Question on Notice

No. 1153

Asked on 21 August 2019

MR E SORENSEN ASKED DEPUTY PREMIER, TREASURER AND MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PARTNERSHIPS (HON J TRAD)—

QUESTION:

With reference to the government not signing the Hinkler Regional Deal because it was quoted that the Maryborough Electorate was not included in the deal—

Will the Deputy Premier advise all suburbs of the Maryborough Electorate that are in the Hinkler Federal Electorate, listing them separately?

ANSWER:

The Australian Government announced the proposed Hinkler Regional Deal in November last year, based on the boundaries of the Hinkler Federal Electorate. This incorporates part, but not all, of the Fraser Coast Regional Council and Regional Council local government areas. I am advised that no other city or regional deal in is based on a federal electorate boundary.

Since the Regional Deal was announced, the Government has consistently expressed the view that the deal should include the totality of both local government areas or be expanded to encompass the broader Wide Bay Burnett region. I communicated this formally to the responsible federal Minister in November 2018 and again in February 2019.

The has taken this view because the proposed boundaries mean the Regional Deal excludes key economic drivers in the region, including:

• The town of Maryborough, which is a key regional centre and home to an emerging manufacturing hub with businesses like Downer EDI Rail, Hyne Timber and Select Patient Care. Maryborough will also be home to the newly formed joint venture Rheinmetall Nioa Munitions’ shell forging plant.

• Fraser , which is the world’s largest sand island, is a key driver of the local economy, but is outside the Hinkler Federal Electorate. It also has a UNESCO World Heritage Listing.

• The majority of the Bundaberg State Development Area, which represents a long-term strategic economic opportunity for the entire region.

These areas present enormous economic opportunities and the Queensland Government cannot support a deal that deliberately excludes these areas, particularly when Government is suggesting the deal is about supporting jobs in the local community.

Despite our best efforts to work with the Australian Government to resolve the deal boundary, the Australian Government has refused to compromise and negotiate on the issue.

I therefore wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister on 7 August 2019 confirming the Queensland Government will not sign-up to the proposed Hinkler Regional Deal. Importantly, I have also confirmed the Queensland Government will not stand in the way of the federal investments announced under the deal.

I have instructed officers from Queensland Treasury to work with federal officials to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the flow through of funds to both local governments for the announced deal-related projects.

Maps of the Maryborough state electorate can be found on the Queensland Electoral Commission website, and maps of the Hinkler Federal Electorate can be found on the Australian Electoral Commission website. I note that while 24 Maryborough suburbs are wholly within Hinkler, 48 Maryborough suburbs and localities – including the Maryborough city centre itself – are wholly outside of Hinkler and are thus disadvantaged by the “hard boundary” sought by the Federal Government for the Hinkler Regional Deal. These are:

• Antigua, Aramara, Beaver Rock, Bidwill, Boompa, Boonooroo, Boonooroo Plains, Brooweena, Calgoa, Doongul, Dunmora Ferney, , Glenbar, Glenorchy, Grahams Creek, Granville, Gungaloon, Island Plantation, Maaroom, Magnolia, Malarga, Marodian, Maryborough, Maryborough West, Mount Urah, , North Aramara, Oakhurst, Owanyilla, Pilerwa, , Poona, St Helens, St Mary, Teddington, Teebar, The Dimonds, , Tiaro, Tinana, Tinana South, Tinnanbar, Tuan, Tuan Forest, Woocoo, Yengarie, .