Spotlight on Far North as Cairns hosts Parliament

• Cairns to host Queensland Regional Parliament from 9-11 May
• Program of events from Monday 8-12 May will include parliament sitting week, Youth Parliaments, school excursions and cultural and community events
• Chance for Far North Queensland to see government in action and in person

Far North Queensland Regional Parliament will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre from Tuesday 9 May to Thursday 11 May.

As part of a broader program of events during the week, the Premier, Ministers and MPs will participate in events including Regional Cabinet, State Reception, an Advance Cairns business and industry luncheon in collaboration with the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Parliament Reception, an afternoon tea with seniors, Path to Treaty breakfast and a Women on Boards event.

Regional Mayors, Indigenous representatives, business and community leaders, and school groups will also be involved with events across the week.

Following a visit to Townsville in 2019, it will be the second time Parliament has ventured outside Brisbane since the Palaszczuk Government’s 2017 commitment to reintroduce regional sittings.

Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“Queensland is a big state, and we are taking the people’s Parliament to the people.

“Regional sittings of Parliament are an important opportunity for locals – including our school students - to not only see democracy in action first hand, but to also hear all of the key issues for their area debated.

“It’s also about engaging and listening to the local community in their own backyard so we can help boost the local economy and provide better infrastructure and services for them.

“As part of the 2022-23 State Budget, we’re investing $1.2 billion in far north infrastructure and capital works, $1.5 billion on health, $66.5 million on education, $173 million for social housing, all supporting thousands of good jobs.

“From the major Bruce Highway Cairns Southern Access Corridor upgrade, health investments like Cairns Hospital ED expansion, the Cairns Marine Precinct project, and refurbishment of the Cairns Convention Centre to a new Screen Queensland Cairns Studio, our government is backing jobs and growth in Far North Queensland.

“As part of our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan our renewable energy projects pipeline is also supplying cleaner and more affordable energy for households, workers, businesses, the economy and regional communities such as here in Cairns.

“We can’t wait to share all the good news when Parliament heads to the far north next week.”

Quotes attributable to Speaker and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt:

“As a proud Far North Queenslander, I’m delighted to see Cairns given the privilege to host Parliament which in itself will provide a significant economic boost for the region.

“I advocated strongly for this Regional Parliament sitting because I know how important this region is in Queensland’s economic success story today and into the future.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Cairns Michael Healy:

“I’m keen to welcome the Parliament to Cairns as it enables locals to see first-hand Parliament in action.

“It’s a great opportunity to remind those visiting our city why Cairns is one of the most spectacular tourism destinations, not just in Australia, but around the world.

“It’s also a great opportunity to have the Premier and Ministers in our region to discuss with locals a wide range of important issues.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Member for Barron River Craig Crawford:

“This is an important sitting week, with the Path to Treaty Bill being debated in Cairns.

“The Bill seeks to establish a First Nations Treaty Institute and a formal Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry.

“I look forward to co-hosting a Path to Treaty breakfast with the Premier later in the week.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Cook Cynthia Lui:

“I look forward to having Parliament in the Far North for the first time since I’ve been the Member for Cook.

“It’s a great opportunity for the government to highlight the great work being done in this part of the state and I am particularly looking forward to debating the Path to Treaty Bill.”

Further information:

For Far North Queensland Regional Parliament session times and further information, please visit here

Far North Queensland Regional Sitting 2023 | Queensland Parliament.

ENDS

Media contact: Zoe Russell – 0439 982 347