Federation Chamber
Monday 31 August 2020

This afternoon I wish to draw to the attention of the parliament the issue of illegal dumping of rubbish and cancelled kerbside collection services thanks to an outrageous decision by the LNP Brisbane City Council. Residents of the Centenary Suburbs in the Jamboree Ward and the Forest Lake Ward—where I live—including Inala, Forrest Lake, Doolandella, Richlands and parts of Ellen Grove, come within the Oxley electorate. Residents have been let down, through a lack of care and value, by the lord mayor and by the local councillor responsible for this decision, LNP Councillor Kim Marx. Adrian Schrinner cancelled the annual free kerbside collection for 2019-20 without any justification. Because of this, our community has experienced an increase in illegal dumping, and residents are dissatisfied with the Good Neighbour Clean-up Scheme. Forrest Lake Ward residents will miss out on a total of three collection services. This is another unfair cut to our community.

Brisbane City Council's profile indicates that 11.3 per cent of residents are 65-plus and older, which means that an estimated 88.7 per cent are unable to benefit from the Good Neighbour Clean-up Scheme. The Good Neighbour Clean-up Scheme helps Brisbane's most vulnerable and elderly residents to remove unwanted goods from their home. So far the petition run by Councillor Charles Strunk has over 600 signatures. I call on the LNP council to reinstate this service, reverse these mean and unfair cuts and start delivering for the ratepayers of Brisbane to help keep our city clean and green.