MP takes local disability stories to Canberra

HEART-RENDING cases of Far Northerners affected by disability were heard in Parliament today when Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch spoke on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012. “The current system of support for people with a disability is definitely broken,” Mr Entsch told the House. “We need a new system of support, a system that…

Appropriation Bill 2012-2013

Mr ENTSCH (Leichhardt-Chief Opposition Whip) (18:53): I rise this evening to talk about some serious health issues that have arisen in my electorate and the failure of this government to provide sufficient funding for programs to address them. As anyone who has experienced a serious illness knows, poor health can impact on many areas of…

Burke still not listening on World Heritage: Entsch

FEDERAL Environment Minister Tony Burke is a “dreamer” if he believes a World Heritage proposal for Cape York can proceed before this year’s election, says Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.  Mr Entsch has backed his state government counterpart, Cook MP David Kempton, who today slammed Mr Burke’s assertion that the World Heritage consultation process was “progressing…

PM’s rhetoric no solution to alcohol challenges: Entsch

LIBERAL MP and Chief Opposition Whip Warren Entsch has labelled the Prime Minister a “hypocrite” for criticising the State Government’s decision to review Alcohol Management Plans on Cape York. Speaking during today’s Closing the Gap Statement in Parliament, Ms Gillard said the winding back of AMPs would result in “rivers of grog starting to flow…

TB doesn’t discriminate, new case shows

THE march of tuberculosis in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea is continuing with a senior local leader now being diagnosed with a drug-resistant form of the disease. PNG contacts recently told Federal MP Warren Entsch that Mr Sisa Kimia, the Chairman of the Treaty Village Association from Daru Island, had been admitted to…

ICA comes under fire over flood comments

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has thrown his support behind Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale in angrily rejecting the Insurance Council of Australia’s view that local governments ‘should have done more to prevent communities from flooding’. Mr Entsch said the comments this week from ICA CEO Rob Whelan illustrate the organisation’s lack of understanding of the true…

Entsch welcomes news of September 14 election

FEDERAL MP Warren Entsch has welcomed the news of a September 14 Federal Election, saying he was looking forward to locking in firm policy commitments that will benefit the Far North. “The timing couldn’t be better, given that the Coalition has just announced its positive plan to build a strong and prosperous economy, and a…

Cairns locals team up in PNG humanitarian effort

NORTH Queensland-based shipping company Sea Swift and Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch have teamed up with a generous Cairns couple to help donate clothes to a poverty-stricken region in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinean Sally Kaida and her husband Stephen Dunick approached Mr Entsch to see if he could help get bags of…