The Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) has issued an urgent call for a national "reset" of the regional aviation model, warning that the current system is failing remote communities, councils, and operators alike.

Speaking at the WQAC Assembly 2026 at Brisbane City Hall, local government leaders, aviation operators, and policy experts warned that soaring costs, dwindling aircraft supply, and unsustainable funding models are creating a "downward spiral" that threatens the prosperity of rural and remote communities.

The Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) has welcomed the strong, bipartisan support of Labor State Opposition Shadow Minister Nikki Boyd, who has formally backed Queensland councils in their fight against the Federal Labor Government’s proposed changes to disaster recovery funding.

Speaking at the 2026 WQAC Assembly at Brisbane City Hall, the Shadow Minister for Local Government, Water, Fire, Disaster Recovery, Emergency Services, and Volunteers said Queensland Labor is a resolute ally to local councils in resisting the planned federal reforms.

The 25 councils of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) have today delivered a resounding, unanimous rejection of the Federal Government’s proposed changes to the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), voting overwhelmingly in favour of a motion calling for an immediate reversal of the planned reforms.

WQAC has called on the Australian Government to reject proposals to reduce the default speed limit on unsigned roads outside of built-up areas, warning that such a change would impose unnecessary costs, undermine regional productivity and fail to address the real causes of road trauma in rural and remote Queensland.

Walking the talk in St George today as part of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils Assembly, the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations announced key funding that will boost regional housing solutions and economic development initiatives across the 25 council areas that form the Western Queensland Alliance.

Local government leaders from across Western Queensland will gather in St George from 19-20 August 2025 for the 6th Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) Assembly.

This annual event brings together representatives from across 25 WQAC member councils, alongside senior State and Federal government representatives, as well as from industry, services and the community.

The responses are in, and the local government leaders of Western Queensland have assessed the party responses to their call to commit to Invest in the West, releasing a State Election Scorecard today.

That’s the question being posed by the 24 rural and remote local governments of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) on behalf of their communities ahead of the state election.

Councils from across Western Queensland are calling on governments to do everything possible to ensure Rex Airlines continues to service its regional routes in Queensland.

The 24 councils of Western Queensland have welcomed today’s decision by the Queensland Government to reject Glencore’s proposed injection of industrial waste into the Great Artesian Basin.

The 24 councils of Western Queensland have welcomed recent public comment from state and federal representatives which add a boost to the growing call to shut down Glencore’s proposed injection of industrial waste into the Great Artesian Basin. 

It’s a resounding no from leaders across Western Queensland to proposed plans to inject industrial waste into the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) – one of Queensland and Australia’s most significant natural and economic assets.

View from the Paddock from Professor John Cole OAM: Wondering at the wash up of last Saturday’s referendum, I remember there was another time when a vital part of our nation had sought and failed to secure a stronger voice through inclusion in the Australian Constitution.

The 4th Western Queensland Alliance of Councils Assembly (WQAC2023) was held in Winton this week, bringing together the 24 Western Queensland councils, representatives from senior Federal and State government, industry, academia and business.

Leaders from all 24 Western Queensland Councils and senior Federal and State government representatives will meet in Winton from 26 – 28 September 2023 for the 4th Western Queensland Alliance of Councils Assembly.

The 22 member councils of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) now have completed Local Housing Action Plans, designed to help address the housing challenges facing regional and remote Queensland.

The first six Local Housing Action Plans for councils across Western Queensland have been unveiled to tackle housing challenges in rural and remote communities.

United Western Queensland leaders keep region’s housing on the agenda at Queensland Housing Summit.

The Western Queensland Alliance of Councils has welcomed recent Australian and Queensland government moves to prevent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) from reaching Australia, and urge continued vigilance in delivering adequate resources and the strongest and swiftest measures possible to keep Australia FMD free.

The Mayors of Western Queensland have published a 2022 Federal Election Scorecard of Maranoa and Kennedy electorate candidate responses to their call to commit to Invest in the West and deliver dividends for the region, state and nation.