Funding available to strengthen communities

FAR Northern community groups, not?for?profits and local government organisations are being urged to put their hand up for Round 2 of the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities Programme. The programme, announced in this year’s Budget, is providing $150,000 per year for two years to every electorate in Australia to fund small capital projects which deliver social…

December 31 the deadline for mobile black spot nominations

MEMBER for Leichhardt Warren Entsch MP has today called for nominations of mobile black spot locations to be submitted by December 31. “The Commonwealth Government has committed $60 million which will help provide new or upgraded mobile coverage in Leichhardt under Round 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Programme,” Mr Entsch said. “I strongly encourage…

Patrol vessel boost in Torres Strait

The Australian Border Force (ABF) will bolster its capabilities in Torres Strait and Far North Queensland (FNQ) with the stationing of a Bay Class vessel in FNQ to permanently patrol the region. The Roebuck Bay has commenced its first patrol in the Strait after departing Cairns on Monday. It has undergone a substantial refurbishment in…

Cairns white water rafters win silver at World Champs

MEMBER for Leichhardt Warren Entsch MP has congratulated six young Cairns women after they placed in second position at last week’s World Rafting Championships in Indonesia. The ‘Downunder Thunder’ Under-19 women’s team, representing Australia, were only just beaten by the Russian team ? 888 points to 892 ? across the 3-day event.“Congratulations to Steph Seed,…

Leichhardt reaps rewards from aerodrome upgrade programme

AUSTRALIANS living in remote communities in Leichhardt are set to benefit from improved access to basic services and essential deliveries such as food, medicine and mail, as a result of projects announced today under the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Programme.  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the funding was…

New era for JCU leadership

LEICHHARDT MP Warren Entsch has welcomed the announcement that His Excellency the Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell will be appointed the new Chancellor of James Cook University in 2016. “Bill is an outstanding JCU alumnus and a highly appropriate person to take over the reins from retiring Chancellor Lt Gen John Grey AC,” Mr…

Action to combat ‘Ice’ in Leichhardt

FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch says Far North Queensland will benefit from extra efforts to tackle the drug ‘ice’. The Government will invest almost $300 million over four years to improve treatment, after-care, education, prevention, support and community engagement to tackle ice. It comes after the Final Report of the National Ice Taskforce was…

Entsch welcomes boost to Reef protection

A commitment of $58 million from the Reef Trust spearheads a suite of measures by the Australian Government to continue to build the health and resilience of the iconic Great Barrier Reef. “This new commitment of $58 million between 2015 and 2019 brings the Australian Government’s total investment through the Reef Trust to $91.3 million,”…