COVID fund needs northern focus

Projects that would turbocharge Hinchinbrook’s economy should be considered by a State Government fund designed to help Queensland recover from COVID-19, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Mr Dametto said there was a “prime opportunity” to put the State’s $500 million Backing Queensland Business Investment Fund to work on job-creating projects like the proposed North Queensland […] READ MORE

‘Terrorist’ teenager should be properly punished

  A ‘TERRORIST’ teenager who caused a bomb hoax at a Townsville shopping centre should be locked up in juvenile detention, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Mr Dametto said he was furious the teen, 13, was let off with just a warning by police after he caused mass panic at Stockland Shopping Centre last Thursday […] READ MORE

Police bungle reveals firearm owners’ emails

THE private email addresses of hundreds of licensed firearm owners in the Moreton Bay region have been mistakenly exposed by police in mass emails sent earlier this week. Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said he was “extremely concerned” about the data breach, which mistakenly revealed the email addresses of more than 1200 people in emails sent […] READ MORE

PM leaves door open on sewage plant funding

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has encouraged Cassowary Coast Regional Council to tap into key Federal infrastructure programs that could help fund Port Hinchinbrook’s new sewage treatment plant. Responding to a letter from Kennedy MP Bob Katter that was backed by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, Mr Morrison said council would be receiving more $3.8 million from […] READ MORE

Planning to start on Burdell ambo station

PLANNING and design works for a new $6 million ambulance station at Burdell are set to start this year in a boost for emergency services on Townsville’s northern beaches. Responding to a Question on Notice asked by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto in parliament late last year, Ambulance Services Minister Yvette D’Ath said the facility, to […] READ MORE

Road unable to support highway upgrade

A KEY road that will feed traffic into an upgraded section of the Bruce Highway at Black River is known to be cut off at times during the wet season, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Mr Dametto said two floodways along Black River Road between the Aurora Drive intersection and the exit to the Bruce […] READ MORE

COVID announcements badly mishandled

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s preference for making announcements about COVID-19 restrictions “on the fly” has been slammed by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto who says it is causing “confusion and chaos”. Mr Dametto said he was frustrated the Premier continued to make sweeping announcements via press conference, media statement and social media without providing the exact detail […] READ MORE

Statement – Nick Dametto MP

On behalf of Hinchinbrook, I wish to offer my deepest condolences to the family of the young man whose life was taken after an incident last night in Ingham. While the exact details of this tragedy are yet to be determined, I know police are doing everything within their power to ensure the person responsible […] READ MORE

Taxpayer money wasted as Labor scraps bail houses

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has accused the State Labor Government of being out of touch in dealing with North Queensland’s youth crime crisis after its decision to scrap their failing bail houses. Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard yesterday announced the government would scrap Queensland’s four Supervised Community Accommodation facilities (bail houses) at the end of […] READ MORE

Dametto backs economist’s separate state study

A LOCAL economist’s analysis that suggests a North Queensland state is viable strengthens the case to break away, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Mr Dametto said Colin Dwyer’s analysis had reinforced the merits of going it alone by examining the key factors of population, economic activity, ownership of and need for social assets, common interest […] READ MORE