News

Reef HQ is up to five years away from opening with planning for demolition not even having begun, Senate Estimates has revealed today.

When pressed by the Coalition to provide a timeline of Reef HQ’s completion at a special spillover hearing with the Great Barrier Reef Park Authority, a Federal agency representative could only offer, “I would hope within the next four to five years.”

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson has revealed the cost of the Haughton Pipeline Stage 2 project has blown out from an initial budget of $179.6M to more than $420M.

In a speech to Federal Parliament this morning, Phillip Thompson also revealed the documents confirmed the blowout was due to delays as a result of political games from Labor.

Senate Estimates hearings have confirmed that plans to knock down and rebuild Reef HQ were only made after the election of the Albanese Labor Government.

The confirmation debunks claims by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek that the former Coalition Government’s $80M funding commitment for a refurbishment in July 2021 wasn’t enough, as that was what was requested by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) at the time.

Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has finally added Townsville as a priority location for housing investment ahead of the 500 servicemen, women and their families who are set to call our city home in 2025.

The move was a direct result of the advocacy of Federal Member for Herbert and Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Phillip Thompson.

After almost a year of advocacy by Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson for more homes to accommodate incoming defence personnel in Townsville, developers are being called upon to express their interest in building 500 new houses.

The Albanese Labor Government have rammed their car and ute tax through Parliament without debate.

The New Vehicle Emissions Standards Bill was set to be debated in Parliament today, but was voted on immediately when Labor used its numbers to force it through without allowing members to speak.

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson has condemned the Albanese Labor Government’s decision to not include the redevelopment of Reef HQ in last night’s Federal Budget.

The former Coalition Government allocated $80.1M for the largest coral reef aquarium in the world to be refurbished, but last year the Albanese Labor Government re-scoped the project into a full knock-down rebuild, without allocating any extra funding.

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson has unveiled the opening ceremony plaque at the Townsville Spine and Sports Med clinic, marking the introduction of market-leading equipment in Australia.

Clinical Director Dr Jeremy Pont has brought non-surgical decompression equipment from South Korea to the Australian healthcare sector, which is already revolutionising the treatment of back and neck pain in Australia.

A successful youth hub supporting Townsville’s at-risk youth has been thrown a lifeline after Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson fought for an extension on the program’s funding timeframe.

Community Gro’s Garbutt Youth Hub will now be permitted to keep their doors open until August after the Federal Government approved the use of the excess funds that were secured under the former Coalition Government’s Safer Communities Program.

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson is calling for significant changes to Labor’s proposed emissions standards which are not only set to drive the price of cars and utes up by thousands, but cripple associated industries.

The Coalition has today introduced legislation into Federal Parliament to pioneer the crackdown of the publication of criminal activity online.

The Crimes and Online Safety Legislation Amendment (Combatting Online Notoriety) Bill 2024 would make the publication of criminal activity online a Commonwealth offence, punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment.

Reports that recipients of the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) who deployed on operations in East Timor on HMAS Manoora have been instructed to no longer wear the medals they were awarded are incredibly concerning.