OUR STATE government is acutely aware of the priority our community has for the cost of living being addressed across Queensland.
Premier Steven Miles has recently gone on record in rejecting a new $3.4 billion stadium for the Olympic Games when Queenslanders “are doing it tough”.
The recognition by the Queensland Government is supported by the local Hervey Bay Member, Adrian Tantari, that is committed to helping ease the cost of living pressures and delivering real savings in energy, health, education and employment.
“As a father of three, who raised my family during times of high unemployment, high interest rates and high price increases, I have lived experience of the struggle it takes to pay the rent or mortgage and to keep up with the relentless costs associated with school, fuel and food, and all the other bills that come in,” says Mr Tantari.
The state member of parliament is also a member of the Cost of Living and Economics Committee.
He says national cost of living pressures are being felt by all Queensland households and in particular in Hervey Bay, that has one of the lowest social economic populations in the State.
“I am committed to working with the Miles Government to ensure household bills are lowered for Hervey Bay families, so that they have more money in their pockets."
An action by the Miles Government has been to increase the royalties on record multinational mining company profits, profits made from the coal from Queensland.
Some of the bill relief measures include:
- Free Kindy – for all. Started 1 January 2024, saving many thousands of dollars to families.
- Fee Free TAFE for all – the State knows the best form of cost of living relief is to have a job. By providing Fee Free TAFE - many can now retrain to set themselves up for work.
- Massive energy rebates, $550 for every Hervey Bay household and $1,072 for every senior and vulnerable households – I have been told that for many in Hervey Bay this has eliminated their power bill for the year.
These are just a number of the many rebates that can be access by the people of Hervey Bay and the Miles Government has launched the Queensland Savers website so Hervey Bay residents can see what they’re eligible for by visiting www.queenslandsavers.qld.gov.au
“My focus as the local member is to concentrate on what matters to the people of Hervey Bay, cost of living is a major issue and I have called on the Government to provide more relief in the next budget, so hat pressure can be eased on household budgets and more money put back into our pockets for the other things in life,” says Mr Tantari.
