This year has been an incredibly busy and challenging year for our Logan community so far.
The devastating floods impacted so many local residents in February, we have welcomed a new federal treasurer Jim Chalmers and just last week we handed down our new state budget that has some big wins for our local families.
Logan is one of the fastest growing cities in the state and what is good about the budget is the big investment in our hospital and measures to ease the cost of living.
We have committed an additional $530 million to further expand the Logan Hospital for our growing community — that’s another 100 beds on top of the already 200-bed expansion.
There’s more funding for social housing and every Queenslander will receive a $175 rebate on their next power bill.
Commuters will also be thrilled to know that work is underway to relocate the Loganlea Train Station and that we have secured funding to the Bethania to Logan Village rail trail, something Logan MP Linus Power and I have been fighting for.
In my Waterford community there are some big upgrades to our local schools. $7.5 million for a new building and more classrooms at Waterford West State School.
I visited the school earlier this year to turn the sod on the site with school captains Charleigh and Sanaisha and it’s great to see that work is now well underway.
I also gave Loganlea State High School principal Mr Farleigh a call to give him the good news that $11.6 million has been secured for a new hall that will have new specialist sporting facilities for the students.
And it was fantastic news from the education minister Grace Grace that every state school will be given the opportunity to receive a Dignity Vending machine which supplies free period products to students.
As the Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, I am really proud of the record $363 million package to keep women and girls safe from violence.
This will include expanding our respectful relationships education to every school,because we know teaching positive behaviours and skills from a young age can help young people understand what a healthy relationship or friendship looks like.
We want to break the cycle of domestic violence early and combat gender inequality.
So much in the budget for our school students, and I know they’re all on school holidays right now – I hope they are all enjoying a safe and well-deserved break.
