Today the Queensland Labor Government has delivered blunt confirmation to the women and families of Mackay that they will never be a priority under this government! Whilst I welcome 30 new mother baby beds across the State to provide specialist perinatal mental healthcare, why are the mothers and families of Mackay missing out?

During the recent wet weather, the Whitsunday community once again felt the impacts of Hamilton Plains flooding, delaying emergency services, families, students and tourists from their daily activities. Funding for flood immunity works for Hamilton Plains has been available since 2019 and yet instead of any action all we have seen from the State Labor Government is excuses and delays. Tenders for the project closed 7th March last year and with construction meant to have started mid last year we are still to receive a proper explanation from the Government as to why construction hasn’t begun.

Shocking new figures have revealed the full extent of the Domestic Violence scourge in Mackay, as pressure builds on the Labor Government to urgently fix the escalating problem. New analysis of Queensland Police Service data has revealed a disturbing 140% increase in Domestic Violence Protection Order breaches since Labor came to power nearly a decade ago.

Nine community groups across the Whitsunday electorate have had a great start to 2024 sharing in over $250 000 worth of funding from round 118 of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund. The Gambling Community Benefit fund offers grants of up to $35 000 to organisations to build their capacity to provide services, leisure activities and economic opportunities for the local community and I am so pleased that our region continues to benefit from this program.

The Queensland State Government’s lack of community engagement and arrogance will cost Whitsunday ratepayers approximately $1.4m. If the government had of undertaken proper consultation right from the beginning, they would have known that a fixed boat ramp at Shute Harbour was not fit for purpose and not what the community wanted.

MEMBER for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP, has welcomed the decision by the Queensland Government to rescind the decision to close all eKindy pods for 2024. Ms Camm stated that it was a win for regional communities with the eKindy pod program remaining in place for 2024.

Advocacy for first class patient care is a priority that I will fight for and support RACQ CQ Rescue to be able to deliver the high standard emergency service response that is our safety net. Queensland Health's decision to close the RACQ CQ Rescue helipad at the Mackay Base Hospital in two months without informing the Mackay and Whitsunday community is wrong and my greatest concern is the risk to lives. The helipad is scheduled to be closed for the duration of the hospital’s redevelopment, which could be up to three years.

“I want to thank the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac communities for the support they have shown our RACQ CQ Rescue Service. In just 7 days, over 1000 people signed the Queensland Parliamentary Petition calling on the RACQ CQ Rescue helipad to be located on site at Mackay Hospital and Health Service (or close access to emergency) during the construction of the hospital expansion or until the new onsite helipad is completed.

MEMBER for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP, has condemned the Queensland Labor Government for silencing critical debate on Spanish Mackerel catch limits. “Last night in Parliament, the Government cut the debate short, so Members like myself couldn’t raise critical issues like data integrity, lack of Government transparency or tell the story of the many fishers in my electorate and how they will be impacted”, Ms Camm stated.

Our roads are the enablers for all our industries to thrive; from moving freight, to connection for tourism and for us who live in regional areas they are our links to our services, schools, sport, family, and friends.  Due to the Labor Queensland Government's mismanagement of major projects, Rail Projects in SE Queensland have blown out by billions of dollars. This has resulted in other projects being delayed or cancelled.

The RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter will not be able to land at the helipad at the Mackay Base Hospital during the hospital redevelopment which is likely to last 3 years. Instead they will have to land at the Mackay Airport and have patients transported to the hospital by Queensland ambulance.

This decision is unacceptable and will risk lives.

MEMBER for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP has welcomed today’s announcement by the State Government that they will be allocating $660 000 to fund a dedicated homelessness service in the Whitsundays.

MEMBER for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP is calling on the State Labor Government to provide an honest update on critical infrastructure projects across the region. The Albanese Federal Government announced a “90-day Review” of road and rail project funding and 90 local infrastructure projects, worth over $14 billion face the chopping block under this review.