By Member for Waterford Shannon Fentiman
As the Queensland Parliament debates the State Budget this week, I’m focused on the conversations I’ve been having with people right across Logan – families worried about rising costs, young people struggling to break into the housing market, and residents who simply want to know that quality healthcare will be there when they need it.
When I speak with residents across Logan, the conversations are remarkably
consistent.
People are working hard, but many feel like they are running harder just to go nowhere.
Families are worried about housing affordability, struggling with rising everyday
expenses, and sick of sitting in traffic.
As Shadow Treasurer, I believe budgets should be judged by a simple test: do they
make life better for the people they serve?
For Logan families, that means tackling cost-of-living pressures, strengthening
healthcare services, improving housing affordability and creating opportunities for future generations.
That’s why Labor is continuing to fight for practical solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.
One of my biggest priorities is ensuring Logan families can continue to access quality
healthcare when they need it.
As our community continues to grow, demand on Logan Hospital, specialist services and emergency departments continues to increase.
That’s why I will continue fighting to make sure Logan gets the investment and health infrastructure our growing community deserves.
I am also fighting for more affordable and accessible housing.
Too many young people are wondering whether home ownership will ever be within reach, while renters are facing increasing pressure from rising costs.
Housing should provide security and opportunity, not uncertainty.
We need long-term solutions that increase housing supply, support affordable housing options and give more Queenslanders a pathway to a home of their own.
I also want to see this Budget deliver real cost-of-living relief for local families.
Families are being smashed by petrol prices, rent, ever-increasing grocery bills, electricity costs and rego.
At a time when so many families are under pressure, governments should be
looking for ways to ease that burden and put more money back into people’s pockets.
The Queensland Government is set to earn an extra $2 billion in revenue thanks to
royalties, and that money should be used to support Queenslanders.
So that’s what I will continue fighting for – practical measures that help Logan families get ahead, not just get by.
Our community deserves a government that listens, plans for the future and puts their needs first.
Logan needs an aerial ladder fire truck
One of the main things that I have been fighting for in this State Budget is an aerial fire appliance for our community, based at Loganlea Fire and Rescue Station.
Logan is one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Queensland, yet we do not
have a permanently based aerial fire truck.
These specialised vehicles are equipped with extendable ladders and elevated
platforms and play a critical role in responding to major industrial fires, complex rescues and incidents involving multi-storey buildings.
Unfortunately, when Logan firefighters need this capability, they are often forced to wait for support from Brisbane or the Gold Coast.
We saw this firsthand during the recent fire at a Kingston tyre shop, where aerial
appliances had to be brought in from outside the city to assist local crews.
The same happened at the devastating Logan storage facility fire in 2024, where
members of our community lost everything.
When emergencies happen, every minute matters. Having the right equipment available locally can mean the difference between containing an incident quickly and allowing it to escalate.
That’s why I’m continuing to push for Logan to receive a dedicated aerial fire appliance and why I’ve launched a community petition in support.
By signing, you’re sending a clear message that Logan deserves the same level of
emergency response capability as other major Queensland cities.
As winter fire season approaches, let’s make sure our local firefighters have the
resources they need to respond quickly, safely and effectively when our community
needs them most.
Subscribe to stay up-to-date with news from across Logan. You’ll receive a link to our digital newspaper direct to your inbox each week. It’s free.
