Luke Howarth (Petrie, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In Petrie we run the Petrie Shield each year, which is in recognition of Mr Andrew Petrie, who was born in 1798 and died in 1872. That is who the federal seat that I represent is named after.

The Petrie Shield this year has had some winners announced today. At Redcliffe Leagues Netball Association, Bianca Webb, who has been an outstanding support for the young women there, won for community service. At Bracken Ridge State High School, Leadership went to Molly Quant, Sporting Spirit went to Callum Brent and Academic also went to Molly Quant—a very hardworking young lady. At Clontarf Beach State High School, Academic Excellence went to Claudia Ryder, Community Service went to Trent Woo, and Multi-Disciplinary went to Taj Gardner. And at Redcliffe State High School, Music went to Ngaketa Heslop, Sport went to Jiniah Miru-Faumui and Community Service/Leadership went to Jade Allan, who is also outstanding. Well done to all those Petrie Shield winners.

I also rise today to speak about the importance of choice and freedom. This weekend Queenslanders have the choice to elect a state government on 31 October. It is a very important choice, because it's about who governs the state for the next four years. One of the biggest frustrations I've had, as a federal MP, is that state governments control the infrastructure and road construction through transport and main roads departments around the country. We can often contribute 80 per cent of the funding, but it's up to the states as to when things start. And in my electorate, it's taking about four years before a sod is turned, which is just way too long. Items like the Deception Bay overpass, that has just started, is as quick as it gets, and that has taken 3½ years just to start. Other roads, like the Linkfield Road Overpass, the on and off ramps at Griffin and Murrumba Downs, and the Gateway Motorway upgrade at Bracken Ridge, between Saint John Fisher and Pine River, need to be fast-tracked.

I'm asking people to support the hardworking Liberal-National Party candidates in Petrie, including Amanda Cooper in Aspley, Phil Carlson in Bancroft, Yvonne Barlow in Murrumba, Kerri-Anne Dooley in Redcliffe and Clark Siemsen in Sandgate. With Deb Frecklington and the LNP, they have a great plan—a big, bold plan—for the economy and to fast-track jobs, including manufacturing, to get manufacturing jobs, with $13 million in grants; building two new big dams to waterproof the state, including running hydroelectricity; providing for 30,000 additional places in after-school care; fast-tracking $80 million worth of investment in roads, which I spoke about; and, finally, establishing a new environmental program that will recycle solar panels and provide $80 million for koala habitat. Only the LNP and Deb Frecklington will get the state moving again.