Funding to strengthen indigenous reef heritage

INDIGENOUS heritage in the Great Barrier Reef will be strengthened thanks to $70,000 in funding to develop a cultural heritage strategy and database. Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, said the announcement was part of the Australian Government investment of $1.6 million this financial year in 18 projects across…

Australian Government boost for tropical health research

THE Far North community is set to benefit greatly from a share of the Australian Government’s $25.5 million investment in the Tropical Health Research and Training facility at James Cook University (JCU). The investment forms the bulk of the Government’s $42 million election commitment for the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), with…

Let’s rally support for Flying Kangaroo reps: Entsch

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has issued a ‘call to arms’ for Far Northerners to protest against key Qantas and Qantaslink representatives in Cairns becoming victims of the airline’s restructuring, describing it as “a devastating loss and a retrograde step”. At the same time as Qantas is shutting its Cairns cabin-crew base affecting 110 employees, it…

Additional assistance for communities affected by TC Ita

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has welcomed news that further assistance is being provided to Far Northern communities hardest hit by Tropical Cyclone Ita. Additional assistance is being provided for the local government areas of Cook Shire, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire, under the jointly funded Commonwealth and State Natural…

Milestone reached in Crown of Thorns cull

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has welcomed news that 250,000 crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) have now been culled on the Great Barrier Reef due to a new control measure and additional vessel to combat the pest. Mr Entsch was joined by Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt in Cairns today to make the announcement, together with Steve Moon,…

Local clubs help shift focus from alcohol

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has highlighted the great work of local sports clubs who are helping to reduce binge drinking in the community and make clubs more welcoming to families. More than 40 clubs in Leichhardt are registered with the Australian Drug Foundation’s Good Sports program, which works with community clubs to help change their…

Archway to again grace Anzac Park

COOKTOWN’S Anzac Park will once again feature a WWI memorial to be proud of with a project to replace the old archway receiving more than $34,000 funding through the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program. Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch congratulated the Cooktown RSL Sub-Branch for initiating the project, which came about after the previous…

Time to showcase Leichhardt

IT’S time again to launch the Leichhardt Community Calendar photography competition so whether you’ve captured a stunning landscape, a striking portrait, some iconic wildlife or fierce weather, Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch wants to hear from you. Entries are now being accepted for the annual competition from which Mr Entsch will choose the top…

Leichhardt youth set to take on Canberra

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has today congratulated four young locals on their selection for the National Indigenous Youth Parliament 2014. Mikaela French, 17 (Cairns), Myiesha Yoelu, 16 (Umagico, NPA), Adimin Mooka, 16 (Dauan Island) and Tanisha Pabai, 17 (Boigu Island) will travel to Canberra in May for the week-long program. “These young women…

Anzac Day for the troops 2014

FEDERAL MP Warren Entsch is urging people to donate to ex-service organisations rather than sending a traditional Anzac Day care package this month, as the number of Australian Defence Force personnel who are deployed overseas lessens. Since East Timor in 1999 there have been almost 72,000 ADF members who have served on overseas operations. By…