Community & Business
13 October, 2023
Hamilton holds community consultation
Federal Member for Groom Garth Hamilton made a trip to the Oakey R.S.L. on Wednesday night (4th October) to hold a community consultation forum.
Around 20 people were in attendance at the meeting, which started with Mr Hamilton talking about the problems young people are facing with buying a house.
The Groom MP said a large population increase needed to be met with a plan to offer affordable housing to Australia’s existing population.
“With fertility rates the way they are, we’re relying on immigration to prevent a recession,” he said.
“We’re set to add another 1.5 million in the next five years.”
Those present at the forum asked about such issues as crime, cost of living, petrol, housing and healthcare.
A back-and-forth discussion ensued about the lack of options for retirees to downsize with some asking if the regulations on granny flats could be loosened.
Mr Hamilton said he did not want to spend much time talking about the Voice.
“I’ve had a gutful of it,” he said.
“I do not believe in giving different rights to different races.”
“I said it back in December before my party had released their position that I’d be voting no.”
Local crime was touched upon with the Groom MP saying he had touched base with Daniel and Natasha Reynard at TyreRight Oakey, following the break-in and theft of their vehicles earlier this year.
Mr Hamilton said he was putting a bill before the Parliament enabling the eSafety Commissioner to handle criminal material online in a similar way to cyberbullying.
He said too many juveniles were using social media to brag about and show off their criminal acts to others.
Local residents also asked questions about the inquiry into the Federal Government’s Response to Coronavirus and a reduction in the use of cash.
Mr Hamilton said he mostly used his card these days out of convenience.
“I admit I mostly use my card,” he said.
“But how much of it is what we make easy, and how much of it is (an) actual choice (not to use cash)?”
