Reducing your cost of livingElectricity rebate

Since 1st January more homes have had access to the Electricity Concession, saving families up to $330 a year on their power bills.

Queenslanders who hold a Commonwealth Health Care Card are now eligible for this concession. This is in addition to Seniors and Pensioners who already receive the rebate.

If you hold a Health Care Card, I encourage you to contact your electricity supplier to set up the automatic rebate.

Leanne Linard MP

Serving our Community

State Member for Nudgee

Public Housing Rents

The Government has restored fairness when it comes to calculating public housing rent, replacing the previous Government’s unfair policies.

The Fair Rent Policy benefits people with disabilities and carers, by removing some allowances in the income calculation for public housing tenants.

The Pensioner Education Supplement and

You may have read recent media reports of my disappointment with Queensland Rail over timetable changes that took effect last year, resulting in an increase in express services now bypassing Nundah and Toombul railway stations.

Residents continue to raise with me their frustration at watching express services bypass these busy stations during peak times; often remarking that the trains are not full.

I have been consistently lobbying Queensland Rail since last year to address this issue and last month launched a petition to allow local residents to have their say. My petition will be closing soon, so if you haven’t already signed it, please visit my website at: www.leannelinard.com.au

Thank you to all the residents who have signed my petition calling on Queensland Rail to address this issue as soon as possible. I will certainly keep the community informed of any updates that come to hand.

Please be assured that I will always advocate strongly on behalf of our local community.

the Education Entry payment have also been removed for people trying to further themselves through education.

Qld First Home Owners Grant

The Queensland Government’s First Home Owners Grant has been boosted from $15,000 to $20,000 for the 2016/17 financial year.

So far, this has helped 1,400 new home owners get a foot in the door of the property market. The grant targets new houses and units under $750,000; so the program is also creating jobs in the construction sector.

For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit www.firsthomeowners.initiatives.qld.gov.au

Fairer Fares

From 19 December 2016, bus, train and ferry commuters have benefitted from the Government’s Fairer Fares package which has seen a significant reduction in travel costs.

The 23 former zones across the South East Queensland transport network have been reduced to eight.

On-peak fares have been lowered and the morning off-peak time has been extended to 6am.

Children can now travel for free on weekends and all passengers can receive a 50% fare cut after completing eight journeys a week.

People looking for jobs on Newstart Allowance will soon have access to concession fares.

Fighting for local commuters

Free Cyber Safety Forum – 18th May 2017I will be hosting a free cyber-safety forum on the 18th May to assist parents, carers and those interested, to better understand ‘on-line’ risks and challenges.

An officer from the Queensland Police Service Fraud and Cyber Crime Group will cover issues relating to scams, privacy and security online. The forum will provide insight into the devices young people are using, as well as popular websites, apps and social networking sites.

Please register your interest by calling or emailing my office.

February 2017

2

Our achievements

Leanne Linard MPState Member for Nudgee

How can my office help?

P.O Box 379 Northgate QLD 4013P - 07 3638 7100 E - nudgee@parliament.qld.gov.auwww.leannelinard.com.au - /leannelinardnudgee - /leannelinard

Nudgee Electorate includes the suburbs of: Banyo, Nudgee, Nudgee Beach, Northgate, Geebung, Boondall, Virginia, Zillmere and parts of Wavell Heights, Nundah and Chermside.

My electorate office is located on the corner of Toombul and Melton Roads, Northgate.

• Making representations on your behalf directly to Ministers or Departments.

• Putting you in touch with a service that can help you.

• Providing information on community and sporting grants.

• Advising you of your rights and any

Serving our Community

As a member of the Palaszczuk State Government, I am proud of the things we have achieved for Queensland and locally, including:

Jobs - The unemployment rate is now lower than under the previous government with 34,300 new jobs created since 2015. Over $40 billion of ‘job creating’ infrastructure projects are planned for the next 4 years.

Local Roads - We have continued to fund our share of the $1.143 billion Gateway Upgrade North Project between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge.

When finished, this will greatly improve accessability to the motorway and reduce local traffic congestion.

Local Schools - Earnshaw State College has fantastic new industrial fans in the sports hall. Classrooms have been refurbished at Geebung State School and new outdoor seating areas have been installed at Wavell State School and Earnshaw State College.

Three new classrooms, a new IT support area and a new adminstration building will be constructed at St Pius School Banyo. Three new classrooms at St Flannan’s School Zillmere will also be built. Simplified retail trading hours - Less restrictive trading hours are being introduced to allow more consumer choice. This reduces red-tape for business which is good for the economy and creates jobs.

Law and Order - We now have an extra 300 police officers and stronger anti-terrorism, bikie and domestic violence laws.

Education - From 2017 a compulsary Prep year is giving young Queenslanders the best possible introduction to their schooling. An extra 940 teachers and teacher aids have been placed in our schools to reduce class sizes.

Cost of living - We have reduced public transport fares, guaranteed electricity rebates for pensioners and seniors and extended financial support to low-income families. Public Transport - Banyo Railway Station will soon have a new pedestrian footbridge, improved lighting, CCTV security and additional parking. A reconfiguration of Nundah Railway Station commuter carpark will increase parking by 20 spaces. Boondall Station is also receiving a welcome upgrade.

Health - An additional 2,390 nurses have been placed in Queensland hospitals in addition to minimum nurse/patient ratios, to ensure patients get the care they deserve. We now have the shortest elective waiting times in the nation.

Environment - We are investing an additional $22 million on water quality programs to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Seven new large-scale solar and wind farms have been approved.

Offensive slogans banned

There is no place in Queensland for the kind of offensive and derogatory slogans that Wicked Campers have made as their trademark. I find it deeply offensive to see these messages and visual images about women displayed on vans driving around our State.

It is not the way that my husband and I are raising our young boys to view women, to refer to women, and to treat women.

Vehicles deregistered

That's why I recently argued strongly in Parliament in support of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) (Offensive Advertising) Amendment Bill 2016.

This legislation will see vehicles deregistered if they don't remove offensive advertising that's found to be in breach of national advertising standards.

Banned!

My Free Community BBQ’s

• 9th March – Taigum Shopping Centre 9.30 – 11am (Mobile Office)

• 11th March - Boondall 9.30-10.30: Mulbeam Park, 11-12: Donna Philip Reserve

• 22nd April – Zillmere PCYC 9.30am• 20th May – Nundah 9.30am

Please keep an eye on your letterbox for my flyer or register your interest on Facebook - /leannelinardnudgee

further action you can take.