Carmichael coal for NQ this Christmas
22 DECEMBER 2015: NORTH Queensland received coal for Christmas this morning and is looking forward to a stocking full of jobs in the new year after the Federal Government approved the Abbot Point port expansion.
Taking the tax pledge
HAVE signed a Tax Pledge demonstrating my commitment to vote against any tax increases, and I'm challenging Labor Leader Bill Shorten and his local Labor candidate to do the same while they’re both in Mackay tomorrow.I've taken this stance ahead of an orchestrated “GST Forum” being hosted by the Labor Party on Wednesday night.I didn’t go into politics to increase taxes, I went in to lower taxes, and in fact in my maiden speech I said exactly that.
National gateway launched to help carers
Carers in the Mackay region can find the services and support they need using a new carer gateway launched today.The Carer Gateway provides information on how to access services and support in Mackay and around Australia, and carers can call, visit the website or use the interactive service finder to locate their nearest carer support services.Up to now, carers have been searching for information through a number of pathways across the disability, community mental health and aged care sectors.
Greens target "brown faces" in racist anti-mining campaign
EXTREME green groups are guilty of veiled racism in their relentless and targeted campaign against Indian company Adani and its "brown-skinned executives".This is a mining development which will breathe new life into Mackay with the jobs and opportunities it will provide.The extreme green anti-mining campaign has only focussed on an Indian company which is veiled racism, and the veil’s pretty thin.It’s almost a case of ‘you can’t trust the Indians’.Along with defaming an Indian company, these extreme green groups are now attacking the Indian brown-skinned executives of that company.
Foreign millers acting like spoilt brats
FOREIGN-owned millers such as Wilmar and Mitr Phol need to stop throwing temper tantrums and get on with business.Wilmar is saying it will not sign any further agreements for next year’s crop and Mitr Phol has announced that it was cease all new investment across its Australian sugar business.Both foreign millers are reacting to the passing of legislation in State Parliament to ensure growers have choice over who markets their sugar.These foreign-owned millers are behaving like two-year-olds chucking a tantrum because the parliament hasn’t done what they wanted.
Never too old to look to the future
MACKAY’S older residents remain engaged with the community and want to have input into the long-term future of the region.I visited Resthaven on Quarry this morning, fulfilling a request sent via my survey for a personal visit to the facility.I was only too happy to pay a visit and discuss issues of the day with a room full of people, including Bill Sneyd, Edna Bradwell and Athol Byers, who remain very engaged with the long-term future of their community.
Artists invited to apply for Catalyst
APPLICATIONS for funding under the new national arts fund called Catalyst are now open, and I encourage organisations in the region to consider what is on offer.The Catalyst – Australian Arts and Culture Fund is open to small, medium and large arts organisations at national, regional and community level.It will support projects that demonstrate innovation and increase access and participation in Australian cultural life, or that enhance our international reputation.There is a special emphasis on supporting projects in the regions.
That's entertainment
A production of Bram Stoker’s classic, Dracula, and a performance by emerging Far North Queensland talent Greta Stanley are cultural experiences Mackay audiences can look forward to in 2016 thanks to two Liberal National Government funding programs.I am pleased to announce that Mackay audiences will benefit from the Federal Government’s support for artists through the Playing Australia Regional Arts Touring Fund and the Contemporary Music Touring Program, respectively.The Shake & Stir Theatre Company will receive $495,026 to fund a touring production of Bram Stoker’s classic horror story, Dracula, and this will include a visit to Mackay.
Boosting Great Barrier Reef protection
On Oceans Day at the Paris climate summit, a commitment of $58 million in funding from the Reef Trust spearheaded a suite of measures by the Liberal National Government to continue to build the health and resilience of the iconic Great Barrier Reef.This new commitment of $58 million between 2015 and 2019 brings the total Australian Government’s investment through the Reef Trust to $91.3 million.This third phase of investment will support farmers and land owners to improve their land management practices and reduce the runoff of key Reef pollutants – into the Great Barrier Reef catchment and boost the resilience of the reef.We are working with farmers, graziers and cane growers to improve their efficiency and to help the reef.
State Labor need to ‘cop it sweet’ on sugar deal
THE sugar industry owes a debt of gratitude to the Liberal National Party, Katter’s Australian Party and independent state MPs who stood up for a grower’s right to a say over who markets their sugar in the Queensland Parliament last night.Though the Palaszczuk Labor Government now intends to seek Federal intervention on a deal which backs growers rather than foreign millers, they have little chance of succeeding.I particularly congratulate the LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture Deb Frecklington and Katter Australia Party MP Shane Knuth on their considerable efforts to secure this amendment to the Sugar Act which will ensure that growers have a real choice over who markets their sugar.
Bank to reassess Mackay lending restrictions
The National Australia Bank (NAB) has promised to reassess their lending restrictions for Mackay home buyers.Earlier this year the NAB changed their guidelines for Mackay to restrict home loan lending to only those who could provide a 30% deposit.Following a meeting in October with more than 20 real estate industry leaders, I issued an invitation to the National Australia Bank’s CEO to visit Mackay and hear firsthand about the effects of the bank’s ruling that buyers in Mackay were essentially a "credit risk".
MP in push for improved mobile coverage for Alligator Creek
I went into bat for the people of Alligator Creek south of Townsville in Parliament this morning, with a push for improved mobile phone coverage for the area.I nominated Alligator Creek as my top priority for funding under Round 1 of the Mobile Black Spot Program, but unfortunately the network providers had a different set of priorities and Alligator Creek missed out.Nominations for Round 2 are now open and I’m doing everything I can to ensure that Alligator Creek gets improved coverage this time round.
PM agrees with stance on climate document
PROMPT action was needed yesterday to ensure that a communique which would cost jobs and harm rural and resources sectors was not signed during the Paris conference.I contacted both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Environment Minister Greg Hunt directly because the communique could have spelt the end of the diesel fuel rebate which protects off-road users such as farmers and mining companies.The loss of that rebate would add millions of dollars to the operating costs of mining companies, and thousands of dollars to farmers, and this would cost jobs at a time when we can least afford any more imposts.
Region needs a ‘year of opportunity’ in 2016
27 NOVEMBER 2015: A dedicated agency tasked with job creation and industry development could make 2016 a year of opportunity for the greater Mackay region.
More work for the Bruce
26 NOVEMBER 2015: Work is set to begin on constructing two overtaking lanes on the Bruce Highway between Proserpine and Mackay, with a contract for the $7 million project being awarded to Doval Constructions. These constructions projects on the Bruce Highway are bringing jobs and economic growth to the region. The jobs and wages that will come into the region are a welcome boost to the local economy in the short term and in the long term, a more efficient Bruce Highway keeps the economy on the move and more productive.
Airports opening to world of jobs
GOVERNMENT-funded provision of customs and immigration services at Mackay and Whitsunday Coast airports will be critical for international flights enabling job creation and economic growth.The Liberal National Government has been providing free customs and immigration services to the Townsville airport since it began international flights to Bali earlier this year.I have already spoken with the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, seeking similar arrangements for international airport operations at both Mackay and the Whitsundays.
Sugar growers stand firm on choice
THOUGH a small group of sugar cane growers in the Burdekin have exercised their right to sign up with Wilmar mills for the 2017 season this hardly resolves the marketing issue for the vast majority of growers who are fighting for the right to say no to the foreign-owned miller.About 30 independent growers signed interim arrangements for the 2017 season.But this is not a deal which has been accepted by any collective, as both Pioneer Cane Growers and Burdekin District Cane Growers groups remain opposed to Wilmar’s plans to take full control of the marketing of sugar.
We are at war with radical Islam
24 NOVEMBER 2015: Amending the Citizenship Act to strip Australian citizenship from dual nationals who commit acts of terrorism or who fight for Islamic State is a key weapon for freedom in the war against radical Islam.The Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015, which seeks to allow for dual citizens to have their citizenship stripped in such circumstances, is currently being debated in federal parliament at a very prescient time.
Syrian refugee screening critical
We need watertight security screening of Syrian refugees to protect Australians from terrorism attacks.I put a Question on Notice to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton, today requesting the exact procedures, questions, and checks that would be made when screening the 12,000 Syrian refugees the government has committed to accept.I have also asked who will conduct the screening and what assurances they can provide to the Australian people that the screening process will be effective.