Who should call North Queensland home?

21 APRIL 2017: Decentralising government can bring a lot of benefits if it is managed well so I'm asking North Queenslanders to help identify the best options and then I can lobby for North Queensland to be a beneficiary of the Liberal National Government’s decentralisation push.

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Sugar tax will cut jobs, not kilos

23 NOVEMBER 2016: A TAX on sugar will cut jobs but it won't obesity - and it will hurt people on low incomes the most. The Nanny State today launched a report from left-wing think tank, the Grattan Institute, called: Taxing Sugary Drinks: Recovering the Community Cost of Obesity.

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$55,000 boost for community groups

A small business incubator, a school and a long day care centre were all given a boost today with the announcement by Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen that almost $55,000 in Stronger Communities Programme grants had been approved.I joined Split Spaces general manager Jarryd Townson to congratulate him on his successful application.Jarryd is creating a business incubator here in Mackay called Split Spaces which will provide support services and collaboration for start-ups and small businesses, and I was happy to recommend his project for funding of $19,800 under the Stronger Communities Programme.This funding is just the beginning of the project for Mr Townson, but it will allow for the renovation and fit-out of a co-working space as well as provide some office equipment and kitchen facilities.

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$150,000 to keep Aqua Fun Park afloat

I've made the pledge today that a re-elected Coalition Government will provide $150,000 to Aqua Fun Park Mackay - which is a tourism attraction which also provides jobs for young people.The enterprising operation, which will be auspiced under the Not For Profit Trinity Youth and Community Services group, will now be able to purchase their own inflatable fun park equipment so they can keep operating.Operators Amanda Pelagalli and Kirk Langford approached me some months back because they were having trouble keeping their great tourism venture afloat, literally.

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$100,000 pledge for Eimeo SLSC

A small club which undertakes the big job of patrolling one of our region’s favourite beaches, Eimeo, was on the receiving end of some financial ‘first aid’ today with the announcement that a re-elected Liberal National Government will commit $100,000 for an to their facility.Everyone understands that our life saving clubs provide a vital service, and I salute their huge volunteer effort of training up young people who make sure our beaches are safe places to be.

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$28,400 grant for business to train up staff

SECURING a Liberal National Government Industry Skills Fund grant of more than $28,000 will enable Paget-based business Mackay Conveyor Equipment to train up employees in preparation for a diversified future.I paid the business a visit today and caught up with managing director Jason Kelly, who told me he wanted to upskill his staff so together they could work towards establishing a consistent flow of business.He said it came down to looking further afield to source work for his business which has traditionally provided parts and maintenance services to coal mines in the Bowen Basin.

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The fight for funds for our ‘chappies’

I will lead a backbench revolt against any decision to terminate funding for local school chaplains beyond 2018 if I have to, because I am concerned that it is not listed in the Budget's forward estimates.This is a programme I support personally through donations, and it will continue if I have my way.Education Minister Simon Birmingham has said that Federal funding for the School Chaplaincy Programme will continue until the end of the 2018 calendar year, as it was funded as a four year program from 2014. It will then be due for consideration ahead of the 2017-18 Budget.

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Children in region to benefit from Universal Access

An estimated 2000 children in the region will benefit from the Turnbull Government’s National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education.$840 million in federal funding will be available for quality preschool programmes across the country, and these benefits will be felt across the electorate.The National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education guarantees funding for 600 hours of quality preschool in the year before school, and includes a focus on lifting participation rates for children from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds in the region.

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Schools awarded for Reef work

CONGRATULATIONS go to Proserpine State School students as well as St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School students, who have both been awarded a $500 Ripples of Change grant for protecting their local environment and the health of the Great Barrier Reef.The awards encourage students to learn about and care for their local environments and promote real change in their communities.Proserpine and Mackay have a strong connection to the neighbouring Great Barrier Reef and the local students have an important role to play in its care for future generations.I’m proud to support the work of our Reef Guardian schools as it empowers our students to make a positive difference and gives them an opportunity to be involved in the local community.

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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.

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Minister’s Mackay visit to canvass ideas

29 JANUARY 2016: Mackay residents will provide direct input into a regional policy process when the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister visits Mackay. The Liberal National Government is formulating a policy that will set out a long-term vision for regional Australia and North Queensland will play a vital role in the process.

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New science/maths app on the way for pre-schoolers

A new app focused on encouraging an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is on its way for pre-schoolers in the region.Following the positive feedback from a trial using apps to teach pre-schoolers another language, the Turnbull Government will look to replicate that success with an app to inspire young Australians’ interest in science and technology as part of its Innovation and Science Agenda.The ELLA languages app had great feedback in its initial trial and I'm looking forward to the expansion in more locations.

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Region needs a ‘year of opportunity’ in 2016

27 NOVEMBER 2015: A dedicated agency tasked with job creation and industry development could make 2016 a year of opportunity for the greater Mackay region.

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