Leichhardt school students awarded top prizes

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch today congratulated students from Cairns who have been awarded one of the nation’s top prizes for Year 12 students undertaking Vocational Education and Training in School (VETiS). Five students from Redlynch State College, Smithfield State High School, Trinity Bay State High School and Woree State High School are among 500 students…

Extra funding to expand GP services in regional areas

GP clinics in Leichhardt are being encouraged to take advantage of funding in the 2014/15 Budget to expand their services and boost the number of trainees, says Federal MP Warren Entsch. “We want to see more GP trainees in practices around the Far North so we’ve provided $52.5 million to rural and regional areas Australia-wide…

Key step reached on Nth Australia inquiry

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has today released an interim report from the Committee on Northern Australia, telling Parliament that the inquiry has generated a massive level of community interest and created “high expectations”. The Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia, of which Mr Entsch is the Chair, has been tasked with examining the potential of,…

Cairns Bruce Highway Upgrade now open

MOTORISTS on the Bruce Highway will benefit from reduced congestion and improved road safety with the opening of Stage 1 of the new southern approach into Cairns today. Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the Australian Government has contributed $150 million to the project which will help to…

School kids invited to play on the world stage

LOCAL school children are being invited to show visiting G20 delegates just what they love about Queensland, as part of an art competition launched today by Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch. “When G20 Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors and more than 200 foreign journalists touch down in Cairns in September, they’ll certainly find a proud community…

NBN rolling out in Leichhardt

AROUND 2,400 premises in Leichhardt are a step closer to getting access to the National Broadband Network, with build preparation work now underway. “In the next few weeks, people will be able to see work starting in local streets as the pre-construction activity begins, such as the clearing of Telstra’s pits and ducts,” said Federal…

AGA confirms insurance extortion in NQ

NEWS that strata properties in North Queensland are paying five times more for insurance than those in southern cities clearly shows market failure, says Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch. “The Australian Government Actuary’s report is fantastic – we’ve known for a long time through anecdotal evidence that we are paying too much, but now we have…

Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama take flight

PORMPURAAW Airstrip in Far North Queensland will benefit from $790,000 announced today by the Australian Government for essential safety upgrades. Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the upgrade was one of four remote airstrip upgrades to be approved today under the Regional Aviation Access Programme. “An additional $225,000…

Carr delusional over AITHM comments: Entsch

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has staunchly defended government investment in tropical health and medicine research at James Cook University, describing Labor Senator Kim Carr’s comments in Senate Estimates today as “naive and bizarre”. “The fact is that JCU has a reputation for innovation and does outstanding work in tropical health and medicine,” Mr Entsch said…

Entsch welcomes new insurer to North Qld

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has welcomed news of increased competition in the North Queensland insurance market, with a new strata product being launched this week. It comes as the major insurers felt the heat under questioning from the Northern Australia committee in Brisbane last Friday, where Mr Entsch warned that the government was prepared to…