Cost-of-living pressure in the Woodridge electorate and all of Logan is the main stress on families at the moment, which is why this week we had some big announcements to help.
These announcements were on top of the Miles Labor government’s $1000 electricity rebates announced last month.
Since then, we also announced public transport fares would be reduced to just 50 cents.
This means someone catching a train from Woodridge to Brisbane City will pay just $1 for a return trip.
For someone commuting to the city for work five days a week, it will cost just $5, a saving of more than $38 a week.
This initiative is being trialled for six months started on 5 August to see what impact it will have on passenger numbers and the affect it will have on our road network.
Also, this year’s state budget, which I will hand down next Tuesday, will provide $15 million for our School and Community Food Relief Program.
We know well-fed students perform better at school.
The School and Community Food Relief Program will remove the barrier to active participation by providing healthy food options to students in communities doing it most tough.
Of the $15 million, $10.65 million will be distributed direct to schools to support food programs through an expression of interest process, prioritising schools in communities experiencing high cost of living pressures and food insecurity.
I have been encouraging all the schools in the Woodridge electorate to apply for funding from this pool of money.
$1.3 million will support food and nutrition education to families of school aged children.
$3 million will support healthy food and drink initiatives generated by the School and Community Food Taskforce.
Our government also announced 277 state schools are sharing in more than $68 million to upgrade their playgrounds and tuckshops.
In the Woodridge electorate, Crestmead State School, Marsden State High School and Yugumbir State School will all receive upgrades to their tuckshops.
Meanwhile, Browns Plains State School will receive a playground update.
This is wonderful for those schools and their students.
