Canberra delegation shares the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region’s vision for the future.

Some of the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region’s change champions last week travelled to Canberra to meet with a range of parliamentarians and key advisors to discuss and showcase our region’s strong economic credentials and how it is at the forefront of embracing change.

Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) hosted a small delegation to Canberra on March 16, 17 and 18 to coincide with the Region’s Rising Summit delivered by the Regional Australia Institute.

The Region’s Rising Summit was focused on growing regional Australia and linking all levels of government, business and the community sectors to encourage, collaborate and lead future-focused discussions.

The delegation included Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Andrew Willcox; Red Cat Adventures Asher Telford; Australian Prawn Farms Matt West; Gilmour Space Technologies James Gilmour; Nordzuker Mackay Sugar Jannik Olejas and Queensland University of Technology Deputy Director of the Centre for Agriculture and Bioeconomy Professor Ian O’Hara.

Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen also hosted and attended meetings. 

GW3 chief executive officer (CEO) Ms Kylie Porter said the theme of the delegation was Decentralisation and Diversification.

“One of the objectives of the delegation was to build the profile of the MIW region amongst parliamentarians in Canberra. 

“The other was to discuss regionally specific topics including biofutures, agriculture, aquaculture, aerospace, tourism and skills and training”.

Ms Porter said over the course of three days, the delegation engaged in a total of 17 meetings including with three Ministers; Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Hon Keith Pitt; Minister for Finance Hon Simon Birmingham; Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management Hon David Littleproud; along with two Assistant Ministers and three Shadow Ministers.

“The role of delegates was to provide the ‘real face’ to parliamentarians:  to tell their story about their sector’s vision for the future; how it is evolving and what that means to the Australian economy.

 “It was an incredibly useful trip and GW3 looks forward to leading more delegations across 2021, Ms Porter said.

Greater Whitsunday Alliance is the region’s peak, independent economic development body committed to making the Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday region strong for generations.

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