• Sod turning ceremony held today for the Bundaberg Netball Complex upgrade

• Coalition Government invested $500,000 in project, scheduled for completion in October 2017.

Work officially began today on building four new bitumen courts at the Bundaberg Netball Complex.

Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said the additional courts – together with new paths, seating, shade structures and fencing – would encourage increased local participation in one of Australia’s most popular sports.

“When completed, the new facilities will improve the complex’s ability to accommodate more players and their supporters,” Minister Nash said.

“By investing in the social and economic well-being of communities, and creating jobs during construction, projects like this one will benefit Bundaberg community now and into the future.

“I aim to build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren want to either stay in or come back to, and modern sporting facilities do just that.”

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt attended a sod turning ceremony at the complex today to mark the start of the project.

“Today’s start to construction is the first step in fulfilling a 2016 federal election commitment by the Coalition,” Mr Pitt said.

“This project will provide the netball community of Bundaberg and the surrounding region with modern facilities for all members and players to use.

“When the works are completed – weather permitting, in October 2017– this complex will be an even better venue and hopes to attract state competition games.”
The $530,852 project is being jointly funded with the Coalition Government contributing $500,000 and the Bundaberg Netball Association contributing $38,852.

Ceduna Mayor Allan Suter is urging Hinkler residents to show their support for the Cashless Debit Card (CDC), which is being proposed by Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt.

Ceduna in South Australia was one of two sites which participated in a trial of the CDC. Due to the strong independent evaluation results from the trial, the Government announced in the recent Federal Budget it was expanding the CDC to two additional communities.

Mayor Suter said the CDC had been a huge success in his community.

“We’ve seen a very dramatic decrease in gambling, particularly poker machines in Ceduna. Nuisance behaviour on the streets by intoxicated people has basically disappeared,” Cr Suter said.

“One drug dealer has actually left town because the card destroyed his business base.

“The most significant benefit is the improvement in the lives of children and mothers. Children were suffering because most of the welfare benefits were being poured down peoples’ throats and that has turned around.”

Under the CDC, 80 per cent of an individual’s welfare payment is placed on the card, which prevents people spending all of their welfare on illicit drugs, gambling and alcohol. The remaining 20 per cent is placed into their normal bank account.  

“Claims about the card not being accepted by some businesses is totally false. The card, and therefore 80 per cent of their welfare, can be spent anywhere EFTPOS is available, unless they sell alcohol or gambling products,” Cr Suter said.

“The card does not apply to aged pensioners.

“I’ve worked in Local Government for 14 years and most of that time has been spent trying to address the very same community problems you have in Hinkler. Nothing we’ve tried previously has had anywhere near the same positive impact as the Cashless Debit Card.

“There is very strong support for the card in my community. For the first time, all three levels of Government are working together with not-for-profit organisations to make meaningful change. While it’s not a magic silver bullet, I truly believe the CDC is the best thing that’s ever happened to our community.

“There will always be a handful of noisy opponents. We had a small group who were very active on social media, working from as far as London and Los Angeles. Their tactics were deplorable.

“Ceduna is a great community that’s worth fighting for. From what Keith tells me, the Wide Bay Burnett region is too! I urge Hinkler residents who support the CDC to speak up and sign Keith’s petition.”

Mr Pitt thanked Mayor Suter for his support and for sharing his insights.

“Mayor Suter is a very effective and passionate advocate for the people of Ceduna,” Mr Pitt said.

Sign the petition at: https://gopetition.com/petitions/i-support-a-cashless-debit-card-in-the-hinkler-electorate.html or drop in to the Hinkler electorate office at 41 Woongarra Street, Bundaberg.

The second round of applications is now open for local organisations to join the Coalition Government’s Local Drug Action Team program.

Community groups across Australia are joining forces to deliver targeted local action to help tackle drug use and addiction.

“We need to work together to fight the scourge of ice and other drugs which cause so much harm to individuals, families and our communities,” said Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt.

The program is an initiative under the Coalition Government’s four year, $298 million investment to reduce the harms of ice, drugs and alcohol.

Local Drug Action Teams is a community driven program, that supports local organisations to work together to develop and deliver local solutions to tackle drug and alcohol issues.

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation will support the program to develop and deliver evidence-based community level planning and action.

Mr Pitt said each successful Local Drug Action Team will receive minimum initial funding of $10,000 to support the further development of their local plan for on the ground prevention activities. 

“Community teams can apply for funding of up to $40,000 per annum to support the prevention activities and priorities they have identified in response to local issues.”

“I’m calling on concerned community groups in Hinkler to join together and take advantage of this program.

“Almost every week there are reports in the local media of people affected by ice committing crimes in our community.

“Membership of each team might include representatives from local councils, schools, police, youth services, primary health services and treatment services, community groups, non-government organisations and interested community members,” said Mr Pitt.

Examples of the sorts of activities Local Drug Action Teams might undertake could include:

• Fighting the scourge of ice in communities by promoting and disseminating evidence-based information and encouraging people to access available support.

• Working with vulnerable people to improve engagement with education/employment services.

• Providing support and information for parents and carers to talk to each other and their children about alcohol and other drug issues.

• Developing local solutions for reducing alcohol-related violence and other drug harms in community spaces.

Applications are now open and close on 14 July 2017.

Details about the program, community support material and application documentation is available on the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website at www.adf.org.au

Older residents in the Hinkler electorate will benefit from an additional $11.4 million in funding for aged care services under the Federal Government’s 2016-17 Aged Care Approvals Round.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has welcomed the funding boost and said it would provide an additional 174 residential care places:

• 144 residential care places – The Lakes Aged Care, Bundaberg (new service)

• 30 residential care places – Kalkie Residential Care Service, Bundaberg (additional places)

“The Lakes Aged Care and Kalkie Residential Care Service will be funded to provide new aged care services or to enable them to expand their current facilities,” Mr Pitt said.

“With our rapidly ageing population, the Australian Government is committed to providing a sustainable aged care system that meets the needs of our older Australians,” he said.

“Hinkler is one of many rural and remote regions across Australia that will benefit, with 27.4 per cent of all residential places allocated to non-metropolitan areas.”

The new residential aged care places follow the announcement of 475 Short-Term Restorative Care places made available through the 2016-17 Aged Care Approvals Round in February 2017.

These Short-Term Restorative Care places, worth an estimated total expenditure of up to $34.7 million a year, provide flexible aged care options that will help older people remain in their own homes for longer after injury or illness.

“Australians want greater choice and control over the care they receive and these changes do exactly that,” Mr Pitt said.

Information about the 2016−17 Aged Care Approvals Round outcomes, including details of the successful approved providers, is available on the https://agedcare.health.gov.au/2016-17acar/results.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has welcomed the news that people living with disability in Bundaberg would receive early access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme

The Australian and Queensland Governments today announced they are bringing forward the NDIS start date in the next three Queensland regions to roll out, to make the most of unused capacity in the first Queensland regions to transition to the NDIS.

The start date for existing state clients in Bundaberg has been brought forward to September rather than October 2017. Other eligible people in Bundaberg will begin to enter the scheme from October 2017.

“The NDIS roll out is going well in Queensland so far, but there is capacity to now bring forward access to state clients in the next regions in line,” Mr Pitt said.

“As a result, it’s great news for people in Bundaberg that they will benefit from this earlier than expected roll out of the NDIS.

“The NDIS is one of the largest social policy reforms in Australia’s history – it is already empowering Queenslanders with disability, helping them fulfil their aspirations and participate in community life.

The number of people receiving disability support in the Bundaberg region is forecast to grow from 1500 to 3300 and more than 600 jobs are expected to be created in the Bundaberg region.

“Across Queensland, people are excited about the start of the NDIS and the impact it will have on their lives. I am delighted to help people in Bundaberg will have access to the NDIS sooner than expected,” Mr Pitt said.

Full details of the early access to NDIS in Queensland are available here:

http://christianporter.dss.gov.au/media-releases/queensland-regions-get-early-access-to-the-ndis

• Wide Bay Burnett Local Investment Plan approved.

• Grant round opens 31 May.

• Funding for local infrastructure, business innovation and skills and training.

Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash together with the Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien, Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd and Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt announced that the grants round for Wide Bay Burnett Regional Jobs and Investment Packages (RJIP) will open for applications on 31 May, following the publication of the committee’s Local Investment Plan.

“I thank the Wide Bay Burnett Local Planning Committee for their hard work. Their plan is based on local knowledge of the Wide Bay Burnett region.

“The Wide Bay Burnett Local Investment Plan will ensure that projects funded align with local priorities.

“This is a great opportunity for the communities of the Wide Bay Burnett to submit applications for key projects that will boost the local economy and create jobs,” said Minister Nash.

“I aim to help build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to, and investing in sustainable local jobs does just that.”

Mr O’Brien said the opening of applications for the Wide Bay Burnett Jobs and Investment Package represents the delivery of a key election commitment.

“The Wide Bay Burnett Region has a historically high unemployment rate, which this program is designed to tackle,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This program targets funding to where jobs are created, to business and organisations to invest in projects to grow and boost jobs.

“Now that the Local Investment Plan is done, applications from the Wide Bay Burnett region can roll in, including from businesses who can apply to the Business Innovation stream.”

Mr O’Dowd said the Coalition Government’s aim is to create more jobs and export opportunities.

“We aim to harness the broad range of skills in Wide Bay Burnett to create more jobs, and I look forward to seeing what applications are put forward,” said Mr O’Dowd.

Mr Pitt said the Coalition invests in regional Australia because the Coalition understands the cities cannot exist without our regions, which supply cities their water, food, electricity and gas.

“This will provide the Wide Bay Burnett region with a much-needed $20 million shot in the arm,” Mr Pitt said.

Funding will be available across three streams: Local Infrastructure, Business Innovation and Skills and Training, with the round opening for applications on 31 May.

For more information and to read more about the Local Investment Plan for Wide Bay Burnett visit the Regional Jobs and Investment Package website.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt is calling on the community to show its support for the introduction of the Cashless Debit Card in our region.

He has launched a petition at: https://gopetition.com/petitions/i-support-a-cashless-debit-card-in-the-hinkler-electorate.html or you can sign at the Hinkler electorate office at 41 Woongarra Street, Bundaberg.

This is an opportunity to improve the lives of Hinkler welfare recipients, their children and the entire community, following the Federal Budget announcement of two additional communities for the Cashless Debit Card (CDC).

Without the support of the community it won’t get off the ground and Mr Pitt believes this region needs a drastic change to break the cycle of welfare dependence and get people into work.

Find out more about the Cashless Debit Card here:

https://keithpitt.com.au/news/cashless-debit-card-could-be-catalyst-change

https://keithpitt.com.au/news/misconceptions-around-cashless-debit-card-quashed

https://keithpitt.com.au/news/get-facts-cashless-debit-card

https://keithpitt.com.au/news/ceduna-mayor-urges-hinkler-residents-show-their-support-cashless-debit-card

https://keithpitt.com.au/news/member-hinkler-holds-another-round-local-cdc-consultations

https://keithpitt.com.au/news/media-statement-aldi-and-cashless-debit-card

https://keithpitt.com.au/news/media-statement-protestors-invited-meet-mp

Keeping players cool during the hot summer months is now a reality for the Bundaberg Bowls Club thanks to a Stronger Communities Programme grant from the Federal Government.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt congratulated Bundaberg Bowls Club which has been awarded $17,000 for shade structures.

“This will provide much needed sun-protection for club members as well as visiting players and community members,” Mr Pitt said.

“The Stronger Communities Programme has been a boost for community groups and organisations like Bundaberg Bowls Club that would otherwise struggle to fund these types of improvements.

“I was thrilled to see a third round of the Stronger Communities Programme was announced in the 2017 Budget last week,” he said.

Bundaberg Bowls Club president John Clough said many players were not physically capable of participating in social or competition bowls because of the intense heat and high humidity in Bundaberg during the summer months.

“We anticipate that now we have additional shade around the clubhouse our membership will increase, thus involving more likeminded community participants whilst also providing many more playing opportunities for our existing membership,” he said.

“The ever-present reality of direct exposure to the effects of hot sub-tropical sunshine over a period of a 4-5 hours of any lawn-bowls playing session, twice or thrice weekly, is that various forms of skin cancer and related conditions can worse or otherwise contribute to an undesirable result.”

Mr Clough said the Bundaberg Bowls Club is utilised by a number of lawn bowls playing groups including:

– The Endeavour Foundation

– Students from North Bundaberg High School as lawn bowling is included as a component of their school’s sport curriculum

– A varying number of NAIDOC children of mixed ages, both learning and participating in the game, with our Club providing junior bowls set and rubberised bowls sets for the littlies.

– A group of mature aged ladies in varying numbers take advantage of our playing facilities and equipment every Wednesday

– Periodic bare foot social bowling events by various social groups throughout the year.

“Many of our members have expressed the desire to be more involved in more social and competition lawn bowling events at our club, but cannot endure the summer heat. Hopefully this will see more people out on the greens,” he said.

Through the Stronger Communities Programme, eligible community groups can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 for small capital projects. All applications need to commit at least matching funding or in-kind contributions.

Applications for round three will open mid-2017. Guidance material will be available shortly. Please continue to monitor this webpage http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/scp/index.aspx for further updates.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has moved to clarify a number of misconceptions surrounding the possible expansion of the Cashless Debit Card announced in this week’s budget.

“The exact parameters of the card rollout will be determined through community consultation, but will generally not apply to aged pensioners and those receiving a disability or DVA payment,” he said.

“Some of the misinformation I’ve seen on social media – often from people that don’t even live in the electorate or are hiding behind fake Facebook accounts – is that the card can’t be used at mainstream stores. This is incorrect.

“The card is designed so it can be used anywhere, just like any other normal bank card, except for the purchase of alcohol, gambling products or to withdraw cash.

“These are the only restrictions, so you can still use the card as you would normally for all other purchases.”

Mr Pitt said there are claims the card can’t be used for bills like car registration or electricity bills.

“Again, this is incorrect. The Cashless Debit Card can be used just like any other card to pay bills.”

Mr Pitt said if Hinkler was selected for the card the Government would work with the community to ensure that the balance is right and to establish what additional services are needed to help those on welfare.

“At the end of the day, this is about ensuring better outcomes for the community, as well as individuals, their children and families receiving welfare.”

At the trial sites at Ceduna and the East Kimberley, the additional services put in place included drug and alcohol services, a 24/7 mobile outreach, and financial counselling.

“The card works to stop the cash going to alcohol, gambling and drugs, while the services are put in place to support people to get off their addictions or help them manage their money better.

“I’ve asked for people’s feedback, but if you don’t like this idea, what is your solution?

“I want to ensure that children are going to school after a good breakfast, with lunch in their bag and the equipment they need to learn.

“I want to ensure that people with addictions are getting the help they need. And I want to ensure that people who want to work but need some extra help will get it.”

The Coalition Government has a range of measures to help job seekers including JobActive, the Empowering YOUth initiative, Transition to Work service, the National Work Experience Program and the Youth Jobs PaTH program.

“In addition to these programs it was an announced in the Budget on Tuesday night there will be a $1.5 billion Skilling Australians Fund to assist apprentices and trainees over the next four years,” Mr Pitt said.

An opportunity to improve the lot of local welfare recipients, their children and the entire community is on the table following last night’s Federal Budget announcement of two additional communities for the Cashless Debit Card (CDC).

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt is calling on the community to show its support for the introduction of the CDC in our region.

“Evaluation of the CDC trials in Ceduna and the East Kimberley shows significant reductions in gambling, drug use, alcohol consumption and an improvement in the care of children,” Mr Pitt said.

The independent evaluation into the trials in Ceduna and the East Kimberley reported that across the two trial sites, on average, trial participants surveyed reported:

• 25% of participants said they were drinking less alcohol and 25% engaged in less binge drinking.

• 32% said they gambled less.

• 24% said they used illegal drugs less often.

• 31% said they were better able to save money and care for their children.

Emergency services in the region have reported that alcohol is one of the main reasons for admissions to the emergency wards and recent statistics showed that gambling and illicit drug use is a major problem in Hinkler.

“While consulting with community groups and stakeholders recently, to find a way to improve the outcomes for those on unemployment benefits, there were a number of suggestions made, including a cashless debit card.

“I heard loud and clear from workers at the coal face and community and welfare groups that we need to do something and I believe this cashless debit card is a way forward.”

The new locations will be identified in consultation with local communities and will be selected based on a range of factors including community readiness and willingness, high levels of disadvantage and welfare dependence and high levels of social hardship caused by welfare fuelled alcohol, drugs and gambling abuse.

“To be considered as a location for the cashless debit card we need the support of the community. There are communities all over Australia who want to be part of the card rollout, but I believe this could benefit Hinkler residents and provide the additional support they need,” Mr Pitt said.

During the trial phase, the CDC sites worked with government to target $2.6M in additional community services to support the trial including more drug and alcohol services, financial counselling and other support services.

“It’s not just the cashless debit card, but a whole raft of services that could come along with it, that I think will make a real improvement to those welfare recipients in the Hinkler electorate.

“If we are successful I would be calling for funds to look at additional job creation projects so welfare recipients can find a job and get themselves out of the welfare cycle and into meaningful employment.

“The unemployment rate in Hinkler is unacceptably high but we can’t just keep doing the same thing and expect a different result,” he said.

Mr Pitt is encouraging the Hinkler community to voice their views on the CDC.

“Call my office or send an email – I want to know your views on the cashless debit card.

“It could be the catalyst for a positive change in this community and I am fighting for what’s best for Hinkler residents.”