T?QUAL grants open to boost local tourism projects

ARE you in a tourism?related business or organisation? Do you have a project or product that needs ‘freshening up’? If so, Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch is urging you to apply for a Tourism Quality Projects grant (T?QUAL Grant), with the 2013 round now open. T?QUAL Grants are an integral part of the Australian Government’s Tourism 2020 strategy…

Volunteers urged to apply for funding grants

VOLUNTEERS play a vital role in our communities yet their work is often under-resourced. So, to assist local organisations, Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch is pleased to announce that the Volunteer Grants program for 2013 is now open. “I am totally committed to supporting and encouraging volunteering in Leichhardt,” Mr Entsch said today. “These…

No winners in cabinet reshuffle

THE Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle has resulted in a front bench that is distinctly lacking in experience and ability and it’s the Australian public who will pay, says Federal MP Warren Entsch. “I think it’s an absolute shame that people with talent like Martin Ferguson, Kim Carr and Chris Bowen have had to step down,”…

Labor disintegrates as Coalition waits

FEDERAL MP Warren Entsch has described himself as “bitterly disappointed” that the historic apology to families affected by forced adoption was overshadowed by Labor’s leadership dysfunction. “Yesterday I attended an event in the Great Hall at Parliament House to mark a very significant occasion, when the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition made…

Adjournment – World TB Day

Mr ENTSCH (Leichhardt-Chief Opposition Whip) (19:38): I rise tonight to acknowledge World Tuberculosis Day, this Sunday, 24 March. It is with great sadness that I highlight the case of Catherina Abraham, a 20-year-old girl from Daru Island who last year made a desperate journey to Australia to seek treatment for this killer disease. She had…

CASA must answer to their actions, says Entsch

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has slammed CASA for the permanent grounding of Barrier Aviation, identifying “vested interests” as playing a key role in the airline’s crisis. “It’s a bloody disgrace – there are people in CASA who should be sacked over this,” he said. “By the time the true facts behind all this…

Myna bird traps relaunched for 2013

THE highly-successful Indian myna bird eradication program is being rebooted for 2013 with the Cairns Men’s Shed and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch announcing that orders for traps are again being taken. “The Men’s Shed stopped taking new orders for traps late last year to deal with a back-log of requests – they were just so…

Constituency Statement – Tibet Petition

Mr ENTSCH (Leichhardt-Chief Opposition Whip) (10:30):  I rise today to add my voice in support of those who seek a peaceful resolution in the crisis in Tibet. It is very distressing to hear the human rights situation is driving a number of Tibetans to self-immolate. On 25 February, Tsesung Kyab, a farmer, and Sangdag, a…

Tibet governance issues taken to Parliament

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has played a key role on Tibet Advocacy Day, 18 March, tabling a petition with more than 2500 signatures in the Australian Parliament. The move follows news that as of 25th February, 107 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in protest against China’s occupation of Tibet. “I rise today to add…