The PM’s ‘Flying’ Visit Of Mackay

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been criticised for his whirlwind visit to Mackay last week on Wednesday which lasted less than an hour.

In his visit, he met select media in a Mackay pharmacy to speak about the rising cost of living, briefly speaking to some customers afterwards.

“As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, right around the world, we're seeing inflation in many countries go to double digits. That's placing real pressure on people's cost of living,” he said.

But Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said the trip was a ‘photo opportunity’ which would have been better spent reinstating funding for the region’s roads, tackling the regional worker shortage or addressing the recent mental health cuts under the Albanese Government.

“It’s no wonder locals in our neck of the woods say they feel overlooked by the Labor Government when stunts like this happen. Dawson deserves better,” Mr Willcox said.

Some residents took to Facebook to criticise the Prime Minister for the brief visit.

“Once he got past Gympie, he forgot he was in Australia,” wrote one.

Another claimed he spent more time at the cricket and the Woodfolk Folk Festival than in Mackay.

Mr Albanese has been criticised previously for his brief visits, being donned by some as ‘Airbus Albo.’

But local Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert, not seen at the media event, took to social media to thank the Prime Minister for coming to Mackay.

Mr Willcox took aim at the Agriculture Minister’s ‘failure to engage’ with farmers in the Dawson region during his visit.

“Most people would have no idea he was in Dawson because he didn’t do anything. I had hoped that the Minister would speak about the extended crushing season or the struggle for producers to find workers,” Mr Willcox said.

“The Minister should be making every effort to meet with local industry leaders and those on the ground doing the hard yakka to get product to market.

“What good is a Minister for Agriculture who comes along for the ride? Our Ag sector does so much for this country, but it’s taken for granted by Labor.”

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Glen Clark, pharmacist at T + C Pharmacy in Mackay met Prime Minister Albanese during the PM’s brief visit to Mackay last week