Media Releases

An updated guide to the Age Pension, including payment rates, assets tests and conditions, is now available from the office of the Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien.

Civil works for the Rufous St Community House at Peregian Beach are underway for the construction of the $3 million facility.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien is urging drivers to take note of upcoming road closures as part of the $1 billion Cooroy to Curra Section D Bruce Highway upgrade.

The Australian Government is continuing to back drought-affected communities, with $23,848 for Tansey Show Society, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Wide Bay community groups can now apply for grants up to $12,000 as part of a new Coalition Government program to lower energy costs, support local jobs and help reduce global emissions.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien has welcomed the Morrison Government $20 million commitment to assist independent cinema operators.

The second major construction contract for the final Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra, Section D project has been awarded to CPB Contractors, 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 local community, sporting and service groups to lodge an expression of interest for grants of up to $5,000 to support the work of their volunteers.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien is encouraging people in Wide Bay to check their superannuation, with more than $44 million unclaimed super in Wide Bay alone.

Wide Bay schools and community groups will soon receive educational materials and creative resources to help commemorate Anzac Day, with Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien encouraging students to learn more about our local military history.  

The Morrison Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program is supporting 488 trainees in Wide Bay and its extension will help to support even more, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien said today.

Wide Bay manufacturers with bright ideas that are ready to be turned into world-beating realities can now apply for a slice of a new $30 million fund from the Morrison Government.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien is encouraging local ex-service organisations (ESOs) to apply for the 2021 Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grants program.

Construction is underway on Bolcaro Road, East Deep Creek to build a new two-lane, 60-metre bridge over the Bruce Highway as part of the $1 billion Cooroy to Curra Section D Gympie Bypass, while works also progress on a series of bridges throughout the region.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien has welcomed a virtual jobs fair to help Queensland hospitality and tourism operators connect with job seekers.

Noosa students will get their hands dirty and learn about revegetation thanks to a Federal Government grant for bushfire recovery, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Beyond Blue’s suicide aftercare initiative, The Way Back Support Service, which provides critical support for people after a suicide attempt, is now available in the Wide Bay.

A new Industry Training Hub in Maryborough will help local senior secondary students develop relevant skills to help them find employment without having to leave the region, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Gympie drivers will enjoy safer bridges, with the region sharing in $10.7 million of additional funding for communities impacted by the 2019 Queensland Bushfires, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Farmers in six different trial regions have the chance to diversify their farm income and improve their drought resilience as part of a new Australian Government trial.

As work progresses on the $1 billion Cooroy to Curra Section D Bruce Highway upgrade, a new interchange will be built at Penny Road, East Deep Creek, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Hundreds of Noosa footballers, hospitality and tourism operators will benefit from a $192,195 Australian Government grant to upgrade drainage at the Noosa Tigers Australian Football Club, enabling the facility to host large-scale events.

Applications are now open for Wide Bay community organisations to form a partnership to tackle drugs and alcohol, with funding available from the Morrison Government.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien is encouraging business and research organisations to take advantage of a new grants round backing industry and research collaboration in regional areas.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien will turn the first sod on Murgon’s $1.5 million cultural centre and fossil museum today, starting a new chapter in South Burnett’s history.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien today congratulated 15 local sports stars who will receive grants to help them participate in state and national competitions.

The new Orealla Crescent Bridge is a major feat of engineering that used a Lego-style construction to create the 24-metre span.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien has welcomed progress on the $1 billion Cooroy to Curra Section D Bruce Highway upgrade, with haulage crossings to be constructed on the east side of Gympie within weeks.

Gympie water infrastructure will get a $1,080,000 boost, as part of $8.9 million in bushfire recovery projects announced today by the Australian and Queensland governments.

This past year has truly shown how Wide Bay communities band together when times are tough; demonstrating our Aussie mateship through the pandemic, bushfires and drought.

Noosa Brewing Company will receive a $20,000 grant for specialised refrigeration equipment, helping the business to cut energy costs and support local jobs, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced.

Operators of Driver Reviver locations across Wide Bay can now apply for a share of $7.3 million in Australian Government funding to upgrade their life-saving rest sites.

The Mobile Service Centre Blue Gum is visiting Cooloola Cove, Rainbow Beach, and Tin Can Bay to provide local residents with easy access to essential government services, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced.

The Morrison Government is encouraging more people to take up seasonal work opportunities in horticulture in Wide Bay as part of an expanded collaboration trial.

Local community, volunteer and veteran service organisations, councils and sporting groups are encouraged to submit expressions of interest for the latest round of the Stronger Communities Programme (SCP) funding, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien has welcomed the approval of funding for 10 road upgrade projects in Wide Bay, which will support 64 local jobs and improve road safety across the region.

A new laboratory trialling bushfire-fighting technologies will be created in Noosa, with support from a $1,894,503 jointly-funded grant through the Local Economic Recovery program, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced .

The Cooloola Coast and Noosa National Park will share in an extra $4 million in federal funding to support the long-term recovery of native plants, animals and ecological communities following the devastating Black Summer bushfires. 

Noosa Film Academy will receive $258,398 to help revitalise the Wide Bay arts and cultural sector with youth and community workshops, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Mature-age workers in Wide Bay will have additional assistance to upskill, with an $11.6 million investment to extend the Skills and Training Incentive for eligible mature aged Australians, 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 has welcomed stronger rules to protect Australian producers and community members from illegal behaviour carried out by activist organisations masquerading as charities.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien is encouraging communities to prepare to apply for Round Five of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF), with guidelines released today.

Three small businesses in Wide Bay will receive support from the Liberal National Government to cut energy costs, putting more money back in the pockets of local business owners as the region recovers from COVID-19.

Young people living in and around Maryborough now have their own dedicated mental health and wellbeing support service, with the official opening of headspace Maryborough on Lennox Street today.  

Local road maintenance in the Fraser Coast, Cherbourg, South Burnett and Sunshine Coast will receive a boost thanks to funding under the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Program. 

Disaster assistance has been made available to reimburse firefighting costs on K’gari (Fraser Island), as operations continue to combat the impacts of the ongoing bushfires, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien announced today.

Applications are now open for Wide Bay manufacturers with shovel-ready projects to increase their productivity and grow jobs to apply for a Manufacturing Modernisation Fund (MMF) grant.

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.