Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces Maryborough Regional Cabinet

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the first Regional Cabinet of 2023 will take place in Maryborough.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a Regional Cabinet for Maryborough. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The state’s first Regional Cabinet of 2023, to be held on Monday, February 6, will be hosted in Maryborough.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement in a statement, where she also highlighted the state’s efforts in the regional city.

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“We’re bringing train manufacturing back to Maryborough, with our $7 billion Train Manufacturing Program that will see 65 trains built in Maryborough – supporting up to 800 long term construction and manufacturing jobs, and continuing the long tradition of rail manufacturing in the city,” she said.

“We’re improving network performance out of Energy Queensland’s Maryborough depot, and making important upgrades to Maryborough Hospital.

“A few weeks ago, we officially opened the $103 million Saltwater Creek upgrade near Aldershot – a crucial piece of flood mitigation work along the Bruce Highway.

Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders is excited to see the cabinet in town.

“We’re building new school halls in Hervey Bay.

“And in Bundaberg, later this year, we’ll start early works on the $1.2 billion Paradise Dam rebuild – supporting more than 250 jobs during construction, and providing long-term water security for local residents and growers.”

The meeting will be the first Community Cabinet held in the Wide Bay region since September 2021, and the first Cabinet meeting in Maryborough since September 2017.

Member for Maryborough and Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing and Regional Roads Bruce Saunders said he looked forward to welcoming ministers back to the region.

“It’s no secret that I’m enormously proud to represent the Maryborough electorate, and advocate for this hard-working regional community,” he said.

“This is a unique opportunity for the entire cabinet to focus just on Maryborough and the Wide Bay region to create jobs, strengthen our economy, preserve our local environment, and provide better support for our region.”