Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has had enough of people who hide behind fake social media accounts to promote lies and cons that cause distress in the community.

“Another fake Facebook account has been set up using my image and name in a bid to promote false information but this isn’t just a sneaky political game, this has implications that are far reaching for people in this electorate,” Mr Pitt said.

“These keyboard warriors don’t even have the courage to put their name to the claims they make on social media – they can say whatever they want, most of which they know is totally untrue, that’s why they don’t put their real name to it.”

But Mr Pitt said there is a warning for the general public and that is to be more aware of what you read, what you take to be truth and what you act on if you don’t want to be taken for a ride.

“The community as a whole needs to stand up against these cons that in the best form merely spread lies, but in their worst form can lead to people losing money, reputation and causing severe stress.

“If you come across a fake Facebook page, or you read content online that is suspicious, do your homework so you don’t get sucked in. If it is suspicious, report it. Get the page taken down. 

“Don’t just be a passive bystander because their next victim could be teenager who isn’t so cyber-savvy or a senior who is new to the internet.”

Mr Pitt said Letters to the Editor were a traditional forum for community members to promote their opinions and pose questions but these writers need to provide their name and contact details so their identities can be verified.

“So if our writers or Letters to the Editor need to be verified why don’t we force social media cowards to prove their identities as well? 

“They have no credibility when we can’t trace them because they use a pseudonym like ‘dodgy demon’ to identify themselves.  I think our media outlets have a role to play in this regard to protect their readers, listeners and viewers,” Mr Pitt said.

If you are concerned about content you read online or come across a fake Facebook page you should:

1. Report the page or profile to Facebook.

2. If you suspect something is a scam, report it to Scamwatch: www.scamwatch.gov.au or call 1300 795 995.

Federal Member Keith Pitt said schools in Hinkler would receive books and posters to educate students about Australia’s wartime history and commemorate Anzac Day.

Mr Pitt said schools would receive two books: Decision: Stories of leadership in the services about the influence of Australian leaders during wartime and A Bitter Fate: Australians in Malaya and Singapore, December 1941 – February 1942.

The two posters commemorate the centenaries of the Flanders Offensive and the Sinai–Palestine Campaign.

“It is important that every generation understands the costs and impacts of war, both on the battlefield and at home,” he said.

“The book explores the stories of individuals who made decisions that saved lives and influenced the outcomes of battles and wars.

“The posters will encourage reflection and discussion of two very different but important events in our history – the Third Battle of Ypres and the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba.

“As we commemorate the Anzac Centenary 2014–2018, these materials will help our school-aged children develop an appreciation of the service and sacrifice of all those who have served in defence of our nation over the past 100 years, and those who continue to serve today.”

Schools across Australia will receive the education resources by the end of March. The learning activities are available for free download from the Anzac Portal.

The posters will also be distributed to libraries, ex-service organisations, aged care facilities, hospitals, local councils, and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade overseas missions. They are supported by an online Wartime Snapshot.

High resolution versions of both posters and the Wartime Snapshot can be accessed from the Anzac Portal (http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/).

Applications are open now for councils and organisations in Hinkler to apply for up to $5million in funding to support smart tech projects for local communities.

The Federal Government’s $50million Smart Cities and Suburbs Program has been opened by Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor.

“I’m delighted to launch this exciting new program to support the rollout of technology and data solutions for local communities,” Assistant Minister Taylor said.

“This is not just for metropolitan areas, good ideas come from everywhere and we welcome applications from across Australia.”

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said the Federal Government was co-investing in projects that applied smart technology, data-driven decision making and people-focused design.

“I encourage any interested applicants in Hinkler to put forward technology proposals that solve some of our community problems here locally, and have the potential to be scaled up and delivered nationwide,” he said.

A wide range of projects are expected to be developed such as app-based detection of infrastructure wear and tear, traffic sensors, smart street lighting, or computer generated programs  that support local services.

Eligible organisations— local governments, private companies, not for profits and research organisations — can apply for grants of between $100,000 and $5 million to fund up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs.

Applications are open now until 30 June 2017.

The Smart Cities and Suburbs Program is supported by the Future Ready incubation series for councils that are looking to build smart cities know-how.

For more information and to download a copy of the Smart Cities and Suburbs Program guidelines, visit business.gov.au 

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt today welcomed an increase in international visitors travelling to Bundaberg and the Fraser Coast according to the latest tourism data.

Mr Pitt said the 2016 International Visitor Survey, produced by Tourism Research Australia, showed 41,000 international visitors travelled to Bundaberg, while 147,000 international visitors travelled to the Fraser Coast.

“More international tourists are visiting the Hinkler region and are staying longer and spending more.

“This is great news for Hinkler and the 3380 local tourism jobs,” Mr Pitt said.

International visitors spent $35 million while in Bundaberg with an average spend per person of $859.

On the Fraser Coast, international visitors spent $40 million with an average spend per person of $271.

International tourists stayed 992,000 nights in Bundaberg, with an average 24 nights, and 778,000 tourists stayed an average five nights on the Fraser Coast.

“The survey shows the tourism industry in Hinkler continues to register strong growth – driving local jobs and economic growth,” he said.

“Tourism remains an important focus for the Coalition Government, with our vibrant tourism sector forecast to continue its growth trajectory over the next decade.”

The Coalition Government is acting to further harness the growth in tourists from key Asian nations including through a landmark open aviation market between China and Australia increasing aviation capacity, trial of 10 year multiple entry visas and enabling Chinese nationals to apply for visitor visas online.

A recent announcement of additional flights between Indonesia and Australia will also increase flight capacity by up to 13 per cent and initiatives such as streamlining visas in key markets like Indonesia will further stimulate visitors.

To support the tourism industry to grow further the Coalition Government has committed a record $639 million for Tourism Australia to market Australia overseas.

The International Visitor Survey is available on the Tourism Research Australia website: www.tra.gov.au

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has welcomed an additional $906,948 to help older Australians continue to live independently at home.

“Helping people to stay in the communities they grew up in, or worked in all their lives, is a great way to keep communities strong,” Mr Pitt said.

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) supports more than 640,000 older people – 65 years and over or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – across Australia to live at home and maintain their independence.

“Older people assessed as needing assistance with household chores, preparing meals, personal care and home maintenance will get the help they need to stay at home near family and friends.

“Practical help like extra transport services to take people to appointments as well as social events in their local community are simple, but very important, for an older person’s happiness and wellbeing.

“I’m pleased that Hinkler has received funding for additional services so our older residents get the care and attention they deserve,” he said.

Approximately 245 organisations nationwide will receive a share of $115 million in extra aged-care funding support from the Australian Government through the CHSP Growth Funding Round.

Information about the CHSP Growth Funding Round is available on the Tenders and Grants page on the Department of Health website.

The Coalition Government has announced the organisations that were successful in their applications to deliver the second round of Empowering YOUth Initiatives.

Empowering YOUth Initiatives seeks to empower young people who are disengaged from the workforce or school and who face complex issues that affect their future.

Minister for Employment, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said 21 organisations will be offered the opportunity to join 19 existing organisations to deliver new approaches that assist young people overcome barriers to getting employment.

“The Government is engaging community and not-for-profit organisations to explore new and innovative approaches to help young people into jobs,” Minister Cash said.

“We are especially keen to help facilitate grass roots innovation, as these organisations have stepped up and are willing to try new approaches to help young people.

“The Government is supporting these yet-to-be tested ideas because it is worth every effort to tackle youth unemployment.”

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said Impact Community Services was one of 21 successful organisations selected from the second round and was pleased they would be offered the opportunity to deliver an exciting new initiative to support young people in the area.

“Impact will run an anonymous telephone hotline service Employment firstAid (E+), where participants and employers will have access to advice and support designed to enhance confidence and resilience in the workplace,” Mr Pitt said.

The service will also promote a range of strategies that employers and employees can adopt to improve retention of young people in employment.

A website and hotline support can be accessed nationally and face-to-face support will be available in Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Rockhampton.

“Initiatives like these, that are community driven, are vital in the Hinkler electorate to support our young people on their journeys to employment.”

Applicants in Round 2 of Empowering YOUth Initiatives applied for grant funding of up to $5 million to deliver initiatives over two years to young people aged 15 to 24. Each of the 21 successful organisations was selected for their experience and innovative approach.

The Department of Employment will partner with the successful organisations to support evaluation of each initiative, informing new policies and programs targeted at young people.

“The Coalition has allocated $50 million in Empowering YOUth Initiatives, demonstrating how committed this Government is to assisting some of our most vulnerable young people prepare for the workplace,” Minister Cash said.

“Early intervention can mean the difference between a young person taking their first steps into a productive and happy working life or entering a life of welfare dependency.”

Empowering YOUth Initiatives is part of the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy announced in the Growing Jobs and Small Business Package in the 2015–16 Budget.

For more information on Empowering YOUth Initiatives and other support available for young people under the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy visit: www.employment.gov.au

• Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus has been confirmed at four sites in Bundaberg, Queensland, operated by one business.

• Biosecurity Queensland is working with the business to contain and minimise the disease and its impact.

Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV) has been confirmed at four greenhouse sites near Bundaberg, Queensland following its suspected detection on 13 February 2017.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt today expressed concern for the industry.

“The confirmation of the disease in Bundaberg is disappointing news, not only for the business whose sites have been declared ‘restricted’ but also very concerning for the wider cucurbit producing industry,” Mr Pitt said.

“Biosecurity Queensland is on the job, as this matter sits with the Queensland State Government, and is providing advice on biosecurity control measures to hopefully stop the disease from further spread.

“I understand investigations are underway to determine whether this disease is linked to previous detections.

“I would like to compliment the horticulture industry and in particular the affected business for cooperating fully with biosecurity directions to protect the future of the industry.

“The Coalition Government takes biosecurity seriously and the government has strict biosecurity controls on seed imports, which are four times more stringent than the international standards of the seed industry.

“Australia’s melon production alone, which is just one crop potentially affected by this virus, contributes around $216 million a year to the nation’s economy, so keeping this plant pest at bay is a top priority.”

For more information on CGMMV, visit Biosecurity Queensland’s website.

Fast facts

• CGMMV is known to infect a range of cucurbits including cucumbers, melons, watermelons, pumpkins, zucchini, squash and several kinds of gourd.

• Australia’s melon crop alone was worth around $216 million in 2014–15 (Queensland’s contribution was close to $80 million).

• CGMMV can cause discolouration, stunted growth, misshapen fruit, rotting and necrosis.

• The virus particles are long-lived and can survive in dead plant matter, soil and water.

• The main pathway for long distance spread of CGMMV is through propagative material including seed, tissue culture or nursery stock.

• CGMMV has been detected in Northern Territory (2014), Queensland (Charters Towers, 2015), Western Australia (Geraldton, Carnarvon area, Perth and Kununurra, 2016) and most recently in Queensland (February 2017).

Residents, businesses, local government and community organisations in Hinkler have just nine days to have their say on plans to decentralise more government offices and agencies to country Australia as part of a plan to boost job opportunities in regional areas.

Launching the new Get out of the City Campaign www.getoutofthecity.com.au which aims to drive submissions from country Australia to a new Senate inquiry into decentralising government offices and agencies, Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said this was vital chance for regional Australians to be heard by city-based Labor politicians.

“Submissions close next Friday (March 10) and our regional communities must have their say because this Senate Inquiry was initiated to kill off relocating Commonwealth jobs in regional centres,” he said.

“I’m a supporter of decentralisation and the 33% of Australians living in regional areas should have the same opportunities as anyone who lives in the cities to get the benefits of their tax-payers money.

“I think it’s important we diversify the locations of the departments and people in regional areas should get the benefit of those jobs in their economy.

“Today, we ask you to add your voice in support of decentralisation. Regional Australia deserves well-paid, skilled jobs. It deserves Centres of Excellence to be established to create knowledge hubs which continue to attract and grow those jobs. 

“Technology and modern communication gives us the opportunity to reshape our vibrant regional communities; more government functions can be delivered from across Australia and no longer have to be centralised in the Canberra and other capital cities.”

Mr Pitt said the Labor Party was trying to put a stop to decentralisation: trying to put a stop to moving some government departments from the capital cities to the regions.

Mr Pitt called on the community to support:

1.   The Nationals’ policies to decentralise more government agencies and functions from capital cities to the regions;

2.   Calls for the senate inquiry to hold meetings in regional areas to hear firsthand from local communities;

3.   Regional Australia getting fair access to public service careers;

4.   Decentralisation of government services as a huge driver of downstream jobs in regional and rural towns;

5.   Decentralisation as essential to growing a skilled workforce in regional areas for our children and grandchildren as well as for businesses, families and investors.

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has welcomed new legislation which will provide greater protection for workers in Hinkler, with increased penalties for employers who underpay workers and those who intentionally exploit workers.

The Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017 was introduced into Parliament today.

“The higher penalties and increased powers of the Fair Work Ombudsman should give a clear message to employers: if you are doing the wrong thing you will be caught, it won’t be tolerated and you will be punished to the fullest extent.

“This legislation delivers on the Coalition Government’s election commitment to increase safe-guards for vulnerable workers,” Mr Pitt said.

The amendment will:

• Introduce a higher scale of penalties for ‘serious contraventions’ of prescribed workplace laws

• Increase penalties for record-keeping failures.

• Make franchisors and holding companies responsible for underpayments by their franchisees or subsidiaries where they knew or ought reasonably to have known of the contraventions and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent them.

• Expressly prohibiting employers from unreasonably requiring their employees to make payments

• Strengthening the evidence-gathering powers of the Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure that the exploitation of vulnerable workers can be effectively investigated.

Mr Pitt said clamping down on unscrupulous employers will level the playing field for producers who employ legal workers.

“Dodgy contractors not only employ and under-pay illegal workers, they reduce employment opportunities for those who do have permission to work in Australia.

“Sadly, this issue is not confined to the horticulture sector or the Bundaberg region. Unfortunately it happens in many regional and metropolitan areas also.

“I’ve campaigned long and hard against worker exploitation and this legislation will ensure that workers are protected.”

The Migrant Workers Taskforce – which was also announced during the election campaign – is headed by Professor Allan Fels AO and will build on the work being done by Taskforce Cadena, Mr Pitt said.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has welcomed the agreement reached with Indonesia to make it easier and cheaper to export our sugar and beef.

Indonesia will lower its sugar tariff on Australian sugar to 5 per cent and has revised regulations increasing the weight and age limit of live feeder cattle eligible for import into Indonesia.

“This agreement is an important step forward for Australian exporters, allowing Australian sugar to compete on a level playing field with other suppliers.

“This will provide Indonesia with better access to Australian sugar at more competitive prices,” Mr Pitt said.

The agreement will also means more jobs in regional areas and a more stable income for growers.

“Indonesia is a crucial market for Australian sugar, worth nearly half a billion dollars. The opportunities are there for the taking.”

The agreement with Indonesia builds on the success of the three free-trade agreements with China, Korea and Japan.

“A whole range of Australian products receive preferential access to more than a billion potential customers in North Asia, thanks to provisions negotiated by the Australian Government.”

On January 1, further tariff cuts on more than 7000 Australian products came into effect, creating more export opportunities for local businesses.

“Our North Asia FTAs give local exporters a competitive edge in these key markets, boosting opportunities for more sales abroad and more jobs in regional Australia. They also lay the foundation for stronger flows of two-way investment,” Mr Pitt said.

Australia will also eliminate tariffs of pesticides and herbicides coming from Indonesian suppliers to put them on an equal footing with out other major trading partners.