Water tariff reduction needed to help cane farmers

A 25 per cent reduction in State Government water tariffs for farmers could boost Queensland’s economy by as much as $220 million over the next four years, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Mr Dametto said while Labor was preoccupied with Queensland hosting the AFL Grand Final, the benefits of such an event were “short-sighted” when […] READ MORE

Cane lobby groups go soft on Labor’s Reef regs

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has labelled sugar cane lobby groups “asleep at the wheel” for having so far failed to acknowledge a Katter’s Australian Party Bill that will repeal Labor’s farm destroying reef regulations. Mr Dametto accepted Canegrowers had come out in a recent media statement endorsing an LNP commitment for a “review” into the […] READ MORE

Police petition demands fast-tracked response

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has called on the State Government to fast-track their response to a parliamentary e-petition that would give proper recognition to police officers who have died by suicide after it was tabled this morning. Mr Dametto said with the government going into caretaker mode on October 6, Police Minister Mark Ryan should […] READ MORE

Foreign contractors suck up taxpayers’ money

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto says Australians should be “absolutely appalled” by the conduct of State and Federal governments in allowing foreign-owned multinationals to profiteer off the majority of big-ticket projects while Australian companies suffer. Mr Dametto said figures from lobby group Australian Owned Contractors (AOC), which revealed nearly 80 per cent of large public infrastructure […] READ MORE

Urgent review needed after Detention Centre allegations

THE Department of Youth Justice needs to undertake an urgent review of operations at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre to better protect staff being abused, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Mr Dametto said he was shocked by allegations made in media today that family members of officers injured by inmates at the Centre were being called […] READ MORE

Vision-impaired gain access to parking permits

VISION-impaired Queenslanders now have the ability to apply for a disability parking permit from today, after a mammoth lobbying effort to change the legislation. Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said he was thrilled the “final hurdle had now been cleared” after the passing of a key Bill in parliament in July which paved the way. “Thanks […] READ MORE

Minister shifts blame on COVID fines

POLICE Minister Mark Ryan has palmed off responsibility for the failure to issue mass gathering fines at protests, in response to a parliamentary e-petition by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Mr Dametto was left unimpressed by the Minister’s response to his petition, which called on the House to revoke or refund fines handed to Queenslanders who […] READ MORE

Understaffed detention centre a recipe for riots

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto fears a riot could break out amongst juveniles at Townsville’s Cleveland Youth Detention Centre with staff being called away to assist their counterparts in Brisbane. Mr Dametto said he was “alarmed” at reports today that 15 staff at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre had been called away to help at Wacol’s Brisbane […] READ MORE

High alert after south-east COVID transmission spike

THE State Government needs to put a contingency plan in place to prevent a growing cluster of COVID-19 cases in south-east Queensland from spreading north, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Mr Dametto said North Queenslanders were “extremely concerned” about the cluster linked to the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre, which had added to the total number […] READ MORE

LNP ‘clueless’ on economic recovery

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has labelled the LNP’s proposal to create a new agency to lead Queensland’s economy recovery post COVID-19 as “a waste of taxpayer dollars”. Mr Dametto said there was no need for such an agency with existing government departments capable of doing the job with direction from the government of the day. […] READ MORE