Henry Pike
Bowman · Liberal National Party · Australia
“One of the things I hear most often from people across my Redlands community is that the aged-care system simply isn't working the way it should—not in theory and not on paper but in the real day-to-day lives of the people who rely on it.”
“She arranged an assessment, secured a package and followed the process, but, when her mother needed simple aids, like a safe kettle or easy-grip kitchen tools, she was told to wait months for approval pending assessments.”
“I heard from an 82-year-old man who is living alone after suffering a stroke. He has a level 2 home-care package, but it is completely inadequate for his needs. He cannot stand without a walker and he fears falling when he showers, when he shaves and even when he gets into bed.”
“I also heard from a 76-year-old woman who hasn't even tried to access support, and this is becoming a common story in my electorate. She told me it feels that there is nowhere to go for advice, and she's not alone. The sense is that it's all too complicated. These aren't isolated cases.”
“We know the Prime Minister has a challenging relationship with the truth. When he comes to this dispatch box, he tries his best to persuade Australians that what they're experiencing isn't really happening. The problem is that the Australian people aren't buying it.”
“But I think all members here, if they were honest with themselves, would appreciate that probably this is the first generation—certainly in my view—where we can't actually make that promise to our children. The aspiration of homeownership is beyond the reach of too many Australians.”
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“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. It is a pleasure to bring the Australia Day Bill 2025 before the 48th Parliament after it lapsed without consideration in the last parliament. This is a proposal supported by the voices of over 50,000 Australians who've backed my campaign to give Australia Day proper recognition and protection in federal law. At its heart, this bill rests on a straightforward principle—that Australia's national day belongs to the Australian people, not to politicians or governments. Australia Day is a date of such monumental national significance—and it means so much to so many—that it should never be able to be cancelled or changed at the whim of the government of the day.”
“Sport and recreation equipment is also being purchased through this latest grand round to support sporting clubs across the Redlands. This will benefit our volunteers by providing them with equipment they can use to train our young sporting athletes. This includes $1,200 for Blues Union Netball Club, $1,500 for Redlands Cricket—I'll be there on Saturday—and $2,000 for the Redlands United Football Club. Other community groups are focused heavily on volunteer training and education to equip and upskill. These investments include $2,000 for Redlands Touch, $1,500 for headspace Capalaba and $1,000 for United Community Services for educational equipment. There are also many others who will be benefiting through this grant round, including Crime Stoppers Bayside, Amity Point Community Club and eWatch Shoreline.”
“Other community groups that will also receive a share of this funding to assist their volunteers with IT equipment include the Redland Museum, which will receive $1½ thousand; the Victoria Point Sharks AFL Club, which will receive $2,000; the Redland Bay Cancer Council branch, one of the biggest fundraising branches in Queensland, which will receive $2,000; and Redlands Hockey Association, which will receive $2,000 in funding for IT as well as to invest in first aid and safety for their volunteers. Here's to Life Redlands, Breastfeeding Advocacy Australia Redlands branch and both the Cleveland conference and the St Rita's conference of Vinnies will receive $1,000 to assist with IT equipment and volunteer training.”
“The Girl Guides at Wellington Point and Cleveland are receiving $2½ thousand each to support volunteers with administration through the purchase of IT equipment such as computers, laptops and tablets. Meals on Wheels, who perform such an important role throughout every electorate represented by those in this place, will benefit to make sure that their mission of providing a daily connection, caring conversation and support for those in need will continue. The group at Capalaba will receive $2,000, and there will be $1,500 each for the Meals on Wheels group at Cleveland and the Victoria Point Redlands group, who celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. I was pleased to be at that event. They'll also receive support for new IT equipment.”
“The Mount Cotton Scout Group will receive $2,000 towards insurance, which will ensure that scouts have funds available to assist in upkeeping facilities. Other groups that will benefit from funding of insurance for volunteers include Coochiemudlo Island Coastcare, who will receive $1½ thousand and who do an amazing job protecting the Emerald Fringe on the beautiful Coochiemudlo Island; the Redland District Committee on the Ageing, who will receive $1,500; and Redland City Bands, who will receive $1,000 to fund not only insurance costs but also electronic, audio and visual equipment. The Night Ninjas and the Redland Bay Women's Shed will receive $2½ thousand each for IT and to contribute towards software purchases.”
“Many community groups will be directing the funding towards insurance costs to ensure their volunteers are covered. The Redland Bay Cyclones Rugby Union Club received $1½ thousand to support the club with insurance costs. The Capalaba Warriors District Junior Rugby League Club will receive assistance with insurance costs to the tune of $2,000. The Redland Bay Men's Shed will receive $2½ thousand to assist with their public liability and professional indemnity insurance, which will enhance the men's shed's ability to serve the local community. Live Learn Survive will also receive $1,000 for a similar purpose: to cover volunteer run workshops educating children in water and fire safety, first aid and resilience that otherwise would not be provided in local schools.”
“The Volunteer Grants program is more than just funding; it is an investment in the people in my local community who give their time, their skills and their efforts to support others. The volunteers in my electorate are the quiet achievers, running local sporting clubs, supporting seniors, engaging young Redlanders and strengthening committee pursuits of every kind. I'm pleased to report that committee organisations in the Redlands received $66,225 in funding, distributed among 36 local community organisations, for the 2024-25 volunteer grant round. This funding included $4,000 for the Redlands Special Olympics to support their volunteers with first aid training and fuel costs, and $2,000 for RedCity Roar basketball to assist with junior club volunteer training and scoreboard equipment.”
“Each of these groups represents a thread in the fabric of the Redlands. Whether it's the surf lifesavers keeping our beaches safe, the musicians enriching our cultural life, the youth organisations mentoring young people or the sporting clubs that bring families together on weekends, every grant recipient contributes something unique and valuable to our Redlands community. I want to thank the Redlands Foundation for the work they've been doing and all these organisations for the work they've been doing in our community during a very difficult and wet year for the Redlands.”
“Grants were awarded to the Bay Islands Golf Club, the Cage Youth Foundation, the Capalaba Warriors District Junior Rugby League Football Club—it was a pleasure earlier to see the students of Victoria Point State School, who are here in Canberra this week, with one of them proudly wearing a Warriors jersey—Coastal Rowing and Touring Australia, the Donald Simpson Community Centre, Eczema Association Australia, Lamb Island Men's Shed, the Mater Foundation, Myhorizon, the North Stradbroke Island Rugby League and Allsports Club—go the Sharks—the Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club, the Raiders Netball Club, RedCity Roar Basketball, the Redland Bay Tennis Club, Redland Bay Women's Shed, Redland City Bands, Redland Emergency Services Volunteers Association, Redlands Cricket—I'm off to Redlands Cricket this Saturday to see Marnus Labuschagne play in the local Brisbane T20 Big Bash competition—the Redlands Rugby Union Club—go the Mudcrabs—Redlands Touch Association, the Shoreline Association for Neighbourhood Development, TRACTION for Young People and the Yurara Art Society.”
“These are tangible, life-changing outcomes that flow directly back into the Redlands. The Jeffrey and Geraldine Underhill Grants Program is named in honour of two remarkable local philanthropists whose generosity has created an enduring legacy. Thanks to their foresight, we now have annual disbursements that give grassroots organisations the resources to keep doing what they do best: helping, supporting and building our community from the ground up. This year's recipients once again demonstrate the strength and diversity of community life in the Redlands.”
“This month I had the privilege of presenting the 2025 Underhill grants on behalf of the Redland Foundation alongside my state colleague Amanda Stoker MP. The event was held at the Redlands Sporting Club and brought together a wide cross-section of our local community, from sporting clubs and service organisations to arts groups and volunteer associations. The Redland Foundation is my city's most important philanthropic institution. Over the past decade it has distributed more than $2.2 million in grants and support to local organisations. That support has included more than $400,000 to help those experiencing domestic violence, $100,000 for programs tackling homelessness and countless other investments in youth mentoring, health and community development.”
“He meant it as an insult. But history proved it to be a compliment—a nation built on enterprise. In Australia, that inherited tradition of small business runs deep. Menzies of course reminded us of the great middle class—the men and women who run the corner stores, the workshops and the farms. John Howard often spoke about small business being the backbone of the economy, and he was right. These businesses aren't just numbers in the accounts; they're families; they're livelihoods; they're the spirit of self-reliance and independence that has always defined this country. Supporting small business is the path to higher wages, to stronger growth and to restoring the great promise of Australia.”
“It comes from the hundreds of local businesses in the Redlands who back themselves every day and who create jobs for our community. They deserve a government that gets out of their way and gets off their back. And here is the truth. If we want to turn around our nation's productivity, if we want to restore living standards, if we want our children to inherit a country that is stronger, wealthier and more secure, then we need to back small business—not with talk, not with summits, but with real reform, because, when small businesses succeed, Australia succeeds. When local employers thrive, families thrive. And when we've put our trust in the enterprise and the hard work of our small-business people, this sector of the economy has never let us down. Napoleon once sneered at the English that they were a nation of shopkeepers.”
“Sadly, this latest effort mirrored last term's Jobs and Skills Summit and Kevin Rudd's 2020 summit: heavy on hype and light on delivery. Rather than more talk, local employers are telling me they want more action. They are proposing practical reforms. Some of the ideas that I've heard from local businesses include bringing back full expensing so businesses can instantly deduct capital investment; cutting unnecessary regulation, especially for small firms; simplifying awards and workplace laws so enterprise bargaining is actually flexible; backing business investment with a competitive tax system; and ending this government's habit of picking winners and handouts for favoured sectors. Productivity doesn't come from a minister's press release; it comes from the ground up.”
“I recently surveyed businesses across the Redlands to get a true picture of how things are going on the ground. The results should ring alarm bells for every member of this House. Ninety-six per cent of businesses in my electorate expect their operating to costs to rise over the next year; more than half the local businesses believe the economy will shrink this financial year; price pressures are identified as the single biggest handbrake on growth; and only 11 per cent of businesses in the Redlands believe federal policy is helping to drive jobs or investment. These aren't just statistics; I believe they're warning signs. They are the lived experience of employers who are the backbone of the economy in my community. Labor's answer to all this is just another summit—another roundtable, another talkfest.”
“We've seen the government outlays blowing out from 24 to 27 per cent of GDP, debt is climbing to $1.2 trillion and the Treasurer's only answer is more taxes. Business groups are warning that this approach will drive down investment and productivity, and that's of course the exact opposite of what's needed. Unfortunately, productivity is in freefall in Australia. Australia's competitiveness ranking has slid from 13th to 18th in just two years. We've seen annual growth running at 1.3 per cent, less than half the long-term average, and Australia has fallen from 20th to 60th in the world for growth per person. Of course, that measure is critically important when you're boiling these stats down to what they mean to Australian households.”
“The heartbreaking thing is that, when I talk to local businesses about how they can grow their production, how they can employ more people, their response is far too often to say, 'Unfortunately, it's just become too hard.' Last week, we saw three days of talk right here in Canberra. Sadly, there have been no outcomes from the government's productivity summit that offer a shred of relief for families or businesses—nothing to reverse Australia's nosedive in productivity growth and the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world. Instead, we saw big unions opening the door to higher taxes—taxes on superannuation, savings, housing and the family business. This is the same old agenda that we see from the other side of this place, unfortunately.”
“I spend a lot of time talking with small businesses across my electorate in the Redlands. They're the family-run firms, the tradies, the shopfronts and the service providers who put their own money and their own time on the line. I'll tell you what they're telling me—that it's getting harder, not easier, to make ends meet. They tell me about the risks of putting on new staff. They want to grow, they want to invest, but the barriers are stacked against them. Costs keep rising, red tape keeps piling up and the confidence that drives investment has been sapped. We have a productivity crisis in this country. Both sides of the parliament will agree on that.”
“The metro could be locked in as part of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic legacy. A line to Capalaba links directly with the Olympic venues at Chandler and Birkdale. I want to congratulate Premier Crisafulli and Lord Mayor Schrinner for driving the metro expansions forward. Their partnership has put us on the right track—or, should I say, in the right lane. It was good to see bipartisan commitments for federal funding to deliver a business case for Capalaba and other extensions, but that's just the boarding pass. The real journey lies ahead. This is a once-in-a-generation chance to change the route of our city's future. I'm asking all levels of government to work together so we don't miss the bus.”
“Half of those employed in my Redlands community leave the city to commute to their workplace. For many, it means burning long hours every day sitting in traffic, crawling into Brisbane, into Logan or further afield on a train or a bus. That's why I've been pushing hard to get the Brisbane Metro extended to Capalaba. The metro isn't just another bus service; it's a complete mode shift, with fast, electric, high-capacity vehicles running on dedicated busways. There are no red lights and no traffic jams, just turn-up-and-go services that actually stick to their timetable. Right now, a bus from Capalaba to the Brisbane CBD will take you at least 45 minutes. The metro would halve that time. That's not just a boost to productivity; that's giving families back that precious time at home.”
“While earlier stages made some progress in response to my community advocacy, the latest proposals would see aircraft noise pushed onto new areas of our community. Because of strong local voices, we've won commitments to higher altitudes and more overwater routes, yet this newest part of the noise action plan seeks only to shift the problem to the Bay Islands in my electorate and over residents of Sheldon and Mount Cotton. The solution I and hundreds of other locals are pushing for is an over-the-ocean flight path that will push southbound traffic east over North Stradbroke Island and will cross the mainland at a higher altitude in an area of fewer built-up areas. Airservices Australia is calling their latest changes 'fair'. They are not fair and cannot be justified, and I'll continue to fight against them.”
“Over the past three years my community has witnessed Brisbane Airport flight paths increasingly shifted over the Redlands and ongoing consultation on a range of proposals to continue this pattern. This is unacceptable and is something I've been working with my bayside community to oppose. Those who choose to live close to the city and the airport do so with an expectation of aircraft noise. By contrast, families move to the Redlands for its peaceful lifestyle, aware that this means they are further away from the amenity of the city. It's a fair trade-off. Airservices Australia have been reviewing flight paths for the past three years and have now released phase 6 of package 3 as part of their noise action plan for Brisbane. Sadly, yet again, the new proposals have significant implications for Redland City residents.”
“I want to thank the Capalaba and Wellington Point Rotary clubs, who hosted the event; the Birkdale State School; Redlands RSL; Birkdale Scouts; Redlands City Band; Redlands Coast Museum; Redland Genealogical Society; Col Sutcliffe; and Councillor Paul Bishop.”
“Used as a US Army radio receiving station, it formed part of a vital network relaying messages between General MacArthur's headquarters in Brisbane and the Allied forces across the Pacific. It was in that very station, in my electorate of Bowman, that Australia first received the historic message that the Japanese government had accepted the Allied terms of surrender; the war was over. The Victory in the Pacific event held to commemorate this milestone of the war ending not only acknowledged the Redlands community's vital role but also stopped to commemorate the sacrifice made by all Australians during this time of our nation's history.”
“Eighty years ago the victory in the Pacific was a defining moment for our nation. On Saturday 16 August, I was honoured to join more than 300 Redland locals to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory at Birkdale State School. The reflections on VP Day paid tribute to local stories from Capalaba, Birkdale, Thorneside and Wellington Point—stories of courage, resilience and community spirit during a time of global conflict and challenge. This special event acknowledged unique moments in our community's history while the war in the Pacific raged on, until lasting peace was finally declared. One of those moments took place in Birkdale, in an unassuming building built in 1943.”
“We can reduce costs without gutting care, but it will take leadership, not lazy policy. I've written to the minister on this issue, and I received a response yesterday. It dismisses the concerns of my local providers and it leaves them with an ominous warning. It says, 'The 2024-25 annual pricing review reflects the start of a multi-year transition towards more tailored pricing,' so they can expect more of the same—more cuts to come, more vulnerable Australians unable to get support they need, more providers going to the wall. The dream of the NDIS is unfortunately becoming a nightmare for many of the people operating and participating in this system in my electorate. (Time expired)”
“Local physios and OTs are telling me that they simply can't keep going. OTs haven't had a rate increase in seven years. Physios have just had their rates cut by $10 per hour. At the same time, the Fair Work Commission increased award wages across the sector. Providers are expected to pay more while their incomes are frozen or falling and the costs of fuel, rent, equipment, insurance and admin keep rising. Many highly trained professionals are walking away from the sector altogether. Some are now earning more as support workers. If the government wishes to tackle these challenges, a smarter fix would be to start with the bloated bureaucracy. Right now, providers are drowning in red tape. Unnecessary NDIA paperwork burns them out, exhausts families and wastes taxpayer money. Thousands of reports get written every year; very few get read.”
“The government has this month slashed travel subsidies for allied health providers, cutting it in half overnight with no consultation and barely any notice. The impact has been immediate and severe, especially for participants on the bay islands in my electorate. They are some of the most vulnerable Australians, now struggling to access the in-person therapy that they need. These changes make it near impossible for therapists to service families on our bay islands, where face-to-face support is the only opportunity for many of these vulnerable families. This isn't fixing the system; it's cutting people off from it. But it hasn't stopped there. They've not only halved travel funding; they've also cut therapy rates and frozen others. In the Redlands, the impact is already hitting home.”
“The National Disability Insurance Scheme was supposed to be about dignity and choice, an opportunity for Australians with disability to live with greater independence, to access the supports they need and to exercise real control over their own lives. Nobody in this parliament is a stranger to the benefits of the scheme and the challenges that the scheme is putting on the federal budget. NDIS costs are soaring. By 2028 it will cost over $28 billion. The system clearly needs reform to make it financially sustainable, but rather than taking that meaningful reform to tackle those ballooning costs, the Albanese government is going into panic mode. They are swinging the axe not at waste and rorts but at the supports vulnerable Australians rely on.”
“It's another area of this endless from funding local governments that we're seeing from the current federal government. So I strongly support the motion and I hope that the committee will undertake that action. (Time expired)”
“We've had mentioned already the impact of the financial assistance grants and how they're not keeping in line with the total— An honourable member interjecting— The member may recall that I perhaps wasn't here in the early stages of the previous government, but he may be mistaking his memory. An unfair note from my local government in particular is the cutting of the native title respondent funding scheme. We've got 3½ thousand council owned lots in my electorate which are subject to a native title claim, and it's a significant cost on our council budget to have to respond to those claims. We've got a hearing coming up in September and we were hoping to get some federal government support on that cost, and unfortunately that was cut.”
“I may have to gain or lose a little bit—who knows!—but, hopefully, I can keep it exactly the way it is. It means that I've got a very strong relationship with my council, and I'm very closely in contact with my local councillors and can find out the impact of all these cuts. Unfortunately, in the life of the first term of this government, we saw a lot cut from the Redland City Council's bottom line. I'm just using this as an example. I'm sure there are similar stories across the country. The federal government cut $13 million from the local roads and community infrastructure fund which was going to the Redlands. This money was earmarked for upgrading local streets, footpaths and community spaces, and now it's gone.”
“Unfortunately, this inquiry, in the course of the last term, only achieved an interim report. It offered no recommendations, and we need to really send a strong message that we want to have this committee look into this again and come up with some serious answers and recommendations. I've got quite an interesting and unique situation in this parliament— I think I do, Member for Groom. In fact, you might be fairly similar, but I think you're just on the outside of it. I represent an electorate that has one local government area—no overlap, no leftovers. An honourable member: Three! Three! I'd hate to think how many some of my colleagues have, but I have one local government area—perfectly aligns. Unfortunately, I think we may have a redistribution in Queensland at the next election.”
“Take better care of our money.' But when you look at the scale of the cost shifting that has happened in local government across this country, you see it's not just in regional communities, such as those the member for Mallee represents. In every community in this country we are seeing federal government in rapid retreat from financial support for local governments, and ultimately it's the ratepayer—the end user—who's paying the cost for it. We need to be entirely honest about why this is happening, and I think an inquiry, or a reheating of this inquiry, to get to the bottom of it and have some actual recommendations would certainly be worthwhile. The question has to be asked as to why councillors are having to take these steps. In Queensland, in particular, we've seen huge rate increases.”
“We've just gone through the season of budget setting and unfortunately, for a lot of Queensland local governments, we've seen a lot of rate rises throughout local governments in Queensland, including in the Redland City Council in my electorate of Bowman. The Redland City Council handed down its latest budget in June, and for my local residents it has certainly hit hard. We've seen a minimum general rate increase of 7.89 per cent and an 11 per cent increase in fees and charges, and that's on top of all the other increases that people are facing at the supermarket, at the bowser and with household bills of every variety. It's easy, of course, for local residents to blame their local council and point the finger, saying, 'Ah, you're upping my rates! This is terrible.”
“I thank the member for Mallee for bringing forward this excellent motion. I think the start of a new parliamentary term is an important opportunity for us to send a strong message to the government that this is a pressing issue, as the minister stated at the start of this process 14 months ago. It is long overdue that we had a proper look at this. It was very good that the committee undertook this inquiry into local government's financial sustainability last term, and it's unfortunate that, given the short nature of our parliamentary terms, it wasn't completed satisfactorily. I thought that, in my comments today, I might underscore those points and also use this opportunity to explain what this actually means for the people out there, particularly the people in my electorate of Bowman.”
“The outpouring of support from the Redlands community is a testament to how deeply loved and respected this local businessowner is. The money raised will help ease the burden for the Bromiley family as they navigate the road ahead, offering some financial relief and peace of mind during an otherwise overwhelming time. This is what the strength of the community is all about—standing together and lifting one another up when it's needed most, and no-one does it like Redlanders do. A heartfelt thank you goes to Paul Branagan, the driving force behind the Redlands charity day. Each year, Paul brings people together to support those who need it most. His passion, commitment and community spirit are what make this day so special and so successful. To everyone who volunteered, attended, donated and contributed in any way: thank you.”
“Sunday 13 July marked the 12th Redlands Annual Charity Day at Hogan's Wellington Point, and what a day it was. Each year this event continues to grow in strength and community support, and the 2025 event was no exception. Once again, the Redlands community showed up in full force. Thanks to the generosity of the local community, over $100,000 was raised. This year's fundraising efforts were dedicated to Jodie Bromiley, a much loved local mum who is facing an unimaginably tough journey. Jodie was first diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 30s and has since battled the disease three times with quiet strength and determination. Now, heartbreakingly, she must fight it for a fourth time, and her courage is evident for all to see.”
“It reflects a nation that hasn't forgotten its past but refuses to let it limit its potential or the potential of its citizens. The member for Longman has served on the Speaker's panel and knows how to perform the functions of the role with fairness, authority, good sense and good humour. The role of Deputy Speaker is more than knowing standing orders and procedures; it's about setting a tone—a tone of fairness, respect and decency. The member for Longman sets that tone. He reflects the best of the humble, hardworking, everyday Australian. He's a worker, a business owner, a loyal friend, a dedicated family man. I am proud to serve with him in this parliament and I'm proud to second this nomination for Deputy Speaker.”
“That's the kind of approach that we need and that Australians want to see in senior roles in this chamber—steady, decent and focused on what matters. I want to draw the attention of members to the fact that the member for Longman's great-grandfather was a South Sea Islander, one of thousands who were blackbirded, as it was known at the time, from their homeland to labour in cane fields in Queensland and northern New South Wales. One of the first acts of this parliament in 1901 was to try to facilitate the mass deportation of these individuals, despite many having lived in Australia for decades. The fact that a descendant of one of those brought to our shores as a slave a few generations ago sits in this House with us and can aspire to a presiding office in this House should be a source of great pride to all of us.”
“The member for Longman has lived the real pressures that many Australians face—the pressure of running a small business, the pressure of raising kids while trying to make ends meet, the pressure of taking the big risks and knowing that so many rely on your success and leadership. The member for Longman is a man without ego or pretension. He's a hardworking, humble representative who serves his community with quiet integrity. He believes in doing his bit and leaving things better than he found them. He's not interested in spin. He doesn't speak in political cliches. He speaks plainly and he listens properly. These characteristics are why he has become a true mate of many of us on both sides of this House. He's not chasing headlines or pats on the back. He just gets on with the job.”
“Congratulations, Mr Speaker, on your re-election. I'm proud to second the nomination of the member for Longman for the role of Deputy Speaker. The member for Longman is not a career politician. He didn't grow up dreaming of sitting in this place. When he left school at 15 with just a junior certificate, this was probably the last place he thought he would ever end up. His has been the kind of journey that reflects the best traditions of our country. It demonstrates that Australia still offers wealth for toil. He has proven that through your own effort you can not only improve your own circumstances but enrich the lives of your whole community.”
“I thank the community for all the preparation that they did in the lead-up to that week. I think that the work we did saved lives, saved property and ensured that we didn't have the significant disaster that we were anticipating earlier in the week. Thank you.”
“I will work with the telcos—I've had some of the telcos in my office already today—and talk about what we can do and what the government's response should be to ensure that this doesn't happen again. Finally, I think we need to keep an eye out for insurance price gouging. The fact is that cyclone risk has been built into insurance premiums in South-East Queensland for a long period of time. Many of the businesses on the islands have told me in the past about their excessive premiums due to the fact that cyclone risk has been considered. I will be asking the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to monitor insurers and ensure Queenslanders aren't burdened with unjustifiable increases in response to this disaster. In closing, can I thank everyone who was involved.”
“Unfortunately, we had a situation where Redlands City Council had to issue a take-shelter warning many hours before they actually wanted to. I think the fact that this new system hasn't been up and running and isn't expected to be up and running until 2027 means we need to fast-track that as much as possible. The other lesson I think needs to be taken away by policymakers is the need for more hardening, more resilience and more backup for our telecommunications infrastructure. After Alfred, mobile networks failed across the Redlands, cutting off emergency communications when people needed it most. I've been working to improve mobile infrastructure over the course of my term, but reliable mobile coverage isn't just a luxury anymore; it's now a lifeline.”
“They need stronger infrastructure. They need disaster mitigation work, and my LNP state colleagues and I will be pushing for a Redlands community recovery fund and business recovery grants to support those out on the islands. We cannot allow makeshift housing to continue. Cyclone Alfred exposed the dangers of makeshift housing on our islands. We cannot allow people living in uninsurable, unsafe dwellings on public land in flood-prone areas like we have seen on North Stradbroke Island. Many of those homes lack basic services and are constantly at risk of disaster. A long-term solution is needed—one that ensures safe, legal and affordable housing for all residents. We also need to sort out the national messaging system.”
“She made a terrific effort and was more than happy to take my calls at all hours and provide my community with the support that it needs. I want to thank my state colleagues Rebecca Young, Amanda Stoker, Russell Field and all of the councillors within the Redlands City Council area for the efforts that they put in. It was a phenomenal effort from all in response to quite an unusual situation. While we've got a few moments, I wanted to touch on some of the lessons that I think policymakers should be taking away from this situation. I think we need more funding for island resilience. I'm pleased that disaster recovery and hardship support has been made available, but immediate relief isn't going to be enough. We need a long-term plan, especially for our island communities, which were amongst the hardest hit. They've got growing populations.”
“The crews of the Marine Rescue Queensland units at Dunwich, at Raby Bay, at Victoria point and at Redland Bay were providing all sorts of support and moving supplies back and forth after the commercial operations had ceased. I want to thank Queensland Fire Department volunteers and I want to thank Andrew Johnson and his team at the Bureau of Meteorology as well. The fact that they were able to pick this thing when it was way out in the sea and the fact that it was going to come back gave us lots of warning. Andrew was a true professional in his efforts to keep MPs updated over the course of that week. I also want to thank the National Emergency Management Agency staff for coordinating the resources and the response efforts of the federal government. There are many others I want to thank, but I want to thank Minister McAllister as well.”
“Council's volunteer community champions have acted as an extension of their disaster management arm. They are all volunteers and do a terrific job, particularly out on our islands. I want to thank local church groups who offered shelter, support and recovery assistance, the Rock Christian Church in Capalaba in particular. They were acting effectively as an evacuation centre at a time when council's evacuation centre had to be evacuated due to a tree falling on it. Redlands Community Centre champions support services and other services. They were a lifeline for many not just during the lead-up to the disaster but also in the recovery efforts.”
“I want to thank the SeaLink, the Amity Trader and the Stradbroke Flyer Gold Cats staff for the work that they did of keeping those boats operating till the last minute to ensure that supplies and emergency response could occur. I want to thank our Queensland police officers for the work they did alerting people to the danger and also doing those critical welfare checks on people afterwards; all our frontline health workers, including the nurses who assisted with the delivery of twin babies at Dunwich right at the heart of the cyclone; and Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics. I particularly want to thank the Australian Army 7th Brigade personnel who came out and assisted the Energex crews with their clean-up efforts. It was terrific to have their support, including one young private who was actually born and raised in the Redlands.”