Gladstone today will host the fourth and final Regional Community Forum for the Central Queensland region for 2021, with local forum members, Ministers and Members of Parliament to work on increasing vaccination rates to protect the region from COVID-19.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said since 2019 the forums have been a platform to elevate regional voices in the State, and the local community representatives could now help to increase vaccination rates.
“With just weeks to go until our border reopens and greater freedoms flow for vaccinated Queenslanders, we are getting the message out – vaccines are safe, effective and our best defence against COVID-19,” the Premier said.
“We want to ensure people living and working in regional Queensland are fully vaccinated to protect their health and the health of their family, friends and community.
“That’s why the vaccine rollout and sharing the opportunities that come with reopening our State will be a key focus of the final round of Regional Community Forums for 2021.”
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said other local leaders including Hospital and Health Service representatives have also been invited to all seven forums today to focus on the health and economic benefits of vaccinations.
“The Palaszczuk Government values the contributions that forum members make as community leaders,” she said.
“So now we ask them to do what they do best – help us to ensure more of our communities are vaccinated.”
Gladstone will host Central Queensland forum members, with Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations Grace Grace, Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement Mick de Brenni and Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing Glenn Butcher who will chair the forum.
Mr Butcher said today’s eighth round of Regional Community Forums will also be the last for existing forum members, with their terms to conclude at the end of 2021.
“Adaptable, resilient and collaborative, our Central Queensland forum members have been catalysts for positive change across the region,” he said.
“They have witnessed the transformation of local industries, with a focus on innovation.
“They have met with leaders of local government and business enterprises, and shared their thoughts on infrastructure planning and prioritisation, education, transport, tourism and health.
“As a Government, we are so grateful for all we have learnt from our forum members and look forward to building upon their actions in the years ahead.”
Expressions of interest for new members on the Regional Community Forums can be made on the Advancing Queensland’s Regions website.
Regional Community Forums will also be held today in Far North Queensland, North-North West Queensland, Western Queensland, Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast and Darling Downs-South West Queensland.
