Next chapter of community forums in Central Queensland

Ministers and MPs will meet tomorrow with a group of committed Central Queensland locals in Rockhampton, as part of a new round of Regional Community Forums. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said new membership for the forums in 2022 would continue the diversity of experience, ideas and interests in regional Queensland.

“Listening to communities is the hallmark of good government, and we work best when we work together,” the Premier said.

“Since 2019, our Regional Community Forums have helped to strengthen partnerships in rural and regional areas, collaborating on local solutions and local innovations for local issues.

“In Central Queensland, forum members have expertise in key areas and industries including community services, health, education and training, agriculture, engineering and manufacturing.

“I welcome all new and returning members, and look forward to hearing about priorities and actions from the first round of forums for 2022.”

Rockhampton will host Central Queensland forum members with Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement Mick de Brenni and Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veterans’ Affairs and COVID Economic Recovery Bart Mellish.

Assistant Minister for Education Brittany Lauga and Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke will co-chair the forum.

Today’s agenda will recap and confirm areas of interest, and begin the development of a new region-specific action plan, guided by the priorities of forum members.

There will also be a session on the recent Queensland Workforce Summit.

Ms Lauga said she welcomed the ideas and fresh perspectives new forum members would bring.

“In previous years of the Central Queensland forums, there’s been a broad focus on innovation, infrastructure investment, diversifying the economy and backing small businesses,” Ms Lauga said.

“In 2021, the forum helped to establish a working group, which developed and rolled out a mentoring program for small businesses across the region.

“I know new forum members will continue the important work identified in previous forums, while identifying how the forums can best serve this community into the future.”  

Mr O’Rourke said the forums had inspired impactful partnerships and community collaboration over the past two years.

“I’m grateful to continue to be a part of the Regional Community Forums in Central Queensland, having seen the encouraging progress the forums have inspired since 2019,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“Through site visits over the last two and a half years, the forums have helped showcase the work of a number of local employers – including Emerald Coaches and the ConocoPhilips LNG facility in Gladstone.

“The forums have also been particularly valuable through COVID-19, with members encouraging the vaccine uptake in their communities, and assisting local small businesses, working with local governments to develop skills workshops and promote programs such as Business Ignite.”

Regional Community Forums will also be held tomorrow in Cairns (Far North Queensland), Townsville (North-North West Queensland), Mackay (Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday), Longreach (Western Queensland), Bundaberg (Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast) and Toowoomba (Darling Downs-South West Queensland).

The Regional Community Forums are part of the Queensland Government’s Advancing Queensland’s Regions strategy, supported by the Office for Rural and Regional Queensland.

ENDS

Media contact:

Minister de Brenni - Dan Knowles 0432 681 664