The now new Queensland Premier, Stephen Miles, posted to social media that he was busy and dedicated to preparing for cyclone Jasper.
What was he actually doing during that time? Shady backroom deals and powerbroking make sure he became Premier.
Posts
Thank you to the residents west of Cressbrook Dam who took the time to tell me their concerns about a proposed pumped hydro at the site along with huge clearing proposed for associated transmission lines.
Pumped Hydro is another scam only necessary under the net-zero pipe dream.
All of the environmental destruction this project would cause is unneeded if the government simply allowed Coal and Nuclear to power the country.
Labor is hollowing out the bush and lying about it. I asked why the Emu Swamp Dam near Stanthorpe in Queensland was cancelled and Minister Watt responded that it was the road that was cancelled. What Minister Watt did not admit was that Labor had cancelled the dam last year and had recently cancelled the infrastructure around the dam, just to make sure it never gets built.
During the recent drought, Stanthorpe, famous for its apples and grapes, had to resort to water tankers to keep it’s residents supplied. Access to clean water is a basic human requirement. The Emu Swamp Dam was a modest solution to water shortage in the Southern Downs of Queensland. Labor are refusing to build dams for drinking water and instead plan to use treated recycled water for drinking water. I will speak more on that next year.
Labor destroy where One Nation would build.
Transcript
Senator ROBERTS: My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Watt. Minister, why is the Australian government no longer proceeding with construction of the Emu Swamp dam and pipeline located near Stanthorpe in our state of Queensland?
Senator Watt (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management): Thank you, Senator Roberts. I welcome a question about Queensland infrastructure from a Queensland senator on the other side of the chamber. It’s a shame people like Senator McGrath didn’t manage to get a question up about these important issues. Senator McGrath, of course, is just reduced to interjections, rather than asking serious questions about these matters.
The President: Senator Watt.
Opposition senators interjecting—
Senator Watt: You don’t want to hear that? You don’t want to hear about your failures on infrastructure? If you’ve heard what I’ve had to say this week, Senator Roberts, you’ll know that the infrastructure budget that we inherited from the coalition was hopelessly overblown. There was a budget blowout of $33 billion.
Senator Birmingham: I rise on a point of order. This is actually a good example of the type of point of order that I made before. Senator Roberts asked a question about a particular infrastructure project, the Emu Swamp dam. That should not then be a licence for the minister to go off talking about infrastructure projects in general, or the former government in general. It was clearly a question specific to a particular project, and the minister should be drawn to answer on that project.
Senator Wong: On the point of order, I can recall many times when coalition ministers went much farther than 41 seconds in before they even got close to the question. I’d remind you of Senator Brandis. We all remember Senator Brandis when he was sitting in this chair.
Senator Birmingham: And I can remember you sitting in this chair and what you had to say.
Senator Wong: And I never got very far with that argument, but hope beats eternal.
Senator Rennick interjecting—
The President: Senator Rennick!
Senator Watt: Poor old Gerard. You’re not going to be here long, though, are you? Enjoy it while you’re here, Gerard.
Senator Henderson: That is really nasty, Senator Watt. You’re a nasty piece of work.
The President: Order across the chamber! Senator Henderson, I ask you to withdraw that remark.
Senator Henderson: Can I take a point of order?
The President: I’ve asked you to withdraw the remark, Senator Henderson.
Senator Henderson: I wish to make a point of order, President.
The President: Senator Henderson, I’ve asked you to withdraw your remark.
Senator Henderson: I withdraw, but can I take a point of order?
The President: If you sit down, I will entertain a point of order—as long it’s not on me asking you to withdraw. Thank you. Senator Henderson.
Senator Henderson: I rise on a point of order. Senator Watt just made a very uncalled for and offensive remark in relation to Senator Rennick, and I would ask him to withdraw it.
The President: Senator Henderson, I didn’t hear any remark. The chamber was incredibly disorderly at the time. All I can do is ask Senator Watt, if he made a personal reflection on Senator Rennick, to withdraw that.
Senator Watt: I’m happy to withdraw. Senator Rennick has a lot to say. I’m happy to withdraw.
The President: Senator Watt, before I call you again, I will draw your attention back to Senator Roberts’s question.
Senator Watt: Senator Roberts, I was explaining the basis for the decisions. The particular project that you’re talking about that won’t be proceeding is a road to a dam that is not proceeding. This government thinks that it’s a good idea, if you’re spending infrastructure money on a road, that it should be a road that leads to something that is actually happening and exists. That dam was a promise that was made by the former coalition government that never had the funding, wasn’t properly planned and is not proceeding. Senator Roberts, I know you’re someone who cares very much about the appropriate use of taxpayers’ funds. You would agree, I’m sure, that it’s not a good use of taxpayers’ funds to build roads that lead to dams that don’t exist and won’t exist.
But, Senator Roberts, I’m sure you’d also be pleased to have heard me talk about some of the projects in Queensland that are getting funding and that are only possible because of those sorts of decisions about the responsible allocation of funding. Because of that we can now fund the cost increase in the Rockhampton Ring Road project with an extra $348 million in addition to the money that the federal government had allocated. I know Central Queensland is an area that you’re interested in, Senator Roberts. By cutting projects that won’t exist and that aren’t needed, we can fund other things like that. (Time expired)
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
This isn’t about health, it’s about fear. That is all that masks are useful for.
Will any government want to explain to Australia why we’re apparently on the 8th wave when the 6th booster is available?
I was successful in having the project known as Iron Boomerang referred to a Senate Inquiry. Iron Boomerang is a railway that is really a shopping cart on rails — bringing iron ore, rare earths and agricultural product from West Australia to North Queensland for easy export to markets around the world.
The iron ore will be combined with beautiful Queensland coal in a steel park in Queensland for domestic use, and for export to Asia and the Americas. The trains will then return to Western Australia loaded with coal, where another steel mill in the Pilbara will make steel for export to the subcontinent, the Middle East and Europe.
Estimates predict this project could add $200 billion (10%) to Australia’s GDP creating 50,000+ breadwinner jobs, while securing the nations’ future.
The Committee found in favour of the project and instructed Infrastructure Australia to contact the project sponsors to get started.
In today’s Senate Estimate session, Infrastructure Australia had the hide to say they ignored the request of the Senate Committee. As a result, this nation-building, jobs-rich project has not progressed. Watch this space!
It was a pleasure to join Bruce, Julie and Jared at Skeleton Glass in Molendinar on Tuesday, 19 September 2023.
They want students to know that there are viable options to attending uni that will give them skills and a good income, and I couldn’t agree more.
We need more of our young people doing trades, especially when it’s often a better income than what some university graduates can achieve with less relevant degrees.
Glazier apprenticeships are an underrated and important part of our construction industry.
The Queensland government is proposing a highway through pristine wetlands that could make flooding on the Logan River even worse.
As the residents of Eagleby showed me on Tuesday19 September 2023, an alternative route is available just a few kilometres up the road. That option wouldn’t require filling up the Eagleby Wetlands, host to migrating birds and the rare Latham Snipe, with soil.
Government likes to pretend they care about the environment, yet they’ll completely ignore it if it means a flashy press release.
Questions have to be asked whether Transurban has influenced the route and connection point to maximise customers to their toll road.
Media
The government is compulsorily resuming land and literally filling in wetlands for the Coomera connector when an alternative is available just up the road.
At huge expense to the taxpayer, this plan needs attention and questions asked.
Courier Mail Article: read here at https://tinyurl.com/mszmkb3d
Senate Estimates | 12 February 2024
Infrastructure Australia
Transcript
Senator ROBERTS: And if the first answer is positive then it will be even quicker! Thank you for being here so late as well. Are you familiar with the Coomera Connector stage 2 in Brisbane?
Mr Copp: Yes.
Senator ROBERTS: You are—thank you. Are you in possession of the business case for the Coomera Connector stage 2?
Mr Tucker: We assessed the business case for stage 1 of the Coomera Connector but we haven’t received a business case for stage 2.
Senator ROBERTS: Why hasn’t the stage 2 business case been published?
Mr Tucker: That would be a matter for the Queensland government.
Senator ROBERTS: Have they discussed it with you at all?
Mr Tucker: I would have to take that on notice. We have regular engagement with Queensland, but I don’t recall a recent conversation on that particular project.
Senator ROBERTS: Could you do that, please? My understanding is that the Commonwealth government may be tipping hundreds of millions of dollars into this project, so I’m wondering why the public can’t see the business case.
Mr Tucker: I’m not aware if a business case has yet been finalised. We will assess it once it’s submitted to us.
Senator ROBERTS: So you haven’t received it at all?
Mr Tucker: No.
Senator ROBERTS: No requests for funding?
Mr Tucker: No.
Senator ROBERTS: Okay. We’re very concerned about flooding of human habitat, and flooding and destruction of wetlands—triggers to the EPBC Act, and for migratory birds in particular. That’s all I have, thank you, Chair.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Transcript
Senator ROBERTS: Thank you for being here tonight. My questions are to do with the Coomera connector stage 2 freeway project in Brisbane. What is the status of the Coomera connector stage 2 with the department under the EPBC Act?
Mr Edwards: At this stage, that project hasn’t been referred to us for assessment under the EPBC Act.
Senator ROBERTS: Where is the public environment report for Coomera stage 2?
Mr Edwards: Again, I’m not able to comment. I don’t have the project referred to me for assessment.
Senator ROBERTS: You’ve had no contact at all with the state government on this project?
Mr Edwards: That’s not what I said.
Senator ROBERTS: I know it’s not what you said. I’m asking you.
Mr Edwards: We’re certainly aware that there’s some work being prepared.
Senator ROBERTS: By the Queensland state government?
Mr Edwards: By the state government. We expect that there may be a referral sometime soon, but, unfortunately, I don’t have details of that.
Senator ROBERTS: What information does the department have in regard to the impact of Coomera connector stage 2 on the estimated 299 bird species in the Eagleby Wetlands?
Mr Edwards: I don’t have any information about that.
Senator ROBERTS: None at all? Our information is that Coomera connector stage 2 has seven potential EPBC triggers in terms of sensitive fauna and flora. What triggers or potential triggers has the department been made aware of? None at all?
Mr Edwards: The only contact we’ve had is a pre-referral meeting. There would have been a conversation, in general terms, about the types of impacts that may be in a referral document. What we do in those meetings is refer people to the relevant statutory guidelines and other things that they’ll need to consider in preparing the referral.
Senator ROBERTS: In preparing their submission to you?
Mr Edwards: Yes, that’s right. It’s more of a general exploration conversation about how to set up a good referral when it does come.
Senator ROBERTS: Did they mention migratory bird species?
Mr Edwards: I don’t have any information about the content of that meeting, but, if it were a likely impact, we’d generally run through threatened species, migratory species and Ramsar if that were relevant.
Senator ROBERTS: Flooding of humans?
Mr Edwards: Sorry?
Senator ROBERTS: Flooding of humans?
Mr Edwards: No. I don’t regulate impacts from—
Senator ROBERTS: Diversion of rivers?
Mr Edwards: No.
Senator ROBERTS: Is there any chance of getting the contents of the discussion on notice?
Mr Edwards: We would only have been talking about the controlling provisions under the EPBC Act. It includes threatened species, migratory species and Ramsar if that were relevant.
Senator ROBERTS: Are there any minutes for that meeting?
Mr Edwards: I’ll have to take that on notice.
Senator ROBERTS: Please see if we could get a copy.
Mr Edwards: Of course.
Senator ROBERTS: Thank you very much.
Pristine Australian bushland environments are being torn apart for metal monsters.
Short-lived and resource-hungry wind turbines are going up all over Queensland as part of Australia’s Net Zero 2050. These monstrosities are nothing more than a pipe dream for ‘free energy’.
Wind does not and cannot provide baseload power that coal provides cheaply and reliably.
To ensure coal mines restore the environment, coal mines pay a hefty bond for land disturbed. This bond is only returned after restoration is completed after mining.
Wind power companies pay NO environmental bond to make good afterwards.
I guarantee, if the government stopped propping wind and solar up with ‘free money’ the investors would run a mile and that is exactly what is happening overseas.
When will Australia acknowledge what a green-washed white elephant these wind projects are and back out before more birds disappear and more of the environment is destroyed?
I bet Andrew Forrest wouldn’t put one in his own backyard. Would you?
I will be in Cairns on Tuesday, 15 August 2023 to listen to your concerns regarding the escalation of youth crime and any other areas of concern you or your community may have.
Please join me.
RSVP here: https://www.onenation.org.au/cairns-crimeforum
If you are planning to eat at the Rattle n Hum, please book direct with them on (07) 4031 3011
Tuesday, 15 August 2023 | 6 pm to 7:30 pm
Rattle n Hum Bar & Grill
65-67 The Esplanade
Cairns QLD 4870
While in Townsville I spoke with Mark of the North Queensland Freedom Network about the upsurge in crime Queensland is seeing, as well as many other issues, particularly those relating to North Queensland.
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