Minister here to listen
I’M beginning to worry about Cathy O’Toole. She seems to think every time a Minister comes to Townsville they must be “announcing” something.
The Treasurer, Scott Morrison, was here to see what’s happening in town, to talk to local people and to understand this part of Australia even better.
Aside from the $ 100 million for the new North Queensland Stadium and the $ 150 million of Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor funds which will remain in the region if that project doesn’t stack up in the current climate, he also had some pretty good announce- ments in the Budget for the 70,000 people in Herbert who will have more money in their pocket because of the Federal Government’s significant tax cuts.
As I have stated time and again, there are also buckets of money available for worthwhile projects which stack up, have a good proposal and for which taxpayers can have confidence.
I would like to assure Cathy – and the people of Townsville for that matter – that there will be a string of Ministers to Townsville over the next 12 months and they won’t all be coming to “make announcements”.
They’ll be here to listen and learn. And that’s how you achieve real things for the North.
Not to do a Shorten and only show up in town when he’s throwing money around to any old promise, with no detail around project specifics or where his magical money tree is sprouting from.
I guess the beauty of Opposition is that you can say and do what you like without the reality of having to deliver a thing.
Unlike the local MP who should be welcoming the Treasurer to town, I would like to thank the Treasurer for taking the time to visit Townsville and listen to locals. I look forward to welcoming him back again soon. IAN MACDONALD, Queensland Senator.