Wed, 07/10/2020 – 13:17
The 2020-21 Federal Budget was handed down on the 6th of October 2020 and sends a clear message to all Australians that the Federal Government has their back as we embark on a job-led economic recovery.
A variety of unprecedented support measures were announced that will directly assist Sunshine Coast families, businesses, seniors, students and young people as the community digs deep and gets back to work.
This video clip shows Ted O’Brien MP address the House of Representatives on the 7th of October 2020 on how the Budget might benefit the Sunshine Coast.
Ted calls on all political parties, business leaders and the community to back his calls for rail duplication to Nambour.
As Chair of the Environment and Energy Committee it was my responsibility to present the advisory report on the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 and Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020 to the Australian Parliament.
The need for action on climate change is not up for debate in this House, in this parliament. Both sides of the parliament believe in the need for action. Indeed, the coalition demonstrated that in government.
Over the Coalition’s period in government, emissions were reduced by more than 20 per cent. In our last year of government, Australia saw its annual rate of emissions 77 million tonnes lower than when we came to government in 2013. Indeed, investment in renewables was at an all-time high. We not only smashed our Kyoto targets but were well on track to beat our Paris Agreement targets. And of course it was the coalition government that signed Australia up to the goal of net zero by 2050. The challenge here is often about getting the balance right—the balance with the economy.
So yes, we did see emissions come down by more than 20 per cent under the coalition. But the economy also grew by more than 23 per cent. It’s all about striking that balance. And it’s on that balance where the government is now starting to lose its way when it comes to its climate and energy agenda.
Let’s look at point (1)(c) in the member’s motion, where it states: action on climate change is beneficial both environmentally and economically;
Well, it can be. Under the coalition it was; under Labor it isn’t.
Ted questions the Labor Govt on their unsuccessful energy policies and broken promises to the Australian people.
There are some truisms when it comes to Labor’s leadership, which are that they don’t tell the truth, they break promises and they love taxes. There’s no shortage of taxes they’ve introduced. They’ve introduced the superannuation tax, a new franking credits tax, a tourist tax, a recycling tax, a clothing tax, an income tax, a food tax and a truckie’s tax, and today we debate their latest tax: a tax on the family car and the tradie’s ute. Altogether, this is a $379 billion tax grab against the Australian people. This is what they do.
Today I again asked the Albanese Labor government when they will reveal the total system cost of their energy plan.
Fri, 12/06/2020 – 13:41
According to the Grattan Institute, the Sunshine Coast has lost more jobs as a result of COVID-19 than any other region in Queensland. Unfortunately, the sectors that are the strong suit of our regional economy are also the very sectors that are most exposed to COVID-19. I’m happy today to be releasing a report on a survey I’ve recently undertaken with the business community, and I’m grateful to the 281 business leaders who made a contribution. Their key concern at the moment is the risk of business failure and the persistence of a recession. It should be no surprise that a top concern, especially of the tourism sector, is that the Queensland borders remain closed, without any certainty about when they might reopen.