Respite delivered at Mackay’s new David and Irie Dalrymple Home
Residents of Mackay who are living with a disability have access to new modern respite services following the completion of a purpose-built five-bedroom house which was officially opened today.The ‘David and Irie Dalrymple Home’ will make life easier by providing respite services for carers and families, enabling individuals to reside in assisted living for up to three months at a time.There is an unmet demand for respite services in Mackay, and these five extra beds are vitally needed.This new house is purpose-built with accessible bathrooms and kitchen, and will bring comfort to residents with special needs.
10,000 Young Australians Off Welfare And Into Work
In just over nine months, 10,000 young people across Australia who were previously reliant on taxpayer-funded welfare are now in gainful employment thanks to the Youth Jobs PaTH program.This great result has been achieved through the Youth Bonus Wage subsidy component of the Youth Jobs PaTH program.And we’ve seen real results under the program in the electorate of Dawson, with 154 young people transitioning from welfare to work since the beginning of the year.We believe that the best form of welfare is a job.
Take steps to boost online security
Take some steps to protect your own online safety as part of Stay Smart Online Week, from 9 - 13 October..This is a national awareness raising initiative to encourage Australians to be more proactive about their cyber security.Cybercrime is estimated to cost the Australian economy more than $1 billion a year, and around 43 per cent of cybercrimes are targeted at small businesses.
Is it "Our ABC" or the Green Left's ABC?
5 OCTOBER 2017: I am publishing (in North Queensland newspapers) an open letter to the Head of Current Affairs at the ABC. Monday's attack on jobs with a program called "Digging into Adani" demonstrated beyond doubt the national broadcaster is overly influenced by the extreme green movement.
Centenary of Battle of Polygon Wood
I urge people to stop and think about Australia’s wartime sacrifices today on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Polygon Wood.This battle was part of a wider series of battles collectively known as the Flanders Offensive, which included the Battles of Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres—sometimes referred to as the Battle of Passchendaele.In eight weeks of fighting between September and October 1917 the Australian Imperial Force suffered some 38,000 casualties, including more than 5,700 at Polygon Wood.
TODAY I announced that a number of applications for funding under the Federal Government's Building Better Regions Fund Community Projects stream have been successful.Three Mackay community and economic development projects have received a boost of a combined $125,000, and the Burdekin Shre Council has received $15,000 to develop a tourism strategy.
The National Visitor Survey, released today, held good news for the region.There was a 16 per cent increase in Mackay visitor numbers over the past twelve months, and those visitors are staying longer and spending more.The National Visitor Survey showed 883,000 Australian tourists visited Mackay, staying an average of four nights and spending $380 million for the year ending June 2017.
Plan to boost jobs for journos in regions
The Liberal National Government has today announced a number of new measures to support regional and small publishers and create local jobs.The new measures, which are in addition to the Government’s media reform package, and subject to its passage, include:•A $50 million Regional and Small Publishers Innovation fund;•a Regional and Small Publishers cadetship program to support 200 cadetships ($8 million) and;•60 regional journalism scholarships ($2.4 million over three years)
Boost for seasonal worker programme
A number of new measures introduced by the Liberal National Government will further support employers and seasonal workers to access the Seasonal Worker Programme.The new measures will help overcome local labour shortages in the agricultural and accommodation sectors, and will be phased in from 1 July 2018.We will be introducing a multi-entry visa for seasonal workers, thereby offering greater flexibility in the granting of visas, and piloting new ways to lower upfront costs for employers seeking to access the programme.The measures will reduce red tape and save time within the Seasonal Worker Programme, and will be a welcome support for businesses in centres such as Bowen, the Burdekin and Townsville who are struggling to fill vacancies at critical points in their business cycle.
Businesses urged to nominate for Vets’ awards
In the Australian Defence Force (ADF) our personnel work in high-pressure environments and learn skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, leadership and the ability to adapt to new technologies.Those talents are in demand in a modern economy and I know businesses in Townsville are employing veterans and using their skills to succeed.I’m encouraging local businesses and local veterans to look at the award categories and nominate so their achievements can be recognised.
Need for action on Bowen Road Bridge
I RAISED the issue of load limits on Townsville’s troubled Bowen Road Bridge with the Federal Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester during his visit to Townsville today.I am concerned to hear that the load limit on the Bowen Road Bridge (over the Ross River near the Murray Sports area) may soon be restricted from 26 tonnes to 24 tonnes.The traffic issues around the Bowen Road Bridge near the Murray Sports area are well known in this community and I have regularly lobbied for action here.
I joined Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester, as well as Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson to inspect work on an upgrade to Glenella Road in Mackay.The Australian Government had committed more than $2.52 million toward this project, under the Roads to Recovery program, which gives councils certainty when they need to upgrade and repair local roads.The Glenella Road upgrade near Jane’s Creek will involve resurfacing of the road and pavement rehabilitation to make it less prone to damage from flooding, installing off-road bike paths, and upgrading street lighting - improving safety in the major sporting area around the Magpies Sporting Club.