An alliance of 35 community organisations that represent 1.7 million Queenslanders will meet with Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington this week to encourage her to support stimulus measures that create good, secure jobs for vulnerable workers and invest in the public services that have helped Queenslanders through the Covid-19 crisis.
The Queensland Community Alliance, whose membership includes churches, mosques, other faith groups, trade unions, community groups and ethnic associations, will ask the Opposition Leader to back its 'Maroonprint' (Queenslanders don't need a 'blueprint'!).
The Maroonprint calls for Queensland's political leaders to:
- Direct stimulus spending towards good secure jobs, targeted to vulnerable small businesses and vulnerable workers.
- Invest in the public services that have supported Queenslanders through the crisis.
- Create jobs and industries in climate solutions so Queensland does its fair share.
- Strengthen Queensland's rural and regional communities.
- Build the community infrastructure of the 21st Century across Queensland.
- Develop a new strategy for addressing social isolation and loneliness.
- Ensure new Queenslanders from migrant communities are welcomed and supported.
- Establish a commission with broad community representation.
- Ensure new legislative and police powers are reviewed in a transparent way.
"As we recover from the ongoing coronavirus crisis there has never been a more important time to choose a path for Queensland that creates good jobs, helps tackle the climate crisis and creates a fairer, healthier and more resilient state," said Jason Lyddieth from the Australian Conservation Foundation.
"We have a chance to have a clear path for Queenslanders as we recover from Covid-19 - the Maroonprint is the first step for a fair way out for all Queenslanders, said Cresta Richardson, Vice President of the Queensland Teachers Union and co-chair of the Maroonprint Assembly.
"The pandemic has had a profound impact upon our state; we call on the Leader of the Opposition to do whatever is necessary to look after Queenslanders - this includes strengthening rural communities and focusing on secure jobs, targeting vulnerable small business and vulnerable workers," said Rev David Barker, Moderator of the Uniting Church in Queensland.
"The Maroonprint represents the voice of the grassroots and those who're hardly heard of, and some of the most vulnerable and socially isolated members of our communities with difficulties engaging with and understanding the system," said Beny Bol, President of the Queensland African Community Council and co-chair of the Maroonprint Assembly.
