Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On 28 September I had the pleasure of officially opening the brand-new Cape Gateway Motel in Mareeba. An esteemed long-term friend of mine and Weipa resident, Mr Greg Williams, had a vision many, many years ago to provide a hospitality service to those in the Atherton Tableland or heading to Cape York, and I was honoured to see it reach fruition. The motel comes fully equipped with the comforts of home and a relaxing atmosphere amongst the gum trees. There is a delicious meal option for breakfast, lunch and dinner and friendly smiles and knowledge from local employees. But the best part is Big Willie's Bar, with locally brewed beers. It's no easy feat building a motel, but, with the help of his daughter Mandy, a legacy has been built for his family and the future of Mareeba and surrounding areas. After a few nights' stay in the Cape Gateway Motel, you can venture north to Cooktown or make your way to the tip of Australia through Cape York. There are many beautiful sites along the way, and I encourage you to stop and see roadhouses along the Peninsula Development Road and small remote areas. It's no secret that COVID-19 has impacted on our tourism industry in the Far North, and I urge everyone who is planning Christmas holidays or a getaway—if you can get outside the state and get back into Queensland, and I hope you can by Christmas—to consider Far North Queensland and Cape York for your holiday this year.

See this speech in context