Karumba Community Event

Mayor, Carpentaria Shire Council, Councillor Jack Bawden; Councillors; Community leaders; ladies and gentlemen.

I first wish to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters that form the Carpentaria Shire, the Gkuthaarn, Kukatj and Kurtijar peoples, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here this evening.

Good afternoon—and thank you for the warm welcome here in Karumba.

What a fantastic place to begin our journey across the Gulf. It’s my first official visit to Carpentaria Shire, and I’m delighted to be joined by my husband, Graeme.

When I became Governor, I made a commitment to visit every part of Queensland — every Local Government Area, every public hospital, and communities large and small. I also pledged to support those living in rural and remote regions, and to promote reconciliation and understanding with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This visit brings that commitment to life. Over the next few days, we’ll travel from Karumba to Normanton, Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw and Aurukun—meeting with Queenslanders in each place and listening to their stories.

Karumba may be small in population, but its significance to Queensland is immense—from the tourism industry that welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year, to the fishing, prawning and cattle industries that help sustain not just local livelihoods but broader markets across the country and overseas.

It’s also a proud and connected community — one with a strong school, a vital health service, and a deep sense of place and identity.

And what better place to celebrate that than here at the Les Wilson Barramundi Discovery Centre—a remarkable facility that reflects both the rich environmental heritage of this region and the community’s ingenuity in preserving and sharing it.

As Governor, I have the privilege of engaging with Queenslanders across the state — not just in Brisbane, but in places like Karumba — and of helping to reinforce the values we share: resilience, inclusivity and community.

My role is to support Queenslanders, to help unify the state and to promote its potential — especially as we prepare for the global spotlight of the Olympic Games in 2032.

Thank you for having us here this evening—and I look forward to meeting many of you tonight.