SUGAR INDUSTRY DESERTED BY GOVT AND OPPOSITION

The sugar industry is vital to the economy of Cairns and Far North Queensland. The flow on jobs not directly linked to sugar production are also impacted, such as happened with the Babinda mill closure.

Year after year the Australian industry has to struggle against the unfair World Trade Organisation processes and Free Trade Agreements successive governments have lumbered us with. Now the European Commission is going to shaft us again by breaching their WTO contracts for a second time in two years and flood the sugar market with their excess sugar, which they subsidise. This creates a glut on the world market and pushes prices down. Subsidised European producers don't feel the pinch, as they're subsidised, but Australian farmers playing by the rules and subject to market prices for survival lose out big time.

What makes it even worse is that Australia contributes financially to the organisations involved in the European bail out. So in a nutshell, our sugar producers are struggling to make a living and are paying taxes which our government is giving to those people who have decided not to play by the rules, for a second time in two years, so they can shaft us and destroy our sugar industry. Meanwhile we have to keep playing by the rules and copping it sweet because our government is too gutless to stand up and speak out.

The party that previously used to look after primary producers should hang their heads in shame. How can you walk down the street and look these people in the eye?

Katter's Australia Party will speak out on this travesty that will cost FNQ jobs. Our Federal govt needs to speak up or review the rules by which we are subject and apply the same to these subsidised imports. Our Federal govt. must demand that the WTO call on the European Commission to adhere to their contracts or what is the point of having them?
We continue to punch above our weight, but you can't win with two hands and two feet tied behind your back.


here is the link-
http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/state/sugar/general/eu-to-breach-wto-sugar-commitments-again/2371101.aspx?src=rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Queensland_Online&utm_content=news&utm_source=RoamMedia

FURTHER BLOWS COMING FOR FNQ ECONOMY

We recently had the Babinda sugar mill close up here which has had huge impacts on jobs in the area, the future training of local apprenticeships and the impact on the township of Babinda losing such a big employer of locals.
How many more sugar jobs, farmers and local communities are going to be impacted by the latests decision by Europe to breach their WTO commitments for a second time in two years, flooding the market with their subsidised glut of sugar which will drive prices down due over supply.
Meanwhile Australia playing by the rules and depending on market price gets shafted as price plummets because we follow the rules.
Why is the European Commission not happy with destroying their own economies is now trying to do it to others like Australia?
Not good enough and where's how hopeless govt. making a stand and demanding action be taken for these breaches?
http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/state/sugar/general/eu-to-breach-wto-sugar-commitments-again/2371101.aspx?src=rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Queensland_Online&utm_content=news&utm_source=RoamMedia

CORAL SEA STUPIDITY PART V

As has become the custom recently the wishy washy fence sitters currently in opposition have not come out and stated their position on the proposed marine park. Obviously they need to watch the polls before they come out with their response. Once the faceless men in Brisbane and Canberra tell them what they can say we will hear the tired old we're going to form a committee on this. Mean while the fishing industry of Far North Queensland will be wiped out.
The proposed marine park will not bring one single extra tourist. Not ONE. The reef is already there. People come to see The Great Barrier Reef. They don't come to see the GBR marine park. No one will give a rats if it is the biggest marine park or not, they are coming to see the Great Barrier Reef. But this will cost jobs we can't afford to lose. This will restrict the enjoyment of the area by recreational anglers. This will increase the cost of seafood and increase the amount of imports, meaning more Australian job losses.

Cairns voters have another clear distinction then at the upcoming election.

The govt. will kowtow to overseas extremists and suck up to the greens and bring this park in which will cost FNQ it's fishing industry and cost our area 1000's of jobs.

The opposition are too chicken shit to stand up and make a stand. They will continue their small target strategy of not saying anything until the faceless men tell them what to say in case they upset green voters.

Katter's Australian Party says we want to protect jobs up here. KAP says we don't want to lose our entire fishing industry up here so Beverly Hills celebrities can pat themselves on the back. KAP says Queenslanders should be able to go fishing with their family and friends.KAP says there are a multitude of threats to the reef not covered in this proposal but because they have better lobbyists the fishing industry and associated business will be decimated. Anyone who has been around here longer than five minutes knows what Green Island used to be like and if you've been there recently can see that snorklers and tourists are damaging to reefs.
Most importantly Katter's Australian Party knows that the knock on effects on businesses and industry in Cairns will be enormous if we lose our commercial fishing industry, charter fishing and recreational fishing. It is time to stand up and say enough.

CORAL SEA STUPIDITY PART IV

If the Coral Sea Marine Park is commissioned and anglers in Far North Queensland can no longer fish in MANY areas of the proposed park and can only take part in catch and release fishing in the others there can be only one result.
The proposed park is further from shore meaning for the average angler it would cost considerable money in fuel to reach said areas.Recreational anglers are usually happy that this cost is offset by being able to keep the fish they catch in line with bag limits set by the experts that they determined would be at sustainable levels. Some anglers will still be keen to travel to the areas for catch and release fishing, especially species like marlin and other large bill fish, but many will not.
This means the areas between the Coral Sea Zone and the shoreline will now be fished by the increased numbers of anglers who previously went into the proposed zones. This means that there will be a greater concentration of fishers over a smaller area.
Instead of the same amount of fish being taken from a large area, from a large number of schools and species this will squeeze anglers into a smaller area meaning the schools in those areas will be depleted quicker and will not have time to regenerate.
How on earth is that sustainable?
Once the areas between the proposed zone and shore reach critical levels, as will happen as an indirect consequence of this proposal, authorities will move to introduce more exclusion zones and bag limits effectively stopping all fishing becuase of their stupidity.

SPEND MONEY ON CURRENT NEEDS NOT PIE IN THE SKY FLUFF 20YRS AWAY

The proposed education trust proposed by the government just proves they can not even see the problems right in front of their face. A few days ago the AMAQ called for a greater focus on health. the next day the govt announces this education strategy. Why on earth would we look up this money for 20years before we see any benefit from it? We have a severe shortage of doctors and nurses in our state. Instead of this pie in the sky fluff, why not divert that same amount of money into the rural doctors and nurses scheme? Imagine how many doctors and nurses we could put through and employ with an additional $1.47Billion. We also have a severe skills shortage of tradesman. Again why lock up this money when we could apply it to training apprentices now? more tradesman, less drain from mines, more competiton, lower prices. Which part of this doesn't appeal to the government?

here is the press release put out by me-

The Katter’s Australian Party candidate for Cairns has condemned the government’s proposed education trust fund a pointless stunt and called for alternative measures.

“Why does the Qld education system have to suffer for 20years before we see any benefit from this concept? We have real needs, right now. There is a huge shortage of doctors and nurses in our state. Instead of waiting for 20 years for Queensland to see any benefit as the government wants, we are calling for this money to be diverted to the rural nurse and doctor scholarships so we can address the critical shortages there.”

“We also have a major shortage of tradesman and skilled workers. Business owners in Cairns have told me they were willing to put on new apprentices. However, because they can’t do their training locally and the costs involved in sending staff to Townsville or Brisbane, combined with a lack of support generally, means they are no longer willing to employ apprentices.”

Instead of pie in the sky stuff 20years down the track, I’m calling for this money to be diverted to helping train FNQ apprentices now. We have a TAFE college right here that can be used for this purpose to better effect. The money can be used in a similar scheme as the rural scholarships for doctors/nurses meaning they do their time in Queensland or repay the money provided.

The question also has to be asked why are they discriminating against our kids that need assistance now? Why can only children born after a certain date be entitled to help and others not? Has Labor written off all those other kids?It is also very contradictory when they say they will hold the money in trust for the future education, but then they say it will be used in the first ten years to fund education and training programs. So which is it? We have seen from the government when they have raided the gambling fund they can’t be trusted to leave money alone.

With one mining company indicating they are going to bring in workers from Poland, we need to address our shortages with our own best and brightest. The savings for this option compared to the government’s proposal will come from having tradesman employed now, producing wealth for Queensland and spending their money locally. The savings will come from having the doctors and nurses we need so we do not need to rely on overseas staff or to pay overtime to fill staff gaps and improving the health of Queenslanders by reducing waiting lists which improves productivity and the overall economy.

CORAL SEA STUPIDITY PART III

Shen Neng 1, Dumun, MV Global Peace,MSC Basel, HMS Nottingham,Atlantic Blue, Doric Chariot, New Reach ....... Nothing!!!!!!!
But hey, Mum and dad no taking your kids out for a fishing trip. You're a danger to the reef.
WTF???

ALP/LNP SET TO SELL ELECTRICITY ASSETS AND SEND BILLS SOARING

As if our power bills aren't exorbitant enough already. The carbon tax is going to hit us in the pockety when it comes to our future power bills. It is going to get a whole lot worse when the govt or opposition decide to sell of the assets this state has built up over generations. One of our core policies is to not sell our assets off, like electricity, to cover up economic mismanagement.

Here is the press release put out by our state leader Aiden McLindon-

ALP and LNP will privatise power Katter’s Australian Party State Leader, Aidan McLindon, today warned that the Queensland ALP and LNP would follow the lead of the New South Wales Liberal Government and privatise power after the next election.
The Liberal New South Wales Government yesterday approved the sale of that state’s power generators.
"The Liberal Government of New South Wales has now decided to privatise power, only a few months after it was elected on a promise not to do so," said Mr McLindon.
"It is just insulting that ALP and LNP governments continue to behave in this way. No longer will they be allowed to go to elections keeping their intentions hidden from voters while campaigning on false promises to keep assets."
"I have a clear message to Queenslanders. You cannot trust Anna Bligh or Campbell Newman when it comes to maintaining ownership of state assets. The Labor Party’s track record is appalling and the LNP Leader has already stated that the electricity industry and additional ports could be sold."
"Privatisation will lead to increased costs. Power privatisation is already going to add over $550 to each family’s power bill in New South Wales and I will not allow this to happen in Queensland."
"Only Katter’s Australian Party can be trusted to keep Queensland’s assets that have been built over generations."

CONTAMINATED CSG WATER PROVES NEED FOR MORATORIUM

The more and more that comes out about CSG and the stuff ups and cover ups facilitated by this government beggar belief.

Here is the press release put out by our State Party Leader Aiden McLindon-

Contaminated water proves need for CSG moratorium State Leader of Katter’s Australian Party, Aidan McLindon, said today that revelations the Queensland Government gave approval for a CSG company to discharge toxic water into a natural waterway proved the urgent need for a moratorium on new coal seam gas approvals.
Origin Energy was granted permission to dump 17 chemicals into the Condamine River at levels toxic to animals and plants in June last year.
"It is not good enough that this approval was granted nearly 18 months ago and that it is only because of a media exposé that there will be an investigation. Queenslanders have lost confidence in the ability of the Queensland Government to regulate this industry," said Mr McLindon.
"I have been calling for a CSG moratorium for over a year and it continues to fall on the deaf ears of the ALP and LNP. These two parties only have wide eyes for the royalty revenues which they are falling over themselves to use for pork barrelling election promises."
"The future of Queensland is too important to continue with this madness. Katter’s Australian Party will impose a moratorium and halt all new approvals. This industry continues to lay waste to our Great Artesian Basin and destroying our agricultural industry which is unacceptable."

CORAL SEA MARINE PARK STUPIDITY PART 2

If the proposed marine park is supposed to be about protecting the reef, why does this government allow 200 tonnes of coral to be harvested from the reef each year? How many more 100's of tonnes are killed in the process of harvesting?
All so someone can have a nice piece of coral in their Beverly Hills mansion fish tank while they get their personal assistant to send us a message to tell us we should make the Coral Sea a Marine Park.

CORAL SEA MARINE PARK STUPIDITY PART 1

Every person with an ounce of business or economic sense keeps saying we need to have a diversified economy in FNQ. If we continue to rely totally on tourism we will come undone. Tourism is a vital part of our economy, but it is not the sole part.
Which brings me to why the hell are we putting up with this stupid proposal to cut our available uses caused by the proposed Coral Sea Marine Park. There are no if's, buts or maybes that fishing jobs will be lost as a result. That's jobs we can't afford to lose up here.The stupid government is offering compensation for the fisho's that own the licences as if that fixes everything and this is what demonstrates how stupid this government is.
The job losses are compounded. The deckhands then don't have jobs, which means less people spending money in our economy. The suppliers, chandlers, food and fuel suppliers, ice suppliers, tackle shops all lose business which means guess what? More job losses.
What about the local seafood suppliers? Are they getting compo as part of the govt's solution to lock up our backyard? What happens to those families?What about the compounded job losses when they can no longer make a living?
It further reduces our options and places greater pressure on other stocks. Either that or we get flooded with overseas seafood handled with questionable hygiene practices, caught in waters of predominantly human excrement, by someone on 50cents a month.
I think we need our local seafood, maintaining local jobs and helping us to maintain a diversified economy. We're supposed to have had all these experts and departments eating up huge amounts of taxpayer money to tell us what are sustainable practices. If they were wrong all this time, why hasn't someone from government been sacked and held accountable? If they weren't wrong, why aren't we listening to what they said?

HEALTH POSITION OF CAIRNS CANDIDATES

Was interesting to see the Cairns Post story on AMAQ calling for health to be major issue at next election. http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/11/21/192551_local-news.html

 I 100% agree it is the number 1 issue for Cairns because it impacts on so many other areas. if we don't have health right, everything else falls down. the AMAQ also stated they would name and shame candidates and parties. For the government I don't see why they need to go any further than  Dr Patel and the Health Payroll debacle. Those two issues alone show this government does not deserve the right to govern this state.

WIN news contacted the three Cairns candidates.
ALP candidate trotted out the same old tired lines about how much they're doing already, As far as she's concerned they're doing everything they need to, everything is fine with the CBH and she did not commit to doing anything other than what is happening already.
Well that may be fine for someone on a very highly paid council salary with no kids able to afford private health care and private doctors because of how much they get paid, but I can assure you for people who don't earn the same money you do or those with kids, mortgages and bills to pay there are major issues with our hospital. Someone who only goes to the CBH for cups of tea and cake at social events doesn't see what the ambulance and ED staff go through day after day. Anyone who has spoken to the doctors,nurses and health workers away from the cameras and their bosses knows there is issues. But hey, I suppose in fairyland everything is fairyfloss and lollipops. Down here in the real world it's a bit different. Nothing about the health payroll debacle. Nothing about the new hospital we got promised last election. Nothing about the fact our hospital has to be evacuated every natural disaster.

The LNP candidates answer to our woes is to increase the payments made under the patient transfer scheme.
Personally I agree this is well over due. The amounts paid are miniscule compared to cost incurred by patients. Take a look at the costs one of the high paid bureucrats would get paid in travel, accommodation and meals to cover the same journey as one of their patients. It's an obscene difference. But how does this address the concerns at Cairns Base Hospital? I think patients would prefer they could get the treatment they need at their local hospital, instead of having to travel. there are always going to be services we can't provide locally, but there are many that could be if we focussed on what matters and made a priority of what is needed.Campbell didn't give his ventriloquist dummy any more to say than that, so that was it.

You will notice that both of the other candidates trotted out tired old party/Brisbane centric responses that do not address our local needs.

Alternatively, we put our proposals forward on local needs. Firstly, reviewing the rural scholarships scheme to increase the number of nurses, doctors, health workers directly in our area. We put forward our proposals for the CBH to address bed block and retaining staff we have in the area with job sharing and child care arrangements. We have also outlined other streamlining,workplace improvements and cost recovery processes. We did this by consulting experts in the field. We happen to have a local doctor on our team running for Mulgrave who has firsthand info on what needs to happen. We have spoken to nurses, doctors, ambo's, health workers, mental health workers, police and other stakeholders to develop our policies. We don't need to be told what to do from Brisbane. We don't get told we can beg for the scraps like a mongrel dog when the big boys are finished. We get told to go out and find local solutions. That's what we do.
AND that's what's the difference between us and the other 2 parties.

We're pretty sure the $300million the govt wasted on the health payroll can be avoided in the future if they're not in power too.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD FOCUS ON REAL POLICE, NOT FUN POLICE

 Well here we go again. Queenslanders being dictated to by US/overseas extremists. I see Desley Boyle is for this stupidity but Curtis Pitt is having 50c each way saying he will wait and see what the Federal govt. proposes. Well, not good enough. Don't wait until they tell us what's going to happen. Tell them what we want, or don't support it at all.

 We want to be able to go fishing with our kids, family and friends. We want jobs in our area.Given our extreme unemployment rates we can't afford to lose the ones we have .

We have to speak up now, and we have to tell these overseas extremists that enough is enough.                                                                                                                 

Here is the full press release put out by me

Media release for Monday 21^st November 2011

The Australian Party Candidate for Cairns Darren Hunt has called on the government to allow fishing to continue in Far North Queensland.

Mr Hunt said “Once again as an election looms this desperate government is trying to suck up to Green voters. Now they want to keep pushing this overseas, extremist point of view. They don’t even know who they’re supposedly protecting this area from. They just cut $23million from the police budget so they’re hardly in a position to enforce this stupidity.”

 “As someone who’s family has been in this area for generations I can still remember the state of the reef at Green and Fitzroy islands when I was a kid. There’s no fishing allowed there and look at the state of it in areas not fenced off. Why are anglers always made out to be the bad guys in these debates?”

“This industry creates many jobs in this area and with the unemployment rates up here we can hardly afford to lose anymore. The benefits for families and friends to be able to go out and enjoy outdoor activities cannot be measured in times of growing childhood obesity. Anglers educated and engaging in sustainable practices and adhering to current laws pose no greater risk to the reef than the thousands of transport ships cruising by everyday”

“The only way these overseas extremists will be happy is if it is closed off to everyone, forever. Queenslanders shouldn’t have to kowtow to overseas extremists. Queenslanders should be able to go out fishing for the day with their family. This government should focus on real police, not the fun police.”

Darren Hunt

Candidate for Cairns

here is the link tom Cairns Post story
 http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/11/21/192521_local-news.html#comment

WILL ALP SHAFT CAIRNS IN FAVOUR OF SEQ AGAIN?

Last night it was discovered the Gold Coast is calling for government funding for a "cultural precinct" on the coast. Of course they say they need it for upcoming Commonwealth Games. I say good luck to them, but what a load of rubbish. It's a sports event and they will be getting 100's of $millions in infrastructure for sports and transport. The CG bid said they had the facilities in place to hold a the greatest games ever so I think fair's fair. Our state government money has much higher priorities.

In Cairns we would be left with a debt our grandchildren will be paying off. Whether you're for or against the Cairns proposal, the issue is given the government wouldn't fund our centre, despite funding many similar in other parts of Queensland, for them to turn around now and fund the Gold Coast centre would show the neglect and contempt for FNQ held by the major political parties.

If they fund this Gold Coast Centre it should send a clear message to voters that the government does not deserve a single vote from FNQ.

I sent the media release to Cairns Post but no surprise it didn't get a run. Here is the press release put out by me-

Media release for Tuesday 15^th November 2011

GOLD COAST PRECINCT FUNDING WILL PROVE IF ALP CARES ABOUT CAIRNS

The Australian Party Candidate for Cairns Darren Hunt has called on the government to provide Cairns equal funding for any cultural precinct proposed for the Gold Coast.

 “Far North Queensland has been continually neglected by this ineffective ALP government. Cairns rate payers are facing a massive cost to create a cultural precinct in Cairns that our grandchildren will be paying off.”Mr Hunt said.

“We have been repeatedly told the state government will not be funding our centre, unlike other centres across the state. Now we see the ultimate test on whether Cairns and FNQ is the forgotten part of our state. The Gold Coast council say they need state government funding for a cultural precinct. If this government commits funding to the Gold Coast, which they denied Cairns, then they will stand condemned. I would hope that everyone in Cairns remembers at the ballot box and sends them a message loud and clear.”

“Cairns is watching and we have had a gutful of being taken for granted.”

Darren Hunt

Candidate for Cairns

Here is the link to the Gold Coast Story-

 http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/11/14/365895_gold-coast-news.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Queensland_Online&utm_content=news&utm_source=RoamMedia

And here is the link to the Cairns Post story-

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/11/15/191385_local-news.html                                                                                                                                  

LOCKOUT CHANGES SHOW GOVT DESPERATE TO BRIBE VOTERS

The govt is really desperate to bribe voters now resorting to changes to its lockout laws that dealt with unruly patrons and alcohol fuelled violence on our streets. I saw first hand the difference these changes made in Cairns when they were brought in as I was attached to Cairns City Beat at the time directly responsible for policing the CBD and dealing with the associated problems. The govt knows they work. Here is the link where the Premier of our state said so when Doctors wanted the trading hours cut back to 2.00AM-

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/wind-back-pub-hours-fed-up-doctors-say/story-e6freoof-1226146191597

As I say below, what's changed in 5 weeks Premier?

Below is the media release put out by me-

The Australian Party Candidate for Cairns Darren Hunt has called on the government to explain why it is prepared to remove a program it claims was working and will create further alcohol fuelled violence on the streets of Cairns.

“The government are now so desperate to buy votes they are moving to revoke the 3am lockout rules that have been used effectively in Cairns and other areas such as the Gold Coast and Fortitude Valley.”Mr Hunt said.

“5 weeks ago the Premier was bragging about how effective the program was saying it reduced alcohol related violence on our streets. Now all of a sudden her government wants to change this in a desperate attempt to bribe voters.”

“The lockout rules aren’t a magic bullet, but it is one more measure that helps reduce problems. Ask those at the coal face like police, security guards, taxi drivers, nurses and doctors that deal with the violence on our streets day in day out if this program should be axed.”

“At a time when this government has axed jobs for police, hospitals and other support services stretching the resources of these agencies, in what is nothing more than a cheap vote grabbing exercise, is a disgrace. This government should hang their head in shame for putting Cairns residents and visitors in danger.” Mr Hunt said.

ALP/LNP PLAY FAVORITES TO CSG MINERS AGAIN

CSG fracking is dangerous and hazardous to our health. CSG fracking is dangerous to our environment, flora and fauna. CSG fracking is dangerous to primary production and our economy.CSG fracking has been linked to earth tremors in the U.K. CSG fracking is dangerous because our current government is too gutless to stand up to mining companies with an election looming in case they withdraw their financial donations. The current safeguards clearly do not work.

 

So can someone from this hopeless govt. explain to me how it is that when one molecule of Diuron was supposedley discovered on the reef, despite the fact it could have come from shipping fouling paint and there was no proof it came from cane farms,that Diuron was banned making it hard for sugar producers with no readily available alternative?
Now compare that with the case of a CSG miner DELIBERATELY releasing fracking chemicals into flood waters WITHOUT permission or authority and it does not get banned. There is no doubt what so ever that these chemicals were from this mine site. No ifs, buts or maybes what so ever it came from there. Unlike the diuron situation which could not be comprehensively proven where the stuff detected came from.Could it be sugar farmers don't pay royalties? Could it be sugar farmers do not make multi million dollar donations to political parties? How can there be such a clear and distinct case of favoritism between one industry and another?

There are clearly insufficient safeguards on the CSG industry and these chemicals do as much if not more damage than Diuron and nothing happened. The people of Queensland deserve answers.
And don't you LNP clowns think you're any better. You joined your ALP mates addicted to mining company donations and voted against the moratorium that would have prevented this.

Below is the link to the story of fracking chemicals released on one occasion we now know about months after it occured. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2011-11-08%2Fcsg-operator-released-untreated-water-during-floods-inquiry%2F3652556&h=PAQGcRWCcAQGx73xZ3B5DP5v_TNQdLfUdA8t7G1pjl2Ze4w

WE DESERVE CCTV SUPPORT IN THE SUBURBS

It was interesting to see the other day that in Mareeba they built a new skate park which is now getting heaps of use from local kids with significant impacts on crime rates. Unfortunately this has resulted in a bit of bullying and bad behaviour. To address the issue police worked with council and they have now installed a mobile CCTV tower to monitor and to address the behaviour.

Given the size of the Tablelands Regional Council and rates base they have, it really makes you wonder how they can do this so quickly when I have repeatedly called for a similar system to be utilised for Cairns, particularly in the area of Chinamen Creek canals that have seen ongoing issues of crime, unruly and anti-social behaviour this still has not happened. Residents have been in a constant state of fear and often feel trapped in their own homes. These systems are clearly available having been used in Mareeba and at the Cairns Amateurs this year.

It is time the people of Cairns living in this area were given the help and support they need to be able to go about their lives in peace. I will continue to fight to get this simple step implemented that can benefit so many.

RFDS SUPPORT

It was great to see the turnout at the Royal Flying Doctor Service(RFDS) fundraiser put on by the Regional Tourism Association. Having served in a number of remote areas throughout my time I have had a lot to do with the RFDS over the years and seen firsthand how vital they are in plugging a major gap in our health system to service regional and remote Australia.

Many people are unaware that despite the ever increasing demands for their service they are still reliant on volunteers and donations to maintain this vital service. That's why it was so pleasing to see how many people were there to support the fundraiser today and also from the local businesses that donated prizes. Again showing how one organisation in Cairns/FNQ helps out another even though they may not have any direct connection,we all realise how much we depend on each other being out of sight, out of mind.

For those that are interested the RFDS can always use support whether direct or indirect. Here's the link if you can help out-
http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/How-You-Can-Help/