Cairns tourism delegation meet with senior officials to save jobs

A Cairns tourism delegation has met with senior officials from the state treasurer’s office where “saving Far North jobs” was a key agenda item.

A CAIRNS tourism delegation has met with senior officials from the state treasurer’s office where “saving Far North jobs” was a key agenda item.

Advance Cairns chairman Nick Trompf and chief executive Dr Paul Sparshott will also meet with members of premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s department today after a series of roundtables over three days in Brisbane.

Mr Trompf said he was satisfied with conversations with treasurer Cameron Dick’s team on Thursday despite several interruptions caused by the voluntary assisted dying legislation being passed in parliament.

“We are really satisfied with how it has gone, despite it being a bit stop-start due to (parliament) sitting,” he said.

Advance Cairns executive chairman Nick Trompf releases budget submissions to help FNQ recover from Covid. Picture: Toby Vue

“We’ll get the chance to speak with the premier’s office on Friday and continue to advocate for a solution to retain jobs in the tourism industry. What sort of tourism industry will be left in Cairns to embrace it is the major concern.”

Speaker of parliament and Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt, who met with officials on Wednesday, praised Advance Cairns and TTNQ for their advocacy work in Brisbane.

“The opportunity for the premier and deputy premier to meet with the delegation from Advance Cairns was important to ensure the issues that are affecting FNQ are properly understood,” he said.

Mr Trompf said getting targeted support for Cairns businesses remained the priority.

“While things might be tough for Gold Coast people, it is nowhere near as bad as in Cairns,” he said.

Originally published as Cairns tourism delegation meet with senior officials to save jobs