WQAC Assembly Program

18 May 2021

Tuesday 18 May 2021

VIEW Monday 17 May

View Wednesday 19 May

7.30 - 8.15am

Registration

Richmond Shire Hall

8.15 - 8.30am

Richmond Revealed and Shire Welcome

Cr John Wharton AM, Mayor, Richmond Shire Council

8.30 - 8.50am

Official Opening

The Hon Glenn Butcher MP, Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water

Welcome to the Assembly – What you can Expect?

Cr Jack Bawden, Mayor, Carpentaria Shire Council & Chair, NWQROC

8.50 - 9.00am

9.00 - 10.00am

Session Facilitator:

Cr Samantha O’Toole, Mayor, Balonne SC &
Chair, SWQROC

Regions on the Rise – Same Old Rhetoric or New Post COVID-19 Reality?

Presentation by Liz Ritchie, CEO, Regional Australia Institute

and Panel Discussion with:

The Hon Glenn Butcher MP, Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water
Senator Susan McDonald, Senator for Queensland
Andrew Barger, Policy Director – Economics, Queensland Resources Council
Cr Jack Bawden, Mayor, Carpentaria Shire Council & Chair of NWQROC
Cr Tony Rayner, Mayor, Longreach Regional Council & Chair of RAPAD

10.00 - 10.30am

MORNING TEA

10.30 - 11.30am

Session Facilitator:

Cr Jane McNamara, Mayor, Flinders SC & Deputy Chair, NWQROC

The Building Blocks to Remote and Regional Development - #1 Transport – Roads – Federal Perspective

Presentation by the Hon Scott Buchholz MP, Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport

and Panel Discussion with:

Gary Mahon, CEO, Queensland Trucking Association
Denise Brown, CEO, Outback Queensland Tourism Association
Cr John Wharton AM – Mayor, Richmond Shire Council & Chair, NWQRRTG
Cr Gavin Baskett – Mayor, Winton Shire Council & Chair, Outback RRTG
Cr Suzette Beresford – Mayor, Paroo Shire Council & Chair, SWRRTG
Cr Rick Britton – Mayor, Boulia Shire Council & Chair IQ-RAP

11.30 - 12.10pm

Local Government Financial Capability and Capacity – The New Narrative – Federal Perspective

Hon Mark Coulton MP, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communication, and Local Government

12.10-12.20pm

Local Government Grants Commission – Future Options for Rural and Remote Councils

Paul Bell AM, Chair, Queensland Local Government Grants Commission

12.20 - 12.25pm

SPONSOR PRESENTATION - Shepherd Asset Management Solutions

Stephen Hegedus, Partner and Director Client Services (by video)

12.25 - 1.15pm

LUNCH

1.15 - 1.25pm

SPONSOR PRESENTATION - N-Com

Glen Thorley, Director / Broadcast Engineer

1.25 - 2.25pm

Session Facilitator:

Cr Shaun (Zoro) Radnedge, Mayor, Murweh SC & Deputy Chair, SWQROC

The Building Blocks to Remote and Regional Development - #2 Transport – Air Services

Facilitated Group Discussion:

Graham Davis, General Manager – Passenger Transport Services TransLink, Department of Transport & Main Roads
Steve Jones, State Manager, REX Airlines
Brendan Cook, General Manager Regional Ports, Queensland Airports Limited
Cr Rob Dare, Mayor, Diamantina Shire Council
Cr Jason Ned, Mayor, Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council
Cr Geoff McMullen, Deputy Mayor, Maranoa Regional Council

2.25 - 3.15pm

Session Facilitator:

Cr Tony Rayner, Mayor, Longreach RC & Chair, RAPAD

Local Government Financial Capability and Capacity – The New Narrative – State Perspective

Presentation by Nikki Boyd MP, Assistant Minister for Local Government

and Panel Discussion with:

Damien Walker, Director General, Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
Philip Noble, CEO, Queensland Treasury Corporation
Brendan Worrall, Queensland Auditor General