- Regional Cabinet will be held in Townsville on Monday 6 March
- Last Regional Cabinet meeting in Townsville was in January 2021
- Benefits to NQ of Energy and Jobs Plan to be a key focus
Regional Cabinet will return to Townsville on Monday 6 March, with the Palaszczuk Government's $62 billion Energy and Jobs Plan high on the agenda.
The meeting follows the first Regional Cabinet meeting of the year, held in Maryborough in February.
While in Townsville, the Premier and Ministers will meet with community leaders and stakeholders to also discuss other key priorities and programs including health, education, community safety, and inspect job-creating infrastructure projects that will benefit North Queenslanders.
Quotes attributable to the Premier:
"Townsville is an economic powerhouse, boasting a broad range of established and emerging industries.
"It's the epicentre of our State's clean energy revolution – home to major renewable projects spanning wind, solar and hydrogen, and will be a critical industrial hub in the Queensland SuperGrid.
"To support this, we are investing in training local people at a new $12.45 million Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training facility at Bohle TAFE and a future Townsville SuperGrid Training Centre and Transmission Hub.
"Backed by the region's largest private employer Sun Metals, it's processing critical minerals, to be used in batteries, solar panels and electronics.
"We're also pursuing the significant investment potential in traditional and critical minerals of the North West Minerals Province by working on developing a government-led model to connect Mount Isa, along with a $75 million critical minerals demonstration facility in Townsville.
"I look forward to bringing my entire Cabinet back to Townsville, and meeting with the community who are contributing to the economic progress and prosperity in North Queensland."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Resources and Member for Townsville Scott Stewart:
"I'm proud to welcome Cabinet back to Townsville, as we deliver good jobs, better services, greater security, and sustainability for the region.
"By delivering cheaper, QLD-made electricity we can power the growth of local manufacturing and build industrial components here."
Quotes attributable to Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper:
"The Palaszczuk Government is already delivering so much for Townsville but I hope this visit by Regional Cabinet will shine an even greater spotlight on our region – triggering more interest, more investment, and more collaboration between Government and the local community.
Our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan will create 100,000 new jobs by 2040 and I'm proud to be part of a government putting 95% of our investment into regional Queensland."
Quotes attributable to Member for Mundingburra Les Walker:
"The Palaszczuk Government's $62 billion Energy and Jobs Plan is transforming our energy system to deliver clean, reliable and affordable power for generations and North Queensland is at the epicentre of that transition.
"With our large ports and supporting infrastructure, North Queensland is in prime position to become a world leading hydrogen hub, capable of fulfilling the total targeted demand of South Korean imports in 2030."
