The most influential political leaders in the region attended a lively Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce special event on Tuesday evening, the key item on the agenda: a new vision for the Whitsundays.

Regional pharmacies are feeling the brunt of budget cuts with the new 60-day prescription policy set to halve their annual dispensing fee, with one local pharmacist saying this will cost his business $250,000 per year.

The Australian Government has handed down a budget that, for the first time in 15 years, is in surplus.

In their second budget, the Labor government announced a $4.2 billion surplus which has largely been credited to corporate tax gained from the resources industry.

Community owned and operated, Whitsunday Foodbank Proserpine, has officially opened its doors this week.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivers his second budget on May 9 and the funding allocations he makes will determine the future of our region on everything from infrastructure to social programs.

For Nationals MP Andrew Willcox, more money for the Bruce Highway and water infrastructure are core priorities.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and State Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm were “shocked” by Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey’s “political spin” when questioned about the Bruce Highway – Goorganga Plains Upgrade project in early March.

A FARMERS’ association say they will oppose the government’s tax grab on richer retirees arguing it will “significantly impact” the handing down of family-owned farms.

Bowen Gumlu Growers Association CEO Ry Collins said the group would fight any ruling that increased the tax rate from 15 to 30 per cent for earnings on super balances above $3m from 2025.

Bowen Community Council and Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox planted the first of a garden’s worth of trees at Cooinda Family Centre last Thursday, March 16.

A small contingent of local families and dignitaries gathered for the tree planting ceremony which commemorated Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second’s Platinum Jubilee and was funded through a Queensland State Government Program.

A farmers’ association say they will oppose the government’s tax grab on ‘richer retirees’ arguing it will “significantly impact” the handing down of family-owned farms.

Bowen Gumlu Growers Association CEO Ry Collins said the group would fight any ruling that increased the tax rate from 15 to 30 per cent for earnings on super balances above $3 million from 2025.

The proposed changes would initially affect about 86,000 super investors across Australia.

AN INQUIRY has been launched into advanced manufacturing to seek solutions to support the manufacturing industry, create jobs and revive manufacturing in Australia.

Advanced manufacturing is any process which utilises high technology or knowledge-intensive input as the integral way a product is constructed, and includes the following sectors: chemical and medicinal, vehicle and transport, specialised machinery and equipment, computer and electronic, scientific and professional.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox is concerned about funding cuts that he believes could result in a lack of international tourists visiting the Whitsundays.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics have released a report that stated international tourist visitation is only 25 per cent of pre- pandemic 2019 levels.

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, said that Mackay Christian College has suffered firsthand by the Youth Crime Epidemic last week with students almost being run over by an out-of-control stolen vehicle.

“This is becoming all too common with recent figures revealing that a record 2133 cars were stolen in QLD through December 2022,” Mr Willcox added.

A MACKAY politician is pushing for parliament to be recalled in the wake of what he labelled a "youth crime epidemic", after a number of school students were nearly struck by a stolen vehicle less than 12 hours before a young man died in a fatal crash also involving a stolen SUV.

The Mackay Christian College students were nearby when a stolen Toyota Corolla crashed near a bus stop at Glenpark St and Ambrose Way about 8am on Wednesday.

With Australia Day just around the corner my thoughts go to, what does it mean to be an Aussie? Sadly, in current times, there’s more concern than excitement, that stems from this question.

We have so much to be proud of in this lucky country of ours. It is the land of opportunity and certainly the best place to raise a family. We have a high standard of living and a democratic system that allows everyone a say in how our country is governed.

After a shocking year of road fatalities across Central Queensland, Andrew Willcox has called out the federal government for allegedly cutting money to a road-safety program.

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has had a fantastic time over the festive season and if you are lucky enough to still be on holidays, please stay safe and enjoy your well-earned break.

The long-awaited projects for road safety improvements in the Bowen area will forge ahead in early 2023, but it is looking likely they will take over a year to complete – a timeline the Federal Member for Dawson said is “not good enough”.

As energy continues to be a geopolitical battleground, an intervention on the energy industry passed through the House last week, with the Greens supporting a Federal Labor government’s decision to cap the price of coal and gas.

Safety works on the Bruce Highway between Proserpine and Ayr will restart in the coming months, almost a year after the principal contractor went into voluntary administration.

The Mackay community has paid tribute to two young constables murdered at a regional property on the Western Darling Downs as floral tributes are laid outside the city police station.