The month has flown by, and I feel as if I have been in a tumble dryer between Budget, COVID changes and an eclectic Noosa winter with so many fabulous events! Welcome to the month that was June ????

L-R: Mervyn’s 102nd Birthday!; Noosa Outriggers Canoe Club; Peregian Springs State School Mural.

From the Chamber and Beyond

Budget week in Parliament ensures many late nights spent trawling through hundreds of pages to find out how we fared! In brief, it did offer something for everyone, and happily many projects have been funded for our electorate (though a couple are missing in action), however the devil is in the detail. For a summary on what our community has received the dollars for, including some much-needed infrastructure replacements, such as Doonella Lake Bridge, please visit www.sandybolton.com/budget-2021-22-update/.

The announcement that new parole laws are currently being drafted is very welcome. This will give the President of the Parole Board QLD, the power to make a declaration against the ‘worst of the worst’ murderers, including child killers and those who commit multiple murders, to stop them applying for parole for up to 10 years after their eligibility date. There will also be no limit on the number of declarations that can be issued. Thank you to the 72,000 who signed the petition regarding Barrie Watts’ parole application and joined us in writing to Ministers Fentiman and Ryan to get these laws changed.

It was strange delivering my Address in Reply speech some 7 months after it was written following the 2020 election. Made even stranger by the fact that it had to be delivered in two parts over some weeks, courtesy of the ‘guillotine’. ???? This speech is given by all MPs in response to the Governor’s opening of the first session of Parliament and is an opportunity to give thanks to our community, as well highlight challenges. The Defamation (Model Provisions) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 tackled just part of an Australia-wide effort to see uniformity in defamation laws. With social media channels increasing the impacts in reach and severity, the second stage of the review will be welcomed, as well monitored, in its progression and implementation. You can view my speech here.

There are currently multiple Parliamentary Committee inquiries open, including on Voluntary Assisted Dying, Vilification and Hate Crimes, as well as Social Isolation and Loneliness. All of which can be found at  https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/inquiries

Dinner and lunchtimes at Parliament included the Bundaberg Region showcasing their wares, with everything from superb produce and product to initiatives including research at regenerative farms and multipurpose wellness centres. The latest Australasian Study of Parliament Group (ASPG) presentation was on the role of government in public finance. Three highly knowledgeable panellists, Gene Tunney, Director of Adept Economics, Dr Begon Dominguez, Associate Professor of Economics at UQ, and former MP and Minister for Finance, Rachel Nolan, brought forward unique take outs, including improvements to our committee process, greater education for MPs on interpreting financial reports and a need to make those budget papers more user friendly!

L-R: ‘Digi’ Welcome to Country; Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies Forum; A Feast of Bundaberg Produce

From the Inbox

Over the past month we have seen multiple COVID-19 resurgences. At time of writing, we are back to ‘masks on’ and a lockdown, reiterating not to be complacent as the situation can change rapidly. For all COVID-19 information, including testing and vaccination locations such as the Sunny St Respiratory Clinic opposite Council Chambers in Tewantin, please visit www.covid19.qld.gov.au. In addition, anyone entering QLD from another state or territory or New Zealand, will need to make an online travel declaration. For full information and the link for applications, please visit https://www.qld.gov.au/queensland-travel-declaration

As more vaccination hubs continue to open, choice in vaccine access increases. The Federal Government is fast tracking plans to increase the number of distribution points for a Pfizer vaccination, with the announcement that by the end of July, all Commonwealth vaccination clinics, Aboriginal community health services and 1300 GPs will be administering Pfizer. QLD Health has already made Pfizer more readily available at Nambour and Sunshine Coast University Hospitals as well as Caloundra Stadium. So, for those who wish to receive the Pfizer vaccine and the current hubs are too far away, check with your local GP to see if they too will soon stock Pfizer. You can find QLD Government Vaccination Hub locations at https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccine/book#Queensland-Health-vaccination-locations-4

Airservices Australia have advised that the Community Engagement Plan (CEP) has been finalised, following two rounds of community feedback and consideration of submissions. In addition, a Review of Community Feedback on the Draft Post Implementation Review (PIR) has also been released. These documents are available at https://engage.airservicesaustralia.com/sunshine-coast-airport-airspace-changes-runway-1331

Mayor Clare, myself and a local mother of children who travel to school on the haulage routes through the hinterland communities, made a public plea to quarry and truck operators to please consider our kids’ lives. Safety is paramount and I thank everyone who took the time to respond to our road upgrade survey and will update more after the next roundtable meeting now scheduled for August.

A reminder, social media will rarely give you factual answers or result in action from the relevant authorities, plus it can cause unnecessary angst for readers! If your matter relates to State Government call us on 53193100 or email noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au. If it is Noosa Council matter email mail@noosa.qld.gov.au or your local Councillors https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/about-council/councillors-meetings/mayor-and-councillors. If unsure, just ask us! ????

L-R: With Mayor Clare and Anita; A magical Noosa Eat and Drink Festival; Scone-off 2021!

After years of advocacy, the announcement that the Sivyers and Cooroy Noosa Road intersection is to receive a $965,000 upgrade is welcomed news in the Budget. With safety concerns based on accident data, a new right turn lane will allow motorists to safely wait for a gap in traffic to turn into Sivyers Rd without blocking westbound vehicles on Cooroy-Noosa Rd. The Department of Transport & Main Roads have started designing the upgrade and construction is expected to commence at the start of next year.

With so much more to relay and so little space, stay updated via Facebook as well as Noosa 360 at   www.sandybolton.com/noosa360/. Just type a topic into the search bar and the most recent post will be at the top. If you cannot find what you are after, call us on 53193100 or email noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

On the Homefront

It was an honour, and great fun, to join the ever cheeky and amazing Mervyn and his wonderful, big and very extended family to wish him a happy 102nd birthday alongside his requested rum-soaked fruit cake, and a tipple of scotch? ???????????? For this Noosa patriarch, no divulging secrets of longevity, only the sharing of laughs, and some moments we won’t mention as it’s a secret!! ????????

In a first, Tourism Noosa and our Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi have created a unique and moving digital Welcome to Noosa that is on display at 7pm nightly outside the Noosa Visitor Information Centre. Congratulations to all for sharing connection to our land and each other, blending traditional messaging with innovative projection, and to all of our tourism volunteers who share this welcoming spirit with our visitors every day.

Watching the sun set over the water whilst catching up with new, and not so new buds, at the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival was magic ???? Oh, and the super samplers of our chefs including kingfish accompanied by a ‘Pineapple Parfait’ gin? The unveiling of the newest mural at Peregian Springs State School was inspirational! Memorable moments included Uncle Tais with his bullroarer, admiring the new two levels of connectivity through art with some of the school’s 35 First Nations students, and wise words shared by Ashleigh from her grandmother resonated in multiple ways. “Learn from listening, so you can speak with purpose”.

L-R: $1 Million for ScreenCoach; Work experience with Cameron!; NAIDOC at Tewantin SS

The Tewantin Noosa RSL Subbranch hosted the “Healthy Minds / Healthy Bodies” Wellbeing Forum with guest speakers Llew O’Brien MP and MAJGEN Cantwell sharing their own personal mental health journeys.  The service that our veterans, and all frontliners, do for every single one of us is deeply appreciated. Whilst dedicating their wellbeing to ours, it is vitally important that we prioritise them as they live with the daily impacts of the trauma they experienced and continue to go through. ????

Seeing the results of funding is always exciting, and the diverse businesses of our Year 9’ers in the Entrepreneurs $100k showcased how passionate our youngsters are in repurposing and recycling! To shop and support head to https://100kecp.com/. In addition, greater safety was made possible for the Outrigger Club when out in open waters. We wish them well in the upcoming Championships!! #gonoosa ???? And a bonus! Noosa Biz ScreenCoach has just been successful in obtaining a total of nearly $1 million in Federal funding, showcasing once again that our economy is diversifying in multiple realms. Congratulations!!

Amongst many meetings and drop ins, here are some special ones. Congratulating Richard Carter at Parkyn’s Hut, for his 35 years of voluntary service with the State Emergency Service, Youturn who have just finished their new community kitchen and laundry, Tewantin State School as part of NAIDOC week, and our fabulous PTSD dogs and their handlers.  We are so blessed in Noosa with awesome peeps, organisations, schools and pooches!

The appreciation and love for those who make a difference was palpable throughout The J as we celebrated some amazing ‘Noosans’ at the 2021 Noosa Queensland Day Awards. An incredibly authentic celebration of what is important, real, and why there is nowhere we would rather be than in Noosa, and Queensland. The hardest part was not being able to give each a huge hug! ???? Congratulations to all recipients, you are gold!!

L-R: 2021 Noosa Queensland Day Awards; Noosa Heads ‘Moby’; With our PTSD Dogs volunteers

Grants and Reminders

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 here. The latest speeches can be found below:

Recent Questions Without Notice can be found here.

Have Your Say

For a complete list of Queensland State Government Consultations, including on ‘Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy’ and ‘Water restriction targets for SEQ’ head to https://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/gi/

COVID-19 Links

General information- www.covid19.qld.gov.au

Business supports- www.sandybolton.com/covid-19-business-support/

Mobile Office

Dates for the second half of the year will be posted in the next newsletter. Until then, I will be out and about on the street after lockdown and everywhere else during the break, so if you see me, just call out!! ????

Office Reminders

Our office is open 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday bar during lockdown.  For community organisations we have the photocopier, marquees and trailer available at no charge for your use, though you will need to book? ????

Connect

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

And Finally….

A reminder that advocacy can take many different forms, and we see this from our youngest Noosans such as Spencer regarding Glossy Black-Cockatoos and our work experiences students and interns, through to our elders on dying with dignity. Having been invited by Andrew Denton to co-panel with MPs Harper and Molhoek a discussion on how to lobby MPs effectively, my simple advice was to keep it simple. Be genuine, and respectful as there are many viewpoints. Utilise facts, or seek them, instead of hearsay and that famous ‘misinformation’. Avoid those ‘tick n flick’ lobbying platforms, where you just add your name. Many MPs disregard these, as those who take time to write, or call, have greater credibility. Always, be the change you seek!

Until next time, enjoy the school holidays and may our lockdown be brief. Rest assured that our teams as always are working to ensure everyone has a happy and safe time. To our ‘lookouts’ keep up the great work with your dash cam footage and reports of

those who display dangerous or disrespectful behaviour. Having many ‘eyes’ is invaluable to our police and rangers and makes a difference through the ‘nabs’! And of course, with COVID continuing its influence in our lives, follow the directives and protocols of masking up, hand washing (versus wringing? ????) and staying up to date on the latest news via the Queensland Health Website.

PS. I am LOVING this winter weather, and our newest member of the family named Bear! ????????

See you streetside soon with my latest mask! ????

Sandy ????