Member for Dawson and Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability, Mr Andrew Willcox MP, said farmers across Dawson have had an enormous win after Labor retreated on its poorly conceived, reckless, and cruel plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds (SMSFs).

China is, without question, one of Australia’s most significant trading partners. We export vast amounts of natural resources and agricultural products, and in return, we import vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, various technological products, and household goods. But is this relationship balanced, and are we becoming too dependent?

The Albanese Labor Government has chosen to launch another corporate bailout because of the disastrous impact of their reckless energy policies.

The intervention to save the copper smelter follows other recent federal government interventions in Whyalla, Hobart and Port Pirie, with yet more costly bailouts expected in the short term.

Glencore has consistently pointed to Labor’s failed energy policies for collapsing Australian competitiveness.

Coal has powered Australia for generations, and it still does today. Coal is the central reason the lights turn on, the fridge stays cold, and the air con works. Coal remains the cheapest form of electricity in Australia, and without it, our country would be vastly different, in a poorer way.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox MP has renewed calls for urgent action to fix the Bruce Highway, calling it a “national disgrace” and accusing the Albanese Labor Government of playing politics with lives. Despite promising $7.2 billion in upgrades, Labor has already cut $488 million from its own budget, with Senate estimates confirming just $432 million allocated over three years.

Mr Willcox said Dawson cannot wait until 2028 for action, with the stretch from Mackay to Townsville identified as the deadliest on the Bruce. “Forty-three lives were lost in 2024 — that’s families torn apart. Dawson deserves better than excuses. The Bruce Highway must be made safer, and I’ll keep fighting until it is.”

The sky is falling. We’re all going to drown. And if we don’t, we’ll die of heatstroke. That’s the kind of doomsday rhetoric being pushed by Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen and the Albanese government. Why? Because Labor believes fear keeps them in power and they want every voter to be scared…

Labor’s anti-mining regulations, combined with crippling coal royalty rates are forcing job losses and impacting support industries in regional communities, sparking calls for an urgent review.

No – this headline is not the start of a joke. It is a very serious topic that needs more attention. In 1902, Australia became the first country in the world to allow women both the right to vote and to stand for representation in National Parliament.

More than three years in government, and Labor still doesn’t have any real plans to positively grow the economy. Last week, a hand picked group of government, union, business and industry figures gathered for a three day economic forum to supposedly chart a course for Australia's economic future.

Immigration is important. Our country has been built on it. We would not be the Australia we are today without people choosing to set up their lives here. But we have to be honest. Immigration needs to be properly managed. Right now, I have major concerns. Major concerns with how the current government has been managing our immigration.

The students of Mackay West State School had the honour of hosting a momentous occasion this week, as an official Australian Flag, previously flown over Parliament House in Canberra, was brought to the school by the Speaker of the House, the Hon. Milton Dick, as part of the Parliament in Schools program and National Flag Roadshow.

The Australian flag is not just a piece of fabric. It is the enduring symbol of who we are. It represents our shared history, our sacrifices, and the freedoms earned through generations of courage and service. As the federal member for Dawson, one of my favourite tasks is presenting an upstanding community member with an Australian flag.

We need homes for every Australian. We need a housing policy that creates environments where everyone can find their own way into the housing market, and stay there. We need an actual housing policy that is more than writing a few cheques or throwing around big numbers with dollar signs.

Thousands of Australians including Dawson locals, many older or approaching retirement, are reeling in the wake of the collapse of First Guardian and Shield managed investment schemes, leaving them with little to no retirement savings after losing millions of dollars in managed funds.

This week was the first sitting of Federal Parliament since the May election. As the Federal Member for Dawson, I’ve been in Canberra raising the concerns of our region. Thank you to everyone who shares their stories. Your experiences shape the fight I take to Canberra.

The Albanese Labor Government has used its numbers in Parliament to block a proposed Senate Inquiry into the health and future of Australia’s metals manufacturing industry, without providing any explanation for the decision

Australia is blessed with abundant resources — coal, uranium, sunshine, wind, and water. We should have the world’s cheapest and most reliable power in the world. Instead, electricity bills are soaring, reliability is falling, and households are feeling the squeeze. The gap between what we are paying for power and what we should be paying, keeps growing.

Last week, I attended the inaugural Queensland Resources and Innovation Expo at the Resources Centre of Excellence in Paget, Mackay. The expo, promoted as a platform showcasing cutting-edge technologies, fostering industry collaboration, and driving sustainable advancements in the resource sector, definitely delivered – what a fantastic event it was!

The sugar crush across Dawson is on again, and it’s a timely reminder that cane trains are on the move and caution is needed around level crossings. Please, everyone be aware and remain safe on our roads.

It’s no secret that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is under financial pressure. Costs have ballooned, and participation rates are rising faster than anticipated. Reform is clearly needed. But how the government plans to tackles reforms is all cloak and dagger.