Lobbying for the long term
Funding towards a Regional Economic Development Plan and the Cairns Cultural Precinct will be two of a number of issues high on the New Deal team’s agenda during a lobbying trip to Canberra this week.
Led by Advance Cairns Chairman Russell Beer, CEO Ross Contarino and Independent Director Michael Huelin, the team, comprising representatives from the Cairns Airport, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, will spend two days in Canberra (from Wednesday) meeting with various Federal Government ministers and senior staff to lobby for assistance to help overcome Far North Queensland’s economic difficulties.
Advance Cairns CEO Ross Contarino said that with the assistance of Federal Member for Leichhardt Jim Turnour, the New Deal team had been able to secure meetings with Assistant Treasurer Nick Sherry, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Anthony Albanese, Minister for Small Business Craig Emerson, Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia Gary Grey, Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib, and Neil Roberts, adviser to the Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism Martin Ferguson.
Mr Contarino said that briefing papers had been prepared seeking support from the Federal Government to:
- Partner on an equal basis with Cairns Regional Council and the Queensland Government to deliver the Cairns Cultural Precinct;
- Maximise the opportunities coming out of Papua New Guinea by assisting to coordinate a concerted effort to secure further FIFO services for the Cairns region;
- Contribute financially towards the development of a Regional Economic Development Plan;
- Establish a one-on-one advisory assistance to small businesses in the region; and
- Establish a PNG Consul in Cairns.
“We are looking forward to getting a hearing on these various issues and will be pleading our case very strongly for Federal Government assistance for a region still reeling from the effects of record unemployment, which is still the highest in the nation. Our strategic focus is based on diversification, while providing assistance for the regions’ established industries that are struggling through the economic downturn.”