A division of the Liberal Party of Australia
WESTERN VISIT TO EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
05 August, 2008
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New opportunities for North West Queensland will be the focus of the 10 day trip being undertaken by the Federal Opposition Spokesman on Northern Australia this week.
Senator Ian Macdonald will use his annual western trip to investigate emerging opportunities for North West Queensland.
Senator Macdonald will depart from his Townsville office on Wednesday 6 August at 10.30am for the 10 day road trip, which will take him through Hervey’s Range to Forsayth and Georgetown, Normanton, Camooweal, Mount Isa, Richmond and Charters Towers.
Senator Macdonald said that with the Murray Darling food bowl becoming more precarious each day, clever investors and farmers were looking to the north to secure the future of Australia’s food supply.
"I will be visiting Strathmore Station near Croydon to discuss the development of sustainable maize and forage sorghum, the sustainable use of 120 new dams and the upgrading of water infrastructure. This is a significant example of sustainable agriculture in the North West.
“Development of the north means the right support services need to be in place, including high quality health services. A number of people have contacted me wanting to discuss health infrastructure. I will be inspecting a state of the art Super Clinic in Cloncurry to see just what can be achieved in regional and remote areas.
"Further development of the North West means that a good communications are required, and I will be checking the accessibility of broadband and mobile telephony as I cross the country.
“I will also be talking with locals about the urgent need to relocate or extend the Karumba airstrip as part of the infrastructure requirements for the North West.
“I am keen to meet with the North Gulf Resource Management Group, which is struggling to maintain staff and services following the Rudd Government’s cutbacks in funding by 40%.
“The NRM’s will have to deliver more, with fewer resources. It will be the environment that will ultimately suffer.”
Senator Macdonald will be joined in Mount Isa by his Senate colleague, and Shadow Attorney General, Senator George Brandis.
"I recognise the contribution that North West Queensland makes to Australia as a whole, and I want to ensure that North Queensland gets the infrastructure and Government assistance that it needs to secure the future of our great country.
“I am conscious that with only about 6% of Australia’s population, Northern Australia provides more than 30% of export earnings. Yet, we never seem to get a fair return from the enormous wealth that we produce for Australia" Senator Macdonald said.