Dinner in Support of Regional Queensland July 1

Mayors, Councillors and your partners, representatives from LGAQ, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Meals on Wheels; good evening. 

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to our First Nations guests here this evening.

I am delighted to welcome you all here tonight and, at the outset, I thank you all for taking time away from your families and communities to be here, especially those of you who have travelled a significant distance. 

I value this immensely and hope that, for a few hours at least, you can relax and enjoy this rare opportunity to share ideas, challenges and solutions with your peers.

When I was sworn-in as governor in November 2021, I saw my mission as serving, acknowledging and supporting Queenslanders wherever they may live. Almost five years on, I am proud to say that Graeme and I are well and truly on track to achieve my goal of visiting every one of Queensland’s 77 Local Government Areas. 

I have already visited each of your electorates represented around the table tonight, with the exception of Isaac Regional Council, which is planned for later this month, so tonight is an opportunity for me to return the hospitality you have extended to me so generously, and to thank you for helping me to gain a deeper understanding of your communities. 

You have done that by giving me an exceptional variety of experiences. I’ve presented the iconic Birdsville Cup and opened the Capella Show; I’ve seen, firsthand, the devastation caused by Cyclone Alfred in the Redlands; and I’ve been inspired by the next generation of leaders in Livingstone Shire.

As I’ve travelled the state, I’ve been reminded that the strength of regional Queensland is sustained not only by its local leadership, but by the networks that connect, support and amplify that work. And I acknowledge the important role of the Local Government Association of Queensland in bringing councils together, sharing insight, and strengthening collective capacity.  

Equally, I am grateful for the generosity and commitment of my Patronage organisations—represented here tonight by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Meals on Wheels—whose presence in communities right across Queensland enriches my visits. Through their care, their reach, and their deep local knowledge, they provide a window into the lived experience of regional Queenslanders, and a powerful reminder of the spirit of service that underpins so many of our communities.

Tonight’s dinner enables me to thank you, on behalf of all Queenslanders, for the work you do for your communities and for our State. 

Local government is the bedrock of Australian society. It may have been traditionally about the three R’s of rates, roads and rubbish, but contemporary councils are much more than this. 

Today, faced by increasingly frequent extreme weather events, a housing affordability crisis, the rising cost of living, and concerns about community health and safety, Queensland’s shire and regional councils are now working more closely than ever with their communities to meet those challenges and to build and sustain cohesion, resilience and optimism.

I thank you once again for accepting my invitation and, whether you represent Queenslanders on the shores of Moreton Bay or in Central Queensland, Cape York or on the remote edge of the Simpson Desert, I wish you all well as you return to your electorates.

Please enjoy tonight’s dinner and company, as we appreciate the mastery of our Government House chefs and some of the very best local produce Queensland has to offer.