By Noosa MP Sandy Bolton
Wrapping up what an MP does, especially an Independent one, is never easy, though asked often! The complexities around Parliament, legislation, policies, motions and a host of mechanisms that are supposed to allow Government to operate effectively for Queenslanders, to have their expectations met and services delivered, are vast. And if not, a way for this to be rectified, which can elude us due to the legislation that enabled the delivery of a service in the first place!
When I read to our youngest students during Book Week, I loved that they said I ‘help people’. Absolutely, in ways that are obvious, others not so. Many nights are spent with residents in traumatic situations whether at evacuation centres during our fires, in COVID quarantine , or as we are currently experiencing, where historical decisions have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation on our country roads.
The ‘midnight candle’ burns in trawling through Bills, reports and correspondence. Speech writing, columns and interviews. Forums, meetings, conferences and ‘Q&A’s are all part of knowledge gathering, development of partnerships and solution finding. Yes, I get fiercely angry alongside our community at the failings of governments, however we need to direct that anger and frustration to resolutions, which can be challenging in itself! Key is to work out how to ‘fix’ an issue, and this can take many forms. With Beckman’s Road, it was sheer unrelenting pursuit based on realities and statistics, and presenting those ad nauseum. With Six Mile bridge, the assistance of community through daily photos and reports, Council and our police, cameras and even gathering results through Freedom of Information. For others such as transport to Sunshine Coast University Hospital, a method to demonstrate need through a business case or as we are currently doing with Noosa Be Connect, a pilot. Not run by Government, by us as a community to show how it can be done, instead of why it cannot. Pilots are invaluable as they behave as ‘real time’ business cases, doubling both as an interim solution and data collector. As I have seen many times over the years the cost of developing the ‘case’ can be more expensive than actually getting on and doing it. And as I have spoken about in Parliament, our systems and processes need a severe tweak, as a lack of efficiency, as well safeguards for communities, are costing us in more ways than one. In a post COVID world, we no longer have the luxury of taking years to find a ‘solution’.
As always there is far too much to fit in a column, however I hope you received my annual MP Connect and Survey in your letterbox (fitting such a big year in 4 pages was challenging as always!) as well postal vote application information as this is now open, with prepoll just over a week away.
This month’s newsletter also gives a summary of what I took forward on behalf of our community into last Parliament including our housing crisis, as well the fabulous gatherings, grants and celebrations in our villages!
Please visit www.sandybolton.com for further updates and information, and continue to follow our Facebook page as there are many relaxations of restrictions and border changes with more expected.
As I said at the very beginning of COVID, we would get through this together, stronger, more connected and with a greater understanding of who we are, and where we are heading. We have, and we are!!
Blessings to all, and I look forward to seeing you on the streets or at the polling booths.
Warm regards, Sandy
