Queensland Floods Personal hardship assistance has been extended to more flood-affected individuals and families in the Brisbane, Logan and Noosa local government areas as the South East Queensland flood emergency continues. Personal Hardship Grants are now available through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Federal Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the DRFA personal hardship assistance was in addition to a range of assistance already available in response to the floods. “Grants of up to $180 per person, to a maximum of $900 for a family of five or more to eligible people in flood affected areas of Brisbane, Logan and Noosa to alleviate personal hardship and distress,” Minister McKenzie said. “This is the worst flood to hit South East Queensland since the summer of disasters in 2010-11 with the full impacts yet to be completely understood, however, we know thous
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Queensland's first Digital Licence The announcement follows a successful trial of the app in the Fraser Coast in 2020. Queenslanders can expect to go digital with their drivers licence next year, with a contract to deliver the Digital Licence App to Queenslanders now signed. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said Thales Australia & New Zealand would finalise the development and delivery of the app, which would be rolled out across the state next year. “Queensland is modernising it’s approach to licencing, as we progress with the development of a Digital Licence App that will hit Queensland phones next year,” Mr Bailey said. “The Fraser Coast trial was a resounding success, with users reporting a 94 per cent satisfaction rating during the testing. “This gives us confidence that we’re on the right track to ensuring the smooth and successful roll-out of the Digital Licence App across the state. “What we’re doing here is creating a modern, innovative solution that adop
Roads and footpaths will be safer for Queensland commuters as the Palaszczuk Government rolls out new measures to better regulate e-scooters. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said stronger laws like lower speeds on footpaths, mandated safety measures, a safety education campaign and clearer signage and markings would be part of a suite of new actions to help ensure e-scooter riders, cyclists, motorists and pedestrians can safely share spaces. “The rising popularity of e-scooters is a clear sign they aren’t going to disappear,” the Minister said. “We know that people are going to keep using them so the key is making sure that shared spaces like footpaths and bike-lanes are as safe as they can be. “That’s why I joined industry and user groups, disability advocates, health, police and government experts late last year to understand what needs to be done to make e-scooters and their use safer for people riding them and those they ride near.” Immediate action will include the r
Virgin Gold Coast Airport Photo Blow the Truth The Palaszczuk Government is joining forces with Sunshine Coast Airport and other international airports across Queensland to invest $200 million in the state’s international reopening. The nation-leading agreement sees the government partnering with Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns Airports to attract more overseas flights to Queensland. Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said this was another crucial part of Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. “More flights. More tourists. More tourism dollars. More jobs. That’s what today’s announcement means for regions like the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Dick said. “This partnership will see our government working with Queensland’s major airports to secure more flights and new overseas routes so we can continue building back better. “Best of all, our investment is going to safeguard employment across the aviation and tourism sectors. “It will bene
Cairns Western Arterial Road Photo and Info https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/N... The preferred upgrade option for Cairns Western Arterial Road between Redlynch Connector Road and Captain Cook Highway has been finalised. The Cairns Western Arterial Road Duplication is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments with the Australian Government contributing $240 million and the Queensland Government $60 million. It will support an estimated 185 jobs over the life of the project. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Western Arterial project will duplicate the remaining, single-lane sections to address safety and capacity issues on Cairns Western Arterial Road. “These upgrades show that the Australian Government is getting the job done for Queenslanders through our record $110 billion infrastructure investment plan,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. “This project is helping to connect communi
DAF researchers Aiden Mellor (left) with Sydney rock oyster spat and Max Wingfield with Blacklip rock oyster spat from DAF’s Bribie Island Research Centre oyster hatchery Queensland Government scientists at a new oyster hatchery have laid the bed for a mouth-watering expansion of Queensland’s oyster industry. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said scientists at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Bribie Island Research Centre had, for the first time, successfully produced and settled 500,000 blacklip rock oysters at the centre’s bespoke oyster hatchery. “Blacklip rock oysters are notoriously difficult to successfully settle in a hatchery, so this breakthrough achievement has the real potential to develop extensive farming of native tropical oyster species,” Mr Furner said. “This is a game-changer for Queensland’s oyster farming industry allowing the industry to expand beyond the current South-East corne
The first massive wind turbine blades for the $373 million Kaban Green Power Hub have arrived at the Port of Cairns. The 79-metre, 32-tonne blades are part of the wind farm construction that is supporting more than 250 jobs in far north Queensland and will deliver enough renewable energy to power 96,000 Queensland homes. Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the wind farm construction came on the back of a $40 million investment by Queensland’s publicly-owned Powerlink to upgrade the transmission line between Cairns and Townsville from 132kV to 275kV. “This wind farm will help power the North and keep Queensland on track to meet our 50 per cent renewables target by 2030 as well as creating jobs for Queenslanders,” Mr Miles said. Mr Miles said Powerlink’s investment in upgrading power infrastructure had enabled the 28-turbine project to power ahead and would also open up further investment. “This critical infrastructure has the potential to leverage hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of
Homeless Person Queenslanders experiencing financial or emotional hardship, or housing stress, are being encouraged to reach out, talk to their friends and family and to seek assistance from support services over the Christmas and New Year period. Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said the festive season could be a challenging time for many people, particularly those experiencing financial challenges, those who may be feeling lonely or socially isolated, and experiencing housing stress or homelessness. “In the lead up to Christmas, Queenslanders can seek support from their local neighbourhood or community centre, which may be able to assist them with information, services and referrals to other support services,” Ms Enoch said. “Many neighbourhood and community centres can provide emergency relief in the lead up to Christmas, including food, vouchers and financial assistance. “I also encourage people who are doing it tough financially not to go to predatory payday lend
Queensland Ambulance Photo Blow the Truth The Palaszczuk Government is hiring an extra 108 frontline ambulance officers to meet the ever-growing demand for ambulance services. With 44 of the new officers having already commenced their induction training, those new officers will be on-road or taking Triple Zero (000) calls by Christmas. The remaining new recruits will be out in the field by March 2022. “The government has already recruited an additional 179 ambulance officers this financial year and now there are an extra 108 ambulance officers on the way,” Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said. “Obviously this boost will help address the record demand in our health system and support the government’s COVID-19 response.” Acting QAS Commissioner Dr Stephen Rashford said the additional positions would enhance roster coverage and continue to allow the QAS to remain agile and flexible in its pandemic response. “In addition to traditional ambulance service delivery, the
Queensland Government Grinch Stole Christmas Queenslanders will be required to wear masks in certain settings across the state to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections. Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the mask-wearing requirements would apply to all of Queensland from 1am tomorrow, Saturday 18 December. Ms D’Ath said the rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases infectious in the community meant it was time for Queenslanders to mask up again. “Masks wearing takes very little effort, but is a highly effective tool in our fight against COVID-19,” Minister D’Ath said. “We don’t yet know enough about Omicron, and it’s prudent to take sensible measures to slow the spread of this variant of the virus. “We want to keep communities safe and this is a responsible and reasonable approach to achieve that, ahead of the festive season.” Ms D’Ath said individuals were encouraged to carry masks whenever they leave home. “At this stage, there is no requirement to wear a mask outdo