Senator fighting for regions
TAKING the road less travelled throughout country Queensland has highlighted the focus of councils needing to get the job done.
That’s the assessment of Queensland Senator Gerard Rennick who stopped in Charters Towers last week.
The Chinchilla-born LNP Senator said while he might live in greater Brisbane, he was a country politician at heart.
“I’ve met the councillors and the mayors along the way and they’re so outcome focused,” Mr Rennick said.
“They want staff for their hospitals and one council made it clear they want roadworks coming their way for their own workers and not going to city contractors.”
Mr Rennick said there had also been plenty of discussion surrounding the local government-managed Federal Assistance Grants and the desire by councils to see a greater slice of that funding.
“I want defederation in many ways. Maybe if we got rid of state governments and just held on to councils it would work. But it’s clear councils are focused on funding and I don’t care how much we’re spending I just care what we’re getting for it,” he said.
Eager to see fiscal and monetary reforms in the country, Mr Rennick is also lobbying his own government to build its way out of any financial recession brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He cited Hells Gates Dam and the Bradfield Scheme, power stations and rail transport networks as some of the ways to do that.
Mr Rennick said he would continue to lobby in Canberra to encourage the nation to rely on itself and not others.
“Rural and regional Australia has underpinned our success as a nation,” he said.
“I’m always going to advocate for our regions to ensure they receive their fair share of government services and funding.”