RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

22 Apr 2009 Ministerial Statements 41
Tourism Queensland has started working on its next big idea and if the best job campaign is
anything to go by, the world could again be looking at Queensland with envy. These low-cost, smart
marketing campaigns will be complemented by a range of tactical campaigns designed to drive
businesses directly to tourism operators from the cape to Coolangatta, from Mackay to Mount Isa. As
the new Queensland tourism minister, I may have snagged the best job in the world.
An opposition member: How many applicants were there?
Mr LAWLOR: Quite a few applicants, although none from the other side. Operators and industry
have told me that things are tough and may get tougher. I look forward to working with Tourism
Queensland, regional tourism organisations and operators themselves to handle these challenges and
deliver a stronger, better prepared tourism industry for when the good times finally come around again.
Child Safety
Hon. PG REEVES (Mansfield—ALP) (Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Sport) (10.17 am):
It is a great honour to be appointed the Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Sport. I look forward to
demonstrating my passion for both of these areas over the coming years. Since becoming the minister I
have hit the ground running. I have been getting out there and talking to staff and non-government
organisations, which all do a great job in protecting our children from harm. The Bligh government is
dedicated to protecting Queensland’s children and young people, ensuring they are safe from abuse.
One of the initiatives that has impressed me is the Child Safety Services highly successful family
intervention services program. Today I am pleased to confirm that we are increasing our investment by
$2 million this year and next year. Family intervention services provide practical, common-sense
assistance to families in the child protection system. This includes teaching parents skills that relieve
stress, family conflict and anxiety, how to manage anger, budget, prepare healthy meals, and establish
routines and set guidelines in the home. The bottom line is that families can keep their children safely at
home or have their children return home safely after being in care. The 2008-09 budget of the
Department of Child Safety provides more than $14 million for family intervention services. That is up
$2 million from last year and in the 2009-10 budget we will increase it a further $2 million to $16 million.
Within the next few months, Child Safety will be calling for more organisations capable of
delivering these family intervention services to send in tender applications. Today, there are 35 family
intervention services providing support to families across Queensland. Increasing these services will
maximise the number of children and young people who can remain safely at home with family support.
As we all know, the ideal place for children to be is with their families. It is better for everyone if we as a
government can do more work with families so that their children can return and live safely with them, or
stay at home safely in the first place.
The Bligh government’s $4 million boost to family intervention services is a much needed boost to
the child protection sector. But it is also good for the broader community and economy. It will create in
the vicinity of 53 full-time equivalent new jobs each year across Queensland’s non-government sector. It
is all helping meet the Bligh government’s Toward Q2 goal of making Queensland a fairer place to live,
within a safe and caring community.
Social Housing, Job Creation
Hon. KL STRUTHERS (Algester—ALP) (Minister for Community Services and Housing and
Minister for Women) (10.20 am): The newly elected Bligh government is all about generating jobs for
Queenslanders. That is why I am proud to announce the biggest ever investment in housing
infrastructure since the Chifley era.
Under the Nation Building—Economic Stimulus Plan, the Rudd and Bligh governments have
committed to build more than 4,000 new homes right across Queensland. It is a billion dollar package
from the federal government that will lead to thousands of jobs for local workers in the construction
industry. All this comes at a time when jobs and job security are more important than ever before. That is
why our billion dollar stimulus package is so crucial. It will kick-start local economies and generate local
jobs.
Even in the face of the worst global crisis since the Great Depression, Labor will never give up the
fight for Queensland workers. We are getting on with the job of building 4,000 new homes right across
the state in places such as Bundaberg, Beserker, Beerwah and everywhere in between. It is a win for
workers in the construction industry and it is a win for people who need a roof over their head.
With these funds we are able to fast-track projects. We will be entering into contracts with builders
in the coming weeks and work will start on site over the next couple of months. Our challenge, our
commitment to Queenslanders, is to have most of the new homes built in the next three years. It is an
ambitious target and it is an important target, because we believe nothing should stand in the way of
jobs for Queenslanders and homes for people who need them most. That is why Anna Bligh and Labor
are best placed to lead Queenslanders through the tough economic times ahead.