As the former Assistant Health Minister, I have been working to deliver regional health projects which benefit our community for the long-term. These include:
$250 million expansion of the Mackay Base Hospital – delivering a new wing and 128 additional beds- planning underway
Delivering the $31.5 million new Sarina Hospital at Brewers Road – State-of-the-art hospital which means Sarina locals will get care closer to home, and takes pressure off Mackay Base
New Moranbah hospital – brand new modern hospital with a bigger emergency department, upgraded helipad and better facilities due for completion 2024/25.
Heart 5 Mobile Health unit – Securing regular visits to Mackay by this team of doctors and a state-of-the-art CT scanner to screen workers and retired miners for mine dust lung disease
Adding 21 new graduate nurses for Mackay’s health service in February 2023.
An additional 9,450 health workers across Queensland and Mackay – adding more nurses, doctors, and ambos
This is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s largest investment in new hospitals and new hospital beds in Queensland’s history.
Roads
Delivering the $144 million Mackay Northern Access Upgrade -added lanes on the northside, widened sections of the Bruce, and improved multiple intersections, meaning faster, safer travel on the Northside
$186 million for the Walkerston Bypass – under construction and nearing completion
Roads funding for the Mackay Port Access Road, and planning money for the Mackay Bucasia Road
$11.5 million worth of safety upgrades to the Peak Downs Highway, north of Clermont – funding by state and federal governments
Delivering the Mackay Ring Road – funding by state and federal governments.
Economy and Infrastructure
Delivering funding and plans for the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro
Secured $14 million to ensure survival of the Mackay Sugar
Delivering the Mackay Manufacturing Hub. It has created more than 270 jobs, awarded more than $500,000 in grants to local businesses and equipped local businesses to expand and export overseas.
Growing our biomanufacturing industry with the expansion of the QUT Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant (MRBPP) which converts biomass from a sugar mill into bioproducts
Creating a Future Foods BioHub in Mackay by delivering a business case for a BioHub in the Mackay region.
Consistently low unemployment rate for Mackay. Latest figures as at April 2022 was 2.5 per cent in Mackay.
Records broken at The Port of Mackay with the greatest trade year by volume. The 3.6 million tonne throughput for 2021-22 beat the previous record in 2012-13, with the record being built on high sugar and grain exports.
Delivering trial of new bioethanol buses, powered by locally-grown sugar cane, the first of its kind being used on our public transport.
Families and community
Funding for The new Great Barrier Reef Arena which will attract
More social housing including $23.7m for social housing in Mackay-Whitsunday, in the 2022-23 Queensland budget – on top of the new units already delivered in West Mackay and North Mackay in 2021/22.
Opening the new public boat ramp at Slade Point – 2022
Delivering the new and improved Mackay Animal Management Centre for Mackay’s abandoned animals. Funded through the Palaszczuk Government’s Building our Regions program.
Get Set for Work Program – giving Disadvantaged young people from across Mackay a chance to enrol in this program which offers nationally accredited training, support and skills to help 36 young people get a job.
$3 million funding for the Mackay Stadium complete with new lighting, new seats, new kitchen, security upgrades and more. Funding from the Palaszczuk Government and the Mackay Regional Council.
Funding for the Neighbourhood Hub Mackay to fund services for local family and domestic violence services, homelessness, social isolation and loneliness, disability, families in financial stress and more.
Increasing funding of $900,000 to our local domestic, family and sexual violence services for DV services.
Funding for local community and sporting groups through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund grants, Mackay BMX, North Mackay Athletics, Berserker Barbell Club, Mackay Art Society, Mackay Lions and many, many more.
Cost of Living support
Cheaper Kindy for more Mackay families
Cost of living rebate $175 off electricity bills for all Queenslanders – only possible because we kept our energy assets in public hands.
Household resilience program – Funding to helping Mackay seniors and eligible homeowners cyclone proof their home before storm season.Funding 75% of the cost of the home resilience improvements covered by the Queensland Government.
Cheaper bills for seniors and pensioners
Cheaper learner licences
Read more about cost of living support available at
Skills, training and Small Business Support
Delivering Free Tafe in in-demand areas to plug skills shortages and get Mackay locals skilled up for a future in a secure job.
Supporting small business – Hundreds of local small businesses from across Mackay-Whitsunday have received a $5,000 Business Basics grant to invest in website development, marketing plans or business coaching to help grow their business.
Financial support for small businesses to adapt during Covid.
Schools
$4.2 million for local school upgrades delivered in the 2022-23 Queensland budget.
$200,000 for Mackay North State High for the planning, design and consultation of a new performing arts centre and hall.
$12 million in Funding for the construction of the new Catherine Macauley College school
New food and technology building and launch of the prep and tuckshop upgrades at Carlisle Adventist College.
Free period products delivered in every state school – ending period poverty in schools.
