It is with much pleasure that I rise today as the new member for Pine Rivers to place on record my thanks for the support and trust that local residents have shown by voting for me and for the Bligh Labor government.

I have been fortunate enough to serve in this parliament as the member for Glass House since my election in 2001, and as a result of the electoral distribution by the QEC I made the decision to move my family and seek support to run for the redistributed and renamed seat of Pine Rivers. I introduced myself to the electorate as soon as I was endorsed and spent the ensuing time meeting as many people as I could. Through a regular schedule of doorknocking, mobile offices and street stalls, I managed to meet a large number of Pine Rivers residents.

I felt it was very important that I move into the electorate to show my commitment to the people of
Pine Rivers and did so at the end of last year, enrolling my daughters in two local schools at the same time. We have found the local residents to be very welcoming and we have all settled in and are enjoying the benefits that living in Strathpine provides.

At the election, I offered the people of Pine Rivers an experienced voice in state parliament, a solid working knowledge of state government departments and issues that surround them, as well as the ability to work in close contact with both local and federal government representatives of the area-many of whom I consider to be friends as well as colleagues. I have promised my fellow Pine Rivers residents that will well and truly represent them on state government issues, that I am available to meet with them to discuss their issues or problems and that I will ensure that I provide them with information regarding state government decisions that affect their lives.

The issues that local residents raised with me could be predominantly classified as either health or transport issues. People wanted to be assured that they will always be able to access suitable health and emergency services in their local area. To this end, the Pine Rivers Community Health Service at Gympie Road, Strathpine is serviced by over 100 staff who provide a range of services including: oral health; alcohol and drug rehabilitation; child health; sexual health; adult, youth and child mental health; youth health; child development services; primary health and care, which is funded under HACC; a diabetes clinic; Indigenous health; and aged care. Within our region, we are also able to access the Prince Charles Hospital, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and the Caboolture Hospital. The dedicated and professional staff who work at these health facilities ensure that health issues that constituents face can be quickly actioned.

I am also pleased to acknowledge that the Rudd federal Labor government is going to establish a
GP superclinic at Strathpine which will also have a focus on Indigenous health. I was invited to attend the launch of the plans for the new site by Senator Mark Furner and was able to question Dr Evan Jones from Superclinic Nominees Pty Ltd at the Strathpine Square Shopping Centre site. The Australian government is injecting $2.5 million into the clinic, which will bring together general practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, podiatrists, dieticians and audiologists, in one convenient location. The superclinic will be close to the Westfield shopping centre and the train station, providing easy access for patients. For those who are unable to get to the doctor during business hours, the clinic will have extended operating hours seven days a week and will provide bulk-billing.

With the promise during the election of the construction of a new world-class Queensland Children’s Hospital, the debate was opened up about the provision of specialist health care for children. Currently, specialist paediatric services are split between the Mater Children’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital. The decision to build the new Queensland Children’s Hospital was taken after careful consideration of international research and local expert advice that clearly demonstrated that sick children get better care when all medical services and care are consolidated in one setting.

Most people understood and supported the basic premise behind our decision. There was concern about travel time, and I spent a deal of time explaining how the road network would be improved and upgraded before the new Children’s Hospital was completed, and that $45.6 million would be allocated to the Prince Charles Hospital at Chermside for a new 12-bay paediatric emergency department, 20 shortstay paediatric ward beds and specialist outpatient clinics. This means that residents on the north side can be assured of expert medical attention for children close to where they live and the opportunity to access the new custom-built Children’s Hospital if their children are very sick. As a mother of two young girls, I fully support the responsible approach that this government is taking towards the provision of healthcare services for residents of the Pine Rivers electorate.

Further to this, our public hospitals have a large number of beds which are occupied by aged and frail patients who could be better cared for in other facilities. We believe that many of these patients would receive more appropriate care in special rehabilitation or transition care facilities where they would be supported in their return to home or to an aged-care facility. As part of a package to free up beds, which in turn takes pressure off our emergency departments, there will be 44 more rehabilitation beds at Eventide, Sandgate. So, as members can see, health care will remain a priority of mine over the coming term.

Transport and traffic congestion are issues which many people took the opportunity to talk to me about. We have three train stations that service the electorate-Lawnton, Bray Park and Strathpine-as well as Petrie in the neighbouring electorate. These stations are well run by Queensland Rail staff and are very busy places during peak hour. Parking is at a premium, and I was pleased to be able to announce that an additional 45 car-parking spaces will be built at Bray Park station during this term. I am committed to working with the state government and council to find opportunities and funding to deal with the parking provisions at Strathpine and Lawnton.

Gympie Road is the main road that services the bulk of the population of Pine Rivers and it is kept in good condition through continual road maintenance, of which more is due to be started this month. I would like to see more people utilise our public transport to reduce the reliance on cars to get to and from Brisbane, and this will come through additional services and more rolling stock which is being rolled out across the network. Indeed, I took the opportunity of walking to the Bray Park train station this morning and I caught a peak-hour service to Central, which was on time and was a very comfortable trip. I continue to encourage residents to also take advantage of this great service.

Education is always something that generates interest in electorates, and we are well serviced by a number of government and private schools. Last sitting I took the opportunity to update the House on the progress of the three different phases of the Australian government’s $14.7 billion stimulus package which are being rolled out by Education Queensland and the Department of Public Works. Locally, this means all of my state schools and high schools have received funding under the National School Pride program and work is moving ahead apace.

In rounds 1 and 2 of P21, over $13 million has been allocated to five local schools for the construction of halls and libraries. With round 3 due in the next couple of weeks, the rest of my schools will be able to move ahead with their plans. I was thrilled to see that Pine Rivers State High School has been awarded funding under the Science and Language Centres program under a competitive bid. Pine Rivers State High School is, as I have said before, an excellent learning institution, and the allocation of these additional funds will ensure that local students have the opportunity to study in the most advanced facilities possible. So, whilst all of this work is transforming our schools, the state government continues to add its funding with its existing maintenance and building projects.

In Pine Rivers, the local schools are focusing heavily on literacy and numeracy, and teachers are working collaboratively to continue to improve the opportunities for our young people. We have excellent teachers and administrators, and this is reflected in the quality of education that is provided and the way our young charges are engaging with school and the wider community. The other important aspect of this funding is the creation of local jobs for local contractors, and we will continue our focus on creating jobs and assisting people into meaningful employment.

There are obviously many people I would like to thank. Firstly, to my husband, Bill, and our daughters, Jordan and Jetta: thank you for standing by me, for your support in wanting me to continue working for the people of Queensland through the work I do in parliament and for coming with me. My home is my sanctuary from the hurly-burly of life and my family make it complete for me. Well, I should say that our poodles, Middie and Declan, also add to the joy of home life.

I had a wonderfully organised and dedicated campaign manager in the form of the delightful Ron
Frame. Nothing was too much trouble for Ron. He organised me, he organised the people around me and he made sure the campaign ran so incredibly smoothly. It was Ron who would be out early in the morning doing street stalls or handing out at train stations. He planned the campaign, assisted with the material and, most importantly, accompanied me during the many, many hours of doorknocking.

Fiona McNamara, who as well as being a tireless campaign worker and organiser doubles as the federal spokesperson for Dickson-
Mr Wilson: Hear, hear!
Ms MALE: Fiona worked hard to rally the troops, she made sure I knew exactly what the needs of our community were and she was a focal point of my campaign team.
Mr Wilson interjected.
Ms MALE: I am hoping that she will be our candidate for Dickson. She is so well loved in the community and will do a fabulous job at the next election campaign. I have taken that interjection from the Minister for Education, putting on the record his support for Fiona’s excellent work as well.

Likewise, Wes Young was absolutely invaluable in his support of me, his hard work in all aspects of campaigning and his faith in the politics of the Labor Party and the opportunities we provide to our local residents. Senator Mark Furner was also a great supporter, a great campaigner and an all-round great guy. I certainly rely on his advice and assistance.

Local ALP members were incredibly helpful in campaigning, advice and moral support, particularly the following people: the entire Lavarch clan-Colleen, Michael, Linda, Lizzie and Simon; Councillor Mick Gillam; Pat Sumner; Kevin Guilfoyle; Tom Brown; Patrick and Tunde Bulman; Chris Parr; Joan Matthews; and the huge team of people who handed out on election day-too many to mention individually. I would also like to mention my sister, Kathy, and her husband, Jim, who helped out. My thanks also go to Jasmine, Christine, Alannah, Gai and Sean.

The ALP campaign team swung in behind me, and I would particularly like to thank Anthony
Chisholm and my organisers, Chris and Linus, and my ALP friends Bill Ludwig and Stephen Beckett for their unswerving faith in my capabilities and their ongoing support. Jo Barrett, my old doorknocking pal, turned up to continue our successful doorknocking strategies, and I thank her for her continuing motivation.

How would I survive without my electorate officers, Linda and Melanie? They are the rock of the electorate office. They have managed to keep the electorate office running smoothly and in their own time helped me to campaign. Both Linda and Melanie know the high esteem in which I hold them and the absolute trust I have in their capabilities, and they continue their excellent work in the Pine Rivers electorate office.

I have left till last my thankyou to two incredibly strong and passionate women who have represented the area of Pine Rivers for many years. Linda Lavarch and Bonny Barry have been two of the very best and hardworking members of parliament that I know. Linda represented Kurwongbah since 1997 and Bonny represented Aspley since 2001. Everywhere I went in the new seat of Pine Rivers people wanted to tell me about their positive experiences with either Linda or Bonny and the esteem in which they held them. These two ladies were all across their electorates-constantly looking after the needs of their local residents, identifying issues, rectifying problems, lobbying for additional infrastructure and services. They were everywhere.

Whilst holding down extra-important roles as minister and parliamentary secretary, these women have been part of the wider policy debates and have led the way in policy changes to the betterment of their communities. I will miss them both at parliament not just for their skill and dedication but also for the friendship and assistance they have always given me and that they continue to give me as I represent the people of Pine Rivers. I am sure all members here wish them well in the next phase of their working and personal lives.