Media Releases

Local shows cancelled because of COVID-19 will receive a slice of $34 million Australian Government funding to help ensure they can bounce back next year, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced.

Mobile phone towers in Wide Bay will be able to keep operating longer if the power goes out during or after natural disasters, thanks to a major new investment by the Morrison Government.

Five Wide Bay community groups will benefit from a share of $2.7 million from the Morrison Government to support the work of local volunteers, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.
 

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien is encouraging Wide Bay ex-service organisations to apply for a share of $1 million in funding to support the mental health and wellbeing of younger veterans.

People with one of Australia’s most common forms of leukaemia are set to benefit from expanded access to a breakthrough medicine, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

A new honour board at the Maryborough Military Aviation Museum will commemorate the region’s Second World War Royal Australian Air Force personnel, after receiving funding through the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service program.

Gympie road users will enjoy safer conditions with more than $1.5 million to upgrade Rammutt Road at Chatsworth and replace Tandur Road Bridge at Kybong, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

A bright new mosaic wall at Cooroy-Pomona RSL will be a lasting reminder of the sacrifices made by Australian servicemen and women, with Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien officially opening the artwork today.

Goomeri’s war history will be preserved with a $43,950 grant to build a commemorative statue, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Applications are open now for a new round of the $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program to help expand mobile phone coverage in major transport corridors and disaster-prone areas, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Tin Can Bay Road motorists will now enjoy safer, more reliable journeys as the new replacement Coondoo Creek Bridge, west of Gympie, opens.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien has welcomed news that work will start on the long-overdue Tinana Overtaking Lane project next week (Monday 16 November), after the Labor State Government dragged its heels on the fully Commonwealth-funded project.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien today congratulated 14 Wide Bay sports stars who will receive grants to help them participate in state and national competitions.

Local heritage site owners, managers and support organisations can now apply for grants of between $25,000 and $400,000 to protect and preserve Wide Bay’s national and world heritage sites and promote tourism.

The Liberal National Government is continuing its support for the dairy industry, with six Wide Bay dairy farmers to receive grants for energy-efficient equipment, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.  

Work is about to start on $8.1 million in safety upgrades to intersections on a 25 kilometre stretch of the Bruce Highway from Curra to Gootchie, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Applications are now open for youths and veterans in Maryborough, Gympie and the Cooloola Coast for Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications scholarships.

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards, with Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien encouraging local veterans and organisations to apply.

Applications are being sought in Maryborough for a Career Facilitator to help connect senior secondary school students with local industries and jobs in demand as part of a new Industry Training Hub.

Noosa Council will receive $1.6 million to improve and create new links within the Cooran-Pomona section of Noosa’s hinterland trails network to aid in the region’s economic recovery from bushfires and COVID-19, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Four bridges in Noosa will be replaced or upgraded with almost $5 million in funding from the Morrison Government’s Bridges Renewal Program.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien has welcomed the Morrison Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, saying it will create jobs, rebuild our economy and secure Australia’s future.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien is encouraging local businesses to “go digital” so they can compete, succeed and create job opportunities as Australia emerges from the COVID-19 crisis.

Wide Bay organisations and individuals with ideas for exciting National Science Week events for next year are being encouraged to apply for a grant to make their idea a reality.
 

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is encouraging organisations, farmer groups and individuals with innovative ideas to build drought resilience to apply for grants of up to $200,000.

Expressions of interest are now open for membership of the Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce to help connect job seekers and school leavers with training and employment opportunities.

Wide Bay’s native flora and fauna will be given a helping hand to recover from last summer’s devastating bushfires, with $461,000 in grants announced by Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien today.

Noosa tech company Fireball International will receive $500,000 in federal funding for an innovative new system that could detect bushfires in as little as three minutes, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

A new hospitality festival will receive $15,000 in funding from the Liberal and Nationals Government to boost domestic visitors and support Noosa’s tourism sector following the summer’s bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

The Peregian Beach Digital Hub will receive $200,000 in federal grants to deliver their world-first commercialisation program to fast-track adoption of promising bushfire-resilience technologies.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien today presented two Cooroy veterans with special commemorative medallions and certificates to honour their service in World War 2, and mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the war.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien today welcomed the most significant reforms to Australia’s insolvency framework in 30 years as part of the Morrison Government’s economic recovery plan to keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs.

Tewantin Noosa Cricket Club’s new $500,000 lighting system will be officially switched on today by Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien, heralding a bright future for the club and the community.

Youth mental health champions headspace are a step closer to opening the doors on a satellite centre in Maryborough, with the signing of a lease on a premise next to the Station Square Shopping Centre, located at Shop 2b, 138 Lennox Street.

The highly anticipated Gympie bypass has moved a step closer, with the first sod turned today at the Woondum interchange.

The Australian flag has always been a reminder to me of the pride and privilege I feel that I am Australian, and this year I feel more grateful than ever.

The Morrison Government’s $62.8 million Local Jobs Program will help Wide Bay jobseekers gain skills and training to help them into work as part of Australia’s COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is encouraging people in Wide Bay to explore new career options through adult education, during Adult Learners Week 2020.

Grants of $5000 and $20,000 are now available for projects to support activities for young people in Wide Bay, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today. 

Applications are now open for two competitive grant rounds worth $11.2 million to help improve drought resilience throughout Australia, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said today.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien has welcomed a $2.7 million boost for agricultural show societies to help ensure they can continue to showcase the best of regional communities.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien has welcomed an historic inquiry by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) into the domestic fresh food and dairy supply chain, from the farmgate right through to the supermarket.

Farmers, fishers and foresters can now apply for grants of up to $100,000 to support their natural resource management efforts, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien today turned the first sod on the new Drop-in Centre for Murgon veterans, which delivers on his $450,000 election commitment and will create about 40 jobs.

A proposal to spend $107 million on a two-lane Tiaro Bypass shows a lack of foresight, responsibility and regard for road safety by the Queensland Labor Government, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said today.

Noosa and Gympie are among Queensland regions in line to share in $36.8 million for bushfire recovery projects, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

Three Men’s Sheds in Wide Bay will share more than $17,000 in federal funding to support the health and wellbeing of local men, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

A Queensland joint venture has won the first major contract on the jointly funded $1 billion Bruce Highway – Cooroy to Curra – Section D project (also known as the Gympie Bypass), on which construction is expected to start later this year.
 

Small businesses can now apply for grants to help lower their power bills, with Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien encouraging them to act fast before applications close.  

A government grant will support the provision of local news on the Cooloola Coast, with Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announcing a $10,000 boost for the Cooloola Bay Bulletin.

Wide Bay farmers and landholders are invited to apply for grants to help develop new or improved pest animal and weed controls, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

Tenders have been called to build a new roundabout as part of the jointly-funded $14 million Bruce Highway – Wide Bay Intersection Upgrade, signalling a late 2020 construction start on a project which will boost safety at Bells Bridge and create more than 40 jobs.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is encouraging local regional development organisations, telecommunications providers and government organisations to apply for funding to improve telecommunications infrastructure in Wide Bay.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien today announced a significant boost for a Noosa biotech start-up, with funding for world-first technology to extract highly valuable compounds from algae.

Wide Bay schools, community and ex-service organisations will receive resources to help commemorate and honour the service of those who served in the Second World War, 75 years on from the war’s end.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is encouraging Wide Bay communities to apply for funding to help showcase the best of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history during this year’s NAIDOC Week.

Wide Bay businesses have been offered a helping hand as they move into the recovery phase of the coronavirus crisis, with the Morrison Government extending the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien has welcomed today’s announcement by Prime Minister Scott Morrison that the JobKeeper program and the Coronavirus Supplement have been extended.

The Morrison Government will invest $2 billion to help hundreds of thousands of Australians learn new skills and retrain into sectors with more job opportunities, in an announcement welcomed by Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien.

Gympie’s Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival will be ready for lights, cameras and action next year, with Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announcing an $18,250 grant for the event.

A team of Noosa erosion busters are receiving Australian Government support for their efforts to reduce sediment volumes in Lake Cootharaba while also boosting the catchment’s soil health and farm productivity.  

Noosa and Gympie families and businesses will have additional access to financial advice, as part of a $3.5 million investment by the Morrison Government to support communities affected the recent bushfire season.

From this week, nearly 19,000 small and family businesses in Wide Bay will pay less tax as a result of legislated tax cuts passed by the Morrison Government.

The Cooroy and Gympie RSL sub-branches will share more than $17,600 in funding through the Morrison Government’s Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grants program to help with advocacy services.

A $1.6 million cultural centre showcasing Murgon’s important prehistoric links will herald a bright future for local tourism, jobs, and the community, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said today.

People living with quadriplegia and other disabilities will have access to competitive sport on the Sunshine Coast, some for the very first time, following a Federal Government grant for Sippy Downs club Suncoast Spinners.

Wide Bay’s agricultural show societies can now apply for a share of $10 million in one-off payments from the Morrison Government to help ensure “the show goes on” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maryborough Neighbourhood Centre volunteers will brew up new opportunities with Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien delivering a $4,300 grant for café equipment today.

Dairy farmers across Wide Bay can now apply for grants that to help their farms become more energy-efficient and to reduce their power bills, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

Local roads in Wide Bay will be better-maintained thanks to funding under the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s Roads to Recovery Program. 

A new mobile phone base station is now improving coverage near Kilkivan, improving safety for motorists on the Wide Bay Highway and helping local households and businesses stay connected.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is encouraging Wide Bay businesses affected by COVID-19 to access free and confidential financial counselling, funded through the Australian Government.

Wide Bay will remember the service and sacrifice of our Australian Defence Force personnel through two grants from the Morrison Government’s Saluting Their Service commemorative grants program, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

Wide Bay communities will receive a $1.8 million boost through the Morrison Government’s Building Better Regions Fund for local projects including activity centres, hall upgrades, a cultural centre, and an art and entertainment festival, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

World Environment Day, Friday 5 June, is a reminder of the importance of protecting Wide Bay’s unique and pristine natural environment, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said today.

A new maintenance shed will make life more comfortable for Noosa Dolphins rugby players, with Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien officiating its opening today.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien has welcomed today’s announcement of the new HomeBuilder program, which will help homeowners, boost jobs in construction and trades, and support Wide Bay’s vital timber industry.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is encouraging people to “join the Aussie-made Club” by buying local, Australian-made products, as part of a new campaign launched this week.

Demolition of the existing Orealla Crescent Bridge could start in the next few weeks.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien today announced 22 Wide Bay sports stars will receive Australian Government Local Sporting Champions grants to help them cover the cost of participating in state and national competitions.

Councils in Wide Bay will receive a share of $500 million in federal funding under a new Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today. 

Veterans and community groups will be able to relax in the comfort of new furnishings at the Cooroy Memorial Hall, with a $65,000 Veteran and Community Grant announced today by Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien.
 

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is encouraging people to consider the benefits of vocational education and training (VET) to launch or future-proof their careers, ahead of National Careers Week 2020.
 

Five Noosa volunteer organisations will be supported with a share of more than $16,000 in Australian Government funding, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.
 

Murgon Men’s Shed and Graham House will share $7500 in grants to support South Burnett volunteers, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.
 
 

Maryborough volunteers will receive a boost with two local organisations sharing $8,600 from the Australian Government’s Volunteer Grants Program, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.
 

Eight Gympie region community groups will share more than $28,000 in federal funding to support local volunteers, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

An $85,675 grant will help create a bright future for Pomona Showgrounds, with Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announcing funds for a new lighting system.

Operators of Driver Reviver locations across Wide Bay can now apply for a share of $3 million in Australian Government funding to upgrade their life-saving rest sites.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is urging local councils and the State Government to apply for a share of $300 million to upgrade bridges and freight roads.