Labor locks up the North with new laws

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has pummelled Labor for once again ramming through legislation that will put even more restrictions on landholders in North Queensland. The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MP is seething after the State Government used its numbers to pass the Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 on Wednesday. […] READ MORE

Cardwell suffers at hands of Labor’s inaction

A REFUSAL by the State Labor Government to dredge One Mile Creek means Cardwell will once again miss out on another economically lucrative tourist season. Almost nine months after Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto brought representatives from Port Hinchinbrook mortgagee Sino, Cassowary Coast Regional Council and maintenance firm Norship Marine to Cardwell for a discussion on […] READ MORE

Enviro Bill another reason for separate state

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has reignited calls for a separate North Queensland state ahead of public hearings on a farm-destroying Bill proposed by Labor. The Labor-stacked Innovation, Tourism Development and Environment Committee now plans to hold hearings in regional areas throughout the Great Barrier Reef’s catchment for the Environmental Protection (Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures) […] READ MORE

Dam plan means water security for region

A BOLD vision to dam the Herbert River would provide long-term water security for the wider region, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. “We live in one of the most fertile areas of Australia so it makes sense that we capitalise on the abundance of rainfall that pours into the Herbert River annually,” he said. “Long […] READ MORE

‘Fishal recognition’ a final blow for industry

LABOR’S decision to fund research into fishal recognition technology will mean the death knell for Queensland’s commercial fishing industry, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. The Katter’s Australian Party MP said he was shocked and angered that the government was bragging about “fish image recognition” technology, which is being developed to automatically collect information on commercial […] READ MORE

Heli option could solve bat problem

HINCHINBROOK MP Nick Dametto has called for helicopters to be considered to disperse bats from Ingham after it was revealed the State Government’s own emergency helicopter engaged in the same practice. In a letter responding to Mr Dametto’s concerns regarding the issue of bats obstructing the flight path of the Queensland Government Air (QGAir) helicopter […] READ MORE

Regional housing market suffers under Labor

LABOR’S refusal to expand the First Home Owners’ Grant to existing homes will continue to see regional housing markets suffer, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Following an initial positive meeting towards the idea with State Assistant Treasurer Glen Butcher, Mr Dametto received a letter this month which all but ruled out the government expanding the […] READ MORE

Labor abandons Townsville tradies

TOWNSVILLE’S solar and battery installers are missing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of work due to a silly restriction on the State Labor Government’s renewable energy schemes. Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said he had been approached by several Townsville tradies over the government preferencing southern contractors for local work due to the […] READ MORE

Veg regrowth a ‘ticking time bomb’: Dametto

VEGETATION regrowth in the aftermath of North Queensland’s floods is a “disaster waiting to happen” unless the State Labor Government takes action to reduce it, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. “The restrictions placed on landowners in Queensland are not practical and do not provide adequate room to clear land to make substantial firebreaks on their […] READ MORE

Dametto welcomes sugar subsidy escalation

THE Federal Government’s decision to initiate formal action through the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against India’s sugar subsidies is a welcome move for local growers, says Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto. Mr Dametto said the formal WTO action, which was jointly launched with the Brazilian Government, will send a clear signal to India that such practices […] READ MORE