Standing Together for the North West in the State’s Capital

Cr Barry Hughes - NWQROC Chair

Last week, I had the privilege of leading a delegation of the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) to Brisbane. Alongside mayors and representatives from across our vast region - from Mount Isa to the Gulf, from Cloncurry to Croydon - we brought the voice of the North West directly to the steps of Queensland Parliament.

And let me tell you, we made it count.

Too often, the tyranny of distance makes it easy for governments in the southeast corner to overlook what’s happening up here. But we’re not ones to sit on our hands and hope to be noticed. If you want to be heard in Brisbane, you’ve got to show up, stand united, and speak with purpose. That’s exactly what we did.

From aviation to road funding, housing, biosecurity, telecommunications, the CopperString project, and the ongoing challenges of flood recovery - we covered the issues that matter most to our people and our future.

“We brought the voice of the North West directly to the steps of Queensland Parliament.”

One of the greatest strengths of NWQROC and our involvement with the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils, is the solidarity across councils. We don’t go to Brisbane with a shopping list for just one council. We go as a united front, focussed on region-wide priorities and solutions that uplift the whole of North West Queensland and where relevant the wider Western Queensland region which covers 64% of Queensland. That’s a powerful message and it resonates in the halls of power.

I’d go as far as to say this was one of the most productive delegations I’ve ever been part of. Over the jampacked two-day agenda we pushed hard for economic equity, and for our fair share of investment to flow back to the powerhouse North West of the state.

Aviation was one of the top topics on the meeting agenda, and rightly so. I know how critical reliable air services are to our communities.

We met with Rex Airlines’ administrators and officials last week. Disappointedly, we’ll have to wait until the current administration deadline of 30 June 2025 to find out what the future holds. While it continues to be frustrating, but not surprising, we got the impression we’re nearing the end of this rocky road and hope to see some structural clarity around the future of airline services in our region.

Outside of aviation, we continued to push for better road funding, disaster resilience strategies and investment, and the State Government’s financial commitment for transformative projects like CopperString. It simply must proceed. There can be no turning back!

In addition to meetings, a real highlight of the week was the official launch of our Jobs North West Queensland (www.jobsnorthwestqueensland.com.au) and Live North West Queensland (www.livenorthwestqueensland.com.au) platforms by the Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations.

These initiatives, developed in partnership with RDA Townsville and North West Queensland funded by the Queensland Government, are a game-changer for our region. They showcase local job opportunities and promote the lifestyle we all know and love - wide open spaces, strong communities, and a chance to make a real difference.

These platforms will help us attract and retain the skilled workforce we need, while also showing the rest of Queensland and the nation that the North West is not just a place to work, but a place of great opportunities for individuals and business. The catchphrase “Come for the Opportunity, Stay for the Adventure” sums it up perfectly!

Of course, the shadow of flooding was ever-present throughout our time in Brisbane. Our hearts and minds remain with those affected across the west. I know the pain, the isolation, and the resilience it takes to get through times like these.

What gives me hope is that we’re working with a government that shows empathy for the bush. The conversations we had weren’t just heard, they were understood.

So, to everyone across our region: know that your leaders are fighting for you. We’re not just ticking boxes in Brisbane. We’re building bridges, forming partnerships, and demanding a future where the North West is not an afterthought, but a priority.