A WORD WITH WILLCOX

OPINION

COALITION ANNOUNCES THE COST TO GO NUCLEAR
 
The Coalition’s nuclear power plan will cost up to $263 billion less than Labor’s renewable rollout between now and 2050, translating into cheaper electricity over the long run.
 
The costings, conducted by Frontier Economics and on Friday by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, estimates the capital and operating costs of the Coalition’s policy to deliver net zero emissions electricity by 2050 will be $331 billion.
 
The long-term plan will provide reliable, consistent and cheaper energy to return Australia to an industrial and manufacturing powerhouse. As coal-fired plants close, the Coalition plans to replace them with zero-emissions nuclear energy, to work alongside renewables and gas to power industry.
 
“Advanced economies worldwide are expanding nuclear programs to meet their energy and emissions goals, and Australia must not be left behind,” Mr Dutton said.
 
Anthony Albanese promised Australians a $275 cut to their power bills, but instead, families are paying up to $1,000 more under Labor’s costly and chaotic energy policies.
 
Labor’s ‘renewables-only’ experiment is costing Australians five times more than originally promised, driving energy prices higher and small businesses to the brink.
 
“We need an energy mix and need baseload power available 24/7. We cannot be reliant on intermittent unreliable wind and solar that only works when the sun is shining and when the wind blows,” Mr Willcox said.
 
If elected, the Coalition, which wants to build the plants on the existing sites of coal-fired power stations to make use of the transmission infrastructure, will conduct feasibility studies and a community consultation process with the aim of settling the sites for the first two plants within two years.
 
CALLS TO IMPROVE MOBILE BLACKSPOTS
It’s been no surprise that my electorate of Dawson has been plagued with bad mobile blackspots which is a real concern, especially emergency, work-related requirements or just to keep in contact with loved ones.
Residents have reported blackspots in Glenella, Cannon Valley, Bowen, Bucasia and other suburbs and more needs to be done to address this issue.
The Federal Government decided only last week to open round 8 of submissions which is a joke considering how close it is to Christmas. Again, this is a last-minute rushed plan that doesn’t benefit anyone but the Labor Government to get more votes ahead of an upcoming election.
“I am calling on the Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland to come to Dawson, travel through the electorate and see how hard it is to make a call,” Mr Willcox said.
“I would try to ring Minister Rowland from one of these locations to express my concerns, but the problem is I would struggle to get a signal to make the call.
“Enough is enough. I’ve said it before and I will say it again people talk about blackspots but in my electorate, there are areas where there are no spots at all.”
I encourage those impacted to report a blackspot on my website or email my office andrew.willcox.MP@aph.gov.au by December 20, 2024.

Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox highlights mobile blackspot issues in Dawson, urging residents to report problem areas and calling on the Federal Government for urgent action

COALITION’S NEW HOUSING POLICY
 
Regional Australia will receive its fair share of the Coalition’s $5 billion home-building plan, with a target of 30 per cent of the funding to be invested to unlock new homes in regional, rural and remote Australia.
 
The future Coalition Government would set an ambitious target of 30 percent of the $5 billion Housing Infrastructure Programme for investing in the regions, benefiting areas such as Dawson.
 
“Under Labor, Australia is facing a housing crisis and the great Australian dream of owning a home has never felt further out of reach,” Mr Willcox said.
A Coalition Government will also free up more than 100,000 homes by:
   • Reducing migration numbers, compared to Labor which has brought in more than one million migrants in their first two years in office.
   • Putting a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes.
   • Working with the building and construction industry and bringing in people on skilled visas to support local tradies.
   • Tackling union corruption that has contributed to driving up the costs of building by 30 percent.
   • Freezing further changes to the National Construction Code to ease red tape and compliance burdens for builders.
The shortage is impacting schools across Dawson trying to find teachers amid the housing crisis. At Mackay State High School alone there are 13 positions available for 2025, and two never filled in 2024, according to the Queensland Government jobs board.

Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox addresses the housing crisis, unveiling plans to unlock regional housing funds and tackle rising costs, benefiting areas like Dawson

ONGOING SUPPORT NEEDED FOR CANEGROWERS
             
It is no secret the sugar industry had its trials and tribulations across our region in 2024.
 
As I write this, some farmers are still struggling to get the cane off and the season looks to be extended into 2025.
 
There have been some milling issues and now the wet season has arrived.
 
As I travel the electorate and meet with cane farmers and industry lobbying groups, the biggest cost to growers continues to be electricity. This is going to be a huge factor in the next Federal election, and one I will be ensuring the Coalition has a solution that actually sees prices going down.
 
We are in a cost-of-living crisis and we should not be accepting that everything just continues to increase. 
 
I would like to take this opportunity to pass on my most sincere condolences to the families, friends and work mates of those who lost their life this year in our region. Everyone deserves to go work and return home safe, and I trust these accidents are being investigated.
 
We need to remain steadfast in that this region is the sugar bowl of Australia and to ensure that remains, means we need to work together.
 
We need to iron out the root cause of some of the issues and find solutions.
 
I am here to work with the industry and take to government solutions that will get us back to being the world’s best in growing, harvesting, and milling.

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