Labor fails North Queenslanders facing insurance woes

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has described himself as “bitterly disappointed” at the government’s failure to address virtually any of the issues surrounding strata title insurance. The government today (Thursday) tabled in parliament its response to the nine recommendations from the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs. Despite hearing…

Skyrocketing insurance costs hit local businesses hard

THE plight of local businesses that are facing huge operational challenges as a result of the impending carbon tax has been highlighted in parliament by local MP Warren Entsch. Mr Entsch used the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday night to argue that the tax will “penalise families, penalise businesses, penalise tourism-which is the lifeblood of my area-and do…

Adjournment Speech – Carbon Pricing

On the eve of the introduction of the world’s greatest carbon tax, I want to raise some very serious concerns about the impacts on my community. The carbon tax is being loudly touted as the solution to global pollution, but in reality it will simply penalise families, penalise businesses, penalise tourism-which is the lifeblood of…

Entsch stands up for abandoned cattle producers

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has publicly condemned Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig’s handling of the live export ban debacle, saying it has had a “profound negative impact” on producers. Mr Entsch addressed parliament last night (Monday) on his Private Members’ Motion, saying that while it gave him “no great pleasure at all” to raise…

Have your say now on the Carbon Tax

FEDERAL MP Warren Entsch has taken aim at the Carbon Tax on behalf of people in Leichhardt in a bid to raise awareness of the impact that the tax will have on local families, businesses and tourism operators. Mr Entsch has today launched a petition on his website, Can You Afford The Carbon Tax? giving Leichhardt residents the…

Relief as councils learn that works can continue

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has congratulated the Regional Organisation of Councils of Cape York (ROCCY) for making a stand against the government’s decision not to reimburse councils who use their own crews to carry out disaster recovery works. He has also commended Cook Shire Council for standing up for its contractors and day…

Matter of Public Importance – Marine Conservation

In rising to speak on this MPI, I started to choke on some of the uninformed drivel that was coming from the other side. I was particularly concerned by a couple of speakers who made light of the fact that they are going to have to travel some distance to reach Commonwealth waters. What they do…

Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill – Speech

In rising to speak on the Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2012 I have to say it has been quite an eventful couple of days that we have seen in this place. I am pleased to see that the government has finally come around to some semblance of sense in that, thanks to the pressure…

Government stalls while Cape roads crumble

NORTH Queensland Councils have reached crisis point and will close some of the most popular tourist routes on Cape York if the government cannot commit to reimbursing day labour for disaster reconstruction works. Despite the representatives of 19 regional councils meeting with Attorney General Nicola Roxon in Townsville on June 5, and having the matter…