Main tender on Mackay Ring Road announced

WE reached a major milestone in the Mackay Ring Road Stage 1 project today with the announcement that CPB Contractors have won the major tender.This project will remove heavy vehicles from the Mackay CBD and residential areas by providing a bypass for all vehicles without a destination in Mackay.This is a massive project for the region – we’re going to see 13 new bridges being built as part of it - and I believe an average of 534 jobs will be supported during construction of the bypass.We need jobs, jobs, jobs in this region and I have already had discussions with CPB and heard firsthand that they're very keen to engage the local suppliers, subcontractors and workers in Mackay.They have said that it is naturally more efficient for them to source supplies where they can up here in this region rather than elsewhere.CPB will also be advertising for expressions of interest in due course for locals interested in being involved in the project.This is a very big infrastructure project for our region and we can look forward to seeing the flow-on effects of business dollars and job opportunities for a number of years.

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$1 million boost for Skate Park Dream

THIS morning I've announced that Mackay Regional Council has been successful in attracting funding of $1 million under the Building Better Regions Fund for the their Mackay Skate Park & Wheeled Sports Plaza Project.This all came to pass due to the efforts of a pair of 12-year-old Mackay boys who dreamed of a quality skate park in their city, and they approached politicians at all levels to make it happen.Flynn Bushell and Ethan Leval started a petition for a skate park, and they came to see me as well as Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson.Today they've got the good news that their dream will become a reality.Mackay Regional Council will contribute another $1.2 million to make the project a reality and it will be built at the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) in Scriha Street, North Mackay.Mackay will receive great benefits from this project, as it will deliver the region’s first competition standard skate park and wheeled sports plaza.

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Frank discussion on cyclone funding

NO-ONE pulled any punches at a teleconference which was held today with Federal Minister for Justice Michael Keenan in relation to concerns over Category D NDRRA funding approvals.It was a frank and fearless discussion as it had to be because we are talking about funding to assist the community in recovering from a natural disaster.Both Mayor Andrew Willcox and Mayor Greg Williamson did a fantastic job in ferociously advocating for the region.While there was a lot of disagreement around specific statements that were being made, a way forward was mapped out.The Federal Government has unanswered questions about a number of projects that were rejected for funding.

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Get bids in for up to $20,000 in community funds

A FUNDING programme which provides as much as $20,000 for non-profit community groups to undertake capital projects is up and running again, I'm calling for applications.We are now embarking on Round 3 of the Stronger Communities Programme, an initiative of the Liberal National Government, which has provided funding for 28 different community groups throughout the Dawson electorate over the past two years.The programme provides between $2,500 and $20,000 under a 50/50 funding arrangement for small capital projects being undertaken by not-for-profit groups which deliver social benefits in our communities.We are now taking Expressions of Interest, so if you have a project that might fit the bill please call my office on 4944 0662 and we can provide the EOI form and answer other questions.

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Disbanding army a disservice to community

13 JULY 2017: The Federal Government’s axing of the Green Army was a disastrous decision for North Queensland. I'm not going to play the government’s line on the Green Army program, which will cease on June 30 next year, because, frankly, I was ticked off when the government announced the Green Army was axed.

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Shortlist for fixing dangerous Haughton bridge

6 JULY 2017: Two preferred tenderers have been shortlisted to deliver the $515 million project to upgrade the notoriously dangerous and flood-prone Haughton River Bridge on the Bruce Highway, about 50km south of Townsville. The Australian Government’s $412 million commitment to the project is funded under the 10-year, $8.5 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Program.

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Staff & funds for clinical training in NQ

4 JULY 2017: Work is progressing on the establishment of the North Queensland Regional Training Hub, which will provide medical students the ability to study, work and live in Mackay and Townsville. Significant progress has been made in establishing the Hubs, and the James Cook University will focus on a ‘grow your own’ model to facilitate regionally based vocational training and career paths.

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Retailers to put young people on the right PaTH

3 JULY 2017: Another leading industry organisation has backed in the Liberal National Government’s Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-Trial-Hire) program with a commitment to deliver thousands of internships for young Australians. The Australian Retailers Association has confirmed it will partner with the Government and deliver up to 10,000 internships to young Australians looking to get into work through the Youth Jobs PaTH program.

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91 young people get jobs through PaTH program

91 young people in the electorate of Dawson now have jobs under the ‘Hire’ element of the Liberal National Government’s Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-Trial-Hire) program.Across the country, more than 5,000 young Australians have been provided job opportunities as businesses take advantage of the financial incentives available to hire more young people.This is a big win for those young people and a win for local businesses helping them grow.

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Second local business wins Ring Road water relocation contract

A second contract to relocate water mains on the construction site of the new Mackay Ring Road has been awarded to local company, Roebuck Civil.This is a major investment in the region’s road network. The Mackay Ring Road project was identified as a priority project under the Australian Government commitment to improving the Bruce Highway, and we want local businesses to benefit from that commitment.Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said this was the second local business awarded a water relocation contract on the Ring Road Project, after Vassallo Construction won a contract in May.

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Adani announcement cause for celebration

THE announcement today by Adani’s Gautam Adani that his company has made their final investment decision and will proceed with the massive Carmichael coal, rail and port project is cause for celebration throughout Central and North Queensland.This is an historic day, and it is significant that the announcement by Adani that they’ve signed off on their investment decision on the Carmichael Coal Project has been made on Queensland Day.It’s a great day for Queensland and particularly for those in Central and North Queensland who have had hopes raised and dashed numerous times as they await the jobs and business activity this project will create.Adani have announced in Townsville today that they have signed letters of award for design, construction, operations, supply of materials and professional services for the Carmichael mine in the Galilee Basin.

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Green groups with deep pockets

3 JUNE 2017: Would you believe that the activist group at the heart of much of the attack against the Adani Carmichael Coal Project - GetUp! - paid out $4.6 million to their staff last year? That's effectively $4.6 million going into the pockets of inner city green zealots who want to ensure that no money goes into the pockets of workers in this region who are desperate for jobs.

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Townsville MP puts green interests ahead of clean coal

LABOR proved once again today that they would rather protect preference deals with the Greens than the needs of business in North Queensland.The benefits of having a coal-fired power station in North Queensland, preferably at the mouth of a coal mine in the Galilee Basin, have been demonstrated in a report commissioned by Townsville Enterprise Limited.A number of Labor MPs denigrated coal and the coal industry in speeches today, yet most disappointing of all was that the Member for Herbert, Cathy O’Toole, would not support any push for a coal fired power station in the region.

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Applications open soon for Bowen Basin Jobs & Investment Package

The Bowen Basin region with get a much-needed $30 million shot in the arm from the Regional Jobs and Investment Package, and the good news is that applications will open on May 31.With the Local Investment Plan, formulated by local representatives now done, the applications from the Bowen Basin region can roll in.This has been announced jointly today by the Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash along with Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry, Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd and myself.I thank the Bowen Basin Local Planning Committee for their hard work, based on local knowledge of the Bowen Basin region.

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Mackay businesses invited to seize North Asia free trade opportunities

I encourage business owners to seize the opportunity to gather firsthand information on trade opportunities from the experts at a seminar for small to medium sized businesses in Mackay next week.Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Keith Pitt will host the seminar for those who want to discover how Australia's Free Trade Agreements with China, Japan and Korea can benefit them.The free event will be held on Friday, May 12 at the Mackay Grande Suites, Flinders Room, 9 Gregory Street, Mackay from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.There are businesses in the region reaping the benefits of the free trade deals which are now in place with our Asian neighbours and I would love to see others explore the options available.

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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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Scrapping 457 visas puts Aussie workers first

19 APRIL 2017: The Liberal National Government’s scrapping of the 457 visa program is a massive win for Australian workers. In November last year, I called for a complete ban of 457 visas in North Queensland because Australian workers here could not find jobs. Now that the entire program has been scrapped nationwide, that’s even better.

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