I rise today to acknowledge the life of a local legend, Herbert 'Junior' See Poy, who passed away on 21 October at the age of 85. Junior was born on 2 May 1931 to a well-known Innisfail family who were direct descendants of Tom See Poy, a Chinese migrant who came to Queensland to work…
I certainly welcome the opportunity to make a contribution to this bill. I think we need to cast our minds back a little to when Labor came into office in 2007. There were only four illegal maritime arrivals in detention—four, and absolutely none of them were children. The Howard government had already developed policies that…
When we start talking about tourism, I have to say it is something that I have a little bit of an understanding of, given that my seat is recognised as the largest employer, economically, in the country. My little corner of Australia is certainly punching well above its weight. In early June the Cairns Airport…
Yesterday in Port Douglas more than 1,900 people took part in the Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival. This wonderful event is getting more popular every year, with registrations in 2016 up 40 per cent. Congratulations to all of the winners, from the 74-kilometre ultramarathon down to the 2.3-kilometre junior challenge. They included Christopher…
Australian businesses have unprecedented access to the global economy through our new free trade agreements, and our businesses, universities and research organisations are among the best in the world. But we are falling behind in areas of commercialisation and collaboration, ranking last or second last among OECD countries for business-research collaboration. Our appetite for risk…
I recently heard about Brisbane's call for the ACCC to do a deep-dive investigation into a perceived petrol cartel in the western suburbs of Brisbane. Given that motorists can drive 10 minutes and save 20c per litre and have an otherwise competitive market, I think that resources need to be directed to communities like Cairns…
As the month of October draws closer to an end, so does the monumental journey of a Western Australian woman, Sandy Robson. Around the 23rd of this month Sandy will end an epic sea-kayaking expedition from Germany to Australia when she lands on Saibai Island, the northernmost point in my electorate of Leichhardt. Following the…
I rise tonight to highlight a wonderful project that is currently under construction in my electorate: the Cairns Aquarium and Reef Research Centre. By April 2017 Cairns will have a $54 million, world-class, 7,500 square metre, three-level public aquarium and reef research centre, which will promote Australia's premier natural asset, the Great Barrier Reef. 15,000…
When we talk about divisive speeches—we just heard one in this place right now. Again, it raises serious concerns about the motives of the other side. Back in my late 20s, when I was living in remote Queensland gulf country, a fellow I knew went to Sydney one Christmas and came back as a woman.…
I rise here today to speak to this motion. Mental Health Week is an opportunity to remind people about the importance of their social and emotional wellbeing, and that of their families, loved ones and communities. Today I would like to mention key initiatives in my region, and highlight the government's mental health reforms which…