Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As representatives of our community, it is vital that we act not only as a conduit for information from Canberra to the electorate but as a similar conduit for the messages from the electorate to Canberra. With this in mind, I put the call out last week to my Facebook followers, asking them what they would like to see raised during this year of parliament. The following responses are a cross-section of the many made on the post.

Bruce Sloper said, 'Lobby for a defence manufacturing industry in CQ.' I'm proud to be doing just this. We in CQ play host to the best training facility in the country. With Gladstone's harbour and Rockhampton's airport, CQ is the perfect place to base manufacturing or maintenance for the defence industry. Ken Murphy said, 'Getting the economy going and reducing the dependence on welfare.' Many, like Paula Mills, would like us to push for more water infrastructure and develop the rail line to the Galilee Basin. Stephanie Nicholas wants to see an end to offshore detention. A few respondents wanted to see a resolution to the lockout situation at the Oaky North mine site. Affordable electricity is on the tips of many Central Queenslanders' tongues, and, as the unofficial energy capital of Australia, one can understand why. Paul Naylor, Dazza Wilson, Cindy Bonnell, Yvonne Welch and Colleen Cooling all mentioned energy policy as being hugely important. I am always thrilled to hear from the real people of CQ, and I take these comments seriously. It's clear people want help with their day-to-day costs and to have certainty— (Time expired)