In today’s episode, we dive into a lively conversation with Jennifer Howard MP for Ipswich. She discusses her recent travels, including a visit to Roma, highlighting efforts to connect Queensland’s agriculture and gas industries with export opportunities.
Jennifer shares exciting news about cost of living payments, with Queensland residents receiving substantial rebates on electricity bills and public transport fares. We also explore community initiatives like Rosie’s blanket drive and the significant funding from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund for local organisations.
Jennifer talks about the impact of e-waste recycling in Ipswich, the school breakfast program, and the five-year anniversary of Ripley Valley State Secondary College. She also provides positive updates on elective wait times at Ipswich Hospital.
Lastly, we look ahead to the Queensland Treasurer’s upcoming budget luncheon in Ipswich, a key event before the state government election. Tune in for all this and more!
00:00
It is time for the state of play and I tell you what I’m very pleased to say that joining us on the phone this morning from the seat of Ipswich is Jennifer Howard MP. Good morning Jen. Morning David, how are you going? I am very well. You’ve been tripping around the state keeping busy I see. I have actually. I was out in Roma for a Tisby event, which is the Tornbush Surat Basin Enterprise Group.
00:24
in Roma talking about the work trade and investment Queensland are doing helping connect Queensland agriculture and gas industries with export opportunities. Fantastic, well it certainly is a progressive area there so you know lots to talk about and we’ve got lots to talk about.
00:40
Of course, one of the big things is that the cost of living payments that we’re all going to be getting very soon to bring down the cost of living. Yeah, it really is making a big difference for people’s lives already with the rebate we had last year for electricity. But this year, as everyone knows, starting from the 1st of July, we’ll receive $1,000 from the state government and an additional $300 from the federal government off their electricity bill, which is phenomenal. So many of residents in Ipswich have.
01:06
have approached me to say that, oh, but our electricity bill is already quite small due to solar panels and things like that. But that will sit in credit for households until it’s used up. Hopefully people will have a long time before they have to pay an electricity bill. Exactly, and only 50 cents to hop on a bus. Yep, or a train. So, you know, I was talking to commuters just late last week about what that means to them. One woman I spoke to who catches the train every day to travel to Brisbane, like so many Ipswich people.
01:33
and she told me that she’s worked out she’ll save over $1,200 in six months. Wow, that is crazy. I think it’s going to be a game changer as well. And the idea behind these type of initiatives is that rather than just giving people a lump sum payment where you’ve got that payment, you tend to spend it and that will then sort of have a on flow effect to inflation. So we want to avoid that from happening, which is why we’re doing the rebates in these ways. So it’s, you know,
01:59
It will help, we know that there’s still a lot of pressures on people out there and this isn’t going to solve it all but it will help. Exactly it certainly will and of course with the temperatures coming down, I’ll tell you what it was a bit cool earlier this week but Rosie’s blanket drive is on and it’s a good time for us to get some of those old blankets out and make a donation. Yeah we do that well I mean Rosie’s do it I think in Brisbane every year but we started doing it in Ipswich last
02:28
So we’ve got all sorts of interesting things delivered to our office, by the way. So I do, I would really stipulate that we just restrict it to blankets and, you know, things that help keep people warm. We don’t really need toasters or some of the other unusual things that were dropped off, but these are the things that we need. My office is open from nine to five, Monday to Friday. And I know that there’s people out there who are sleeping rough or even people who just
02:55
really struggling to afford to pay for those necessary blankets. Even though they have a roof over their head they’re still struggling and Rosie supports those people as well so you know donate and drop them into my office. Exactly there’s also been some fantastic news for local Ipswich community organizations who got some funding through the gambling commission benefit fund. Yeah we did so it was over $170,000 locally for local organizations here.
03:23
with the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, I was really pleased to see some of those organizations that just do so much in our community get some benefits. And as I always say, you know, it’s a little always a little bit controversial when it comes to gambling locally, and I have my concerns as well. But at the end of the day, if our community organizations can benefit from some of that money, I’m really happy to support it. Yeah, exactly. And
03:49
Brothers Cricket Club getting $12,500, the Campfire Healing Indigenous Corporation $13,400, the City of Ipswich Pony Club $35,000, Grand Air, Ipswich Vigor Association $34,000, $9,000 for the Nepalese Cricket Club $34,000 for the Broderick Street Preschool and of course $34,000, nearly $35,000 for IRASI. It’s fantastic.
04:19
You know, they really are the fabric of our city. So good on them. Yeah, exactly. Let’s look at a couple of other topics before we have to wrap it up this morning. But the e-waste connection now what’s happening then in that area? Yeah. So I think money now and it’s switched for a couple of years. They’ve got a really good location down in North Bufal and Monique is the person who’s
04:42
behind the establishment of it here in Ipswich. They did have one over in Kenmore. I met the new manager, David. What they do is they take in sort of electronic waste that nobody wants anymore. At the moment, they’ve got hundreds of the old NBN boxes. And they give people who are living with a disability an opportunity to do meaningful work in recycling these electronical items. And it’s really terrific. They actually…
05:10
needing more volunteers though from the community to come and help supervise. That all they need is like an hour or half a day, one day a week if they’ve got it to come down and give them a hand. They’re also keen to see more participants. Our special schools go there Tuesdays and Thursdays to also get to do a bit of work and see what they’re doing down there. So it really is a fantastic organization and what’s being done now in the recycling space is so impressive.
05:38
And this is just one example of some of that impressive work that’s been done. Yeah, it certainly is. Now, the school breakfast program, this sounds like a yummy addition to the calendar. Yeah, so we just refunded YCare basically, which is a branch of the YMCA who provide breakfast programs to schools across the Ypswich electorate. So, you know, I’ve often volunteered at some of these schools in the morning. We all know that, you know, children who have…
06:06
who’ve, you know, who’ve got a full tummy are more likely to sit still and learn in the classroom. So it really is a no-brainer and the YCare do a great job running these programs. So the schools locally are Blair, Bremer State High School, Bundamba State School, Churchill, Clement Special School, Ipswich Central State School, Ipswich East State School, I think Ipswich Special School, Ipswich West State Special School and Ipswich West State School all participate in that breakfast program. That’s just in my electorate alone.
06:35
They do great work, you know, they give a nutritious breakfast to the kids and they get a good start to the day. Fantastic. Now last Thursday, you were at the five year anniversary celebrations of Ripley Valley State Secondary College and incidentally, it also coincided with the 100 days until the inaugural year 12 cohort finish at the school. Yeah, yeah, it was really lovely. It’s a great school that one. All of the schools in Ritz which are fantastic in my opinion.
07:04
But it’s the first time in my time as a local member where I’ve got to see a foundation school, you know, five years down the track. You know, we opened these new schools to much fanfare, but it’s just, there’s something really special about reflecting on the last five years. Principal Brendan Kruger is outstanding, and he gave a really lovely speech. And you could tell that he was actually very invested emotionally in the kids.
07:31
and really wanted to see them have a good start in life. And I can tell you, we also, while we were there, we had our first tour of their new performing arts centre. I think it was about $19 million, state government money for this beautiful performing arts centre. Fantastic. At the school, state of the art, like really outstanding. And it is available for the public if they want to use it. So yeah, great to see.
07:56
I’ll tell you what, I was jealous when I saw the cake that they had too, so yum yum. I’ll have to remember to save your piece. You might have to, yes. Before we let you go, some good news on our health front and there’s been a lot of negativity towards our health system in Queensland, but we’re seeing some of those elective wait times drop at the Ipswich Hospital. Yeah, we know that the satellite hospital is playing a role in that, in terms of the Ipswich ED.
08:24
But data has shown those improvements. You know, you can’t argue with the data. So median wait times for the March 2024 quarter compared to the same period last year, you know, before the satellite hospital opened, despite the increase in the population and the number of patients visiting EDs, then in the 2023 March quarter, 25,972 people went through. Now we’ve got 27,117 in the March 2020 quarter.
08:53
24 quarter. So that’s 1060 more category two presentations. 65% of all ED patients were seen within clinically recommended times in the March 2024 quarter, which is up from 62% in the same period last year. And that’s 100% of category one patients, you know, that includes 100% of category one patients. So, you know, elective surgery patients treated within clinically recommended times increased from 91% in March last year.
09:22
to 95% in March this year. So, you know, I think that’s something to be proud of. We have the most incredible teams of health frontline workers in Ipswich. I’m always blown away by their commitment. And I know it’s difficult for them. You know, they do have, you know, a lot of challenges, a lot of hurdles to overcome, but I’m behind them 100% and the Miles government is behind them because, you know, we’re investing in health.
09:48
Yep, certainly before I let you go, I do know that next week, the Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick is going to be handing down the budget. Lots of people are going to be looking at that and that’s the last one before the state government election in October. But we do get a chance to actually meet Cameron Dick for the Ipswich budget luncheon. Yes, we do. He’s coming here on the 27th of June. It’ll be at Brothers Leagues Club.
10:18
And it’ll be a great opportunity to hear firsthand from the treasure, as you say, on just how the budget will affect our community here locally. Yes, and no doubt a chance for our local politicians to go, please sir, can I have some more? Yeah, we do that. We do spend quite a bit of time annoying him. Yeah, good affection. But you know, it’s worth it. And he does listen.
10:47
I do think that, you know, cost of living is going to be a priority for this one in particular rather, you know, than sort of, you know, the big ticket sort of items. But we do need to get through this crisis that we’re currently experiencing at the moment. We certainly do. Put it in your diary, 27th of June at Brothers Leagues Club and you can get your tickets through. Try booking details on Jennifer’s Facebook page. So just jump onto Facebook and search Jennifer Howard MP.
11:16
Jen, always good to catch up with you and we’ll look forward to doing it again soon. Yes, lovely. Stay warm and have a great day. Thank you so much, Jennifer Howard, MP4 Ipswich. You are with the West Brammer Radio Brecky crew back with more in a moment.
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