Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Regional Forum Round Three

Renewable energy, regional services, economic diversification and housing accessibility were on the agenda at the third Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday Regional Community Forum for 2022, held on Monday.

The forum, chaired by Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert, began with site visits to the Mackay Substation Project and Resources Centre of Excellence where forum members learnt more about the Stage 2: Future Industries Hub.

“We have forum members that are really passionate about driving the future of our community,” said Ms Gilbert.

“They’ve already been out there doing work on how they can best try bringing skills into our community.

“This is everyday mums and dads, small business owners, so passionate about their community that they’ll put their hand up to come onto these committees to make sure government is delivering services and programs to best suit our community.”

With renewable energy a hot agenda item, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the forum would discuss ideas on sustainably powering the state into the future.

“Regional Queensland plays a big role in renewable energy, to drive down power bills and ease the cost of living,” the Premier said.

“Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum members get to be part of this, helping to unlock investment in good clean energy jobs, better services, and helping to protect our great lifestyle in regional Queensland.

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher joined Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum members, saying workforce shortages are of particular concern to the region’s manufacturing sector.

“What we’re now talking about in the second wave of these forums is to make sure that we’re actually on the ground listening to the community’s concerns and putting into action some things that we can do to deliver as a government for these communities,” Mr Butcher said.

“What we’re hearing through the forums, particularly for this region, the Isaac, Whitsunday and Mackay region, is the need for more skilled workers.

“One of the steps we’re doing today is really starting a deep dig into how we can help these businesses get to that level where we can get trained and skilled staff to come and join the businesses.

“We want to make sure that anyone who comes to Mackay looking for a job can get the training and skills that they need to get into new industries.

The Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday forum was one of seven held in regional centres across Queensland, with others taking place in Far North Queensland, Central Queensland, Darling Downs-South West, North-North West Queensland, Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast and Western Queensland.

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