Get involved in caring for Queensland’s national parks

The Newman Government is making it easier for community-minded Queenslanders to roll up their sleeves and get involved with caring for the state’s beautiful national parks. National Parks Minister Steve Dickson said he was reminding organisations to lodge ideas by the end of this month for new volunteering and ‘voluntourism’ initiatives in parks across Queensland,…

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Newman Government getting finances back on track

Queensland’s finances are getting back on track thanks to the Newman Government’s fiscal repair strategies. Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the Report on State Finances released today showed the Government had brought expenses under control and set a path to reducing Labor’s debt. “The Government promised Queenslanders we would restore accountability and that’s what we’re doing,”…

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School leavers offered fee-free training

School leavers will be given fee-free training in core skills areas from next year under a plan detailed by the Newman Government that will boost frontline services and further supercharge Queensland’s economy after years of Labor mismanagement. Visiting Kawana Waters State College today, Education, Training and Employment Minister John-Paul Langbroek announced that priority industries would…

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Queensland households $260 better off without Labor’s carbon tax and RET

The Newman Government has welcomed news the Abbott Government will pursue its election mandate to reduce household electricity bills by repealing the Labor-Greens Carbon Tax and reviewing the Commonwealth Government’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) Scheme. Energy and Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle said Queensland electricity prices were 17.8 per cent higher because of the impact…

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Student scholarships to boost state’s skills

Frontline education services are about to be further boosted, with teaching students and university graduates to benefit from $680,000 in scholarships announced by the Newman Government. Education, Training and Employment Minister John-Paul Langbroek announced 40 scholarships under the Step into Teaching Scholarship and STEM Teaching Scholarship programs, each worth up to $25,000. “We want to…

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Community helicopters to get night vision

Community-based helicopter rescue operators from Mackay to the New South Wales border will share in $3.57 million State Government funding to equip themselves with state-of-the-art night vision goggles (NVG). “The use of NVG is the benchmark practice for night time emergency medical helicopter operations,” Acting Health Minister Scott Emerson said today. “This money will support…

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Queensland leads the nation in jobs creation

Queensland is again leading the nation in jobs creation, according to the latest ABS Labour Force data. Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the result showed the Newman Government’s plan to grow a four-pillar economy, after years of Labor neglect, was working. “Queensland experienced the strongest increase in trend employment, with 4,200 jobs created in October,” Mr…

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61 recruits join Queensland Police ranks

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) has received a boost with 61 new officers inducted into the service this afternoon. Police Minister Jack Dempsey said the 61 new police officers had spent the last 25 weeks learning the skills they need to improve the safety of Queensland communities, which had deteriorated under Labor. “I thank the…

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Green light for tougher school discipline powers

Queensland’s state school principals will have greater discipline powers to manage disruptive student behaviour from the start of the 2014 school year. Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said the Education (Strengthening Discipline in State Schools) Amendment Bill 2013 had been passed by Queensland Parliament heralding major improvements for state school operations. “The…

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Queensland ecotourism zips to new heights

Visitors to a popular Sunshine Coast national park are set to reach lofty new heights with the Queensland Government opening an Expressions of Interest process for a zipline canopy tour. Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey and National Parks Minister Steve Dickson said Kondalilla National Park could soon be home to a new ecotourism experience, as the…

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