Empowering businesses will create jobs
Businesses looking to export are the big winners from a new Coalition Government initiative to provide quick and easy access to trade information.A new FTA Portal will help local businesses take full advantage of Australia’s free trade agreements with the three north Asian powerhouse economies of China, Japan and South Korea.Opportunities for small and medium businesses to diversify are crucial right now and this tool will help make that happen.
New NQ state could be best in country
THE idea of a separate state for North Queensland should be determined by a referendum of North Queenslanders only, and I will write to all MPs, senators and mayors who represent areas above the Tropic of Capricorn to invite them to be part of a concerted push for such a move.This issue has been talked about for too long and what we really need now is some action.The people of the north deserve a fair hearing on this, and a group of influential state, federal and local government leaders would be well placed to push for a referendum on the formation of a new state of North Queensland.
Fighting threat to jobs and truckie businesses
THE fight is on to protect the livelihoods of owner driver truckies whose future hangs in the balance over a disastrous ruling by a tribunal established by the former Gillard Labor government and stacked with Labor appointees.The Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, a body set up by the previous Labor Government, has ruled that owner driver truckies can only be engaged by clients at a minimum payment rate, which is above that of employee truck drivers, effectively pricing them out of business.While the new rate is set to take effect from 4 April, both owner drivers and the Federal Liberal National Government have intervened to request the start date be pushed back until next year to enable further consideration of a move that could put thousands of owner drivers out of business.
Concerns of horticulture industry heard: Backpacker tax to go! By George Christensen
The concerns of those in the horticultural industry have been heard, and the plan to introduce a 15% flat rate of tax for backpackers will now face a full review.Tourism Minister Richard Colbeck has announced a cross-department review so that we can take a long hard look at the issues surrounding the so-called ‘backpacker tax’ to make sure that we do not disadvantage growers who have been relying on backpackers to harvest their crops.I have had numerous phone calls and meetings with those in the horticultural industry, and I agreed to support the Bowen Gumlu growers in their push for a 15% flat rate of tax, rather than the proposed 32.5c tax for every dollar earned for those on working holiday visas.
Sugar, it’s sweet with me
The push for a sugar tax in Australia by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was not one that would win him any accolades in the sugar-growing regions of Queensland.I’m no poster boy for health and fitness, but sugar is not the only nutrient to blame for obesity and that point has been made previously by the Dieticians Association of Australia.Introducing a sugar tax would cost jobs in this part of the world, and that’s the last thing we need right now.Operations like the Mackay Sugar Refinery which produces sugar purely for the domestic market, as well as our sugar mills and even cane farms would face job cuts if such a plan was introduced.
Training facility benefits Whitsunday workers
AN Airlie Beach business is poised to provide the specialised training which will be needed for the construction industry when the Adani Carmichael Coal Project gets the final go-ahead.I visited Whitsunday Construction Training last week and met operators Peter and Diana Utber.They are providing a business service to ensure Whitsundays locals get jobs when Abbot Point and the Carmichael mine come on track.Any worker who wants to upskill and get training in high risk construction, which are the skills which will be needed when the Adani mine, rail and port project gets the final go-ahead, will be able to get that training right here in the Whitsundays, and that will save them precious time and money.
Campaign points to need for ring road jobs Now
DUE to the positive response to my pointed campaign for action on the Mackay Ring Road, I'm extending the cut-off date to return signed petitions.This petition urges the State Labor Government to throw more resources into the design phase of the Mackay Ring Road, so that work on the massive job-creating project can get under way.We desperately need jobs in the Mackay region right now, and the construction of the Mackay Ring Road will create 600 jobs.
Two weeks left for Stronger Regions applications
I join with Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash in reminding interested parties they have until March 15 to submit applications for funding under Round Three of the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF).The NSRF aims to support priority infrastructure projects in regional communities, stimulating jobs and growth.This latest round of the National Stronger Regions Fund is open to submissions from local governments and incorporated not-for-profit organisations.It’s particularly important during out current economic climate.
Pitch for Defence business and jobs
I will investigate the possibilities of attracting Defence work for businesses in the Mackay region following the release of the 2016 Defence White Paper.To that end, I have invited Defence Materiel Minister Dan Tehan to Mackay to pitch the case for the city’s engineering support businesses, as well as the city’s building and construction businesses.The Defence White Paper outlines that $29.9 billion will be spent over the next decade, and that includes a considerable boost to Defence spending and infrastructure in the Townsville region.There will be Mackay businesses that either already have the capabilities to do this work, or could diversify into those capabilities.
Helping those keen to grow medicinal marijuana
I will be meeting with people in the region who have expressed an interest in growing medicinal cannabis, following today’s historic passage of legislation to legalise the process.Amendments passed to the Narcotic Drugs Act will ensure that people who would benefit from the use of medicinal marijuana will have access to a safe, legal and reliable supply.I have had calls from growers in the region who are keen to diversify into the production of medicinal marijuana and I will be presenting their case to the Health Minister Sussan Ley.Our region has good fertile soil and plenty of water, so we have a lot to gain from the introduction of a new crop like this.
Funding flows to boost community groups
COMMUNITY groups in need of cash injections to get capital projects up and running are encouraged to apply for funding under Round 2 of the Liberal National Government’s Stronger Communities Programme.Seven community groups have been successful in gaining funding for projects in my electorate and we have several others who should hear about their applications under Round One of this programme very soon.This is an excellent way for not-for-profit groups to secure funding for smaller capital projects and I encourage any group interested to contact my office as soon as possible to get more details.
Parliament gets the word on Urannah Dam
THE importance of Urannah Dam to provide future jobs and economic stability was highlighted by new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce on the floor of parliament today.Minister Joyce spoke about the importance of building dams in response to my question on the importance of restoring agriculture as a fundamental pillar of the Australian economy.The importance of securing funding for a feasibility study on the Urannah Dam is vitally important for this region, and I’m doing all in my power to ensure we see that funding flow through.It’s heartening to see that it is getting the attention of leading decision makers in our government.
Labor shows lack of support for Adani jobs
I have called on Dawson Labor candidate Frank Gilbert to decide whether he supports the development of Adani’s Carmichael Coal Project which will create thousands of much-needed jobs in the region.Mr Gilbert is telling people desperate for jobs that he supports Adani, but at the same time he’s attacking the project on social media.Last night Mr Gilbert attended a Bowen Chamber of Commerce meeting where I was guest speaker, and he told that audience that he supported the Adani project.But earlier this month on Facebook, Mr Gilbert posted a link to an article which attacked the Carmichael Coal Project and he himself commented that it was “ignorant and irresponsible” to back the fossil fuel industry.
Roads contract means jobs for Mackay
Mackay company Vassallo Constructions has won the $3 million contract to construct an overtaking lane near Thomsetts Road, south of Proserpine, and this means jobs for Mackay workers.I want to congratulate this Mackay business run by Vic Vassallo, on winning the tender on this project which has been brought forward by a year by the Liberal National Coalition Government to provide work when it is desperately needed.Despite false claims by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk that the project was part of Labor’s so-called ‘accelerated works program’ this project is not only fully funded by the Federal Coalition Government; we brought it forward by a year to support jobs in the region.
MP rejects BoM plan to take jobs out of north
BUREAU of Meteorology (BOM) staff paid me a visit in Canberra yesterday to explain their rationale for relocating three staff out of both Mackay and Townsville, but I'm still not convinced it’s the right move.I state again in no uncertain terms that I will not be supporting this change, which removes all on-the-ground weather bureau staff from our regional cities.If the bureau believes it’s a good move then they better get out and start explaining it to the public.
Other worker options in horticulture
I will support the Bowen Gumlu Growers in their push for a 15% flat rate of tax for backpackers. But growers should also consider other options when looking for workers.Growers need to realise though, that this is going to be very difficult to achieve.And though it's labelled a backpacker tax, this is not a tax.It’s the removal of the tax-free threshold which was increased from $6000 to $18,000 only a few years ago.The difficulty is this measure represents a $540 million saving to the Budget bottom line, and it’s going to be extremely difficult to find another avenue to recoup that saving.
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.