Vision for Capricornia
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, here are a few of our groups I have helped during 2019/2020 to receive much-needed funding:
| Middlemount Golf Club | Storage Sheds | Middlemount | $ 89,496.00 | Move It Aus Community Sport Infrastructure Grant program – Round 2 |
| Cap Coast Netball Association | Build 2 new courts | Rockhampton | $330,000.00 | Move It Aus Community Sport Infrastructure Grant program – Round 2 |
| Beef Australia | 2021 Beef Australia Event | Rockhampton | $3.9 million | Beef Australia Tri-ennial Industry Eposition |
| Palmyra Dragway | Upgrades to drag club – election funding | Palmyra | $ 120,000.00 | Community Development Grants Program |
| Finch Hatton Emergency Airstrip | Emergency Airstrip – Election funding | Finch Hatton | $ 50,000.00 | Community Development Grants Program |
| Clermont Men’s Shed | Resurface existing concrete floor and additional work stations | Clermont | $ 20,000.00 | Tackling Tough Times Together Round 15 |
| Sarina Junior Rugby League | New training equipment and training for volunteers | Sarina | $ 3,000.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Mackay Hurricanes Cricket Club | Sporting Equipment & training | Ooralea | $ 1,500.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Yeppoon Scout Group | Leadership Training | Yeppoon | $ 2,500.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| 4RFM Community Radio | New computers and recording equipment | Moranbah | $ 4,470.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Rockhampton Golf Club | New computer and office supplies | Rockhampton | $ 1,000.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Pink Robin Project | RSA training and fuel costs | Rockhampton | $ 2,400.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Rockhampton Australia South Sea Islander | Marquees and fundraising equipment and storage | Rockhampton | $ 4,350.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Pioneer Valley Agriculture Show | BBQ | Finch Hatton | $ 1,600.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Dows Creek Hall | Laptop and software | Mirani | $ 1,770.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Meals on Wheels Clermont | Fuel and insurance costs | Clermont | $ 2,000.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Rossmoya Rural Fire Brigade | Training and equipment | Rossmoya | $ 5,000.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Sailability Capricornia | First Aid Training | Yeppoon | $ 2,000.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Rockhampton Royal Flying Doctor Auxillary | Laptops and office equipment | Rockhampton | $ 2,500.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Yeppoon Men’s Shed | New thicknesser | Yeppoon | $ 3,490.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Cockscomb Veterans Retreat | New power tools and building repairs | $ 5,000.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 | |
| Rockhampton Foodbank | Part purchase a new fridge | Rockhampton | $ 5,000.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Australian Volunteer Coastguard | Fuel and training | Yeppoon | $ 2,500.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| The Caves Rural Fire Brigade | Television and projector for training | The Caves | $ 3,500.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Nanankin Rural Fire Brigade | Partly fund outdoor learning area | Nankanin | $ 4,800.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Maryvale Rural Fire Services | Water storage tanks | Maryvale | $ 4,780.00 | Volunteer Grants 2020 |
| Emu Park Historical Museum Society | Develop a digital interactive presentation to accompany a memorabillia display commenorating local service personnel at the Emu Park Historical Museum | Emu Park | $ 4,000.00 | Saluting Services Grant |
| Cockscomb Veterans Bush Retreat | Renovations and upgrade of old unsafe electrical wiring. | Cawarral | $ 25,586.00 | Veteran and Community Grants Program |
| The Queensland Farmers Federation | Assess options for microgrids to offer a more stable network, increase network utilisation, increase the uptake of on-farm solar energy and cut costs in the rural and irrigation sector. | Pioneer Valley | $ 654,807.00 | Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund |
| Mackay Regional Council for Social Development | Three health and wellbeing workshops, and mentoring and coaching for not-for-profit organisations in the Whitsunday Regional Council area | Collinsville | $ 20,000.00 | Building Better Regions |
| Multicap Ltd | Construct three buildings containing units specifically designed to meet the needs of people living with disabilities and complex needs | West Rockhampton | $ 950,000.00 | Building Better Regions |
| Whitsunday Regional Council | Upgrade the six mega-litre reservoir at Collinsville and equip the Water and Sewage Treatment Plants with a 200 kW on-site solar array | Collinsville | $ 836,786.00 | Building Better Regions |
| Sarina Landcare | Rehabilitation of Lousia Creek Reserve | Sarina | $ 13,812.00 | Community Environment Program |
| Sarina Landcare | Rehabilitation of Carmila Beach Reserve | Sarina | $ 14,345.00 | Community Environment Program |
| Reef Catchments Mackay | Assessing condition of critically endangered beach scrub | Carmila | $ 20,000.00 | Community Environment Program |
| Reef Catchments Mackay | Community Coastcare: helping protect and preserve coasts | $ 19,650.00 | Community Environment Program | |
| Cap Coast Landcare | Environlink Office | Yeppoon | $ 20,000.00 | Community Environment Program |
| Sarina Landcare | Tedlands Wetland Fishway Assessment | Sarina | $ 13,445.00 | Community Environment Program |
| Rotary Club Capricorn Coast | Mulambin Beach Park Facilites | Yeppoon | $ 5,150.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| Sarina Rugby League | Grandstand Shading | Sarina | $ 15,647.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| Sarina Surf Life Saving Club Incorporated | Infatable Rescue Boat | Sarina | $ 10,050.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| Centacare CQ | Gym and consultation rooms | Rockhampton | $ 13,590.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| CPL Choice | Upgrades to Centre | Rockhampton | $ 9,444.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| Capricorn Coast Men’s Shed | Capricorn Coast Men’s Shed – Upgrade | Yeppoon | $ 7,000.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| St Vincent De Pauls | Purchase and Installation of a solar power system @ Collinsville retail centre | Collinsville | $ 10,000.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| Suncity Sports Club | Purchase of sports equipment | Rockhampton | $ 3,500.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| Queensland Remote Area Tracking Inc. | Specialised mobile radio and headquarters units to the region | Mirani | $ 9,307.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| Victoria Park Bowls Club | Disability Access upgrades | Victoria Park | $ 2,500.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| The Frenchville Sports Club | Replace Unoperational Equipment | Frenchville | $ 17,890.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| C&K Middlemount community childcare centre | Outdoor Play Equipment | Middlemount | $ 18,026.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
| Clermont Men’s Shed | Versatile Tool Box | Clermont | $ 2,500.00 | Stronger Communities Round 5 |
Priority Projects
Rookwood Weir
2,100 Jobs, $176 Million committed
Bowen Basin Jobs Package
$30 Million Job Recovery Initiative
Urannah Dam
$3 Million – Feasibility Study
$10 Million to go towards the Business Case – to be completed August 2021
Shoalwater Bay
$1 Billion Defence Deal
Decentralisation
Moving Jobs to the regions
Galilee Basin
Development of Coal Mines to increase jobs, while investing in HELE Coal Fired Power Stations to lower electricity prices.
