New controls for Aussie-made
IMPORTING ingredients and simply slicing them here will no longer qualify as Australian-made.The Liberal National Government has approved a new system for Country of Origin labelling, which should start to appear on supermarket shelves later this year.These changes are good news for Australian jobs and Australian farmers because shoppers will have better information at their fingertips.Consumers will be able to make a quick comparison of products on the shelves and digital options are also being developed so consumers who want more detailed information can get it.
Get moving on Mackay Ring Road
AS 600 jobs wait in the wings, I'm calling on the State Main Roads Minister to pull out all stops to build the Mackay Ring Road.The Federal Government had supplied most of the money needed to execute Stage One of the $565 million Stage One project, but it is now up to Minister Mark Bailey to stump up with the resources to get it happening.Our city is in dire need of major projects like the Mackay Ring Road to deliver jobs and stimulate our economy.And while the Abbott Government has done its part to help with the process, I’m pushing for some serious action at the State level.
Reclaim Australia address
19 JULY 2015: Copy of speech for today's Reclaim Australia rally in Mackay (check against delivery).
Businesses invest in staff
A CANNONVALE business will be able to invest in training their staff thanks to a $9000 Federal Government Industry Skills Fund (ISF) grant, announced by the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham.I caught up with Paul Carmichael, right, the owner of Airlie Glass and Aluminium, today to congratulate him as well as his staff Kevin Scott and Cathy Reents.Paul's business will benefit from more than $9,000 through the Government’s ISF which will support staff members in completing a Certificate IV in Glass and Glazing.
Massive boost to funds to fix roads
LOCAL roads and streets across the region have received a major boost with more than $13 million in extra funding being made available to our councils for vital road upgrades through the Roads to Recovery Programme over the next two years.The extra money will flow as a result of the passage through Federal Parliament of the fuel excise indexation legislation.This is a huge additional boost to Mackay Regional Council, Whitsunday Regional Council and the Burdekin Shire Council and if more roadworks can be undertaken, more jobs can be created.
Bob Brown running scared on green tax deductibility
FORMER Greens leader Bob Brown should demonstrate he has the courage to stand by his convictions in relation to green groups deserving tax deductibility status, rather than hiding from a parliamentary inquiry.Mr Brown stated today that he was “reconsidering appearing before the parliamentary inquiry into tax-deductibility” which will be held in Hobart on Tuesday.It seems that Bob Brown is running scared, which makes me think ‘what has the green movement got to hide?’
South Pacific alliance aids superyacht industry
A NEW alliance to promote superyachting in the South Pacific region will help the Whitsundays create more jobs as it becomes established as a destination. South Pacific Superyachting, a collaboration between Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Fiji, aims to double both the number of superyachts that currently visit the South Pacific annually, and the number of days they spend in the region by 2018.
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.
Farmer friendly business environment
6 July 2015: Through the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the Australian Government released a series of measures designed to strengthen the contribution of agriculture to the national economy by providing a better business environment for farmers. These initiatives will play a critical role in developing a better business environment for agriculture by increasing farmgate returns, improving risk management and encouraging investment.
Ag white paper commits to clearer country of origin labelling
6 July: The Australian Government underlined its commitment to improved country of origin labelling to help consumers make informed choices about the origin of the food they eat with the release of the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper. Considerable public interest in the issue made it clear that consumers wanted to know whether the products they were buying were sourced locally or from overseas.
Securing Australia’s water supply for the future
5 July 2015: The Australian Government has set up a National Water Infrastructure Development Fund with $500 million for water infrastructure, including dams, through the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper. An allocation of $50 million will support the planning necessary to decide on viable projects for investment, and $450 million was available to construct water infrastructure in partnership with states and territories.
ACCC to champion agribusiness transparency
5 July 2015: The Australian Government has acted on concerns raised by farmers about supply chain transparency during the consultation phase of the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper. The white paper commits $11.4 million to establish an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Commissioner dedicated to agriculture as well as supporting capability at the ACCC concerned with agriculture supply chain issues.
Greenpeace has questions to answer
Tomorrow's visit by professional eco-terrorist group Greenpeace will be an opportunity for the activists to explain their position that jobs for North Queenslanders don’t matter.
Bright future for coal
Queensland’s coal industry has a bright future, built on the back of continuing strong demand from Japan, China and India. And with this bright future comes continued prosperity and jobs for the people of the Mackay region.However, Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche says green activists continue their unrelenting bid to shut down Queensland’s fossil fuel sector, also without a care for the jobs and prosperity this sector brings to resources hubs such as Mackay.He told me this week: “My prediction of a bright future might seem like an overly buoyant appraisal in the current climate, however our coal companies are preparing for the next inevitable upturn.