Mr ENTSCH: For too long, a select few have laid claim to funding to support Indigenous communities but have not made good on their commitments. The most egregious example is Noel Pearson. He presides over a growing list of dysfunctional entities who have done little but line the pockets of a select few at the…
Mr ENTSCH: The Cardiac Challenge took place last month, on 16 September. It was a three-day bike ride from Cairns to Cooktown. It’s a mission deeply rooted in personal and community stakes. For Jo Piggott this mission begun at a young age watching her mother battle rheumatic fever, undergo two open-heart surgeries and rely on…
Mr ENTSCH: Over the weekend, the Cairns Airport received the distinguished title of Airport of the Year for 2023 at the Australian Aviation Awards in Sydney, beating all our capital cities. As many in this chamber know, I’ve often been on my feet here acknowledging the exceptional contributions of the Cairns Airport to our community.…
Mr ENTSCH: I stand before you today as a very happy man, both elated and deeply gratified, to be able to inform members in this place that Cairns, a region that I have the honour of representing, is now home to the first medical cannabis dispensary in Far North Queensland, the Wild Leaf Dispensary. Many…
Mr ENTSCH: I want to add my voice to this issue of profound importance. It’s an issue that merges the cutting edge of science of genetics with the fundamental principles of justice, fairness and empathy. The issue of genetic discrimination in life insurance is a dilemma that places Australia at a critical crossroads. The time…
Mr ENTSCH: On Saturday evening, the Far North Queensland Emergency Services Association held its annual Emergency Services Charity Gala Ball—an evening not just with glitz and glamour but for purpose and passion. The association was established following a heart-wrenching tragedy at Ravenshoe, in the Atherton Tablelands, back in 2015, when a vehicle unfortunately smashed into…
Mr ENTSCH: The heart is often a symbol of vitality and life, but, in some of our First Nations communities, it represents a significant and preventable challenge. Rheumatic heart disease is an issue that has been virtually eradicated from most of Australia, yet disproportionately it remains a harrowing reality in many of our Indigenous communities.…
MR ENTSCH: I rise today with a very heavy heart to speak on the passing of Wendy Richardson, a much loved and devoted speech and language pathologist who has left a very indelible mark on our community. The sting of this tragedy is not only the profound sense of loss but the stark realisation that…
MR ENTSCH: I have been looking forward to rising to speak again on this very, very important subject of cyclone reinsurance. As the member for Leichhardt and the Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia, I’ve taken a very keen interest in this issue over many, many years and in finding a…
MR ENTSCH: I would like to pay tribute to some remarkable individuals from my region who were recognised during this year in the King’s Birthday Honours. Firstly I acknowledge Theo Bacalakis, who received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his invaluable work with St Johns Community Care and in the establishment of that…