Cooktown ‘the tidiest of them all’

THE FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, today congratulated Cooktown for being named Queensland’s Tidiest Town for 2014. The Tidy Town award, presented by the not-for-profit Keep Australia Beautiful National Association, encourages, motivates and celebrates the achievements of rural and regional communities across Australia. Previous Queensland winners have included Mundubbera, Longreach, Caloundra, and Stanthorpe. “This…

Private Members Motion – Great Barrier Reef

I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that Marine National Park (Green) Zones as defined in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 serve to better protect the biodiversity within the Marine Park and help to ensure: (a)   the continued existence of the unique marine animals, plants and habitats that are found only in…

Don’t buy into ACTU misinformation says Entsch

THE Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is spreading a misleading and irresponsible message about ‘government’ cuts to penalty rates, says Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch. “Penalty rates are decided by the Fair Work Commission – an independent organisation that was set up by Labor, under Labor’s legislation, and that was endorsed by the…

$14.2m Daintree Rainforest Observatory opened

A new world-class research centre and observatory focusing on the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree Rainforest, has been opened in Queensland today. The Member for Leichhardt, the Hon Warren Entsch MP, said the Daintree Rainforest Observatory was built with $9.7 million from the Australian Government and that it will build on the work already…

National Youth Awards applications closing soon

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, says residents have until next Thursday, 27 November, to nominate an outstanding young person for the 2015 National Youth Awards. This is the third annual series of the Awards, which celebrate the achievements and contributions of young Australians aged 12-25. Mr Entsch urged those thinking about nominating to act…

Green Army Round 2 now open

APPLICATIONS are now open for community-led Green Army projects that support practical, grassroots environment and heritage conservation activities across Leichhardt. The Australian Government is providing additional opportunities in the 2014/15 financial year for community organisations, environment groups and local councils to apply for Green Army projects in Far North Queensland. Projects must run for 20-26…

New AFP Operations Centre opens in Cairns

TODAY marks an important day for national security with the opening of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Operations Centre and Canine Operations Centre in Cairns. This new facility provides the AFP with a world-class capability to protect the travelling public. The Operations Centre was officially opened by the Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch, on…

Far North to reap benefits of China FTA

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has applauded the ground-breaking Free Trade Agreement with China, describing the benefits as being “significant and far-reaching” for the Far North. “I’ve got to hand it to our Trade Minister, Andrew Robb,” Mr Entsch commented.  “He’s been able to achieve concessions from the Chinese that are well beyond anything that’s been…

Kowanyama River House opens its doors

VISITORS to Kowanyama on the west coast of Cape York can now enjoy new, upmarket accommodation while supporting a successful indigenous enterprise, following the official opening of the Kowanyama River House yesterday. Declaring the new venture ‘open for business’, Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch described the Kowanyama River House as an “Indigenous business success…

Celebrating our SES volunteers: Wear Orange Wednesday

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LEICHHARDT, Warren Entsch, is urging local communities to recognise the valuable and tireless work of Australia’s State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers by wearing orange for tomorrow’s Wear Orange Wednesday. Mr Entsch said: “The focus of Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW Day) is to encourage the community to show their support by wearing orange,…