We had an extraordinary week of high-level engagement across the Queensland Parliament during our Tropical North Queensland delegation to Brisbane last week.
The delegation of about 25 senior business leaders met with close to 30 Members of Parliament across the two days, in addition to a number of departmental executives. These conversations have been instrumental in advancing the priorities outlined in the 2024 TNQ Priorities: Brisbane Delegation publication. We were very pleased to meet with the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition – and, in particular, to be recognised during parliamentary question time. As we prepare for the upcoming State Government election, it is important that this united voice for Tropical North Queensland continues to engage with political representatives to draw attention to the opportunities and challenges facing our region. It was terrific to work in partnership with Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Cairns Chamber of Commerce to lead the delegation.
Our meetings focused on core deliverables including (but not limited to):Health:
- Advancing the FNQ Health and Innovation Precinct, seeking funding for the Cairns Health and Innovation Centre that is fundamental to securing tertiary hospital status for Cairns
Aviation:
- Progressing discussions on key investments in the General Aviation precinct
- Extending the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund for four years
Housing:
- Addressing supply-side issues through purpose-built student accommodation
Defence and Marine:
- Ensuring the Common User Facility at the Cairns Marine Precinct progresses as part of Cairns’ move to establish a national centre of excellence for key naval vessels
Road Connectivity:
- Focusing on the region’s access to the northern beaches (Cairns Western Arterial Road and Captain Cook Highway), the Tablelands (Kuranda Range Road and Palmerston Highway) and inland connections via the Gulf Savannah Way.
Water Security:
- Including support for Cairns Regional Council’s call for further funding for Cairns Water Security Stage 1.
These and other focus areas (including support to help SMEs safeguard their businesses) can drive meaningful progress for our region and help our collective efforts to advocate to shape the future of Tropical North Queensland. Our particular thanks goes to those delegates who took time out of your busy roles and at your own expense to be part of this important initiative. And we also hope you note the specially designed branded accessories inspired by elements of a beautiful piece of work commissioned for Advance Cairns by local First Nations artist Jedess Hudson which symbolise coming together and meeting place.
Recent Comments