WQAC Assembly 2022 Program

Thursday 10 March 2022

VIEW Wednesday 9 March

View Friday 11 March

7.30 - 8.00am

WQAC Media Call and Group Photo - Requesting all mayors attend this opportunity

War Memorial Park (next to Town Hall)

8.00 - 8.10am

Welcome to Charming Charleville and Bidjara Country

Cr Shaun Radnedge (Zoro), Mayor – Murweh Shire Council
Ms Keelen Mailman OAM, Bidjara Elder

8.10 - 8.40am

WQAC Assembly 2022 Official Opening

Local Government Leadership and Collaboration - key ingredients to remote and regional development

The Hon Dr Steven Miles MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics Infrastructure

8.40 - 8.45am

Sponsor Presentation - Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning

8.45-8.50am

Royal Flying Doctor Service 2022 Local Hero announcement

Mr Russell Postle, Chair - RFDS

8.50 - 9.05am

WQAC – The Journey Thus Far…

Cr Samantha O’Toole, Mayor – Balonne Shire Council & Chair of SWQROC

9.05 - 9.20am

WQAC 2022 Federal Election Campaign – key priorities for Western Queensland

Mr David Arnold, Chief Executive Officer – RAPAD

9.20 - 10.20am

Policies, Programs and Election Platforms – how the Liberal–National Coalition proposes to support Western Queensland

Hon David Littleproud MP, Member for Maranoa, Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia and Deputy Leader of the National Party
Senator the Hon James McGrath - Senator for Queensland, Deputy Government Whip in the Senate & Chair of Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters

10.20 - 10.30am

Sponsor Presentation - Telstra

10.30 - 11.00am

MORNING TEA

11.00 - 12.00pm

Western Queensland – Does it Matter? How do we influence federal election outcomes so our regions can shine bright?

Presentations by:

Mr Stephen Koukoulas, Managing Director - Market Economics & Economics Advisor to then Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Mr Luke Myers, Communications and Engagement Strategist – Articulous Communications

and panel discussion with:

Cr Stuart Mackenzie, Mayor – Quilpie Shire Council & Deputy Chair RDA DDSW
Cr Barry Hughes, Mayor – Etheridge Shire Council
Cr Sean Dillon, Mayor – Barcaldine Regional Council

12.00 - 12.20pm

LGAQ 2022 Federal Election Campaign – key priorities at the State level

Ms Alison Smith, Chief Executive Officer – LGAQ

12.20-12.30pm

Sponsor presentation - LGMS

12.30-12.40pm

Sponsor presentation - Peak Services & Local Buy

12.40 - 1.20pm

LUNCH

1.20 - 1.45pm

Western Workforces – zooming to new approaches post-pandemic

Ms Tony Goode, Workforce Executive – LGAQ

1.45 - 2.20pm

Net Zero – Opportunity or Threat? What it means for Western Queensland, its communities and industries – traditional and emerging?

Mr Tony Wood AM, Energy and Climate Change Program Director – Grattan Institute

2.20 - 3.00pm

The Road to Resilience – Are we there yet?

Mr Nico Padovan PSM, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer - National Recovery and Resilience Agency (virtual)
Mr Brendan Moon, Chief Executive Officer – Queensland Reconstruction Authority

3.00 - 3.10pm

Sponsor Presentation - National Recovery and Resilience Agency

3.10 - 3.35pm

2021 Regional Telecommunications Review – Addressing the ‘patchwork quilt’ of connectivity in Western Queensland

Mr Neil Glentworth, Chair – GWI (virtual)

3.35 - 4.05pm

AFTERNOON TEA

4.05 - 4.30pm

Digital by Default for Western Queensland – How NBN plans to make it possible

Mr Gavin Williams, Chief Development Officer, Regional and Remote - NBN Co.

4.30 - 5.05pm

Policies, Programs and Election Platforms – how the Australian Labor Party proposes to support Western Queensland

Hon Catherine King MP, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development (video presentation)
Senator Murray Watt, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Shadow Minister for Natural Disaster & Emergency Management and Shadow Minister for Queensland Resources, and Senator for Queensland