A division of the Liberal Party of Australia
Senator Russell Trood joined me for a quick tour of North Queensland, starting in Cairns. While we were there we stopped at Aloomba State School to present them with a Reef Guardians School Award. We also visited a crocodile farm, met with the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and the Cairns Port Authority. The Australian Government puts a lot of resources into research and we stopped in at the new Australian Tropical Forest Institute to check on the progress of their new buildings.
After Cairns we drove south along the Bruce Highway, stopping first at Miriwinni State School to formaly open a shade structure funded through the Investing in our Schools programme and then at Babinda, where we were given a tour of the cyclone recovery efforts by Debra Quabba, from the Babinda Recovery Taskforce.
Further south along the Highway in Innisfail we met with the Johnstone Shire Council, who face the biggest recovery workload after the devestation of Cyclone Larry. So far they have done a good job in very trying circumstances and I commend them on that, particularly Johnstone Shire Mayor Neil Clarke.
After meeting with the council we moved on to Clump Point at Mission Beach to unveil signage and congratulate the Clump Mountain Project Cooperative Society and the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation for the completion of a project to record sites of natural and cultural significance, as part of the Australian Government's Envirofund Programme.
Our final stop was at Cardwell State School to present another award under the Reef Guardian Schools programme.
This short tour helped to highlight the Australian Government's recognition of the significance of North Queenslands natural wonders.
The Reef Guardian Schools programme, the Envirofund programme and the new Australian Tropical Forest Institute clearly demonstrate the willingness of the Government to provide funding to ensure these natural wonders are sustainable and have a long term future.
BRIEFING NOTES: Senators Russell Trood and Macdonald, joined by the Liberals' candidate for Leichhardt, Charlie McKillop, are given the rundown on increased passenger movements at Cairns Airport in December 2006 by Cairns Port Authority's CEO Brad Geatches.
Senators Russell Trood and Ian Macdonald, along with the Liberals' candidate for Leichhardt, Charlie McKillop, Professor Paul Gadek and Professor Steve Turton inspect building plans for the Australian Tropical Forest Institute in Cairns.
QUESTION TIME: Senator Macdonald keeps the children guessing at Miriwinni State School.
KEEPING DRY: Senators Macdonald and Russell Trood, along with teaching staff and parents of students at Miriwinni State School, underneath the school's new covered area, made possible thanks to funding from the Australian Government's Investing In Our Schools Programme.
THIRSTY WORK: Senators Macdonald and Russell Trood, along with Debra Quabba from Babinda's cyclone recovery taskforce, inspect the beautifully refurbished bar at the Babinda State Hotel, which had been wrecked by Cyclone Larry in March 2006.
GARDEN GAZING: Senators Macdonald and Russell Trood, joined by Debra Quabba Co-ordinator of Babinda's cyclone recovery taskforce, inspect the garden adjacent to The Spirit of Babinda Hall during their visit to the 'Umbrella Town' in December 2006.
PLAQUE PRESENTATION: Senators Russell Trood and Macdonald formally acknowledge Aloomba State School's work in protecting the Great Barrier Reef.