Parliament

About 800 people sleep rough in Toowoomba each night, and across the state of Queensland a phenomenal 12,500 children don’t have a roof over their heads. Yet the federal government decides it can afford $65 billion in corporate tax cuts but won’t spend to end homelessness! In our rich nation, anyone without a home is a travesty. We need more social and affordable housing, mental health services, drug and alcohol rehab, a raise to Newstart, and free education including TAFE. Today I visited the wonderful people from Basement Soup Kitchen in Toowoomba who have founded a spin-off called 2nd Shot, an organisation changing lives through training and employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and others needing a leg up in Toowoomba. Their track record is so uplifting - everyone who has completed their 6 month course is no longer homeless, most have work, and two are now studying nursing at uni. It was so heartwarming to meet founders Tiff and Nat and the rest of their staff and volunteer crew who provide food, shelter, clothing, and a sense of community to vulnerable Toowoomba residents. Alyce Nelligan - Greens 4 Groom and I also got to meet the newest group of 2nd Shot trainees, all young people with hopes and dreams and a newfound sense of determination - I hope to go back and see them all at graduation in 6 months time!