While Labor is busy stripping resources from the Emerald region, the LNP is focused on delivering the hard infrastructure the area needs to remain one of Queensland’s most productive hubs.

Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd and LNP Senator Matt Canavan are in the region to talk to local business operators, meet with community leaders and inspect progress on a number of critical projects being supported by the Coalition Government.

Mr O’Dowd and Senator Canavan will visit Nigel Burnett’s Emerald district property and hear firsthand about the impact of closing the Emerald Agriculture College on the farmers and graziers of Central Queensland.

“The closure of the Emerald and Longreach ag colleges is a disgrace and proves Labor doesn’t understand rural and regional Queensland,” Mr O’Dowd said.

“Both these campuses have been valuable assets to Emerald and Longreach, employing locals and training up our future agricultural workforce.

“Labor’s carefree decision to get rid of the colleges will discourage young people from taking up a career in agriculture and strip skills and experience from each community. This is a particularly hard blow in a region renowned for its cropping output.

“This is on top of Labor’s legacy of high water and electricity prices, diminishing regional rail freight services and poor vegetation management.“

Senator Canavan said Labor’s neglect of the region stood in stark contrast to the Coalition’s ongoing support and investments.

“As recently as last week we locked in more than $3 million to make sure the Nogoa Mackenzie Water Supply Scheme upgrade can happen ASAP. Works to start lining the channel are imminent, and once it is completed it will mean less water loss and an extra 6,460 megalitres being available for irrigators,” Senator Canavan said.

“More water equals more jobs and more dollars in the cash registers of businesses throughout the region.

“It is only possible to do these types of projects because of the Coalition’s responsible economic management. We are investing a record $1.3 billion in critical water infrastructure projects around the nation and Kenny has made sure Emerald got its fair share under the program.”

Mr O’Dowd and Senator Canavan will meet with local businesses, the Central Highlands Regional Council, the Central Highlands Development Corporation and inspect progress on construction of the Central Queensland Intermodal Terminal at Yamala which has received almost $3 million in support from the Coalition Government.