The Chin Wag October 21 2020

DEB FRECKLINGTON PROMISE DROUGHT-PROOF
WESTERN QUEENSLAND
Deb Frecklington has promised
to build the solution to drought
in western Queensland if she
becomes premier at the end of
the month.
At her campaign launch in Brisbane on
Sunday, Ms Frecklington said the New
Bradfield Scheme would become a "reality"
under an LNP government.
Releasing the first fly-through video of the
proposed irrigation scheme - touted as the
answer to drought in western Queensland -
Ms Frecklington said Bradfield would be the
biggest dam ever built in Australia.
The plan to move water from the raindrenched
north to the drought-declared
west was first touted by Sydney Harbour
Bridge architect John Bradfield in the 1930s.
It was further developed by Sir Leo Hielscher
and Sir Frank Moore and has been talked
about by politicians across the spectrum for
years.
Both Sir Leo, who served as under treasurer to
A new Australian Beer has
launched and $2.00 from
every case will be donated
to the charity ‘GIVIT’ to help
raise much needed funds
and equipment for those
living in drought-affected
communities.
Brewed in Goulburn, Southern NSW by
award-wining Tribe Breweries, ‘Hughie’
is a light, refreshing lager made from
100 per cent Australian-grown hops
and malt and makes a great, easydrinking
thirst-quencher at the end of a
long hot day.
“The name ‘Hughie’ derives from the
term “Send it down Hughie” which was
a common Aussie bushman’s cry for
rain at the turn of the 20th century, so
it’s great to see that the money raised
from the sale of Hughie can go towards
helping those living in drought-affected
communities today,” said Billy Ryan,
category manager, craft beer, Dan
Murphy’s.
Since late 2018, GIVIT has spent more
than $600,000 in donated relief funds
to co-ordinate over 140,000 items
purchased in local communities to help
12,000 people across regional NSW
15 Queensland treasurers from both sides of
politics, and Sir Frank, known as "the father of
Queensland tourism", attended the campaign
launch on Sunday.
Ms Frecklington had already committed $20
million to the LNP's modernised version of
the scheme and promised to commission the
CSIRO to begin advanced planning after the
election.
The project, which was expected to cost
about $15 billion over 10 years, would need
heavy federal government investment to get
over the line.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has asked
an expert panel headed by economist
Ros Garnaut to conduct a comprehensive
feasibility review of the inland irrigation
scheme.
At Sunday's scaled-back LNP launch, held
at the Emporium Hotel in South Bank, there
was no sign of former leaders Lawrence
Springborg or Campbell Newman. However,
the conservative party's most senior
Queensland politician, Home Affairs Minister
Peter Dutton, and Brisbane lord mayor Adrian
affected by drought conditions.
GIVIT enables registered charities make
specific requests for items required by
those in need, enabling well-meaning
donors to make a positive difference in
the lives of those they support. GIVIT’s
Drought Relief Program was established
in 2018 to provide vital support to
people toughing it out in relentless
drought conditions. Critical to the
success of GIVIT’s work in this area is
to ’buy local’ when it uses financial
donations to meet community needs.
By supporting businesses in regional
and remote towns in this way, GIVIT
helps shops remain open, people keep
jobs and communities and to hold onto
places to connect with each other. For
further information, visit: givit.org.au.
“Being able to replace a water tank,
mend a fence or purchase a week’s
supply of groceries at the local store can
make a significant positive contribution
to a family dealing with drought,” said
Scott Barrett, GIVIT’s NSW Manager. He
said that last year was Australia’s driest
on record and although some areas
have received rainfall this year, it will
take much more than a few showers to
make any significant difference.
“Drought affects everyone in regional
communities; farmers, their businesses
Schrinner were seated in the front row.
Former premier Rob Borbidge, a member
of the Nationals who became Queensland
premier in 1996 after a by-election in the seat
of Mundingburra, also attended the launch.
Ms Frecklington used most of her address
to run through a list of election promises
the party had already announced, including
a $300 car registration rebate, adding
extra lanes to the Bruce Highway, and
providing at-cost electricity to about 16,000
manufacturing businesses.
She vowed to lead the state out of recession
and create 150,000 jobs in Queensland
after 209,000 people lost work during the
pandemic.
"This election will be a turning point for this
state. The next state government will be
in power for four years, not three," she said.
"And those four years will be critical for our
economic future.
"The Queensland economy was in trouble
long before COVID, now it is in crisis. That is
what this election is about."
Early voting begins across Queensland on
and their families. It affects lives,
live-stock and livelihoods. Whole
communities are impacted: local
businesses dry-up because of reduced
spending and the effects run deep
across generations, economically,
socially and emotionally. Many of these
communities are now dealing with
double-whammy of drought followed
by bush-fires. It doesn’t get any tougher
than that.”
With its strong agricultural roots in wool
production, Hughie’s birth-place and
home in Goulburn, has also seen the
far-reaching impact of drought:
“Drought really affected our local
agricultural community over the last
few years. It’s fantastic to be producing
a drop of great-tasting Goulburn beer
that is 100 per cent Australian and
gives back to the community it serves,”
said Anton Szpitalak, Tribe Breweries,
Goulburn.
Hughie is available from Dan Murphy’s
and BWS RRP: $59 case; $20 6-pack;
$4.00 each. For further information
visit: www.hughiebeer.com.au.
Pictured: Scott Barrett from GIVIT with the
‘Highie’ beer.
Monday.
Pictured: Deb Frecklington.
NEW BEER HELPS RAISE MONEY FOR DROUGHT-
AFFECTED FARMING COMMUNITIES
Advertise in The Crossing NOW - Call 0411 896 004
THE CROSSING - Wednesday October 21, 2020 - Page 2