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Recent News & Updates

Media Release: BOM Takes Townsville Radar Offline as Cyclone Brews

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson is calling on the Bureau of Meteorology to immediately scrap plans to take the Townsville weather radar offline on Monday as Cyclone Jasper approaches.

The Bureau is switching off the current Townsville radar between 5:00am and 7:30pm from 11 to 18 December to begin work to install a new radar.

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Media Release: Australian Dream Becomes Stress-Induced Nightmare

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson says the Albanese Labor Government must do more to curb interest rate increases, as mortgage stress rises across Townsville.

Mr Thompson says cost of living remains the second-most important issues raised with him by locals behind crime, and many people say higher mortgage repayments are a significant contributing factor.

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Media Release: Cool Down While Stocking Up

The Townsville Toy Library is set to stay cool all summer long, thanks to a $20,000 grant secured with the help of Federal Herbert MP Phillip Thompson.

The library was the successful recipient of federal funding to install four air-conditioners in their new space in Vincent.

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson visited the library to see – and feel – the upgrades.

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Media Release: Thompson Helps Secure 3-month Funding Extension for Fortem

The leading provider of support for our first responders will now receive continued funding after Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson took the fight to the Capital.

Mr Thompson moved a motion in the Federation Chamber of Parliament House this week to call upon the Albanese Labor Government to announce continued funding for Fortem Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that provides support services for first responders, including in Townsville.

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Media Release: Senior Citizen Hospitalised After Encounter with Youth Criminal

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson is continuing to advocate for an end to the youth crime crisis after a break and enter incident resulted in the elderly victim rushed to hospital.

83-year-old Albert Price suffered serious chest pain after chasing a teenager who stole his wife, Meryl’s handbag off their kitchen bench, making off with their credit cards.

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Media Release: Family Business Feeling Fuel Pressure

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson has accused the Prime Minister of being asleep at the wheel when it comes to the cost of fuel, with his office overwhelmed with businesses and families struggling to make ends meet.

Fuel prices in Townsville today sit at $1.99 for Unleaded and $2.50 for the same on Magnetic Island.

Mr Thompson said it showed the Prime Minister was a hypocrite, after he called much cheaper prices unaffordable nearly two years ago.

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Media Release: Telehealth Changes to Cripple Regional Healthcare

Federal Member for Hebert Phillip Thompson has accused the Albanese Labor Government of putting its budget bottom line ahead of seriously ill patients, with plans to stop covering specialist telehealth appointments under Medicare.

A government-commissioned report has recommended the first appointment with a specialist doctor not be covered under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), which Mr Thompson says will result in reduced access to healthcare in Townsville and the wider North Queensland region.

“Telehealth for our region is very important as we are a long way from the capital, and travel to out-of-town specialists can be very expensive.” Mr Thompson said.

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Media Release: Residents Won’t Be Silenced On Noise Barriers

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson is calling for urgent State Government action to fulfill their promise to implement effective sound barriers around Carlyle Gardens Retirement Village after upgrades to the Ring Road.

A group of fed-up residents – who are losing sleep thanks to the extra noise from the development – contacted Mr Thompson for help to have their voices heard.

Construction of the Townsville Ring Road (Stage 5) project was completed in October, with Transport and Main Roads claiming the current sound barriers are a permanent, adequate solution, which resident Dan Thompson says is a lie.

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Media Release: Black Hawk Battle Far From Over

Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence and Federal MP Phillip Thompson has welcomed the decision to fast track the Black Hawk into Australia but cautions that the battle is far from over.

After the permanent grounding of the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet, the Minister for Defence Richard Marles has today announced the fast tracking of the Black Hawk in Australia.

Mr Thompson has been calling for this decision to be made for over 12 months and feels it was poorly communicated, meaning civilian contractors who could have transitioned from the Taipan to the Black Hawk have been left in limbo.

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Media Release: Maggie Island Wins Battle Over Defence Sale

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson has welcomed a decision to press pause on the sale of old asbestos-riddled holiday apartments on Magnetic Island so community consultation can take place.

A David and Goliath battle between Magnetic Island Residents and the Federal Labor Government has been ongoing since the beginning of the year, with residents strongly objecting to the sale of the former Amaroo Holiday Apartments at Bremmer Point, which are owned by the Department of Defence.

Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence and Federal MP Phillip Thompson has been working with the residents of Magnetic Island to help voice their concerns, after the Department of Defence announced it would be disposing of the land without cleaning up the site.

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Media Release: WA Minister Oversees Qld NAIF Fail

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson is calling on the Perth-based Labor Minister for Northern Australia to deliver more for North Queensland, after her home state was revealed as benefiting most from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF).

The Townsville Bulletin has reported 87 per cent of decisions this past financial year went to Western Australia.

Mr Thompson said North Queensland had been dudded by the new minister’s administration of the government-backed loan scheme for significant infrastructure, which was set up by the former Coalition government.

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