Employees to be given greater options with IFAs

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has argued for greater flexibility of employment arrangements and a review of penalty rates that are crippling small businesses in the Far North. Speaking in Parliament on the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014, Mr Entsch said it was imperative to reduce the Far North’s unacceptably high levels of business…

NBN rollout continues in Cairns

MORE than 5000 households and businesses in Cairns are a step closer to getting access to the National Broadband Network. Build preparation work is now underway in the suburbs of Manoora, Whitfield and Edge Hill, which will enable the NBN to pass around 2800 premises. Work will be visible in streets as pre-construction activity begins,…

Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this bill. Unlike the previous speaker, the member for Lalor, I will not be speaking about hypotheticals. The Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014 certainly covers a number of issues, including addressing the current imbalance in union workplace access rules, right of entry and Greenfields agreements. However, I want…

Cairns seniors fit the digital profile

A NEW online account feature that allows Centrelink customers to update their income and asset details online means even more convenience for Cairns seniors. Minister for Human Services Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Federal Member for Leichhardt the Hon Warren Entsch today visited the Cairns one-stop shop to meet with staff and observe digital service…

More support for patients with prostate cancer

THE Cairns area is receiving funding for a specialist prostate cancer nurse to provide support for patients, their families and carers. Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch MP said prostate cancer was the most common form of cancer affecting Australian men (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers), with 19,821 men diagnosed in 2010. “The good news is that…

Time to retune as digital TV rollout completes

LOCALS are urged to familiarise themselves with retuning their TVs as the final step in Australia’s move to digital television takes place in Leichhardt from the middle of August. “The relocation of digital television services across Australia is well underway and involves moving some or all digital television services at over 400 transmission sites nationally…

Have your say on National Landcare Programme

THE Australian Government will hit the road in August to talk to Australian communities about getting involved in the National Landcare Programme. Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said that from 4 August, community information sessions would be held in capital cities and regional centres across the country telling people about the opportunities on offer…

Funding to train Cape York stockmen

Thirty Indigenous people are being provided with training and employment opportunities through a new cattle industry employment project in Cape York. The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and the Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, said $300,000 has been provided under the Community Development Fund (CDF) to APN Cape York to establish a six month…

Affordable, available child care high on the agenda

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch was today joined by Federal Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley, as the Abbott Government delivers on its promise to deliver more affordable, flexible and accessible child care for Far North Queensland families. The visit by the Assistant Minister comes one week after the Government received a draft Productivity…

Regional arts fund delivers projects for Leichhardt

FEDERAL MP Warren Entsch has welcomed news that the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund will help Far Northerners celebrate arts, culture and diversity in communities. The Lockhart River Indigenous Arts Corporation has received $10,670 for a project titled Our World – Lockhart River, a collaborative, interactive program about arts and culture in remote Lockhart River.…