Member for Scenic Rim Jon Krause has hit out at the state government’s lack of action on the Canungra and Beechmont fires and has called on them to not make the same mistake with the western Scenic Rim fires.

“Unfortunately, the information I’ve come across shows that the Queensland Government has done pretty much nothing to gather information about producer losses from the Canungra and Beechmont district fires,” Mr Krause said. 

“Now is their chance to make things right there, and get on with the job of looking at losses suffered across the Scenic Rim Electorate as a whole at the first possible opportunity after the fires recede.”

He said the government needed to send people out to listen to the needs of those affected by the fire.

“So much agricultural and grazing land, and other farming businesses, have been affected by fires across different parts of the Scenic Rim Electorate – from Binna Burra to Rosevale and in between.

“Our communities are hurting, as a result of fire and drought, both farmers and others too, such is the links between the people on the land and the broader community in this region.

“I’m calling on the Government, through the Department of Agriculture, to ensure that these losses are assessed as soon as possible by departmental officers and all possible assistance offered.”

He said an influx of money into the affected communities was what was needed to get businesses back on their feet.

“I’ve listened to small businesses from Beechmont and Canungra to Boonah and Kalbar and I know they too are impacted by these bushfires, and the ongoing drought,” he said. 

“It means there’s less money going around the district – and the fires are still going too, making it hard for people to get back on their feet.”