Scherger closure a double-edged sword

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch says the Weipa community must be supported when the Scherger Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) closes its doors at the end of February. The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison MP, announced today that the government will close four immigration detention facilities – including Scherger IDC – resulting…

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MP shares memories of Paul Kamsler Sr

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has paid tribute to the “colourful life and outstanding achievements” of Paul Kamsler Sr, who passed away at the weekend aged 90. Mr Entsch offered Mr Kamsler’s family members and friends his deepest condolences, saying that his friendship with the tourism stalwart had “most definitely enriched my life”. “Paul…

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A solution for Torres Strait aged care underway

The Australian Government has today affirmed its commitment to better aged care for the Torres Strait.  The Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield, and the Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, today announced the Torres Strait community would be invited to have their say on future directions of aged care in their community, including current…

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Key steps reached on Northern Australia program

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has welcomed the reaching of key milestones during this Parliamentary sitting which will enable the White Paper process for the Development of Northern Australia to launch soundly in the New Year. The membership of the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia (JSCNA) was approved by the Senate on December 4th and…

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Projects approved with safeguards to protect the reef

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has welcomed news that the Government’s approval of dredging activities at Abbot Point will be subject to the highest environmental standards to protect the Great Barrier Reef. After rigorous assessment, the Government has completed the approvals process for four Queensland projects under National Environmental Law, approving: ·         The capital…

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It’s on! Parish Hall renovation underway

IT’S been an eventful week for the Parish Hall Restoration Project with the much-anticipated start of Stage 1 renovation coupled with a major donation from a local business. After a mammoth community fundraising effort over the last 16 months, works have now commenced to take out the asbestos and remove the roof of the historic…

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Additional funding to manage crown-of-thorns starfish

THE Government is allocating an extra $1.1 million in funding to further protect the Great Barrier Reef from the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish.The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) can destroy coral faster than it can regenerate and is one of the most significant threats to the reef.  In recent decades COTS were responsible for 42% of coral loss.Although…

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Entsch again fights for local fishers

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has highlighted the hypocrisy surrounding fisheries management in the Coral Sea and tuna ‘overfishing’ in the Federal Parliament today. Mr Entsch said he had been following with interest the media coverage of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting that is currently being held in Cairns. “For a long time…

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Long-awaited Sea Walls funding locked in

THE repeated flooding of Torres Strait Island communities will soon be a thing of the past with Federal MP Warren Entsch today announcing that the Federal Government has locked in the $5 million needed to kick-start the Sea Walls rehabilitation project. The $5 million grant was originally announced through the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF)…

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Time to prepare for wireless switch

FEDERAL MP Warren Entsch is urging wireless microphone users in communities around Leichhardt to prepare for changes that will affect how they can use the devices. The changes are part of the Federal Government’s work to clear specific radiofrequency spectrum (known as the ‘digital dividend’) so that it can be used to provide 4G mobile…

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