A month of transit hence a late edition! With three sittings of Parliament, adjusting to our ‘transitory’ office and accommodation due to Parliamentary Annex works, and travelling with my committee to north QLD, my bags are permanently packed! A special ‘transit’ moment was testing the new Beckmans/Cooroy Noosa roundabout which is fabulous – thank you TMR and Noosa Council teams Unfortunately no time to celebrate, as I need to continue chasing the funding for the remaining stages, with the business case for this expected before end of year.

So much occurs before and after Chamber, and in August threefold!! MPs had a ‘hit’ on the Speakers Green with Tennis Queensland, as well a ‘kick’ with AFL Qld! We wore Red Socks in raising prostate cancer awareness and attended information sessions including on hepatitis.  A session on Food Security & Supply Chain Resilience highlighted some concerning statistics including that we waste 40% of edible food ☹, and in the rain we learnt about our Channel Country, its importance for all and the many threats including where roads have cut off beneficial floodwaters. There were also many protests, both in and outside of Chamber, and lovely visits from Steph, Viv and coach Craig from Noosa Lions to visit the Matildas, and from students of Good Shepherd Lutheran College to debate a mock bill.

Hundreds gathered to celebrate the Treaty Advancement Committee’s report and response to which outlines the first steps in what will be a long journey. The key messages from all speakers were the importance in truth telling that all Australians have their voice heard, both indigenous and non, to ensure this is a journey together.   As beautifully shared by one of our Kabi Kabi Gubbi Gubbi students, this is about truth, trust and empathy between all.  To read the report, head to www.sandybolton.com/path-to-treaty-2

L-R: Path to Treaty; Noosa Lions players meet the Matildas; Noosa’s Youth Parliamentarians

From the Chamber and Beyond

The Appropriation Bills 2022 gave me an opportunity to highlight once again the need for a review of the committee and estimates process, and that with the Coaldrake Report recommendations, NOW is the time to do so!

In my Adjournment speech on Environmental Social Governance (ESG), I summarised what it is, and why the Government’s ESG ‘paper’ falls far short of what is needed to see an end to poor policy, decisions and environmental authorities that are devastating our communities. In addition, the importance that in the establishment of the Independent Environmental Protection Agency, it needs the powers to end inappropriate activities, such as the extreme volume of heavy haulage through our villages on a route never built for, endangering lives and livelihoods.

The Nature Conservation Bill extended the time for another 20 years that beekeepers can continue utilising National Parks . There was both ‘for and against’ in the debate, however ultimately these pollinators are doing good, and there was limited clarity around what negative impacts would eventuate with the continuance.

As I said in my speech there are questions unanswered, and may the coming months and years be utilised to answer these with solid scientific data to put an end to the concerns surrounding.

After an inquiry lasting 6 months, our Legal Affairs and Safety Committee has submitted to Parliament its report and recommendations relating to the rights of donors and donor-conceived persons. Thank you to all submitters and witnesses, some who shared heart breaking stories, and for the empathy demonstrated by donors through their support for access. The recommendations and report are available here https://loom.ly/GlIinMM

You can view all of my parliament speeches, via our website at www.sandybolton.com/parliament/speeches/ and Questions On Notice and Without Notice at www.sandybolton.com/parliament/questions

From the Inbox

The ongoing road widening projects and maintenance of Kin Kin Rd and surrounding roads continues to hit our inbox. We understand the frustrations, and while we await the outcome from Noosa Council’s court case against quarry operators, we ask again for patience and a focus on reporting any hazards or dangerous driver behaviour.  As seen in my recent Adjournment speech, our advocacies to fix a broken system of ineffective legislation and environmental authorities has advanced, however very slowly which tests everyone’s patience!

After years of advocacy campaigns regarding battery hens, recent work undertaken for new poultry welfare standards in Australia is important, as we now have a concrete proposal to ban caged egg production, though the timeline is not quick enough! More information is available at www.sandybolton.com/poultry-welfare-standards/.

L-R: At Cooran State School; Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club 25th Anniversary; @Tewantin State School

On the Homefront

Many catchups with Seeds of Change recipients to see and hear of the projects that have been made possible through this funding, including Zero Emissions Noosa with the Walking & Cycling Safe routes project; Coast2Bay housing to set up a portal for a pilot to connect residents with spare rooms to residents seeking rooms, as well Ken from Goorijalla with our first indigenous learning hub. It was also exciting to hear that the data collected by NICA has been incredibly beneficial for several groups and agencies including Maritime Safety QLD (MSQ).

Celebrations for the 25th anniversary of Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club merge of the rowers and sailors was fabulous! The history, achievements and contributions to our community were highlighted, including that 10% of profits annually enable the Sailability Noosa program, testimony to what a top club this is with volunteers that ensure all abilities can enjoy the love of our waterways . Thank you to all committees and volunteers who support the endeavours of our community over so many years, including our children that have benefitted from their efforts, especially during times of hardship with free programs and activities.

So many school visits for so many reasons!  At Tewantin State School for Book Week, I was so chuffed to read again to our ‘prep’ students, including ‘Croc’ who did a selfie with me, and Cooran State School for the official opening of their Living Skills Area, a 15 year ‘dream’ now realised. Then to see our ‘littlies’ at Peregian Beach Community Kindergarten and put the ‘shovel’ into the soil where their new Sensory Garden will be located.

Meetings far too many to even summarise, however included with new Tewantin Noosa RSL sub-branch President Michael and Vice President Troy to get updates on their many programs for our veterans, including gym, kayaking and yoga (including partners), also upcoming is training with our surf lifesavers. They also are currently working with Council and Tewantin Traders on a memorial wall and stage for the RSL Park.

As well, with Anna and Joanne to get an update on the temporary emergency expansion at Noosa Hospital utilising transportable buildings, whilst the permanent expansion negotiations are finalised. We are getting there!!

At the naming of Tricia’s Way, it was a truly loving gathering of neighbours, family and friends who benefitted from being in the awesome ‘globe’ that radiated from an extremely amazing woman, Tricia Bradford. Gratitude to Jane from Noosa Council for assisting in the process that Al and Dana went through, and everyone in attendance who shared with us her love of all around, the beach and the difference she made in our lives and community.

As guest speaker at Noosa Parks Friday Forum alongside Steve Price from DES, Col Lawton from QPWS and Inspector Jon Lewis from QPS, we spoke on the progress with the issues on the North Shore and Teewah, as well work required once the Sustainability Plan is released. A visit to the Noosa Bridge Club to view the results of their recent grant, and a tour of Noosa River with Craig and Megan from The Natural Conservancy Australia to check out the construction of the rock reefs. Pheww, that is just a sample and I get giddy thinking about everywhere I have been!

L-R: With Tewantin Noosa RSL Sub-branch; Gathering for Tricia’s Way; @ the Noosa Bridge Club

Grants and Reminders

Congratulations to Noosa projects that received funding under the Community Sustainability Action Grants to kick start community climate action, conservation and community engagement on National Parks & State Forests  The amount, nearly $250k, went to our fabulous organisations including Noosa and District Landcare and Noosa Integrated Catchment Association for enhancing resilience, habitat restoration, and business cases. Top job to all involved!

More upcoming grants:

For further State Government grant opportunities see the QLD Government Grant Finder or Grants Guru.

Parliamentary Speeches and Questions

Recent Questions on Notice (QON’s) can be found at www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Questions-on-Notice-and-Answers and latest speeches at https://www.sandybolton.com/parliament/speeches/

Mobile Office

POMONA & COORAN – Saturday 8th October 8.30am to 10.30am

COOROY – Tuesday 18th October 9am to 10am

NOOSA HEADS, NOOSA JUNCTION & PEREGIAN BEACH – Wednesday 2nd November 8.30am to 11.00am

Have Your Say

INQUIRY INTO RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ROOMING ACCOMMODATION (RENT FREEZE) AMENDMENT BILL 2022 –Whether you are a landlord or tenant, please lodge a submission so that your views will be included in the committee deliberations and form part of the report tabled in Parliament. Submissions close 5pm 31 October. More information is available at https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/…/Committee-Details…

For a complete list of Queensland State Government Consultations, including on Incident and Disaster Warnings in Queensland, head to https://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/gi/

Office Reminders

Our office is open 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday, except during public holidays.  For community organisations we have the photocopier, marquees, and trailer available at no charge for your use, simply phone and book on 53193100

L-R With fellow guest speakers at Friday Forum; The Better Together Zonta Catchup; Inspecting reefs

Connect

With so much to share, stay up to date via  Noosa 360, Facebook page updates or our monthly newsletters. Columns are in Noosa Today, Coolum Advertiser, Cooroy Rag, Your Local Lifestyle and Eastern Beaches News.

And finally….

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, our sitting of Parliament has been cancelled as part of honouring Her Majesty. There has been so much shared, and will be for a long time, however for me, her legacy is in how she worked hard every day and achieved. This without soapboxing, dramatising, belittling others or seeking a ‘grab’ or headline. She did this respectfully and calmly and set an example that we can all hope to emulate. Most of all, she gave of ‘self’, a life of service that she undertook without complaint, proudly and incredibly, without any scandal!

May she rest well and her life be celebrated without grieving and that we do as she would wish us to; put aside our increasing sense of self entitlement with a focus of ‘me’, instead, put others first and promote ‘we’❣

With not enough room to include all news, some will flow into the next newsletter including from our Legal Affairs and Safety Committee travels for hearings on the Working with Children (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill, where we managed to avoid the ‘sick bag’ on some very windy roads with the help of some salty chips?

Until then, enjoy this beautiful spring weather which has been delightful so far and not as wet as predicted!!

 Sandy