DAY 2: Unlock the North | Parliament House Delegation

Summary of today's meetings and events program

• 'Taking Townsville North Queensland to Parliament House' event with the Premier, Opposition Leader, several Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet Ministers, Minor Parties, and MPs, joined by NQROC, TaskforceNQ, business and industry leaders and local, state and national media
• Panel discussion representing the broad industry base of North Queensland, moderated by Townsville Bulletin Editor Craig Warhurst

Meetings with:

• Deputy Premier and Minister for Health & Ambulance Services, Dr Steven Miles MP
• Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Dr Anthony Lynham MP
• Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing, Glenn Butcher MP
• The Office of Minister for State Development, Tourism & Innovation, Kate Jones MP
• Shadow Minister for Health & Ambulance Services, Ros Bates MP

Our second day of the Taking Townsville North Queensland to Parliament House delegation has again provided North Queensland's message to be shared strongly across the political landscape. The major event held this evening and today's meetings provided strategic opportunities to continue promoting our North Queensland delegation's road map of projects and policies that can provide the pathway to recovery and a reignited Queensland economy.

Tonight we hosted our major event of the week at Parliament House with a range of MPs, business and industry leaders where Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, and State Leader for Katter's Australian Party Robbie Katter each discussed their vision for North Queensland and steps to support our region's economic recovery.

It was a full program this evening and it was surreal to think the last time we held this event it was in 2017 before the State Election where we had nearly 350 people in the room speaking about the potential for Townsville North Queensland. This year, we could only allow a third of the attendees due to COVID-19 but our voices were just as strong and our message just as unified.

Tonight's event also included a panel discussion moderated by Townsville Bulletin Editor Craig Warhurst, with Charters Towers Regional Council Mayor Frank Beveridge, James Cook University Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding AO, Managing Director of FGH Group Jamie Fitzpatrick, and CopperString 2.0 Director Joseph O’Brien. Key areas of the discussion included the North West Minerals Province, Big Rocks Weir, driving down the cost of power in the north, TropiQ, Defence, tourism, product and experience development, and COVID-19 recovery for our local businesses.

Thank you Craig and all our panellists for a great discussion and putting voices to the key projects, policies and industries in the North that can provide the solutions to the state’s recovery and play a lead role in reigniting our economy.

The North and North West Zone of Significance was in the spotlight for today's meetings, as well as tourism product experience and development, shovel ready projects, water infrastructure and allocation, health, knowledge and research, and Defence.

Tomorrow is the final day of the program with a meeting scheduled with the Opposition Leader and Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Treasurer, as well as a range of Ministers, Shadow Ministers and Minor Parties across portfolios covering Environment & Science, Small Business, Employment, Transport, and Manufacturing, where we will continue to push the message that North Queensland can be the economic powerhouse that drives recovery for the State and Nation.

We thank the Members of Parliament who were able to attend the function and the Townsville Enterprise members, partners and locals who traveled from the North to be there. Many of these people have experienced the impacts of COVID-19 head on, with several also still recovering from the floods 12 months before. Despite this, they still made the time to step out of their business to support the region and for that we are sincerely grateful.

The North and North West Zone of Significance was in the spotlight for today's meetings, as well as tourism product experience and development, shovel ready projects, water infrastructure and allocation, health, knowledge and research, and Defence.

Tomorrow is the final day of the program with a meeting scheduled with the Opposition Leader and Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Treasurer, as well as a range of Ministers, Shadow Ministers and Minor Parties across portfolios covering Environment & Science, Small Business, Employment, Transport, and Manufacturing, where we will continue to push the message that North Queensland can be the economic powerhouse that drives recovery for the State and Nation.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE 2020 NORTH QUEENSLAND PROJECTS & POLICIES DOCUMENT