Phillip Thompson OAM MP
Federal Member for Herbert
Serving Our Community
Together with our community, we’ve been working to secure our economic recovery, support jobs and help locals get ahead.
Through our local advocacy, we’ve been able to deliver on our local plan in Herbert, including:
✅ Ensuring an expansion of flood recovery payments to include all Townsville suburbs
✅ Establishing the reinsurance pool to bring down insurance premiums
✅ Delivering a new ward at the Townsville University Hospital
✅ Funding a new youth precinct to get young people off our streets, and
✅ A Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Each and every one of these initiatives is aimed at improving the quality of life for local people and ensuring we’re supporting a better future for our region. Please check out some of our local projects here.
As your Federal Member I am always here to help. If there’s ever anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on the phone, on Facebook or by email.
While you’re here, please take a minute to have your say, and let me know what’s important to you and your family.
Phillip Thompson OAM MP
We’ve secured significant investment in Townsville and surrounds, creating jobs and helping our economic recovery.
Latest News
LABOR VOTES AGAINST AUSTRALIAN HONOUR
The Albanese Labor Government has voted down legislation that would have criminalised the burning and desecration of the Australian National Flag — a decision that deeply offends millions of Australians and dishonours those who have served under it.
The Australian flag is not a prop for protest theatre. It is worn on the shoulder of every Australian Defence Force member. It is carried into battle. And it is draped, with solemn respect, over the coffins of fallen soldiers.
I, like many veterans, have buried friends and brothers beneath that flag. Families have received it as the final symbol of a nation’s gratitude. Yet Labor has decided that this symbol deserves no legal protection at all.
This vote flies in the face of the Australian public. National polling shows 77 per cent of Australians believe burning the flag should be illegal. Thousands added their names to petitions calling for action. Labor ignored them.
Deliberately torching the national flag is not political expression; it is an act of contempt aimed at dividing the nation and insulting its values.
Labor’s refusal to act sends a dangerous message: that the desecration of our most powerful national symbol is acceptable, and that the sacrifices of those who served under it are secondary to appeasing fringe activists.
Strong nations protect their symbols because they protect what those symbols represent — unity, service, sacrifice and shared values.
Today, Labor has shamed our nation.
As the Deputy Chair of the Intelligence & Security Committee I signed the Coalition’s dissenting report on Labor’s Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill.
Antisemitism and violent extremism must be confronted — but this rushed, ill-thought-out Bill is the product of 18 months of failed leadership, not careful law-making.
It threatens free speech, press freedom and parliamentary scrutiny while doing little to stop the extremist Islamic ideology that fuelled the Bondi Terror attack.
Australians deserve laws that protect our security without destroying our freedoms
STAY SAFE: Out with locals today helping our community to sandbag & prepare for what’s ahead.
A Watch & Act for Cyclone Koji has been issued. We have been warned of dangerous rainfall, flooding & damaging winds.
Huge thanks to the volunteers, emergency services & neighbours who have already rolled up their sleeves to protect homes & businesses. This is our community at its best.
Please take the warnings seriously:
✔️ Secure loose items
✔️ Get sandbags in place
✔️ Have your emergency kit ready
✔️ Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours
Stay alert & please look out for one another.
⚠️ SEVERE WEATHER WARNING | LOCALS PAYING THE PRICE ⚠️
As North Queensland braces for another serious weather event, families & businesses in Townsville are doing everything to be prepared.
But far too many are being left exposed.
Despite a $10 billion taxpayer-funded cyclone reinsurance pool, locals are being hit with huge, unacceptable insurance hikes.
The Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation was created to reduce premiums & keep people insured in disaster-prone regions but it needs urgent reform.
When people can’t afford insurance, they don’t just lose peace of mind, they risk losing everything.
I want to sincerely thank Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto & C Bar owners Allan & Lachlan for standing up & speaking out with me today.
We call on the Corporation Executives to leave their southern offices, come to North Queensland & face locals.
We deserve fair insurance, real relief, & urgent action. Not glossy ads & broken promises.
Please stay safe, stay informed & look out for one another as this weather system approaches.