Local bureaucrats will

NORTH Queensland now has its own dedicated team of bureaucrats in Townsville to champion the region’s key economic projects.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday opened the North Queensland office of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, which was closed down by the previous Newman Government.

The office, which includes three staff, will work directly with the Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, Coralee O’Rourke, on projects from both the government and private sector. It comes after the Federal Government recently announced its plans to open the Office of Northern Australia in Townsville, meaning the city will have a central authority for state and federal government matters.

Picture: WESLEY MONTS Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ( centre) with Office of North Queensland staff Anne Neil, Sarah Wilkinwurst and Anne BlairHickman, and Minister Coralee O'Rourke.