Day of Action for Regional Queensland this Friday
Published on 21 May 2019
A new Queensland wide campaign will launch in Rockhampton this Friday with Rockhampton Regional Council leading the calls for a major shakeup in how regional areas are treated by other levels of government.
Hosting members of the business sector and local community at City Hall today, Mayor Margaret Strelow said the Federal election result shows regional areas across the state were sick of being taken for granted.
“We want to get a message to other levels of government that we want serious jobs for the regions and we do support Adani,” Mayor Strelow said.
“We often see it written that regions have been ‘left behind’, as if we have failed to do something or not embraced opportunities available to us. In fact, the opposite is true.
“We haven’t been left behind, but simply held back. Chronic underinvestment in infrastructure, education, skills and jobs continues, exacerbated by a lack of political will from other levels of government to change things.
“This campaign is about drawing a line in the sand and sending a clear message that the status quo will no longer be accepted.”
Mayor Strelow said communities, businesses, organisations and local governments from across regional Queensland will be invited to take part in the campaign.
“Our Day of Action on Friday will see us launch a parliamentary petition, host a convoy through our city, and hold a special lunchtime event in the Rockhampton Riverside Precinct.
“It is our regional areas that provide much of our state’s necessities, from the food we eat to the energy that fuels our homes and industries.
“It is our regional areas that are a major source of Queensland’s economic prosperity and maintain a high degree of economic diversity.
“It is our regional areas that provided immeasurable contributions to the success of the South East Corner.
“The regions mean business and we won’t be silenced in our demands for a fair go. It is time, once and for all, to stop taking us for granted.”