I hope you were able to enjoy the Christmas season, perhaps catching up with family and friends or taking some time out from the day-to-day. Thank you to everybody who worked across the festive season to keep our essential services running – especially in our health system and our police. A new year is often time to ‘clear the decks’ and also to re-focus on goals. Reflecting over the past couple of weeks,
I have (again) come to the conclusion that we are all very lucky to live in Australia, particularly considering the challenges facing many other parts of the world. As a nation and here in Queensland, it's important to get the balance right to ensure our ongoing security and prosperity, while also adapting to changes – some changes that we choose, and some changes that are unavoidable in the world we live in.

It's an honour and privilege every day to be your representative in Queensland Parliament. I do my best to be your advocate – on issues affecting individuals and those affecting the whole community. I try to be someone who goes out and fixes problems and lobbies the government to improve and increase resources in our local areas. It helps that there are many local people who love this community, and who are willing to work with me and others in representative roles, in fighting for our region – when we lobby for things together, and have a united front, we can achieve more.
To all in the Scenic Rim Electorate – thank you, and here’s to a happy and prosperous 2023.

Youth Justice and Health
I have written in this column many times about how the LNP is holding the Government to account for its failures in the health system and offering alternatives – I will continue to do so. The Government’s failures in the youth justice system, sadly, have provided all of Queensland with tragic examples over the Christmas period, with the tragic death of Emma Lovell in North Lakes. It is not the first example though, and the LNP will continue to make its case for changes to the youth system to ensure there are consequence for youth offenders and community safety is put first. Right now, neither occurs.

DV Safe Phone Drop Box Location
My office is now a Domestic Violence Phone Drop location. DV Safe Phone is an Australia-wide network of organisations helping victims of domestic violence. The program works to connect donated mobile phones to those who need them most. This program also helps to reduce e-waste by recycling and repurposing unwanted phones. Any phones are accepted, including ones with broken screens or other impairments. If your phone is an iPhone, be sure to remove iCloud before donating. 

If you have a phone to donate, you can now drop it off at my office: 91 Brisbane Street, Beaudesert QLD 4285. For more information and to find the nearest drop box location to you visit: dvsafephone.org/donate-phones