh and his wife, Vicky; Cameron; Graham Mapri; and Geoff Teys—I want to say a massive thank you for helping to create future sporting, economic and cultural opportunities for our community.
The 2022 Bonner Seniors Expo was a massive success, with almost 400 Bonner senior residents through the door. It was fantastic to have this event back in person for the first time since the easing of national COVID restrictions.
The Bonner Seniors Expo provides local businesses, aged-care groups, community groups and government organisations the opportunity to connect with local seniors.
When I was talking to local retirement home resident Margaret, she said that the impacts of COVID-19 were severe on her community, with many feeling isolated, lonely and disconnected from the rest of the world.
Margaret said that events like the Bonner Seniors Expo are important as they help her build relationships within the community and create a sense of belonging.
I would like to thank all of the community groups and businesses that donated lucky door prizes, as well as the stall vendors and speakers who helped to make this day a great success.
I would particularly like to thank Piccardi Fry Lawyers for their generous sponsorship of the seniors expo, which allowed all additional funds raised to be donated to Alzheimer’s Queensland.
The seniors expo is always a highlight in my calendar, and I look forward to making this event bigger and better in 2023.
Deputy Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of our economy.
They’re run by our mums, dads, brothers, sisters and friends.
When small businesses thrive, so do our families and our communities.
As a former small-business owner myself, it gives me great joy to see local small businesses succeed through their passion, determination, hard work and innovation.
One such example of this in Bonner is The Nurso.
The Nurso is a cafe and plant nursery located in Chandler.
This family run business is already a much part loved part of our local community.
Earlier this month, they celebrated their first birthday.
Catching up with the owners, Marni and Dave, it was fantastic to hear about their exciting plans to expand not only their business operations but also their community events and outreach programs.
Since 4 October this year, The Nurso has been offering a free breakfast club on school days for local school students.
The team at The Nurso are passionate about giving back to the community and ensuring that all children attending school have eaten a healthy breakfast before starting a day of learning.
They are also working on a youth day to help connect local children with community groups.
There is always something happening at The Nurso—go and see for yourself.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I’m pleased to say that the much-needed safety upgrades at the notorious Rochedale roundabout are almost complete.
Traffic lights have been installed recently and the final stages are well and truly underway. Over 19,000 vehicles use the Rochedale roundabout daily, largely due to the traffic flow from five local schools and a large childcare centre converging on this location.
Working with both Brisbane City Council and Logan City Council, I am proud to have secured $14 million in federal government funding to improve road safety and to cater for future traffic demands.
Another important project that is getting people home sooner and safer is the Newnham and Wecker Road intersection upgrade.
Deputy Speaker, I’m happy to say that the on-road construction works are now complete, with the intersection being fully operational for all road users.
Voted by RACQ as the fifth-most dangerous intersection in Queensland, there was a desperate need for traffic and safety improvements at this intersection.
Working closely with Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and the Brisbane City Council, I was able to deliver $12 million in federal funding for this vital project, which now improves the safety for around 35,000 vehicles and 474 buses, as well as for cyclists and pedestrians every day.
Deputy Speaker, I am determined to keep fighting for the people of Bonner, to ensure that they have safe and reliable roads so that they can spend less time on the road and more time with their loved ones.
Deputy Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to pay tribute to father of 3 and Bonner local, Michael Warburton.
On the night of the 26th of September 2022, Michael passed away from a tragic hit and run incident in Hemmant.
A victim of youth crime, Michael was driving his beloved Vespa home from the gym when he was hit by a stolen car being driven by a 15-year-old teen.
Deputy Speaker, Michael was only 59 years old and recently celebrated 33 years of marriage to his beloved wife, Anita.
Michael had no greater love than his family, and it is heart breaking to think that Anita, his mum and dad, Jean and Graham, and 3 children, Jessica, Blake and Riley will now spend the rest of their lives without their husband, son and father.
Michael’s other great love and passion after his family were the Penrith Panthers.
He was ecstatic to watch his favourite team fight for another premiership win this Sunday and wore the Panthers jersey every chance he had.
Michael was a Navy Man and dedicated much of his life to the service and protection of this great country.
Michael was known as a kind, generous and caring man, who would go out of his way to help those in need.
Deputy Speaker, no family should have to go through this heart break.
