Cathy O'Toole (Herbert, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Regional Queensland, and in particular North Queensland, has been facing some very tough times. Our unemployment rates and youth unemployment rates are amongst the highest in the country; Townsville is the insolvency capital of the nation; and, in the last five years, we have had three massive cyclone events—however, this has not always been the case. We also have a large population of veterans and ex-service personnel who want quality employment opportunities. During the global financial crisis, whilst unemployment was around 10 per cent in Brisbane, unemployment in Townsville was less than five per cent. Fortunately, Townsville's economy was diverse enough to survive the GFC. But that has not been the case for the residents on Palm Island, in my electorate. Lack of infrastructure and jobs have always been major issues for this remote community.

Between 2012 and 2015, regional, rural and remote Queensland experienced the wrath of the Newman LNP government, and now, after four years of the coalition Abbott-Turnbull governments, Townsville has really felt a significant negative impact and is, as I said, the jobless capital of the nation. LNP governments are not the friends of regional, rural and remote Queensland. This is borne out by recent history and the savage cuts made by LNP state and Liberal-National federal governments. LNP governments have always looked after their city mates at the expense of people living in regional, rural and remote Queensland, especially in first-nation communities. The Turnbull government have done nothing to address the growing rate of inequality in regional, rural and remote Queensland; in fact, they have just added fuel to the fire.

Since the GFC, whilst unemployment has been on the decline in Brisbane, wages are on the increase. Compare and contrast this to North Queensland, where employment is on the rise, and the only thing dropping is wages. Life expectancy is lower in regional, rural and remote Queensland. There are more households with no access to the internet in regional, rural and remote Queensland than in capital cities. Insurance is higher in regional Queensland than in Brisbane, even though Brisbane experiences more regular and severe weather events. Townsville has the highest homeless rate per capita in the nation. Rates are higher, energy prices are higher and the overall cost of living is higher. Inequality in regional, rural and remote Queensland is on the rise, and the Turnbull government is doing nothing to rectify this situation.

More focus and action is needed in regional, rural and remote Queensland, and deservedly so. We need short-, medium- and long-term solid plans and not just bandaid solutions. In particular, urgent attention must be paid to the regions that have been identified for rapid population growth. It is concerning to note that the regions with the highest projected growth rates are the same regions being excluded from capital works grants like the Building Better Regions Fund. To help build the vital infrastructure necessary to prepare for the rapid growth, the government has little to offer these communities. In fact, these regions are almost excluded from the $500 million Building Better Regions Fund, the $220 million Regional Jobs and Investment Packages and the new $200 million Regional Growth Fund despite their urgent and obvious needs. This situation must be reviewed because much needed growth is dependent upon the funds to address the necessary infrastructure that will guarantee this sustainable growth.

Funding projects are just one piece of the puzzle. It is not just about dollars. We also need to set our priorities. This includes our value proposition and social capital. The government needs to understand the real social dividend that comes from local projects and not just short-term ribbon-cutting opportunities. The decisions regarding the best bid must consider more than dollar value—they must also include social capital. Delivering a one-off, short-term project based on cost alone will do very little in the long term. However, the same project that has a genuine local focus, including local jobs, purchasing local resources and services and local manufacturing opportunities that may be slightly higher in cost, will deliver real economic and social benefits in regional communities in the longer term. This will enable local small businesses to build their capacity to create more jobs. Funding that takes these elements into account will build both a strong and growing local economy and a thriving society.

Awarding tenders and delivering funding that is focused only on the initial cost and not the broader picture does not take into account the positive flow-on effects for regional communities. The Building Better Regions Fund needs to address this crucial focus. The Sunshine Coast is not regional, rural or remote Queensland, and the differences are blindingly obvious. I demand action from the Turnbull government to provide the funding that will deliver community capacity building and local jobs for all Townsville residents, including the residents on Palm Island and our ex-service personnel and veterans.

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