Liberal Senator for Queensland Russell Trood learnt about the challenges facing the Charleville community when he visited last week.

“The purpose of this visit was to gain a greater understanding of the challenges faced by the communities of Western Queensland so that I can be well informed when representing the people of this state in Parliament,” Senator Trood said.

On his first stop, Senator Trood met with Murweh Shire Mayor Mark O’Brien who told Senator Trood about the scrapping of a $5 million regional grant by the Rudd government that was supposed to be used for local development, including a unique learning centre at the Bilby Experience.

Senator Trood then met with Paul Paynter and other members of the Charleville Chamber of Commerce who voiced their concerns about labour shortages, health services, petrol prices and the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme. After speaking to local meat works operators, John Burey from United Game Processors and Neil Duncan from Western Exporters, Senator Trood agreed to take up some issues with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship so that they may employ up to 80 more fulltime overseas employees.

“Regulations are necessary to make sure that rogue employees do not exploit their workers, however it is not beyond our wit to design a scheme that could work better for these businesses,” Senator Trood said. More employees would encourage growth in Charleville as other jobs would be required to service the growing population.

Senator Trood also visited the Charleville School of Distance Education, the Royal Flying Doctors’ base and the Bilby Experience, where he met with hard-working conservationist Peter McRae. “I was delighted to finally meet with Peter as I have supported the work of the Save the Bilby fund which is also used to conserve other endangered species, since I brought up the plight of the bilby in Parliament in 2005,” Senator Trood said.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my discussions with Charleville locals and as a result I will be able to better represent the views of regional Queenslanders in Parliament,” Senator Trood said.

Source: Western Times