Belinda Hassan - Labor

As a fifth generation Mackay local, I've raised my four children here. I'm a small business manager and I've also worked as a support worker at the local Domestic Violence shelter. I've devoted my time to many community groups including Zonta, Rotary and Lions clubs.

What major infrastructure projects does the region need? How will you deliver them?

The Mackay Ring Road is a transformative project for local residents and the growing mining sector. Mr Christensen talks a big game for funding but it's not available for at least another two elections. This is after the LNP cut their Queensland infrastructure contribution last year by more than 6 per cent.

Labor also funded the Mackay Northern Access Upgrade and The first stage of the Mackay Ring Road (construction underway).

A Shorten Labor Government will commit $280 million and we won't keep you waiting. This is infrastructure we need now, not in the never-never. I will also work with regional councils and the Queensland Government to give extra Commonwealth funds towards the construction of planned walking and cycling trails. Labor will also end six years of Coalition chaos with a responsible plan to improve NBN and give Australians an affordable, reliable network.

How do we secure the long-term future of cane growing in the region?

Sugar is a vital Australian agricultural sector and importantly to Queensland where 95% of Australia's sugar is produced.

Labor understands the importance of the sugar industry to regional Queensland and the 40,000 direct and indirect jobs which rely on this sector.

What do you think are the big issues for the environment locally?

The Great Barrier Reef is our backyard. For Australia, it's an environmental treasure that's sadly in real trouble. The Reef needs our protection and it needs it now. Labor will implement our $500 million plan to support better research, co-ordination and reef management. We know that a healthy reef means a healthy tourism industry and, importantly, jobs in our region.

Do you believe climate change is an issue for the region? What can be done to address climate change locally?

There is no doubt our earth is warming and our seas rising. If we do not act, the consequences will be severe.

Experts at the ANU, the University of Melbourne and the CSIRO have estimated the cost from climate change impacts of not meeting the Paris Agreement goals will be $14,000 for every Australian household, and natural disasters are already costing the Australian economy over $18 billion a year.

After six years of chaos, uncertainty and rising pollution under the Liberals, Australia needs stability and certainty on climate change policy. The transition to a low pollution economy presents new opportunities. Labor is committed to net zero pollution by 2050.

What would you do to reduce power prices in central Queensland?

Australia is in an energy crisis under the Liberals. Power bills are out of control and the LNP has had 13 different energy policies since it was elected. I understand that electricity prices are a burden on families and businesses. A Shorten Labor Government is committed to a policy which delivers outcomes, including through renewable energy with a greater investment in solar batteries for 100,000 Australian households. Labor will invest in more renewable energy and end the chaos and division of the last six years. Our plan will be good for households, good for the economy and good for the environment.

How will you make our region more liveable?

As a fifth-generation local who raised my four children here, I know what this region needs to attract and retain a great lifestyle for families. Making sure the minimum wage is a living wage is just one part of Labor's wages policy. We will close the gender pay gap, make sure labour hire workers doing the same job receive the same pay and crack down on sham contracting and worker exploitation. Labor will reverse the penalty rate cuts which in Dawson alone has affected up to 13,500 workers who will have had their penalty rates cut. If George Christensen was serious about standing up for workers, he wouldn't have voted five times for these changes. If elected, a Shorten Labor Government will restore these cuts.

How can the government help regional cancer patients with the cost of treatment?

Labor has proudly announced a $2.3 billion cancer package which will slash out-of-pocket costs for cancer patients and help them access the care they need, no matter where they are in Australia. Labor believes it should be your Medicare card, not your credit card, which guarantees access to quality health care in Australia.

What do you plan to do about the ice problem in central Queensland?

Ice is a scourge across rural and regional communities and can ruin lives. Early intervention should be the first step in addressing this deeply concerning issue. Labor has committed $1 billion in new hospital infrastructure projects - including hospital expansions, new and refurbished wards, upgraded emergency departments and mental health facilities.

How can the Federal Government help to bring down the cost of flying to Rockhampton, Mackay and the coalfields?

Labor understands that flights to the regions is an issue. There are times when flights can be affordable, but there are instances where without notice that families or relatives need to buy fares and they can often be expensive. Labor has and will continue to support Federal grant programs which help reduce the cost of airstrip maintenance for regional airports. This is a practical way of reducing aircraft landing fees which can be passed on as lower fares. Safety is a paramount concern for Labor in aviation. However Labor supports sensible reduction of unnecessary compliance costs for airlines, which can also be passed on to customers.

How do you plan to ensure the region continues to benefit from economic growth?

The electorate of Dawson attracts jobs in tourism and should continue to be a focus for the region. Labor will also support all businesses to make investments through our Australian Investment Guarantee.

Do you think bringing migrants to the region benefits the economy?

If we have the capacity to take the pressure off the big cities and invest in our regions this is something we should consider but it shouldn't come at the cost of the integrity of our visa system. I am all about local people getting local jobs.

In what ways can this region begin moving towards renewable energy?

Labor has said we will deliver 50 per cent of power from renewables by 2030, end the privatisation mess and better regulate power prices. This is a plan that delivers more jobs and is a real plan to address climate change which is hurting our Reef.

How can we boost tourism in this region?

The Great Barrier Reef is one of Dawson's biggest assets and we should be making a bigger effort to conserve it. As I have said before, our reef means a health tourism industry and, importantly, more jobs in our region.

How can we improve the effectiveness of the NDIS?

There are around 77,000, Australians missing out on the NDIS because of delays in the rollout - this simply isn't good enough and is the consequence of the LNP's botched rollout of the NDIS.

The LNP has capped NDIA staff, starved the NDIS of money and deliberately caused delays.

A Shorten Labor Government has committed to lifting the LNP's staffing cap, to bringing down waiting times and delays and we will make the NDIS a real priority of government and seek to ensure changes are made for a better culture in the NDIA, provide a greater role for advocacy and more flexible planning processes. We will also work with the states to address gaps and provide a real workforce plan to attract the right people to the sector, this means more skilled locals supporting some of our most vulnerable people.

What do you believe are the key issues in the Dawson electorate?

My priority is to ensure our region gets its fair share. Only Labor has a plan to create secure jobs and ensure that every worker gets the same pay, under our 'Same Job, Same Pay' policy. I am committed to Stage 2 of the Mackay Ring Road, which is critical to our port access, making our roads safer and creating more local jobs. As a Mum, I know that our kids need a good, quality education - we'll invest over $23 million into our public schools in Dawson and restore the funding cuts from the Mackay hospital.

What measures would you introduce to help local small businesses prosper?

Small and medium businesses are pivotal to our economic prosperity. That's why under a Labor Government, 99 per cent of businesses will receive a tax cut, no business will have their tax rate increased, and all businesses will be able to plan and invest with confidence and certainty. We'll also deliver tax cuts for small and medium businesses, delivering certainty to the sector in a fiscally responsible way. Under Labor, small and medium-sized businesses with a turnover of up to $50 million a year will have their tax rate reduced to 25 per cent by 2021-22. I know that investing in great, local opportunities like the Great Barrier Reef Arena at Harrup Park is fundamental to the Mackay region. We've committed $10 million for this project, creating local jobs and putting our region on the map as a #1 sporting and entertainment destination. Providing our small businesses with skilled employees is also critical to this sector. Under the Federal LNP government, we've seen 1,594 local apprentice positions lost in Dawson since 2013, putting a strain on small businesses finding skilled workers to take on a job vacancy.

How would you drive growth throughout our regional towns?

Under the current LNP Morrison government, our NBN is in the dark ages, resulting in widespread delays and issues with the infrastructure rollout. We simply cannot drive growth throughout our regional towns without an operational, affordable and reliable connection to the NBN. Labor is calling for Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) at a minimum, instead of Fibre to the Node (FTTN), in the areas where that remains feasible, to provide businesses with a faster connection. Tourism also plays a vital role in boosting our local economy and supporting our small businesses. It's disappointing to see that the Federal Morrison government were very slow to act on post Cyclone Debbie recovery, who have only just recently matched Labor's commitment to help rebuild the Proserpine Entertainment Centre. This is 2 years late. Over the coming years, the tourism sector will be a key driver of economic growth and well-paid jobs. We'll inject $1 billion into new tourism infrastructure through the Northern Australia Tourism Infrastructure Fund, giving our regional towns the opportunity to tap into boosting partnerships with the tourism sector and to provide incentives to business for investment in new and upgraded tourism infrastructure. Our region's backyard includes the Great Barrier Reef and pristine national parks - I will work hard to ensure that the overseas tourism market has our region as their number one destination.

How would you tackle the region's skills shortage?

My experience as a small business manager and employer has given me the skills to bring people together to achieve outcomes. It's critical that we invest in skills and training. In this week's Federal budget, we saw the Federal LNP government's ever diminishing Skilling Australians Fund has been cut by a further $649 million. According to the Budget papers, the 300,000 projected apprentices and trainees the Fund was originally scheduled to deliver, has now been cut to just 80,000. The reality is the LNP Government has done absolutely nothing to address the 140,000 decline in apprenticeships or the 24.5 per cent drop in TAFE enrolments on their watch. A Shorten Labor government will guarantee at least two out of three public vocational education dollars go to TAFE. We'll also deliver a fair go for VET students by waiving upfront fees for 100,000 students to attend TAFE and ensuring one in every 10 jobs on Commonwealth priority projects are filled by Australian apprentices.

What skills do you have that make you the right candidate for Dawson?

As a 5th generation local, I've seen first hand that our region has been doing it tough. My experience working with some of the most vulnerable people in our local community has given me the empathy and compassion, and a strong determination to make positive changes in people's lives. Our healthcare system isn't coping with the lack of bulk billing services in our community and we're experiencing deep cuts to our hospitals. Working with my team in the small business sector, I know how important it is to have the right skilled workers for the right job - we've been let down by the Federal LNP government, putting our region's skill shortage last on their list. Right now we need a representative who stands up for us in Canberra and delivers for our tourism, agricultural, mining and business sector. I have a proven record of working hard for our community, and the determination to be your genuine voice in Canberra.

What plans do you have to better support small business?

As a small business manager, I understand the financial pressures many face. That's why Labor has a Business Investment Guarantee which means that Australian businesses will be able to immediately deduct 20 per cent of any new eligible asset worth more than $20,000. No business will have their tax rate increased. We will deliver the same tax relief for small business as the LNP, just without all the cuts to schools and hospitals.

 How would you fix the problems in the aged care sector?

After five years, three Ministers and years of cuts this Government called a Royal Commission into Aged Care.
The Royal Commission is under way and Bill Shorten has said there are several things we need to do to reform Aged Care and we don't need to wait for the Royal Commission.  We need to provide better training and we need to find more staff. Staffing ratios are an issue and it's a conversation we need to be having when it comes to Aged Care.
Labor is the party of aged care reform and older Australians can be assured we will always do better for older Australians in residential aged care and those waiting for care at home.
There are 128,000 people waiting for home care packages because of the Liberals' neglect. And the Liberals have cut almost $2 billion from residential aged care. Scott Morrison and the Liberals have not done enough to fix the crisis in our aged care system. They have been too distracted by dysfunction and division.

What strategies would you implement to boost employment locally? Especially youth unemployment?

I see far too many young people leave our region because they can't secure a permanent job. It shouldn't come as any surprise considering since the LNP came to office, they slashed more than $3 billion from vocational education and there are 150,000 fewer apprentices and trainees in Australia. Dawson needs greater investment in education and training and only Labor will commit more than $1 billion in additional TAFE investment. We will also crack down on dodgy labour hire, because we believe if you are doing the same job, you should get the same pay.
 

Please explain your approach towards taxation? Where would you cut or impose taxes?

I believe in bigger, better and fairer tax cuts for the millions of working Australians. With Labor, working and middle-class Australians will pay less tax - because a tax cut for families is more important than an $80 billion tax giveaway to big business and the banks. The LNP will give you a smaller tax cut while cutting your schools and hospitals. We will close some of the loopholes exploited by multinationals and the top end of town to give Dawson a fairer tax system. The difference could not be starker. 

Which federal  roads are your priorities to be upgraded? Why?

As somebody who travels extensively around the electorate, I know the sad state our roads are in. The current member has had nine years to 'fix the Bruce' but has delivered nothing. Just last week I announced a Labor government will invest $21 million in the Burdekin River Bridge Rehabilitation Program as part of the Bruce Highway Upgrade. Labor will also invest $280 million to deliver the second stage of the Mackay Ring Road, vital to region's on-going economic development.