UN trip will be beneficial

IT is a great shame for Far North Queenslanders that Chris Calcino chose to take a negative and inaccurate approach to ‘Off To The Big Apple’ (29/6/17), despite being presented with all the facts about my trip and the benefits it will provide our region.

I would like to reassure the people of Leichhardt that you will not be without a Federal MP while I am at the United Nations in New York representing Far North Queensland and the Australian Government.

I am not resigning. I will still be your Federal MP. In fact, my duties will increase as I broaden my audience to an international arena to promote Far North Queensland, garner business and governmental support for our region and study world’s best practices in tackling major issues that I have been working on, such as mental health and protecting world heritage areas like the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree.

Senator Ian Macdonald will oversee my electorate to attend to any issues that require face-to-face meetings.

So, instead of having no Federal MP for Leichhardt the people in my electorate will have two members of parliament working in their best interest at a local and international level while I am abroad.

I would also like to reassure everybody that the $20 million Regional Jobs and Investment Package and the $24 million Cairns marine precinct upgrade are on track to be delivered as expected. My trip as such will not impact on the current timeline for these projects to be completed.

I am passionate about Far North Queensland, its people and everything about where we live. It is extremely disappointing that Mr Calcino has chosen to shed a negative light on my upcoming official business trip rather than seeing it for the opportunity it is to represent Far North Queensland on a world stage. Warren Entsch, Leichhardt MP