Work to begin on $359m Captain Cook Highway project

Early works on the congestion-busting $359 million Captain Cook Highway upgrade project will commence this year. The $359 million Captain Cook Highway project is jointly funded with the Australian Government committing $287.2 million and the Queensland Government committing $71.8 million. The Australian Government recently added the Captain Cook Highway from Cairns CBD to Smithfield to…

Morrison Government to support thousands of new FNQ apprentice and trainee jobs

Thousands of new job opportunities will be created for apprentices and trainees across Cairns and Far North Queensland with the expansion of the targeted wage subsidy program as part of the Morrison Government’s National Economic Recovery Plan. The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy program is fully subscribed, helping to create 100,000 apprenticeships in less than…

Morrison Government continues to provide support for Cairns and FNQ tourism and aviation industries

Cairns and Far North Queensland hotels, caravan parks, restaurants, bars, retail stores and tourism operators will benefit from a domestic tourism boom under the Morrison Government’s $1.2 billion tourism and aviation recovery package. The comprehensive package includes a mix of half-price airline tickets, cheap loans for businesses and direct support to keep planes in the…

Boosting maritime capacity in the Pacific

The Morrison Government has awarded TAFE Queensland a $36 million contract to provide mariner training and support to the Navy crews of the Guardian-class Patrol Boats. The funding is being delivered as part of the Morrison Government’s $2 billion Pacific Maritime Security Program to strengthen maritime capability in the Pacific. Acting Minister for Defence Marise…

Helping older Far North Queenslanders improve their digital skills, confidence and online safety

Older residents in Cairns and Far North Queensland will be encouraged to bridge the digital divide through a new government investment to help senior Australians remain connected with friends and family online and learn new skills. Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the Morrison Government would provide $28.3 million to extend the Be Connected…

Media Statement: 2022 Federal Election

In 2019, on election night, I announced that I would not recontest the next federal election, as I felt the time was right to pursue other interests outside politics. However, that decision was made well before the global COVID-19 pandemic was even thought of, or before it reached our shores. Our region was one of…