Last Monday, Queensland Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne visited Tamborine Mountain to connect with locals and hear firsthand about the issues impacting the community. The visit began with a casual gathering at Mountain Brew Café, where residents shared their concerns.
Topics brought up were the rising cost of living, the difficulty of accessing a GP, and the need for better mental health services.
Senator Allman-Payne spoke about the Greens’ push to include dental and mental health care under Medicare, as well as their goal to restore free GP visits for everyone. Locals expressed strong support for these changes, reflecting the everyday challenges they face in accessing essential care.
After the café meet-up, Senator Allman-Payne toured a few local businesses to see how they had recovered from the recent cyclone. At Pet Food Dude, owner Robyn described how the power outages caused the loss of refrigerated stock.
The visit continued with a stop at Peddly Picnics, a new eco-friendly business offering e-bike hire for exploring the scenic mountain. The Senator was impressed by the sustainable tourism initiative.
To wrap up the morning, Senator Allman-Payne joined volunteers letterboxing in North Tamborine, spreading the word about the Greens’ community-focused policies. Her visit was a welcome opportunity for locals to voice their concerns and feel heard.
