Help for young parents in Mackay and Townsville
Disadvantaged parents of young children in Townsville and Mackay will soon have access to the training and support they need to become work ready, thanks to the Liberal National Government’s decision to expand the successful ParentsNext program.The best form of welfare is a job and we are focused on helping more parents of young children into work and off welfare.After successful pilots, the Government is rolling out ParentsNext nationally, to connect more parents of young children with personalised support to improve their work readiness by the time their children start school.20 new locations have been selected for the next rollout of this program, and both Townsville and Mackay are included.
$15 million for cyclone community recovery
THE announcement of almost $15 million in Category C community recovery funding for Local Government Areas (LGAs) including Mackay, Whitsunday, Isaac and Rockhampton is a sensible support step for those who have been adversely affected by Cyclone Debbie.This further level of Category C Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) funding provides for such initiatives as a personal support program to provide counselling for those experiencing personal and emotional difficulties, and financial counselling for those adjusting to changed financial circumstances.Another important element of this additional funding will be the provision of specialist mental health services and support for those experiencing severe distress and mental health disorders.It can be particularly appropriate for those with existing mental health problems (including children), and for emergency responders.
Surf club election pledge takes shape
WORK to fulfill an election commitment to the Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club will soon get under way, with the end result of an upgraded premises with a dedicated first aid room and training facility.I was happy to make the commitment in June last year that a re-elected Liberal National Government would provide $100,000 for this upgrade.The club's president Bill Landsbury and vice president Duncan Sanderson told me they hope to have it up and running by the end of April.
Push to keep aqua park afloat
Aqua Fun Park Mackay at Andergrove is a enterprising venture which not only boosts Mackay’s tourism offering but provides much-needed jobs for youth. It is in danger of being lost to the region and I'm keen to see what I can do to help.A government handout is not appropriate for a private business but if a not-for-profit organisation acquired equipment as a community asset and leased it out to a business to manage, that may be a viable solution.Operators Amanda Pelagalli and Kirk Langford have told me they lease their inflatable water park equipment and it will not be available to them next summer. So they need to buy their own equipment.This is a community-based tourism facility which helps Mackay to diversify and provide more reasons for visitation. Importantly it also provides casual employment for as many as 50 young people in our city, at a time when jobs for our kids are hard to find.
Weather ‘in the lap of the robots’ in 5 months
MACKAY’S weather service will be in the lap of the robots after August, following the Bureau of Meteorology’s decision to automate the local office and cut all staff.Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, this week confirmed Mackay’s Bureau of Meteorology office would move to full automation after August and that the equipment would be monitored and serviced by staff based in the Bureau’s Cairns Activity Hub.Staff members at Mackay’s office will be given the opportunity to be sent to another office.I will continue negotiations with the minister to overturn or delay the decision to axe staff from the Mackay office and I'm asking you to lend your support by signing my online petition.Removing staff from Mackay after August (and then from Townsville as well) will leave no technicians near any BOM facility along a 1700km stretch of the Queensland coastline.
PM to take tea with community
REPRESENTATIVES from Mackay’s community organisations are invited to meet with the Prime Minister at a special afternoon tea in Mackay on Monday afternoon.They will join the city’s civic and business leaders at the event, and I want to ensure that as many community groups as possible are represented.My office has contacted the vast majority of community groups and we’ve had a huge response. But I’d like to extend the invitation to other community group representatives who would like to take the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister.
Heywire winner proud to call Mackay home
IT was a pleasure to catch up with the busy and talented Claire Kelly at Parliament House today when she attended the ABC Heywire Regional Youth Summit.17-year-old Ms Kelly was the Mackay winner of the Heywire competition, which provides an opportunity for young people in rural and regional communities to share their stories.Claire was also recently named the Mackay Young Citizen of the Year.
Centre to cater for more medicos
A plan to create an expanded medical facility in Mackay’s city centre will provide space for teaching medical students and GPs.I congratulate One Stop Medical Centre’s owner Dr Rachel Bidgood, who has been successful in her application for a Rural and Regional Teaching Infrastructure Grant (RRTIG).This $300,000 of Federal Government funding will ultimately provide better health outcomes for the people of Mackay.Dr Bidgood plans an extension consisting of five consultation rooms, a training room, library, treatment room and two rooms for visiting specialists.