Shorten talks it up
BILL Shorten can head into today’s Labor campaign launch with a slight skip in his step after winning the second leaders’ debate in Brisbane, albeit by a narrow margin.
Mr Shorten remained in the Queensland capital yesterday — as did Prime Minister Scott Morrison — taking in a visit to Australia Zoo after announcing a $1 billion package to protect the environment.
He said the funding would tackle the extinction crisis, cut single-use plastics, protect beaches and coastlines, clean up the nation’s rivers, double the number of indigenous rangers caring for country, and protect the Great Barrier Reef. It would also include a new National Environment Protection Authority.
“I just don’t want my children to come and see flora and fauna, I want their children to come and see it and future generations to see what makes Australia so special,” he said.
Mr Morrison spruiked a $100 million boost to hospital services in southeast Queensland, including a stand-alone urgent care service at Logan Hospital. He also pledged $400,000 in annual funding for the Canefields Clubhouse, an organisation that offers a psychosocial rehabilitation program for people experiencing mental illness.
Troy Brown, a board member of the clubhouse, told the Prime Minister the number of lives lost from suicide is more than double the road toll. Mr Morrison acknowledged the challenge, and spoke of his government’s increased funding for youth mental health services, including through Headspace centres. “There are just too many young people dying,” Mr Morrison said. The mood lightened as the leader, alongside his wife Jenny, took to a cake decorating table to have a crack at an activity performed at the clubhouse.
“Last Saturday we were shearing sheep, today we’re decorating cakes,” the Prime Minister beamed.