Today the Northern Australia Development Program (NADP) has opened for applications and I am very happy to announce that these grant streams will provide between $50,000 and $10 million to businesses who want to develop and transform the north and create more jobs.

I am calling on locals to come forward with suggestions of any rural roads that are unsealed and unsafe as they may be eligible for funding under the new $150 million Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program.

A popular grants program which provides funding of up to $20,000 for small community groups is now open for applications.

The Stronger Communities Programme, which has been offered by the Morrison Joyce Liberal National Government for the past six years, provides funding of between $2,500 and $20,000 for not-for-profit groups to undertake small capital works projects.

There are so many community organisations throughout the electorate who have benefitted from earlier rounds of the Stronger Communities Programme, including junior and senior sporting clubs, childcare centres, our volunteer marine rescue services, rehab centres and churches to name just a few of the types of those who have received funding.

The grass will be greener at Proserpine Golf Club thanks to a $145,000 grant from the Liberal and Nationals Government which will enable the club to complete the irrigation of the entire course, making it playable all year round.

Hospitals are full despite the lack of COVID-19 cases, nurses face being sacked if they don’t get vaccinated and preparation measures appear to be minimal.

Given that we are now almost 18 months down the track, what has the Queensland Labor Government done to prepare for COVID-19 coming into the community?

Farmers in the Mackay Region can now apply for a share of $13 million in Australian Government Smart Farms Small Grants funding for activities to assist them in improving their understanding and management of their soil.

The Liberal and Nationals Government will relocate the North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority (NQWIA) to Bowen in north Queensland, delivering an economic boost to the region and kicking off a vision to move water west to deliver unprecedented growth and prosperity.

Customers in Eimeo, Bucasia and Rural View in Mackay’s Northern Beaches are set to have access to ultrafast broadband following NBN Co’s announcement of the latest tranche of suburbs and towns across Australia that will become eligible to upgrade to NBN’s Fibre to the Premises (FTTP).

MANUFACTURERS across the region can now apply for a share of $800 million in funding for major job creating projects under the Morrison Joyce Government’s $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

Funding of between $20 million and $200 million is available, covering up to 33 per cent of eligible project expenditure.