Premier's journal - December 2009
15 December 2009
Today I officially opened the Erub Erwer Meta Art Centre on the remote island of Erub (Darnley) in the outer Torres Strait.
The centre is a wonderful place where local talent is being nurtured and incredible art is being created, ready to share with the world.
The art centre is a great symbol of a brighter future for the Torres Strait.
Today I was very pleased to announce $20,000 for the centre to run jewellery workshops next year – so more local artists can develop their skills and market their work beyond the region.
It was great to see all the community come out to celebrate this special occasion today.
It was a great morning of celebration and there are many new opportunities for these artists, despite the many challenges that come with living in one of Australia's most remote locations.
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The future of QR
10 December 2009
This week the Treasurer and I announced all Queenslanders will be offered the opportunity to join the new-look, publicly-floated, nationally-focussed transport giant QR National.
QR National is set to be a leading 50 ASX company and Australia's biggest coal transport and freight business.
What this means for Queenslanders and for QR National workers is that they can own a piece of a Queensland icon.
This is an important part of giving QR Coal and Freight business the best chance of growing and expanding the business and growing jobs.
All passenger services will remain in government ownership.
This float is part of our government's plan to lease four other major assets, so government can get on with delivering the services, hospitals, schools and roads that Queenslanders want and need.
Find out more about the QR public float.
Read the media releases:
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9 December 2009
This week the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed on the Commonwealth's timetable to put health reform proposals to the states and territories.
In the first half of next year we will start to see action taken to relieve some of the pressures on Queensland's and the nation's health system.
Reforming our health system is a massive challenge, so that's why I recommended five key reform areas to fix ongoing problems in the nation's hospitals and health system.
We have to keep our sights firmly on our core purpose and that's providing the best health and hospital care for Australians.
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6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art opens
7 December 2009
On Friday I opened the Queensland Art Gallery's 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT6) – a great feather in the cultural cap for Queensland.
The Asia Pacific Triennial is one of the best-attended and most-anticipated contemporary art shows in the world, attracting visitors from overseas and interstate.
APT6 at the Gallery of Modern Art puts Queensland on the international arts map, with contemporary works that have never been exhibited before.
The exhibition has so many wonderful pieces in it and while it's difficult to pick a favourite I think it's hard to go past the incredible glass elk (pictured).
This exhibition is a beautiful display of contemporary talent for the whole family to enjoy, with wonderful children's programs, lots of fun for adults and night time activities.
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New road to Brisbane airport
4 December 2009
For a number of years getting to and from Brisbane airport has been driving everyone mad but this week the Northern Access Road – now Moreton Drive – opened, busting congestion.
This new road slashes travel time to the airport and will relieve congestion on the Airport Drive-Gateway Motorway Roundabout by 40 per cent – 30,000 vehicles a day.
Moreton Drive, the $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade project and the Airport Roundabout Upgrade will generate huge savings in time, congestion, fuel use and emissions for the tens of thousands of vehicles travelling on the Gateway and to the airport every day.
Brisbane airport is becoming a small city with some 16,000 people working in this area.
And this infrastructure is an early Christmas present which will make a big difference to motorists.
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