'Strong Choices' Community Forum at Bokarina, Sunshine Coast

[Fares_Fair]

Last night I attended the Strong Choices community forum at Bokarina on the Sunshine Coast.

[Fares_Fair]

Around 50 in attendance (no more) and around 10 staff. Started at 5:30pm, finished at 7:45pm.

VIP Attendees were Treasurer and Minister for Trade, the Hon Tim Nicholls MP, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP and Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, the Hon Andrew Powell MP.

I had a good chat with Tim Nicholls, he came over shortly after I entered the room and we shook hands as I introduced myself, he said that he knew we had traded barbs in the media.
I said that I wasn't offended by it at all. He said that it was a misunderstanding. I said that I didn't take it personally and he said neither did he. He said that he gets that a lot more than I would. I laughed & said of course that goes with the role.

During the meeting he acknowledged my strong passion as an advocate for the North Coast Line rail duplication, he said that he knows about it, he knows the Coast MP's want it, but we need to get the debt level under control.

The Treasurer handled the questions very well I thought and rarely had to pass it on to his senior advisor who was present.
Lots Q's regarding the Politician's pay rise.
First question I asked "Given the 21.8% pay rise (in the Premier's case) backdated to July 2013 and the flow on effect for local government, what was the cost to the budget?"
His reply "$3 million for the 12 months." 
Hon Andrew Powell MP advised that there was a separate tribunal for local Government.

Had another brief chat after the meeting with the Treasurer. I delighted in telling him the irony of the shortest passing loop in the 1668km from Brisbane to Cairns being at my home town of Palmwoods.
I also said that the corridor serviced 58% of the Queensland population and that the choke point of the entire line was between Beerburrum and Nambour.
I said that the cost benefit ratio was 2.285.

After the meeting I asked what A-G Jarrod Bleijie's views were on rail duplication (since he had not responded to the ABC Sunshine Coast radio on Wed 26 March) when 4 Sunshine Coast Politicians came out in support, he said that his position was the same as all the others however the $80 billion debt needs to be resolved.

After today I now know that ALL Sunshine Coast MP's both LNP and Independent Peter Wellington, support rail duplication as the top priority for the Sunshine Coast.
Both Sunshine Coast and Noosa Councils' support it as a top priority as well.

In short, the case has been won, with Councils, State Gov't and Federal Gov't all agreeing on its importance - now all that's needed is the continual pressure to act and the money to build it !
I told Tim Nicholls that I would continue to knock on his door and he said to me to maintain the pressure - because that is what they respond to.
I had to agree.



STRONG CHOICES TWEETS

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:12pm 23 April 2014
#StrongChoices Borrowings per capita at 30 June 2013 pic.twitter.com/DGFDUs2FAq

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:16pm   23 April 2014
#StrongChoices "Cost of politicians pay rises amounts to $3 million over 12 months." Hon Tim Nicholls, Treasurer

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:17pm  23 April 2014
#StrongChoices graphs on display. pic.twitter.com/d2JuIKzWru

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:20pm 23 April 2014
#SttongChoixes Total Government capital program - sources of funds. pic.twitter.com/f68yluwHpB   (sic)

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:27pm 23 April 2014
#StrongChoices State budget is $47 billion. Debt is already essentially consolidated, in answer to my question.

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:30pm 23 April 2014
#StrongChoices Debt breakdown found on website. QTC issues bonds on behalf of Qld State for its debt. Westpac big buyer of Qld bonds.

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:37pm 23 April 2014
#StrongChoices Qld only state that fully funds all public servant's (added: and politicians of course) superannuation - for now and into future.

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:44pm 23 April 2014
#StrongChoices Nurses awarded 3% pay rise (for 3 years) in LNP first year of office. Teachers as well (rate not stated for them)

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:48pm 23 April 2014
#StrongChoices Treasurer Tim Nicholls' wife an occupational therapist in low socio-economic area, has been for 30 years. (They) Invite kids (in)to home

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  6:55pm  23 April 2014
#StrongChoices Every 1c change in exchange rate betw US & Aus$ costs state $40 million, with reference to coal sales. Coal gone (from) $175 to $70

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  7:08pm 23 April 2014
#StrongChoices Q. Can Treasurer guarantee no loss of jobs in regional areas as result of sales? Answer: It's a company management decision.

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  7:42pm 23 April 2014
#StrongChoices Total government capital program graph .. legible this time. pic.twitter.com/lPPap96AzE

Jeff Addison @Jeffrey_Addison  •  9:19pm 23 April 2014
Met Treasurer, Hon @TimNichollsMP tonight at #StrongChoices forum, Bokarina. (He) introduced me (at forum as) "you may know us for trading barbs in media" :-)

[ozbob]

Thanks FF for your efforts past and ongoing!  Onwards with #2tracks!!

[BrizCommuter]

Strong Choices website is such a laughable spin machine. There are plenty of saving options that are not listed, as it would upset the liberal ideology.

[Fares_Fair]

Strong Choices website is such a laughable spin machine. There are plenty of saving options that are not listed, as it would upset the liberal ideology.

The per capita debt figures aren't imaginary, and nearly double the national average.
Same with debt service figures going from 34% in 2005-06 to 94% in 2011-12.

Any suggestions you have can be emailed to them through the website and it will be included in the data provided to the Government.
I know this because I said that I did NOT support asset sales per se, but DO support long-term leases as a preference.