With the Omicron wave having reached its peak resulting in relaxation of some restrictions with more to come in coming weeks, it is still important to stay vigilant, as Covid is now part of our lives, with future waves and variants probable. However, as we have seen, changes to projections occur rapidly! In your Covid ‘toolkit’, handwashing, distancing and masks are recommended standards even when not mandated, and ATAGI recommends boosters to increase protection with Novavax vaccinations are available now.
My Parliamentary portfolio Committee, Legal Affairs and Safety has just completed the inquiry into serious vilification and hate crimes in QLD with the report available on Parliament’s website. It is shocking what has and is being perpetrated to our fellow human beings across communities and online. Contributing is a lack of understanding and empathy around differing cultures, beliefs, perspectives, and situations. Whilst we have an amazing and supportive community, I have seen creeping in during COVID, a lack of empathy on a range of matters. For our community to prosper, we all need to be prepared to listen and learn. Empathy for others with opposing viewpoints does not weaken you or your beliefs and has enormous benefits including decreasing divisions whether in your family or community! It is also one of the most important social contracts we can have with each other. Consider are you a contributor, bystander or changemaker when it comes to vilification?
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) is seeking your thoughts on a proposal to permanently reduce the speed limit from the Thomas Street boat ramp to the Noosa River mouth to six knots. Information and links to provide a submission are available at Noosa 360.
Congratulations to Community Benefit Fund Round 112 grant recipients including Noosa Bridge Club who will have facility upgrades and NICA/Friends of Kinaba who will have a boat, trailer and accessories to keep doing their fabulous work! The next round of the Community Benefit Fund Round is now open and closes on March 31. Unlike other rounds that have grants of up to $35,000 on offer, this ‘super round’ is providing grants of up to $100,000 to go towards projects that benefit local communities across the State. Go to www.justice.qld.gov.au/initiatives/community-grants for more guidelines and information.
To keep updated on the latest, head to Noosa 360 at https://www.sandybolton.com/noosa360/, subscribe to our monthly newsletter and join us on Facebook. As always, do not hesitate to contact our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au or 5319 3100.
Until next time, keep supporting our businesses and each other and increasing that invaluable empathy that is key to getting through those differences of opinion, and our most difficult of times.