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March 4, 2010
The Editor
Bundaberg News Mail
PO Box 3006
Bundaberg Q 4670
Dear Madam
R Shepherd’s letter embodies the disappointment of Labor supporters who have sat by and watched their State and Federal regimes make life harder for everyday Australians.
The Opposition’s job is to scrutinise and, where we can, try to improve Government legislation, and yes, in some cases that means having to block Bills which we believe will unnecessarily hurt people and industries.
Mr Shepherd, do you think it’s fair that local kids would have to find 30 hours of work a week for 18 months over a two year period to qualify for the independent rate of youth allowance? Do you support a great big tax on everything that won’t make one jot of difference to global pollution levels? Because I can tell you, there are plenty of people who say ‘no’ on both counts. Make no mistake, regional areas are at the bottom of Labor’s list of priorities and my job is to stand up for the people and industries of this region.
In my role, I’ve delivered many millions to the Bundaberg area for road funding, schools, health infrastructure and local industry. Under the former Coalition Government, the Wide Bay Burnett’s unemployment rate fell from 17.3 per cent to 3.3 per cent and our local dole queues were cut in half, going from 5,980 people in March 1996 down to 2,302 people in November 2007. A big reason for that was our support for industries and small businesses. In comparison, since Labor came to power Bundaberg’s dole queues have shot up to 3,105 people. And don’t blame it all on the global financial crisis, even the Prime Minister says that’s no longer an excuse for his failings.
I’ve defended local industries in the Parliament (sugar, Bundaberg Rum, commercial fishers etc) and delivered for them on the ground. I’ve also fought hard for people with problems relating to Centrelink, immigration, child custody etc. Funnily enough, the most recent influx of complaints I’ve received from people relate to Labor’s failed home insulation scheme. My office has worked tirelessly for almost 12 months to help people who’ve been treated very badly by the government because of its slack approach to the scheme and refusal to act on repeated warnings.
Mr Shepherd also needs a reality check on backpackers, because it’s simply a fact of life that a lot of Aussies don’t want to pick fruit or smallcrops. Many farmers tell me that they rely on the regular pickers and backpackers to get their crops off.
As for last year’s raids which picked up illegal immigrants working on local farms, my office was instrumental in getting authorities to act but it’s not something I ever sought any glory over. It’s just part of my job.
That’s the thing Mr Shepherd, quite often it’s the quiet and persistent work behind the scenes which pays big dividends for residents. I don’t win every battle, and you won’t see a headline attached to every one of my wins, but I can assure you I work hard for this community and the people who live
here.
Yours sincerely
Paul Neville
Federal Member for Hinkler
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