The Budget Banana – Increase in $1.1bn transport charge is a split too far

ON BEHALF OF HON BOB KATTER MP | FEDERAL MEMBER FOR KENNEDY

AUSTRALIANS will be slugged with a hidden increase to the cost of their fruit, vegetables and most goods with the Federal Government’s plan to raise an additional $1.1bn through the Heavy Vehicle Road User charge.

Kennedy MP Bob Katter warns that the proposal for an 18 per cent increase in the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to balance the 2023-24 Federal Budget will cause significant price increases of goods throughout Australia but particularly in the North.

“Unless transport companies, farmers or small businesses can afford this burden, we will all have to pay the price at the checkout.”

Mr Katter said one transport company he’d spoken to in North Queensland considered this proposed budget measure would increase its annual costs by $461,000.

“Transport companies cannot, and will not, afford this cost and will have to pass on the charges to their customers – farmers and small businesses.”

As indicated by the banana graphicthe return that an Australian farmer can get for their produce is generally split to 50 per cent wages, a further 49 per cent to cover transport, fertiliser, packaging, and farm maintenance with only 1 per cent remaining for the farming family.

Mr Katter said a 6 per cent increase in transport costs per year over three years would not only increase transport costs for farms but also increase the transportrelated fertiliser and packaging costs –leaving nothing for the farming families.

“Either the consumer pays more for Australian fruit and vegetables or farmers walk off the land and small business will shut.”

“Something must give, either government reverses this insidious charge, or transport companies, farmers and small business go bust, or we all pay more at the checkout.

“The headline cost-of-living budget measure, the $500 in relief to our hip pocket will last less than a week – what about the other 51 weeks?

“We are in a cost-of-living crisis, we need a government with an understanding of the implications of its decisions and the gumption to make real and tangle decisions that will assist all Australians.”

Online Auction

WEDNESDAY 24 MAY

On instructions from Govt Depts, Administrators, QLD Police & Private Vendors

LIVE ONLINE AUCTION - 9AM START

GENERAL GOODS & CHATTELS

VEHICLES, ATV, PIG TRAILERS, WACKER NEUSON RD 16 ROLLER, ENCLOSED DIESEL GENERATOR, FLOOR SCRUBBER, 75/55/50” TELEVISIONS, DELL MICRO PC’S, SATELLITE PHONE, YEALINK FLAGSHIP SMART VIDEO PHONES, MOWERS, OFFICE DESKS & CHAIRS, TIMBER FURNITURE, BEDSIDE TABLES, AMERICAN SPINDLE BACK CHAIRS, TOOLS & HARDWARE, COLLECTABLES & JEWELLERY

VIEWING TUESDAY 23 MAY 9AM - 6PM AT 401 SHERIDAN STREET, CAIRNS NORTH

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11.5km to Kurrimine Beach and Boat Ramp

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Position Vacant

Flegler Group – Tully Gorge Road

Tractor operator wanted.

Experience with grass spraying and tractor maintenance will be an advantage. Immediate start.

Phone Peter on 0439 737 656.

Jacobsen, Brian Rex

Late of Cardwell, passed away peacefully and unexpectedly at Oz Care Malanda on the 11th May 2023 aged 83 years.

Adored husband and best friend of Dawn, much loved father of Russ and Paul, beloved grandfather of Luke and Bella. Brian will be greatly missed by his Cardwell community.

Family and friends of Brian are respectfully invited to attend his funeral service which will be held graveside at Cardwell Cemetery on Tuesday, 23rd May commencing at 11:30 am.

GUILFOYLE FUNERAL SERVICES

ATHERTON PH: 40 912147

President, Cosimo Tedesco, and the Three Saints Committee would like to express their sincere gratitude for the support provided by devotees, members, volunteers that helped to make the 73rd Feast of the three Saints such a success.

Thank you to the members and volunteers who contributed time and energy to prepare for and organise the feast for 2023.

Thank you to all our sponsors for their ongoing support and sponsorship of the Feast of the Three Saints this year and in previous years. We look forward to your continued support over the coming years.

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Church times across the region

AOG / ACC / Churches of Christ Baptist Family Centre Innisfail, 9:30am, Sun, 12 Tierney St, Innisfail Estate

6:30pm, Sun, Ladies Church Tully Baptist Church, 10am, Sun, 6 Plumb Street, Tully Cardwell Baptist Church, 11am, Sun, Bruce Highway, Cardwell Sugar Reef Baptist Church, 9:30am, S, “The Knightclub” 38 Herbert St, Ingham Baptist Independent, 11am, Sun, 77 Halifax Rd, Ingham

Uniting

Catholic Churches

St Rita’s Babinda, 7am, Sun, 15 Church St, Babinda

Mother of Good Counsel, 6:30pm Sat Vigil, 9am, Sun, 90 Rankin St, Innisfail

Our Lady of Fatima, 10am, Sun, 32 Glasgow Street, El Arish, St John the Evangelist, 6pm, Sat, 4 Harold Street, Silkwood, St Rita’s South Johnstone, 7am, 1st, 3rd & 5th/month, 5 Green Street, South Johnstone

Christ the King, 7am, 2nd & 4th/month, 10 Harbour Road, Mourilyan Holy Spirit, Mission Beach 7am Sun, 12 Webb Rd, Wongaling Beach

St Clare of Montefalco

Church, 6pm Vigil Mass, Sat 9am, Sun, 13 Mars St, Tully

Our Lady Star of the Sea, 5pm Sun (except 1st Sunday), 121 Victoria St, Cardwell Ingham Region Catholic

Parishes:

St Patrick’s, 8:30am, Sunday, 18 Abbott Street, Ingham

St Peter’s, 7am, Sunday, 10 Scott Street, Halifax, Canossa Chapel, 10am, Sunday, St Teresa’s College / 3819 Abergowrie Rd

St Teresa’s, Trebonne, 10am

Seventh Day Adventist

Seventh Day Adventist Innisfail, 10:30am, Sat ,Bible Study, 11am, Sat, 114 Lawrence Road, Bamboo Creek Tully Seventh Day Adventist Church, Sat 9:30am Sabbath School, Sat 11am, 1 Edward St, Tully

Cassowary Coast Uniting Churchs: Innisfail, 10.30am, Sun, 8 Scullen Ave, Mighell, Innisfail Mission Beach, 8am, Sun, 2224 Tully-Mission Beach Rd, Mission Beach, Tully Tongan Uniting, 9am, Sun, 16 Mcquillan st,Tully, Ingham District Uniting Churches: Ingham, 10am, Sun 16 Herbert St, Ingham Halifax, 8am, Sun 12 Anderssen St, Halifax Blue Haven Lodge, Ingham, 11am (2nd & 4th Tues)

Lutheran

St Marks Lutheran Church, 9am, Sun, 34 Townsville Road, Ingham Non-denominational

Empower Church Innisfail, 10am, Sun, 191-193 Mourilyan Rd, South Innisfail

Anglican Churches

St Albans Anglican Church, 9am, Sun, 83 Rankin Street, Innisfail St John Anglican Church, 5pm, Sat, 2 Black Street, Tully John Oliver Feetham Pioneer Memorial 11am, Sun, 45 Bruce Highway, Cardwell St John Anglican Church, 3pm, 3rd Sun of month, Motel Chapel, Kurrimine Beach Holy Trinity (Ingham) 6pm Saturday Service. 9am, Sunday. 37 McIlwraith Street, Ingham All Souls, 7.30am, Sun, 10 Four Mile Road, Victoria Estate