Forging Ahead
Emerging stronger in a post-pandemic world
Advance Cairns
Year in Review 2022
Advance Cairns was joined by local business owners and representatives to celebrate a decade of support from more than 40 foundation members in 2022.
21 years of connecting and influencing
NICK TROMPF
Chair, Advance Cairns
JACINTA REDDAN
CEO, Advance Cairns
The past twelve months have seen an extraordinary revival in business activity and economic growth across the region.
The federal election in May saw the Albanese Government elected with a host of pre-election commitments to Far North Queensland - and Northern Australia broadly.
The new government delivered on these promises in its October Budget with more than half a billion dollars for major, transformative initiatives with wide-reaching impacts across the FNQ economy.
In light of a successful advocacy campaign and the changing political landscape, Advance Cairns is undertaking a comprehensive review of our own strategic advocacy priorities to ensure we maximise opportunities for the region.
We look forward to continuing to work with our stakeholders and members to continue to advance Tropical North Queensland.
The region is well and truly bouncing back.
What a difference a year makes.
In a year busy with political visits and funding announcements, Advance Cairns capitalised on the activity with a range of events and meetings.
Highlights of the year include events and briefings from key political figures
Catherine King New Federal Government's Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development & Local Government
Peter Dutton then-Defence Minister
Cameron Dick QLD Treasurer and Minister for Trade & Investment
Mark Bailey QLD Minister for Transport & Main Roads
local government areas supported, across 380,000km2, covering more than 280,000 people
26
members across 13 sectors
108
atendees across our events
800
+
$1bn
secured for the region
The year came to a highly productive close with trips to State and Federal Parliament to continue our advocacy.
We hope you enjoyed these events as much as we did, and we look forward to sharing many more with you in 2023.
Advocacy wins
Advance Cairns led the way for an exceptionally fruitful year for Tropical North Queensland.
Working collaboratively with industry and all levels of government to advocate for catalytic infrastructure and policy priorities centred around the Forging a Brighter Future manifesto saw bipartisan federal support for major funding.
secured for Tropical North QLD in 2022
$1 billion
We did it!
additional Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) from the Federal Government for JCU Medical School
20
FEDERAL FUNDING
for TTNQ to revive international tourism into Cairns
$15
million
$210
million
for safety and capacity upgrades to Kuranda Range Road
$50
million
for a new CQU Cairns CBD campus
$31.6
towards upgrading the Gulf section of the Savannah Way
*Committed in the March 2022-23 Federal Budget
million*
additional CSPs from the Federal Government for medical students in rural and remote areas
80
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“We are pleased to see strong advocacy from Advance Cairns, TTNQ, and other regional stakeholders come to fruition through support for marine, health, tourism, and road infrastructure.”
Jacinta Reddan,
CEO Advance Cairns
$100
million
matched by the state’s four largest airports to revive international tourism into QLD
$250
million
to expand capacity at Cairns Hospital
STATE FUNDING
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JOINT FUNDING
million
$215
shared funding for Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 project
million
$300
shared funding from the State and Federal Governments for major port infrastructure upgrades at Cairns Marine Precinct
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Advance Cairns will look to update our priorities in 2023 to reflect a successful year of advocacy for the region.
> Cairns Marine Precinct
> Coastal Roads
> Inland Roads
> Tablelands Access
> Cairns Uni Hospital Redevelopment
> Education & Research
> Rebuilding Aviation
> Food & Water Security
INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES
POLICY
PRIORITIES
> Regional Health Planning
> TNQ Tourism Recovery Fund
> Pacific Engagement
> Land Use & Agriculture
As Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King noted at an Advance Cairns function,
"smart advocacy"
by Advance Cairns on behalf of the region has borne fruit and will result in an increased diversification of the Far North Queensland economy.
What
lies
ahead
Launch of advocacy priorities
LATE 2023
JUNE
MARCH
State Budget submission due
FEBRUARY
First intake of 40 first year med students at JCU
Federal Budget submission due
JANUARY
MAY
Convention Centre expansion complete*
Federal Budget
Regional sitting of QLD Parliament in Cairns
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New Atherton Hospital facilities operational
State Budget
Completion of Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 3), Edmonton to Gordonvale*
* Expected completion date
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