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…

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…

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…

Entsch urges locals to Stay Safe Online

LOCAL MP Warren Entsch is encouraging residents and businesses in Leichhardt to ‘stay smart online’ as part of a new national awareness week from 2nd-6th June. “It’s so important that all Australians are able to go online confidently and securely, whether they’re shopping online, doing their banking, learning or communicating,” Mr Entsch said. “The Australian…

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…

Writing on the wall for CASA ineptitude

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has welcomed the findings of a review into Australian aviation safety, saying it has put the spotlight on CASA’s “toxic and vindictive” culture and practices. “It’s the best report relating to CASA that I’ve seen in a long time,” Mr Entsch said. “I congratulate David Forsyth and the panel that reviewed…

Final days for input on new insurance measures

FAR Northerners have just a few days left to contribute to the discussion paper on insurance, which seeks to pin down exactly how consumers want the aggregator website and other competition-boosting mechanisms to work. As detailed in the Budget, the Government will fund the creation of a website to compare property insurance prices and policies,…

Cyclone Ita: McLucas misleads again

THE Federal Government has made special arrangements for Cook Shire Council to carry out post-Ita repair work on its road network despite Senator Jan McLucas’ “totally inaccurate” claims otherwise. Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch says Cook Shire Council has already received a special dispensation from the Prime Minister’s office so that it can use its own…