News

The future of a major upgrade to Riverway Drive is up in the air, with the Albanese Labor Government confirming the project is under review.

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson secured 80 per cent of funding for the $95 Million project during the previous term of Parliament, with 20 per cent coming from the State Labor Government.

The Albanese Government has included Riverway Drive Stage Two in an Independent Strategic Review of the Infrastructure Investment Program, which aims to identify projects to cut funding for.

Herbert MP and Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Phillip Thompson has condemned the Albanese Labor Government’s decision to axe a $16.2M program to help veterans into the civilian workforce.

Mr Thompson said the Enhanced Employment Support for Veterans program helped provide a soft landing for recently-discharged ADF members.

“I know firsthand what it’s like when when you transition out, and these programs help our veterans – our brave men and women who are transitioning out – to find employment,” he said.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson says the Albanese Labor Government is dragging the chain when it comes to providing relief on insurance premiums for North Queenslanders.

Mr Thompson said while some people were starting to find better deals for their insurance – particularly homeowners with detached houses – many locals were still being stung with significant premium increases.

Despite the Government Reinsurance Pool coming into effect on July 1 last year, only two insurers, Allianz Australia and Sure Insurance, have purchased cyclone reinsurance from the pool so far.

Herbert MP and Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Phillip Thompson says the Defence Minister must use his visit to Townsville to come clean about the future of 3RAR.

Mr Thompson said soldiers at the Lavarack Barracks-based mechanised battalion faced massive uncertainty after the Albanese Labor Government slashed the order for Infantry Fighting Vehicles from 450 to 129 on Monday.

He said the new number was only enough for one mechanised infantry battalion meaning the capability of the remaining two would be dramatically changed.

Herbert has been revealed as the eighth most expensive federal electorate in the state to visit a GP as local doctors struggle with low Medicare rebates and a ridiculous new Queensland Government tax.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said the figures, compiled by online healthcare directory Cleanbill, were a symptom of Labor governments at both the state and federal levels failing to address a key contributing factor of the cost-of-living crisis.

“This research has revealed the average out-of-pocket cost for a standard 15-minute consultation in Townsville is $42.49, with only 36% of practices fully bulk-billing,” Mr Thompson said.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson has welcomed news of the completion of a new, 33-bed ward for the Townsville Hospital, funded by the former Coalition Government.

Mr Thompson said the Acute Assessment Unit was a key commitment of his successful 2019 election campaign following community feedback about the need to boost local health services.

“We know the doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and support staff at the Townsville University Hospital do a fantastic job, but there’s always a need for more beds and facilities to help them better care for local patients,” he said.

On behalf of the Townsville Defence and wider community, I’d like to welcome Captain Emmanuel Mocard and members of the French Military to our city as Mistral-class LHD Dixmude makes its port call.

It is an honour worthy of our garrison city as the broader Jeanne D’Arc group brings almost 1000 sailors and soldiers to the North to take part in joint exercises with the 3rd Brigade and other ADF units.

I know this will be a mutually beneficial time for both nations. Some of my best memories from the Army were the lessons we learnt from other militaries as part of joint exercises, as well as the camaraderie and shared values we were able to enjoy.

This is extremely personal for me. My wife is Aboriginal, my mother-in-law born on Palm Island and her parents a part of the stolen generation.

My daughters, Astin who is four and Emery who is two, are Aboriginal. I made a promise when they were born I would do everything I can to create a better future for them.

Will the decisions I make today create a better future for my children and children throughout Townsville, Palm Island and Australia? This is the question I ask myself every day.

Two weeks on from revelations that the Minister for Defence Richard Marles instructed the Chief of the Defence Force to initiate stripping military officers of their medals for their service in Afghanistan, veterans are still hurting.

I’m being inundated with the same questions. If those at the command level are being asked to justify why they shouldn’t lose their decorations, how far up (and down) the chain will it go? If no one’s been charged or convicted, why is this happening?

Peter Dutton is right – the allegations of war crimes perpetrated by members of the Australian Defence Force remain just that – allegations. They have not been tested in a court of law. The Office of the Special Investigator has not even concluded its investigations. If it’s just an attack on our diggers, we will fight it tooth and nail.

North Queenslanders have a right to feel deceived and let down following revelations the State Labor Government’s water minister hid the fact he’d put the kibosh on Hells Gates Dam.

The former Coalition Government had committed $5.4B for the major project before the last federal election, based on the success of a $24M business case undertaken by Townsville Enterprise.

Reports have emerged revealing the Albanese Labor Government did not include the funding in last week’s budget because it had been rejected by the State Labor Water Minister Glenn Butcher.

Local families raising children with autism have welcomed $2M in federal funding for a new centre to help AEIOU Foundation expand its early-intervention work.

The former Coalition Government committed the funds at the last election, but the project was cast into doubt when the Albanese Labor Government announced it would be cutting the program that was set to pay for it.

After strong advocacy from local MPs Andrew Willcox and Phillip Thompson following the election, funding for a new centre was announced as part of last week’s budget.

Uncertainty surrounds the future of $126M of federal funding for Townsville ahead of the Albanese Labor Government’s budget next week, with no sign of this year’s annual progress report for the Townsville City Deal.

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson said while $69M of an original $195M pool of funding had been allocated to projects already underway, he had serious concerns the remainder of the money would be clawed back by the Labor Government.

Mr Thompson had successfully negotiated for money that had been allocated for Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline, but was rejected by the State Labor Government, to remain available for projects in Townsville. The previous Coalition Government had quarantined the funds in its subsequent budgets.