THIS weekend marks one year since the LNP swept into power in Queensland.
Redlands and Bayside MPs are sharply divided over the Government’s first 12 months in office – with LNP members praising “a fresh start” and their Labor counterparts accusing the new administration of being “all spin and no substance”.
For Redlands MP Rebecca Young, it’s been “a year of delivering for Redlands” and “an incredible learning experience” as a first-term MP.
“Every day I am humbled by the people, organisations, and businesses I meet who are motivated to join us in this fresh start and deliver a better Queensland for everyone,” she said.
Mrs Young said her key focus had been on safer communities and proper planning, citing achievements such as “permanent Jack’s Law”, more police, the 50 per cent Southern Moreton Bay Islands vehicle ferry subsidy, and funding for a multi-storey car park at Weinam Creek.
She said she had also “fought to move that project into Economic Development Queensland so locals finally get a properly planned facility” and worked with the Deputy Premier to halt “Labor’s Broadwater Terrace SFD approval” which she said ignored the Redland Bay community.
Looking ahead, Mrs Young said her priorities included starting construction on the Weinam Creek car park, improving Stage 2 of the Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd upgrade, and continuing to deliver “safer streets, better transport, and support for families”.
“I am constantly inspired by the people of Redlands,” she said.
“The Crisafulli Government is delivering the change people have longed for, and what you voted me in to achieve.”
For Oodgeroo MP Amanda Stoker, that message is grounded in local results.
She said community safety, access to health care and local infrastructure had all improved over the past year.
“A fresh start that is beginning to deliver a safer community,” she said, pointing to falling crime victim numbers, new health facilities at Redland Hospital and upgrades for sporting and community clubs.
Ms Stoker said she was particularly proud that “all my local election commitments have been funded in the first LNP budget”, describing that as “almost unprecedented”.
These included major upgrades to Redlands U3A, Redlands Cricket and Wellington Point Bowls Club and investments in CCTV to address hooning and anti-social behaviour in hotspots.
She said she had also worked to resolve long-
standing community issues, such as land tenure problems for the Straddie Arts and Pottery Club, which had dragged on for seven years.
While she acknowledged challenges ahead – including managing debt, addressing hooning and improving connectivity between the mainland and North Stradbroke Island – Ms Stoker said she remained optimistic.
“My focus has been and will continue to be making this community the very best place in Queensland in which to live, work, raise a family, start a business or retire,” she said.
Capalaba MP Russell Field said the LNP was “delivering the fresh start Queenslanders voted for” after “a decade of decline”.
He said all his election commitments had been funded in the first budget and that he was “proud to see the upcoming completion of the new amenities blocks at Birkdale South State School”.
Mr Field said his focus included resourcing police, improving transport and health access, and addressing hooning through a new online reporting portal.
“There are many issues across the Redlands region and Queensland that cannot be fixed overnight,” he said.
“But I believe our government is on the right track.”
He said he was “grateful for every day that I have the privilege of serving” and would “continue to fight on behalf of locals for the issues that matter to them”.
However, Labor MPs painted a starkly different picture of the situation.
Springwood MP Mick de Brenni accused the Government of breaking election promises, saying the LNP had “failed” to ease cost-of-living pressures, fix housing, improve health, or reduce youth crime.
“In our neighbourhood, we now have a government that cares more about the colour of the coat of arms than services that matter to locals,” he said.
Mr de Brenni said Labor had successfully fought for the reinstatement of $200 kids’ sports vouchers but warned that “cost of living will continue to impact locals” under the LNP.
“I’ve always believed in putting people before politics, and I’ll continue to fight to make sure Mount Cotton and Sheldon get the attention and investment you deserve,” he said.
Lytton MP Joan Pease was even more scathing, describing the Crisafulli Government as “all spin and no substance”.
“The Premier has been scared of his own shadow in their first year,” she said.
“The LNP’s best measures in their last Budget were the ones they kept from Labor – like $200 kids’ sports vouchers and 50 cent fares.
“But they cut the $1000 energy cost-of-living relief.”
She said her electorate had been largely overlooked, apart from funding for Wynnum Community Place which she said came only “after I had to write to the Premier multiple times”.
Ms Pease warned of “drastic population growth coming to the Bayside” without corresponding investment in infrastructure, and called for expanded health services at Gundu Pa Community Health.
“It’s not good enough that Baysiders have to travel 30 minutes to Redlands Hospital or the PA to get access to a dialysis machine,” she said.
As the Crisafulli Government moves into its second year, Queensland’s political landscape clearly remains sharply divided.
