Dinner in Support of Regional Queensland - August 25

Mayors and your guests, Major General Jake Ellwood DSC AM CSC (Rtd), CEO of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Director-General of the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers; Ms Bronwyn Blagoev and your colleague, good evening. 

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and all First Nations people joining us this evening.

Graeme and I are delighted to welcome you to Government House for this special dinner in support of regional Queensland.

Tonight, we are joined by representatives of communities extending from Cape York to western and southern Queensland, the South Burnett, Maranoa and the Gold Coast.

Each region is distinct in its geography, history and character, and Graeme and I have been fortunate to see this firsthand during my term as Governor, having visited almost all of the places represented at this table. We will soon visit the Maranoa region and Murweh Shire, and I look forward to being able to say that I have completed what I set out to do: visit all 77 local government areas — plus Weipa Town — to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing everyday Queenslanders.

What I have seen clearly is that Queensland is united by the strength of its communities and by the determination of the people who call them home.

It has also reinforced for me just how important mayors and councils are in helping those communities thrive and in shaping Queensland’s future.

I also take this opportunity to thank the Reconstruction Authority for the work you have done to assist Queensland to recover from more than 145 natural disaster events, in collaboration with local governments so ably supported by the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers.

Local government is often where the challenges facing communities are felt most immediately, and where practical solutions must be found.

Your responsibilities are extraordinarily broad.  

You advocate for essential infrastructure and services, support local economies, respond to natural disasters and changing circumstances, and help maintain the places, facilities and connections that enable communities to thrive.

But your contribution cannot be measured only in projects, services or kilometres of road.

It is also found in the confidence you give your communities, the partnerships you build and the local knowledge you bring to decisions affecting the future of your region.

Regional Queensland makes an immense contribution to the life of our state.

It is central to our economy and to our food security. It is home to remarkable natural environments, diverse cultures and industries, and communities distinguished by ingenuity, generosity and resilience.

It also reminds us that Queensland’s strength does not reside in any one place. It is drawn from the many communities, large and small, that together give our state its character.

Tonight is an opportunity for Graeme and me to thank you, not only for your service, but also for the generosity and hospitality you have extended to us during our visits throughout Queensland.

We are delighted to return that hospitality this evening by sharing some of Queensland’s finest produce and, for those who have travelled some distance to be here, offering the opportunity to stay on the beautiful Fernberg Estate.

For those staying overnight, you will be accommodated in the former Maids’ Quarters, added almost 90 years ago during Governor Wilson’s term, and renovated by the previous Governor De Jersey. It is part of the long story of Fernberg, and of Government House as not simply the residence of the Governor, but a house for all Queenslanders.

Whether you are joining us for dinner or staying a little longer, I hope you enjoy this brief respite from the daily demands of your roles.

Thank you again for accepting our invitation, and for the dedication, leadership and care you bring to the communities you serve.

Please enjoy the hospitality of Government House.