Federal government to fund new marine vessel for Yirrganydji Land and Sea Rangers

The Cairns-based Yirrganydji Land and Sea Rangers will receive funding to purchase a boat so they can continue to monitor, preserve and improve sea country through marine surveillance and restoration. Funding of $270,000 for the purchase of a marine vessel will be delivered through the National Indigenous Australians Agency’s Capacity Building for Indigenous Rangers Strategy.…

Morrison Government increases regional migration target

Cairns and Far North Queensland will benefit from changes to Australia’s regional migration settings after the Morrison Government increased the number of dedicated regional visas to 25,000. Following unprecedented growth (124 per cent) in the number of regional visas granted in the first quarter of this programme year, the government is increasing the total number…

New detector dog for Cairns Airport

JD the biosecurity detector dog has been welcomed to Cairns International Airport to help keep Australia safe from African swine fever (ASF). Queensland Senator Susan McDonald said the new detector dog comes at a time of heightened risk of ASF for Australia. “In Senate Estimates last week I asked why an international airport like Cairns,…

Sikh Community

MR ENTSCH: This week I had the absolute honour of being invited to celebrate the 550th birthday of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh religion and the first of 10 Sikh gurus. It was the first time this special event has been celebrated in Parliament House. Guru Nanak preached the message…

National Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Day

MR ENTSCH: It gives me immense pleasure to rise today to speak on this motion and to mark National Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Day, which was observed on 14 September 2019. Australia has always played a leading and vital role in peacekeeping missions around the world, none more so that than leading 22 nations in the…

Toyah Cordingley

Mr ENTSCH:  Next week marks the first anniversary of the brutal and horrific murder of 24-year-old Cairns woman Toyah Cordingley. Sadly, her killer or killers have not been caught, despite the biggest murder investigation Far North Queensland has seen. In fact, it’s one of the largest police investigations since the kidnap and murder of Daniel…

Regional airports program takes off

Far North Queensland airport owners and operators will soon be able to apply for a share of $100 million in funding for safety upgrades as part of the federal government’s new Regional Airports Program. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the program guidelines are now available, giving airport owners and operators more information on their…