Statement from Keith Pitt MP re: Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss’ retirement from politics:

“Warren Truss has dedicated 26 years of his life to the people of Wide Bay and Australia as both a local MP and senior member of the Coalition in Government and Opposition.

“Under his esteemed eight-year leadership, the National Party has been a strong voice for regional Australia.   

“I will be forever grateful for the guidance and friendship Warren has provided me since I entered Parliament, as his neighbouring MP, in 2013.

“The Nationals party room is fortunate to have many talented Members and Senators with real world experience, who bring common sense to the Australian Parliament. 

“Few political parties have the same depth as the Nationals: a gastroenterologist, banker and book keeper, fuel distributor, tradesman and engineer, safety auditor, several small business owners, farmers, a Nuffield Scholar, former President of the National Farmers Federation, a police detective, economist and journalists.

“The contest for the positions of leader and deputy leader of the Nationals will no doubt be tight.

“Whatever the party room decides, I’m confident the Nationals will rally behind the new leaders to remain the steadfast and united team that we’ve been for the past 95 years.

“I wish Warren and his wife Lyn all the very best for their retirement from public life.”

Statement from Keith Pitt MP re proposed changes to media ownership laws:  

A National Party Media Reform Working Group was recently formed to address the economic, social and technological changes impacting rural and regional media coverage and operations.

New methods of delivery, changing usage patterns and ongoing structural reform within the media industry requires an examination of whether the current regulations best serve the needs of regional Australia.

If changes to reach rules allow the merging of regional and urban television networks, it is inevitable that broadcast operations will be centralised.

Local content is key to ensuring all Australians are informed, educated and entertained:

• Locally produced regional content ensures people are informed about what is happening in their own communities. As well as contributing to the social and economic fabric of a community, local content is particularly important when emergency services need to communicate public safety messages etc. It is also vital to the democratic process of holding local politicians to account, and enabling people make an informed decision at election time.

• Some 34 per cent of Australians live outside greater capital city areas. They deserve a voice too! Regional Australia is the engine room of the nation’s economy, producing 67 per cent of Australia’s total export earnings. Around 45 per cent of tourism expenditure occurs in areas outside of Australia’s capital cities. Broadcasting regional stories in capital cities helps build social cohesion and informs people about issues that affect all Australians, such as food security and water supply.

• Small regional businesses rely on local broadcasters to advertise their products and services and would struggle to pay big city advertising rates. Regional communities must be encouraged to shop local, rather than buying online, to support the local economy and jobs. 

• Regional newsrooms are a training ground for young media professionals. Many of Australia’s most talented reporters attribute their success to having been ‘thrown in the deep end’ at the start of their career.     

In regards to television broadcasting, the Working Group would like a ‘local presence’ requirement introduced. For example: of the current 90-point local content requirement, 60-points would need to be locally produced visual content. This would prevent newsrooms from solely broadcasting ‘rip and read’ headline-only bulletins from capital cities to meet ‘local content’ requirements.

The bottom line is that this debate shouldn’t be about what’s best for big media business – it’s about protecting the interests of regional Australians.

Letter sent to the Bundaberg NewsMail and Fraser Coast Chronicle on 11 January 2016:

Dear Editor,

I am writing in reply to Mary Daniels’ letter about the proposed bridge over the Burrum River (FCC 11/1/16).

Ms Daniels is right about a few things. Firstly, I did mention the Burrum Bridge proposal in my maiden speech in November 2013. Secondly, the bridge would connect two state-owned roads.

However, these two points alone weaken her other arguments.

I am a member of the Federal Government. The Federal Government has no direct control over state-owned roads. It can, however, fund these types of projects upon application by local and state governments.   

Given that no such applications have been submitted and projects like the Burrum Bridge typically take years to plan and cost many millions of dollars, I have not promised any federal funding either before or since my election in September 2013.

That’s why, nowhere in her letter, is Ms Daniels able to say exactly what I am allegeded to have promised in relation to the Burrum Bridge.

The exact words I used in my maiden speech, some three months after my election, were limited to one sentence only: “A bridge over the Burrum River would link the Hinkler electorate’s tourism centres and provide an alternate route for critical transport, to take pressure off the Bruce Highway”.

My view hasn’t changed. The project still has my support in principle, but I would like to see the results of a comprehensive feasibility study before committing any federal funds.

The bridge has been talked about for decades. Some in the community want it; others don’t. Most would rather see the precious taxpayers’ dollars invested elsewhere.

If Ms Daniels feels so strongly about the Burrum Bridge, I suggest she write to local MPs Bruce Saunders and Leanne Donaldson to ask the current State Labor Government to prepare a proposal for joining these two state-owned roads.    

Let’s not forget, Ms Daniels’ beloved Labor Party had 14 years in State Government and six years in Federal Government to start work on the Burrum Bridge project and did nothing.

Keith Pitt MP

Federal Member for Hinkler

Letter sent to the Bundaberg NewsMail on 4 January 2016:

Dear Editor,

I honestly don’t know where Mr Beiger gets his information from (Fix the Bruce 29/12/15). If he’s driven the Bruce Highway even once during the past three years, he will have seen various roadworks underway.  

Covering a stretch of approximately 1,700 kilometres, the Bruce Highway represents less than eight per cent of Australia’s national highways but accounts for almost a fifth of the country’s road toll.

Motorists’ safety, freight route reliability and emergency accessibility are essential for the people who live, work and run businesses in regional Queensland, as well as the tourists and visitors that help boost our local economies.

On that basis, I’m not sure why Mr Beiger would complain about Nationals MPs listing the Bruce Highway as a key priority at every election.

I would have thought that being a so-called ‘dog-with-a-bone’ on important local issues is a good trait for a politician to have!?    

Being elected to Government in 2013 has enabled the Coalition to make significant progress on its 10-year plan to invest $6.7 billion fixing the Bruce Highway.  

Contrary to what Mr Beiger would have your readers believe, I have delivered on each of the election commitments I made to the people of Hinkler at the 2013 Federal Election.

In relation to the Bruce Highway, these commitments include:

•             $8 million upgrade to three intersections near Childers (completed July 2014)

•             $6 million for an overtaking lane north of Howard (completed August 2014)

•             $7.1 million widening of the Highway for 2.2km south of Torbanlea (completed December 2015)

There is also significant work being done on sections of the Bruce Highway north and south of my electorate, which will directly benefit Hinkler motorists.

Furthermore, the Coalition Government has doubled Roads to Recovery funding to Hinkler Councils, providing $28.1 million between 2014 and 2019 to build better roads, support local jobs and the economy.

Councils also receive substantial federal funding each year to improve road blackspots.

I suggest Mr Beiger check his information before making false claims about the Liberal National Party “never, ever delivering on the Bruce in Hinkler”.

The facts speak for themselves.

Keith Pitt MP

Member for Hinkler

Letter sent to the Fraser Coast Chronicle on 4 January 2016:

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Mr Rankin’s letter (1/1/16) about suicides and mental health on the Fraser Coast.

As I explained to Mr Rankin on June 29 last year, federal funding provided directly to the Queensland Government for hospitals is set to increase by 27 per cent over the next four years. It is up to the State Government as to how and where that funding is spent.

There is significant spending on mental health and yet, as Mr Rankin quite rightly points out, too many Australians fall through the cracks or do not receive the full support they need.

That’s why, in November last year, the Coalition Government announced major reforms to Australia’s mental health system and committed an additional $350 million per year.

Implementing these new reforms will require cooperation from the States and Territories to develop a National Mental Health Plan.   

The reforms focus on better co-ordination in regional areas to reduce duplication, ending the so-called ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach and delivering effective early intervention programs. 

It is our youth that have greatest prevalence of mental illness – more than any other age group – with three quarters of all mental illness presenting in people aged under 25 years.

That’s why we’re investing in programs like headspace, to help young people recover or better manage their conditions to avoid serious and debilitating conditions later in life.

With headspace centres already established in Hervey Bay and Maryborough, a new headspace facility will be built in Bundaberg later this year.

More information about the reforms is available at www.health.gov.au  

Keith Pitt MP

Federal Member for Hinkler 

Letter sent to the Bundaberg NewsMail on 21 December 2015.

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to LC Merry’s letter about politicians’ wages.

Australians have a right to know how many of their hard-earned tax dollars are spent paying their elected representatives. I am, after all, employed by Hinkler voters.

That’s why it’s concerning that much of the information shared on social media and via chain emails originates overseas and is, therefore, not relevant to Australian politicians.

I’d like to correct a couple of mistruths that seem to circulate every few months. Current Members of the Australian Parliament receive only the same superannuation entitlements as the rest of the public service. The Defined Benefit Parliamentary Pension Scheme ended 11 years ago.  

Federal politicians’ salaries are not determined by the Australian Parliament. They are set by the Remuneration Tribunal, which is an independent statutory authority.  As part of the 2014 Budget, the Coalition Government asked the Remuneration Tribunal to freeze politicians’ wages for 12 months. They agreed.

I’m sorry LC Merry feels “politicians are making life harder for normal people”. I may be a politician, but I am also a “normal person” who pays tax. I am a husband and father of three. Before entering politics in 2013, I owned a small business and grew sugar cane. I became a politician because I wanted to be a strong voice for the community I love. I don’t know anyone who entered politics for the so-called “perks”. 

Your readers may be interested to know that 48 per cent of Australian households pay no net tax. All levels of Government, like households and businesses, must live within their means. We can’t repeatedly spend more than we earn. This financial year alone, more than 30 per cent of all government revenue will be spent to assist the most vulnerable people in our community – that’s $144 billion on Social Services, like the disability pension, aged pension and unemployment benefits. A further $32 billion will be spent on employment initiatives, education and training. Almost $50 billion will be spent on health.

We’re all guilty of sharing information we’ve received online or heard at the pub, but I encourage your readers to dig a little deeper and compare the figures themselves. The entitlements and expenditure of each federal parliamentarian is published every six months on the Department of Finance website.

Keith Pitt MP

Member for Hinkler

Letter sent to the Fraser Coast Chronicle in response to the One Nation candidate’s claims RE bridge over the Burrum River.

Dear Editor,

It would appear the One Nation candidate for Hinkler is off to a rough start. The statements he claims as factual (FCC 16/10/15) are, in fact, fanciful. In my maiden speech, I spoke about a number of infrastructure projects for the electorate, as well as seeking better opportunities for our youth, amongst a range of other issues. It can been read in full at www.keithpitt.com.au.

I have never promised a funding allocation from the Commonwealth for the Burrum Bridge. In fact, as recently as July this year, I told the Chronicle:

“Given that projects like this typically take years to plan and cost hundreds-of-millions of dollars, I have not promised any Commonwealth funding for pre-feasibility studies either before or since my election. Hinkler residents I speak to are more concerned with finding work and paying their electricity bill.”

As an engineer and tradesperson I have a strong view that large infrastructure projects should be well planned and value for money.

The One Nation candidate wants $50 million of taxpayers’ money thrown at a project without planning or scrutiny.

Few things in politics and life are certain. But you can be sure that minor parties will always promise everything, and deliver nothing, apart from chaos and disruption.

Keith Pitt MP

Letter sent to the Fraser Coast Chronicle and NewsMail on Friday August 14, 2015:  

Dear Editor,

The people who are calling on me to vote in favour of same-sex marriage, are the very same people who would scream blue murder if I broke any other election commitment.

I am a man of my word. It would not be fair to the people who voted for me at the 2013 election to change my position on same sex marriage mid-term – and I have no intention of doing so.

I respect that there are many differing views on the issue of same-sex marriage within the Australian Parliament, within political parties, our local communities and even within families. 

Many of those who value the traditional definition of marriage as being between a man and woman are not willing to share their views publicly for fear of being vilified. They are often labelled as being “out of touch, homophobic, backwards, dinosaurs” by people who promote tolerance, love and freedom of choice.  Does anyone else see the hypocrisy?

I have not once said I conducted a survey of the Hinkler electorate. What I said is that the majority of Hinkler residents I’ve spoken to do not support same sex marriage. By definition, a majority is anything more than half.

Speaking of majorities, more than 65 per cent of Hinkler voters are over the age of 45.

It’s true that I have not spoken to every single one of the 98,907 voters enrolled in Hinkler, but my door is always open. I’ve hosted dozens of community forums and workshops in Hervey Bay and Bundaberg. Every couple of months I take the electorate office on the road, holding “PittStops” on the streets of Hinkler’s many smaller towns. I’m available by appointment for one-on-one constituent meetings in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay. Hinkler residents can also interact with me on Facebook, YouTube and my website.

Whenever a Hinkler constituent contacts my office, my staff note their views. Our records show 360 Hinkler voters do not support same sex marriage, compared to 71 who do. Some of those who have congratulated me for standing my ground are traditional Labor voters.

The Fraser Coast Chronicle published a story yesterday that said an online poll they’d conducted some two months ago showed Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and I are “out of touch”. The story did not provide any information about the poll. How widely was it promoted; did every local voter know about it? How many people completed it? And how do they know all respondents were locals?  How long did the poll run for?  Are the respondents male or female, and how old are they?

Same-sex marriage is not among the top ten issues raised most frequently by the hundreds of Hinkler voters who telephone, email, visit or write to my office each week.

That’s why my number one priority is attracting investment to the region to create jobs!  

Hinkler residents can rest assured their views, on all matters, are important to me.

Keith Pitt MP

Federal Member for Hinkler

Letter to the Bundaberg NewsMail:

Mr Barry is at it again (11/8), only telling half the story.

Government cannot dictate what price private businesses charge for their products and services.

Petrol prices are largely influenced by factors outside State and Federal Government control, such as the crude oil price and the exchange rate.

What Governments can do is direct Australia’s consumer watch dog, the ACCC, to protect motorists from unfair commercial practices at the bowser.

On December 11 last year I wrote to Minister Bruce Billson to express my concern that Hinkler residents were paying 30 cents more per litre of fuel than those in capital cities.

Most people understand that fuel is a little more expensive in the regions because of freight costs, but that does not explain the disparity we saw late last year.

Crude Oil prices had dropped by 40 per cent and, yet, major fuel retailers were not passing the savings on to Hinkler motorists.

My letter also highlighted the fact that diesel prices locally were markedly higher than unleaded, despite costing significantly less to produce.  

As a result, on December 17, Minister Billson issued a new direction to the ACCC under section 95ZE of the Competition and Consumer Act of 2010 to conduct at least four regional investigations each year with quarterly price monitoring reports.

The announcement, and ongoing scrutiny by the ACCC, prompted the local unleaded price to drop by at least ten cents per litre. Diesel prices were reduced, and today remain lower than unleaded.  

I acknowledge the price of unleaded has slowly crept back up in recent months. This is because of a weakening exchange rate, which forces up import costs.

Fuel taxes are necessary to fund our $6.7 Billion investment in the Bruce Highway, including $21 million for Childers, Howard and Torbanlea.    

We continue to provide diesel fuel rebates to farmers and fishers.

If Mr Barry is expecting a silver bullet from the State Labor Member for Bundaberg that will permanently fix fuel prices, he’ll be waiting a long time because there isn’t one.

State Labor has shown it has no plan to reduce cost of living for regional Queenslanders, especially in relation to the many household bills they control.

Within months of their election they increased car registration fees.

I’d like to know how they plan to reduce the cost of electricity, now that they’ve transferred their debt burden to Ergon and Energex?     

 Keith Pitt MP

Federal Member for Hinkler  

Letter submitted to the Fraser Coast Chronicle:

Dear Editor,

I was disappointed to read in yesterday’s Fraser Coast Chronicle that the State Labor Member for Maryborough is blaming the Federal Government yet again.

It seems every time a journalist asks him to comment on an issue, he points the finger at someone else.

Unemployment is too important an issue to be used as a political football – it’s a whole of community problem that deserves a team effort!

I recognise there are several challenges to gaining employment in the Hinkler region, including a lack of job vacancies and a high number of applicants.

That’s why we’ve introduced a range of measures to help job seekers stand out in what is a highly competitive market.

Through Work for the Dole, the National Work Experience Program and Green Army, job seekers are learning important skills while contributing to their communities.

The 2015 Budget includes $330 million for a Youth Employment Strategy to help young people transition from school to work.

Young job seekers who find a job and stay off welfare for 12 months will receive a job commitment bonus of $2500, and a further $4000 at 24 months.

We’re providing concessional trade support loans of up to $20,000 and spending $200 million each year to lift apprenticeship completion rates.   

We’re also providing up to $9000 to help people relocate to take up a job.

Giving job seekers a hand up is just one piece of the puzzle.

We’re also giving businesses the confidence they need to expand because, ultimately, it is businesses that create jobs – not governments.

Businesses who employ young or mature age job seekers can access wage subsidies of up to $10,000.

We’ve reduced the company tax rate to its lowest level in 50 years and are allowing small businesses to claim an immediate tax deduction for each asset they purchase up to $20,000.

We all have a role to play in creating jobs for current and future generations. There are two simple things Hinkler residents can do to boost our economy: shop locally and tell everyone how great our region is!

I will continue to work with my Federal, State and Council colleagues to attract public and private investment to our region!

I only hope the State Labor Member for Maryborough will see sense and do the same!

Keith Pitt MP

Federal Member for Hinkler