Search
| The PM and Premier Respond to Regional Leadership |
| Monday, 21 December 2009 06:25 |
|
I don't think that anyone anticipated that we'd have a visit from both the Prime Minister and the Premier when the 'New Deal' was developed two months ago by Advance Cairns, Cairns Regional Council, the Chamber of Commerce and TTNQ. The 'New Deal' proposed a range of short, medium and longer term strategies to reduce our unemployment, assist small businesses to get through the next 12 months, and to diversify our economy so that in the future we are not so vulnerable to downturns in tourism and construction. Along with Kevin Rudd and Anna Bligh, we have also had meetings with Ministers Arbib, Ferguson and Emerson, and the State Treasurer, Andrew Fraser, in Cairns; and with 8 Ministers when a deputation went to Canberra. The positive responses from the State and Federal Governments have been a clear demonstration that the region will be listened to if we show leadership, propose solutions and don't resort to ‘bagging' the three levels of government. It's great to be part of a new collaborative style of leadership that has moved on from the old adversarial style of confrontation and complaint that has been so evident from some conservative elements in this city. |
