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Recent News & Updates

Media Release: Hells Gate Dam set to be cut from Albanese Labor Budget

The Albanese Labor Government has shown its complete disdain for Townsville, indicating that a major infrastructure project will not be in its first budget next week.

Hells Gates Dam, announced and budgeted for by the former Coalition government, did not feature in a pipeline of infrastructure projects announced by Labor for Queensland at the weekend.

Federal Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said the $5.4B commitment had been made months ahead of the last election, and was included in the March 2022 budget papers.

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Media Release: Marles Hides Behind Review to Reconsider Black Hawk Acquisition

Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Phillip Thompson says Richard Marles must explain why he is using the Defence Strategic Review as an excuse to cast doubt over the acquisition of Black Hawk helicopters.

The Defence Minister has said the previous government’s commitment to replace the underperforming MRH-90 was “fuzzy”, and that a process was underway to “evaluate that capability”.

Mr Thompson said the comments warranted an explanation to ADF members and the nation.

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Statement: Capability – not Cupcakes – for #yourADF

Defence Minister Richard Marles’ move to reinstate “rainbow morning teas” in the Australian Defence Force is a complete subversion of priorities.

Labor is clearly perplexed about the primary role of the ADF, which it obviously thinks is about pursuing a woke agenda that cares more about your sexual orientation than ADF capability.

People I know in the ADF who are gay tell me the best way to achieve inclusion in the Defence Force is to be treated the same as everyone else.

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Media Release: Volunteer Grants to Ease Cost Pressures for Community Organisations

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson is urging Townsville community organisations to express their interest in grants to help their volunteers.

Mr Thompson said his office was currently taking expressions of interest for grants of between $1,000 and $5,000.

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of our community and this funding is about supporting them to do the important work they do,” he said.

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Media Release: One Year since ADF Deployment to Kabul

As we remember the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, today we mark a year since the deployment of a brave contingent of Australian Defence Force personnel for the evacuation operation.

This was no ordinary deployment. In the face of extreme danger, brave soldiers from Townsville’s 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, along with other attachments, put themselves in harm’s way to rescue others.

Despite the images of chaos being beamed around the world – pictures of men, women and children clinging to aircraft trying to escape the Taliban, and the ever-present threat of terrorist attack – our men and women answered the call to service without question.

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Media Release: Statement on the Interim Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

I welcome the findings of the interim report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

For far too long, this issue has been dealt with in the shadows. Today, we have shone a spotlight on the darkest corners of our Defence Force which will allow us to finally take the necessary action that I believe will start the decline of the national shame that is Defence and veteran suicide.

Today, I offer a heartfelt apology to every single Australian family that has lost a loved one to Defence or veteran suicide.

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Media Release: Hekmatullah Developments Disgusting and Disturbing

Afghanistan Veteran and Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Phillip Thompson has labelled reports Afghan soldier Hekmatullah is living it up as a Taliban hero disgusting and disturbing.

Mr Thompson said the infamous terrorist fighter, who killed three unarmed Australian soldiers, had reportedly returned to Kabul after being released from prison by the Taliban last year.

“It is very disturbing to hear reports that Hekmatullah has said explicitly that he would continue killing Australians when free,” Mr Thompson said.

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Media Release: Taxpayer-funded Adventure Program Must Not Reward Young Criminals

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson has slammed the State Labor Government’s plans for a program which appears to reward young criminals with adventure activities.

The program is reportedly funded with $73,000 of taxpayers’ money and will involve activities like zip-lining, sports and abseiling.

“This appears to be nothing more than reward for bad behaviour,” Mr Thompson said.

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Media Release: Bright Future for Townsville Tennis after Lighting Upgrade

Players at Townsville Tennis are already seeing an improvement to their game after an LED lighting upgrade at their courts in North Ward.

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson said he was pleased to be able to secure a grant of $12,000 for the upgrade, which will also help the club save on its power bills.

“These new lights aren’t just brighter, they’re cheaper to run, which is a win-win for everyone involved and allows the club to keep its costs down for its members,” Mr Thompson said.

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Media Release: Defence Strategic Review Must Not Equal Cuts

Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence and Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson says the Labor Government’s Defence Strategic Review must not result in cuts to programs or spending.

Mr Thompson said he was concerned that the former Labor Defence Minister and former Chief of Defence Force who are to conduct the review presided over a period where Defence spending was cut to its lowest levels since 1938.

“We’re in a period of uncertainty the likes of which we’ve not seen for a long time, and the last thing we need is a repeat of the cuts we saw under Labor during Stephen Smith’s period as Defence Minister,” Mr Thompson said.

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Media Release: ABCC Abolition will hurt Townsville Economy

Federal Herbert MP Phillip Thompson says the Labor Government’s plan to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) will hurt the Townsville economy.

Mr Thompson said the ABCC had been instrumental in fighting against union bullying and thuggery, including during the construction of the North Queensland Stadium in 2019 which caused work stoppages.

The CFMMEU was fined nearly $200,000 for organising unlawful industrial action on the site and trying to coerce workers into entering a building enterprise agreement with the Union.

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