Premier Bligh to visit Port Douglas



Friday 18 February 2011

Premier Bligh to visit Port Douglas

 

Premier Anna Bligh will visit Port Douglas on Thursday as part of her plan to govern the State from Cairns for four days next week.

While in town she will attend a Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce luncheon to be held at the Sheraton Mirage Resort, and Chamber President Ken Dobbs said the town's business people are welcome to attend.

"She's coming here because she wants to talk to Port Douglas businesses, I mean that's essentially the reason," he said.

"I think it's prestigious to say that the Premier sees that Port Douglas is a significant enough business place to visit and hear about what are the issues we are facing."

Mr Dobbs said that although Port Douglas escaped serious damage from Cyclone Yasi, the lack of diversity in the town's industry meant it was still heavily affected.

"Anything in Queensland that's tourism related is impacted because people are not thinking about having a holiday in Queensland. And that affects us as much as anyone else. In fact it affects us more because tourism is our only industry."

But Mr Dobbs said it would be inappropriate at this time to go to Premier Bligh with a "shopping list" of items the town needs funding for.

"We can go to the Premier with our concerns and explain how we are so exposed to tourism, and therefore while we didn't have any physical damage our business damage is probably proportionately higher than most other parts of Queensland because our business is tourism and tourism's having a problem.

"What I would be looking at is trying to get a commitment that any funds to come out of the sale of the marina land, the waterfront development, would be returned to Port Douglas."

The opportunity to hold the Chamber luncheon came from a request to the Premier from Cook MP, Jason O'Brien.

"I'm pleased that the Premier's visit will take in not just Cairns but the region and we'll see her in my electorate," Mr O'Brien said.

Tickets to the luncheon are $35 per person. For more information, contact the Chamber on 4084 0285 or visit the booking website.