Hervey Bay hosting Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast Regional Community Forum  

Published Monday, 28 August, 2023 at 10:28 AM

JOINT STATEMENT

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
The Honourable Yvette D'Ath

Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Leanne Linard

 

  • The third Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast Regional Community Forum of 2023  

  • Q2032 Procurement Strategy supporting regional Queensland 

  • Thousands of businesses across the region could benefit 

Housing, education, training, infrastructure, workforce attraction and retention, liveability, and the Q2032 Procurement Strategy will be part of the conversation at the Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast Regional Community Forum meeting at Hervey Bay on Monday.  

The forum includes a visit to The Tree House – Urangan Community Wellness Centre which supports the wellbeing of community members.   

There will be updates on workforce, liveability and volunteering, and a discussion about the Youth Foyer model which supports and enables young people.   

There will also be a presentation about the Q2032 Procurement Strategy whereby Queensland-based businesses will be prioritised to share in an anticipated $180 billion of government procurement from now until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  

Three young athletes from Agnes Waters, 1 from Bundaberg and 1 from Hervey Bay have so far been discovered by the YouFor2032 talent identification program. 

It is expected that around 50 per cent of international travellers visiting as a result of Brisbane 2032 will disperse to Queensland’s regions, stimulating a significant increase in overnight visitor expenditure. 

 Quote attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette D’Ath: 

“The Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast forum members continue to do great work to support positive outcomes for the region, and I thank them for their hard work.” 

 Quote attributable to the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard:  

“These forums are part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to deliver a brighter future for the Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast region with workforce, youth and liveability actions contributing to positive outcomes, supported by government investment.” 

Quote attributable to the Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast Regional Community Forum Co-Chair, State Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari: 

“The future is positive thanks to the forum members who have worked hard and I thank them for their contributions so far.” 

Quote attributable to the Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast Regional Community Forum Co-Chair, State Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith: 

"The Wide Bay region is a broad and diverse community that embraces the many voices across industries, organisations and small business. 

 "Meeting in Hervey Bay on Monday will provide another great opportunity for members to collaborate on targeted projects key to the region." 

 Quote attributable to Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast Forum member Kevin Edwards: 

“Forums have provided a great connection to people, and what is happening in our regions, from a government perspective, and this has led to me being more informed when supporting my community to solve some of the immediate needs.”  

Successful outcomes: 

Outcomes delivered by the forum members include: 

  • supporting the delivery of the Butchulla Warriors’ Memorial 

  • forum members were actively consulted in relation to the forward planning program for regional plans, including in the development of the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan.   

Further Background: 

  • The forum is co-chaired by State Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari, and State Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith.   

  • The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette D’Ath, and the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard are also attending.  

  • The Wide Bay Burnett Fraser Coast Regional Community Forum is one of seven to be held in regional centres across the state, with similar forums for Central Queensland, Darling Downs South West Queensland, Far North Queensland, North and North West Queensland, Mackay Isaac Whitsunday, and Western Queensland.  

  • One more round of Regional Community Forums is scheduled for 2023. 

  • Regional Community Forums are supported by the Office for Rural and Regional Queensland.  

ENDS 

Media contact – Scott Chandler 0409 472 893