What Michelle Stands For

The Resources Industry

I have always understood the value of the resources industry to both our local and national economies. In the 2019/20 financial year in Capricornia, the resources industry has contributed around $1.1 billion in wages and 7,335 full-time jobs, with $2.7 billion spent on goods and services purchased locally.

The Labor Party continues to lay siege to the resources industry, with mining jobs and projects in their sights. They continue to oppose new mining projects, coal-fired power plants and telling the hardworking men and women in the industry to reskill. But only myself and the Liberal-National Party truly support mining jobs in Capricornia.

Job Security

I have been working for Capricornia to deliver more jobs for our community. My priority for Capricornia is employment and the delivery of stronger jobs growth. We need our local agriculture, manufacturing and small businesses to prosper so they can create jobs and employment to allow our communities to prosper.

The Liberal-National Government’s plan is to help more people relocate outside our cities and will encourage younger people to stay in rural and regional areas.

We also need to cut the cost of red and green tape because this will help our local businesses to grow which will boost productivity and jobs growth.

Water Infrastructure

Central and North Queensland need significant water infrastructure investment to improve water security and open up agricultural opportunities. The Liberal-National Government has provided the funds needed to get several water projects moving in Central Queensland such as Rookwood Weir and Urannah Dam.

I have worked hard for Capricornia demanding the Queensland Labor Government agree to accept federal funding and to get these projects started.

Road Safety

Road safety is vital to regional areas for many people like myself who spend most of their professional life driving on regional roads.

The Federal Government announced new road safety upgrades and improvements to be delivered in Queensland thanks to the Australian Government which has allocated $225 million to Queensland under tranche one of the $2 billion Road Safety Program.

There are nine projects in Capricornia that will be receiving funding, including an upgrade intersection along the Peak Downs Highway between Clermont and Nebo on Wolfang Road West and strengthening works on Bee Creek Bridge.

This funding will deliver key lifesaving improvements such as shoulder sealing, rumble strips to alert drivers they are moving out of their lane, median treatments to prevent head-on collisions and barriers to prevent run-off-road crashes and protect against roadside hazards. Additional works under tranche one the $2 billion Road Safety Program are required to begin and finish by 30 June 2021, improving safety and supporting around 950 jobs in Queensland.

Queensland unfortunately saw a 26 per cent increase in road deaths in 2020, despite the falls in traffic due to the pandemic.

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility right through all levels of government to all of us who use the road, which is why the Australian Government is investing heavily in road safety upgrades across Queensland and all of Australia. In total, the Australian Government has committed up to $225 million and the Queensland Government a further $64.6 million to fund the state-wide upgrades. Of this $289.6 million total, $267.4 million has been earmarked for regional Queensland.

The Australian Government’s funding for the Road Safety Program will deliver lifesaving measures on regional roads and to protect vulnerable road users across the Queensland while also supporting local jobs and providing a welcome boost to local economies.

I will continue to work with all levels of Government and fight for funding and initiatives to ensure the roads in Capricornia are as safe as they can possibly be.

For more information on the Australian Government’s road safety initiatives, visit www.officeofroadsafety.gov.au. 

Delivering Regional Services

I believe that all Australians should have access to an affordable, quality health care system, regardless of whether they live in the city or the country. Our local health system desperately needs more doctors.

The Liberal National Government have rolled out a number of initiatives through the Stronger Rural Health Strategy. Some of these are the More Doctors for Rural Australia Program & the Rural Junior Doctor Training Innovation Fund – for more information click here

The Liberals and Nationals in Government have supported regional Australia through recent drought, bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic and the Government considers it more important than ever that we continue to back our regions through targeted support by boosting community infrastructure.

The 2020-21 Budget included $41 million for a Securing Raw Materials Program and a Research Development Program that will broaden the Australian Government’s approach to decentralisation and create regional jobs.

The budget also included announcing Round 6 of Stronger Communities Funding and also Round 5 of Building Better Regions Funding, these two funding opportunities bring so much to the regions allowing community groups to expand or build much needed infrastructure to keep their clubs or organisations running well.

I have also been working hard for Capricornia to improve communications. This includes more and better mobile coverage funded through the Mobile Black Spot Program. Round 6 will be opening soon and I will be fighting for Capricornia to receive our fair share.

Delivering Community Projects

Community Organisations are the backbone of regional communities like ours and we see thousands of people across our electorate volunteering to keep these organisations running.

I work hard ensuring Capricornia gets our fair share and our community organisations are not left behind. To view a detailed list of delivered Community Projects click the link to the Community Projects Page.

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Priority Projects