Funding to help farmers help reef
I welcome today's announcement by the Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt that the Turnbull Government is investing a further $11 million in new projects to improve the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.This will help farmers with the great work they do to manage effects on the environment, and it will help the Reef to withstand pressures such as the current coral bleaching event.The funding, to be delivered under Phase Three of the Reef Trust, will help local farmers reduce the impact of agricultural practices on the Reef.
Bill should tell Labor buddies to get moving on the Haughton
THE ability to progress work on some Bruce Highway projects rests entirely in Labor’s hands, and the best thing Bill Shorten could do for the Bruce Highway is to tell his counterparts in the State Labor Government to pull their finger out.I believe Mr Shorten has been making announcements regarding Labor's plans for the Bruce Highway in Townsville today, and he should ask his counterparts in the Palaszczuk government ‘why is Labor holding up the Haughton River Bridge Replacement?’The replacement of this bridge has been voted the most urgent problem to be fixed on that stretch of the Bruce Highway between Mackay and Townsville.
Funding to fix black spots
THE main street of Ayr is a beneficiary under the latest round of Black Spot Program funding, as is the notorious Horse & Jockey Road and Landsdowne Road intersection at Racecourse near Mackay.The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester’s has announced that $70,000 would be provided by the Liberal National Government to fix the black spot at the intersection of Queen and Soper streets in Ayr.This black spot funding will be used to modify the approaches and centre island geometry, for resurfacing and upgrading line marking.In the Mackay region, though it actually falls in the Capricornia electorate, I welcome the announcement of $1.19 million for the intersection of Horse Jockey Road and Landsdowne Road.
NBN rolls out at rapid rate
THE reality regarding access to NBN services for the people of the Mackay region is that it’s happening at a cracking pace, and many residents have access but have not yet opted to connect.The Mackay region, and in fact nearly all of my electorate of Dawson which includes Proserpine and the Whitsundays, Bowen and the Burdekin, will have access to the NBN by the end of next year.That means this region will be two years ahead of the full scheduled rollout prediction of 2020.What we have taking place here is a huge shift in communications technology, and that can get confusing because residents will connect to the NBN via a mix of technologies.
Support for international flights to NZ
It was a pleasure to welcome the Assistant Minister for Immigration Senator James McGrath to Mackay today to shore up support for international flights to New Zealand.International flights out of centres like Mackay and the Whitsundays will provide a vital tourism boost for this region and be a great step forward in diversifying our economic base.Senator McGrath is a fellow Queenslander who understands the value of tourism and I welcome his support of plans by both the Mackay Airport and the Whitsunday Coast Airport to provide direct access to the international market.Senator McGrath met with Mackay Airport general manager Rob Porter and Hello World Mackay managing director Steven Boxall this afternoon.
Support for boat-building innovator
A VESSEL which could make it easier for emergency services workers to work in floodwaters was unveiled in Cannonvale this morning and I am happy to lend my support to boat-builder and designer Steve Jandt on his project.His 6m prototype rescue catamaran, named the Jetcat, was put through its paces at Cannonvale today.Mr Jandt has designed and built a vessel that is unlike anything else available globally and the key benefits are it’s powered by jet units, so there are no propellers, and you can launch it in floodwaters and harsher conditions.
Anna's secret to 100 years
BALL Bay centenarian Anna Eastoe has taken the fuss surrounding her latest birthday in her stride, welcoming guests, attending parties and providing answers on the secret to her long life.It was a pleasure to pay Mrs Eastoe, who turned 100 on Friday, a visit over the weekend during her birthday celebration to present her with a framed certificate.“I had a lovely day with all my friends; we had about 35 to 40 people there.
BOM jobs safe for another year
I have received confirmation from Environment Minster Greg Hunt’s office this morning, that we have a stay of execution on job losses at our Bureau of Meteorology field office.I went into bat for these jobs after it was announced with just a day's notice to my office, that jobs would go from BOM field offices up and down the Queensland coast.I have now been assured that BOM field staff duties of taking meteorological observations and maintaining observing equipment will continue for a further 12 months, which takes us through to March 2017.
Unassuming WW11 commando presented with message of thanks
THE stories that Mackay man Joe Wills can tell about his service during the Second World War have been heard by very few people.That’s because this unassuming man chose to stay quiet about his experiences as a commando fighting the Japanese in New Guinea.The 93-year-old has clearly not had the recognition he deserved though I was able to rectify that in some small measure this week by presenting Joe with a Certificate of Appreciation.
Region to supply workers & services for Adani
THE announcement today from Adani that Mackay, Bowen, Townsville and Rockhampton will all play key roles in providing manpower and services for their Carmichael Coal Mine Project will provide the region with a huge confidence boostThis is the news that everyone has been waiting to hear – workers and businesses in Mackay and Bowen, as well as those in Townsville and Rockhampton – will all benefit from the Carmichael Mine Project as we have the people, the logistics and the mining services hubs to service this project.
Hollow boast from Labor candidate
Labor’s claim on approving the Carmichael Mine (Bowen Independent, 6/4/16, P8) is a hollow boast, considering Labor are still holding up the approval of the Abbot Point port expansion.The Labor Party ran a half page ad for their candidate in the upcoming federal election but what they failed to mention was they’re still yet to approve the Abbot Point port expansion.In fact Labor’s State Environment Minister Steven Miles is on the record stating he will not issue the Abbot Port approval until Adani has the finance for the project.
Region’s capabilities on show
THE capabilities of Mackay’s mining services industry were on display today when I toured a number of Resource Industry Network businesses with the Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan.The mining services sector businesses has demonstrated their ability to adapt to changing conditions, and it was a pleasure to show the new Minister for Northern Australia just what Mackay is capable of.Today we have seen demonstrations of versatility in action from businesses such as Consolidated Plastics, Techserve, Ziggy’s Engineering and Absolute Enterprises, as well as North Queensland Bulk Ports.
Landowner suffers $350,000 rip-off
I'VE gone into bat for a Mackay landowner who is owed more than $350,000 in compensation from the State Government’s Transport and Main Roads Department.Charles Ogilvie, who operates Blue River Landscape Supplies adjacent to the Edmund Casey Bridge at Foulden, has run out of options to get a fair deal, after land for the construction of the Edmund Casey Bridge was resumed in 2006.The valuer for Transport and Main Roads (TMR) determined that the value of the land, just on its capacity and not income potential, was $450,000.Mr Ogilvie was finally paid $100,000 about 18 months ago, but TMR has since said they have improved the value of his land and they don’t have to pay him any more money.
Labor needs to stand with North Queensland workers
JOBS and a vital boost to this region's economy are still under threat from frivolous extreme green legal challenges and the only way to end them once and for all is through legislation in the federal parliament.The Adani Carmichael Coal Project is by no means certain while the extreme green legal challenges remain in the courts despite yesterday's mining lease approval.I'm calling on my Labor opponent to join me in the fight for local jobs by backing legislative action to end those green legal challenges.
Fight is on to keep owner driver truckies on the road
A DECISION today by the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) will see scores of truck drivers across the region lose their livelihoods and small trucking businesses close down according to Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen, who said he would seek legislation to abolish the RSRT.The RSRT have announced today that they will ignore the calls from owner driver truckies all over the country and push ahead with their totally unfair minimum payment rate which will take effect from Monday.What this means is that the Labor-established and Labor-stacked tribunal has set a minimum payment rate for owner drivers which will effectively price them out of business.They are being told they must charge a rate for their services which is above that of drivers who are employees signed up to unions.I’ve met with dozens of owner driver truckies since this information of payment rates hit them out of the blue and knocked them for six.
Hospital jobs losses a bogus claim
MEMBER for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert has been found guilty of unnecessarily scaring doctors and nurses about job losses following today’s COAG decision on hospital funding.Ms Gilbert wanted to pre-empt the outcome of today’s Council of Australian Governments meeting and proclaim that Mackay was in danger of losing 32 doctors and 113 nurses.There was never a danger that jobs would be cut.It was the size of the increase that was in dispute.It was the size of the increase that was in dispute.
Seeking mayors’ support for $100 million rescue package
I will seek the support of incoming mayors across the region for my $100 million rescue plan next week which will help businesses diversify and help workers to retrain for new jobs.I have meetings scheduled with new Mackay mayor Greg Williamson, new Whitsunday mayor Andrew Willcox, new Burdekin mayor Lyn McLaughlin and continuing Townsville mayor Jenny Hill next week to explain the Bowen Basin Growth Fund rescue package I am lobbying for.I will be asking them to lend their voices to this call for support which will help businesses diversify and provide retraining for local retrenched workers.
Green light for food labelling a win for shoppers, farmers and workers
The agreement by the states and territories to sweeping reforms on country of origin food labelling is great news for Aussie shoppers, Aussie farmers and Aussie workers.This is yet another great outcome for Australians from the $4 billion Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, crafted and delivered by The Nationals.The new food labelling system will give Australian consumers the clarity they deserve, without imposing an excessive burden on businesses.It’s also a boost for Aussie farmers, and will secure jobs in agriculture and food processing for Aussie workers.
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.