BUSINESS FEATURE

The Far North is seemingly unstoppable right now, and it’s a very exciting time as we see plans and advocacy transforming into work sites, expanding opportunities for our region.

Earlier in the year, our federal budget announced $166.5 million to commence the Cairns Western Arterial Road duplication that will stretch through Caravonica to Smithfield, alleviating traffic for the thousands of motorists who come from Port Douglas, the Northern Beaches, Kuranda and the Tablelands into Cairns. 

The State Premier joined me in July to inspect the site, and preparation roadworks began in September.  This is a six year project co-funded by all levels of Government that we anticipate to be completed with plenty of time for all the tourists that the Brisbane 2032 Olympics will bring to our corner of the world. 

There are shovels in the ground all around our back yard right now, the Cairns Water Security project is nearing completion, ready to provide 64,000 new homes with a reliable and safe water supply; there is new housing infrastructure going in the ground which will bring thousands of new homes and with it families, jobs, growth and optimism.

James Cook University recently opened their medical training facility “The Yeinie Building” with substantial investment from the Government. This will enable the university to expand its cohort of qualified graduate doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who will live and work in the region, ready to staff the rapidly expanding Cairns Hospital precinct. 

On the other side of town, I joined Education Minister Jason Clare (pictured, top left) to break ground on the new CQUniversity CBD campus.  With $75 million in support from the Albanese Government, the completed building will deliver highly trained and qualified staff, including nurses, paramedics, radiographers, and more. Going back as far as my election campaign, I've been advocating heavily for this project.  I'm extremely proud to see this project develop as we deliver two sturdy pillars of education for Leichhardt. 

Healthcare is always of peak importance and as I always say “if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.”  It’s so good to see that the good folks of Leichhardt have really embraced Medicare Bulk Billing, with a leap in the last year of 5%, so now 86% of all doctor’s appointments are fully bulk billed and backed by Medicare. I joined Drs Gagan and Raj Rajpal recently (pictured, bottom left) to celebrate their opening of the Harmony Medical Clinic, which is now the 53^rd fully bulk billed clinic in Leichhardt. 

With cheaper prescriptions, a new Urgent Care Clinic North of Cairns, and a Medical Mental Health Clinic, Labor is strengthening Medicare for everyone in our region. We’ve also added menopause health assessments to Medicare, with more than 125,000 women already accessing the help they need.

Tropical Far North Queensland is undeniably a part of Australia that works in harmony with nature more so than many other parts of our nation.  The Great Barrier Reef is a global icon that brings visitors from everywhere to witness, enjoy, and make memories that last a lifetime. 

The reef is also an integral part of our economy, sustaining industry that employs roughly 77,000 people.  We are the trusted custodians of this natural wonder, which I view as a great responsibility.  I recently hosted a “Friends of the Great Barrier Reef” event in Parliament (pictured, bottom right), joined by senators and scientists to increase awareness and activism for how we can continue to protect the reef for generations to come.  Everything I stand up for in the Far North is communicated to the powers that be in Canberra to make sure our region is getting it’s fair share and never left behind.

Through infrastructure, roads, housing, education, healthcare, protecting the environment and more, I’m doing everything in my power to help raise up all of us in the Far North, but none of it would amount to much without our families, our community, and our camaraderie. 

It was a particularly joyous experience for me to help the Ellis Beach Surf Life Saving Club officially open their new clubhouse (pictured, top right).  It has taken fifteen years of progress for the club, along with $3.5 million in Federal funding.  To see those kids, those families, those young athletes and life-savers celebrate their new home (on the safe side of the highway) truly is a wondrous thing.