FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LEICHHARDT MATT SMITH: Matt Smith, Federal Member for Leichhardt, here with Minister King and Assistant Minister Nita Green, Minister Brent Mickelberg, Member for Barron River, Bree James, and Member for Mulgrave, Terry James, a cast of thousands. 

Today marks a really special day. The tender for the Common User Facility process has begun. It was made very clear to me when I put my hand up, that the Common User Facility was going to be something that changed the face of the economy in Cairns, and really take away from our reliance on tourism. Tourism industry in Cairns is second to none. We have the best tourism industry on the planet, but we know that as a part of that, we are subjected to a variety of shocks that really hurt us and hurt our broader community. So, when something happens in the global economy, it generally impacts our tourism economy. This is going to change that. 

Our shipyards already are bringing in over $250 million per year. Throughout the entire COVID shutdown period, they didn't lose a single day of work. The Common User Facility is only going to add to that. This is a part of what is going to make Cairns great into the future. This is going to bring back manufacturing jobs, jobs that people can do with their hands, and point to in the water. This is about a future made in Australia, but more than that, this is going to be a future made in the Far North. We are on the precipice of some really great things here. The economy of Cairns is changing, and this is a massive, massive part of that. I want to thank Minister King for her support throughout this entire process, and her understanding of what this means, not just to Cairns, but what it means to Australia globally, in terms of our sovereign capability and our ability to put our boats, our people, and jobs in the water, and create a future that we can all be proud of here in the Far North. I'll leave the details to the Ministers, and with that, I'll hand over to Minister Catherine King.

CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Thanks, Matt. It's terrific to be here back in Cairns, also with Senator Nita Green, but my colleague Brent Mickelberg and state parliamentary colleagues as well. It's terrific to be here. Well, the Cairns Marine Common User facility is an important part, as we've heard from Matt, of the economy here in Cairns, and it's why the Albanese Labor Government has invested, alongside the Crisafulli Government, over $387 million to really kick start this facility to make sure that we actually get, and deliver the jobs here in Cairns, and diversify those jobs. We know that Cairns is a significant hub for marine maintenance. We've seen that expand over a period of time, and this Common User Facility will really take it to the next level, providing the opportunity for a dry dock, for a ship lift, for a wet dock as well. For new paint and maintenance facilities here as well. But what is clear is that we need to partner with the private sector in order to make this happen, and so today's announcement that we're opening the register for expressions of interest. We know we've had a significant amount of interest from the private sector in working with governments of both levels to de-risk this project, to ensure we can actually get it done, and then to operate that facility. 

Going out to market today with that registration of early expressions of interest provides that opportunity for those private sector developers now to come in and to partner alongside both state and federal governments to deliver this project. This project was a commitment we made back in 2022. We've been working very closely with the Queensland Government since then, and obviously Ports North, to ensure that we do get the delivery of this project right and that we get the jobs right here for Cairns. It is, of course, part of the broader investment that we make up here in Far North Queensland, from the Cairns Western Arterial Road, Kuranda Range Road investments there as well, and continue to work with the university here. We're not far off having some great announcements in relation to the university precinct here as well. 

Cairns is a terrific place. I know every time I come up here, I spent pretty much all of my young son's holidays up here, because from Muddy's playground to the Fig Tree playground, you've got the best place to bring small children, and all of it free activities. It's extraordinary, but we've got to diversify the economy here. We know too often when there are shocks in the world, we know that Cairns really suffers from a tourism perspective. You've got so many natural assets, and of course the best natural asset you've got is the beautiful Cairns marine precinct. Building the common user facility here, alongside the Queensland Government, in conjunction with Ports North, will really diversify the jobs. I think over 400 jobs will be realised through the facility overall, and I think that will really make a huge contribution to the economy. I'm going to hand over to Brent to say a few words, and then we'll take some questions after that.

QUEENSLAND MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT BRENT MICKELBERG: Alrighty, Brett Mickelberg, Minister for Transport and Main Roads. It's tremendous to be here today in the Far North with a significant announcement. As Minister King said, moving forward with the opening of an expression of interest process, so the registrations for that expressions of interest process will start today, and this is all about putting a stake in the ground when it comes to the common user facility here at the marine precinct. This is about ensuring that we can deliver what Cairns and the Far North needs in a stronger, more viable marine industry, and working with the private sector, providing confidence that we can deliver what is required. 

And I want to acknowledge the Albanese Government for the manner in which they've engaged on this project since coming to office. When we were elected in 2024, what became clear very early was that this project could not be delivered within the funding that had been allocated by the state and federal governments, and we've been very open with the people of the Far North that that was the case, and we've been working since that point to find a way forward to deliver something that will meaningfully improve marine capability here in the Far North. I want to acknowledge the advocacy of the state far northern MPs, particularly the Member for Barron River and the Member for Mulgrave, who have been tirelessly advocating for the importance of this project, and we understand what this project will mean for the Far North. We understand this will be the enabler for hundreds of jobs, and as Minister King spoke about a more diversified economy, the marine industry here in Cairns and the Far North is already a major employer, but it's a key economic driver, and the common user facility will deliver what is required to grow that even further. 

So, as I said, a really important day, a stake in the ground that provides confidence to industry to work with us to invest and importantly to deliver a common user facility, and I'll make one last observation. This is all about ensuring that we get on with the job of delivering the common user facility. It's been spoken about for a long, long time. This was first announced in 2001 sorry, 2021, by the former Labor state government. Unfortunately, it was in the go-slow for an extended period of time, but we're getting on with the job to life today, opening the registration for expressions of interest, and we look forward to keeping the community informed as we work through that process in coming months. I'll hand over now to Bree James, the Assistant Minister for Far North Queensland, and happy to come back and take any questions at the end.

STATE ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND BREE JAMES: Okay, you may just want to lower it a little bit. Thank you. Sorry, I'm short. Thank you. All right, I just want to say a huge thank you to both the federal government and the state government for taking the next steps on this vital project for Far North Queensland. This next step will bring certainty for industry, it will be certainty for more jobs, and I hope to see shovels in the ground as early as next year.

KING: Questions, who you want to go to first?

JOURNALIST: $387 million has been contributed so far or committed so far. How much more do you need to get this off the ground? What's the threshold here?

MICKELBERG: So, as you said, $387 million has been allocated collectively from the state and federal governments, and what is clear is that a minimum viable product for the common use facility could not be delivered within that funding allocation, and together the federal government and the state government are committed to delivering a common user facility, which is why, here we are today, opening expressions of interest. The registrations for the expressions of interest process to be able to partner with the private sector. What we've seen through early engagement over the last 18 months is there is a considerable appetite from private sector proponents to work with us to deliver something that will be a huge catalyst for employment and opportunity here in the Far North. I'm not going to talk about the potential funding required, because that will be dependent on the solutions and the manner in which the different proponents choose to approach this particular project. Importantly, we are committed to ensuring this is a common user facility, which means it will be an opportunity for enabling economic growth for different entities, not just one proponent. However, we look forward to working with the private sector to see what they can bring to the table, see the different methods and approaches to delivery, and how we can leverage their strengths and capability to deliver something even stronger and an economic catalyst for growth here in the Far North.

JOURNALIST: I've got a blank check in my pocket, and I want this to happen as quickly as possible. What number will I put on it?

MICKELBERG: Well, if you've got a blank check in your pocket, I'd suggest you engage in the expressions of interest process, and importantly, put forward tangible measures as to how this project can be delivered on time and on budget, and for the benefit of the people of the Far North. What is very clear is there is considerable community and industry interest in this particular project, and people want to see shovels in the ground and this thing being built, and we want to work with the private sector, along with the federal government, to ensure that we do just that. And what I would say to any parties, whether they're a journalist with a blank check in their pocket or a proponent who is already operating in the marine services space or any other space, is to come to us with your ideas, engage with Ports North through this process. It's not just about dollars and cents, it's also about ensuring that we can deliver the best capability in the marine precinct for economic opportunity and jobs for Cairns locals.

JOURNALIST: Is it fair enough to say that we're $400 million short? If it’s that $800 million is the often quoted figure as to what's the least it will cost from now on in?

MICKLEBERG: Well, I've previously articulated some of the cost estimations. Importantly, they are predicated on a certain design that delivers a certain capability, and what we want to see is a product that meets the needs of the marine precinct here, that drives economic opportunity, but the private sector, through their own engagement with entities like Defence, but also other marine organisers, we know that some foreign shipping companies want to service vessels here in the Far North. This is an opportunity for the private sector to leverage their existing capability, their existing knowledge of the market, and work with us to deliver something that all parties can benefit from. So I want to be really clear, what is very clear is we cannot deliver their common user facility as designed, and as required within the $387 million allocated, which is why we've started this process. It's about working with the private sector to deliver something that everyone can benefit from here in the Far North.

JOURNALIST: But correct me if I'm wrong, wasn't it your government who did look at the books, and say it was about $800 million that was required?

MICKELBERG: You are correct. So, when I came into this role in November 2024, the initial brief that I received was, off the top of my head, $826 million and there are different permutations of what that cost estimate may be. Suffice to say, they are all above $387 million. I really want to acknowledge the federal government for working with us on this. I do need to make the point, however, that the former state government knew that this could not be delivered within the $387 million as well. We know that for a fact, and they were not open with the people of Far North in saying that before the last election, which is disappointing, but nonetheless, what we are committed to is working with the private sector, working with the federal government to deliver a capability that will drive economic opportunity here, but it will be above that $387 million, that's very clear, and what, as I said, it's not just about the dollars and cents, it's also about the different design options, the different methodology, and the different approaches to leveraging this capability, and we want to see innovative ideas. We want to see different delivery methods, and the private sector have indicated they have a huge appetite to work with us to deliver just that.

JOURNALIST: $387m, is that 80/20? And in next week's state budget, is there any surprise coming forward? Are we going to get more money from the state government next week?

MICKELBERG: So the funding allocations are approximately $200 million from the state and $187 million from the federal government. That's what's on the table already. And I'm not going to talk about the budget next week. I'll let the treasurer announce the budget next week but suffice to say this process is about ensuring that we are able to deliver a meaningful capability for the Far North, and we're confident we can do that through this expressions of interest process and the subsequent procurement process that will flow.

JOURNALIST: And when do the EOIs close? 

MICKELBERG: Well, we'll be guided by industry on the way through, because what we want to ensure is we give them sufficient time to be able to work together to form consortiums. This is a new product here in the Far North, in many respects, and what we want to see is local involvement, but we also have interest from interstate parties as well, and we want to ensure that we give everyone the best opportunity to put their best foot forward, and so we'll work with industry to ensure that they have the capability and the time to be able to make an informed expression of interest, and then from that we'll then commence a procurement process off the back of that.

JOURNALIST: And what if you don't get any takers before the end of the financial year, or enough takers? Is the project dead in the water? 

MICKLEBERG: Yeah, we're confident there is community and industry interest. We've done early engagement, considerable amount of engagement. I want to acknowledge Ports North for the manner in which they've engaged with local stakeholders, people like the shipyards, but also those national ship maintainers, and the like. And there is considerable amount of interest from those parties to work with us to deliver the common user facility, and so I am confident that there will be meaningful engagement through the expressions of interest process, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of that process. And the next step after that will be consideration of those expressions of interest and procurement post.

JOURNALIST: Are you suggesting that it could be scaled down then? If you don't get up to that $800 million, or if the private sector come in and say we don't see a financially viable scale that you're proposing, but we can come in at this scale?

MICKELBERG: Well, what we were not prepared to do is build something that would not deliver for the people of the Far North. What we were not prepared to do, and the federal government had been on the same page in all of our discussions, was spend $387 million of taxpayer money, and not deliver a capability of a common user facility for the funder, and what this opportunity will give us is a chance to leverage both the capabilities and the financial capabilities of private sector proponents. We know there's a desire for them to work with us to deliver this common user facility, and I'm confident as we work through that process, what you will see is a meaningful capability that meets the needs of both industry and the community in terms of economic opportunity and jobs, and that couldn't be delivered within the $387 million which was allocated, and neither the state or federal government were prepared to fritter away that money, a considerable amount of taxpayer money, on something that would not deliver the capability that Far North needs.

JOURNALIST: The Northern Territory government is also building a ship lift. Are you concerned that that may get there first and steal the business?

MICKELBERG: Well, I would say, as I'm sure Matt and Nita would agree, as with Terry and Bree, I'm not sure Minister King would agree, but Queensland is the place to be when it comes to economic opportunity right now in Australia. Our infrastructure spend here eclipses that of the other states, in terms of growth by a considerable amount, and I think all of the states would welcome an opportunity and should be looking at ways to drive their economy and to diversify economies. But here in the Far North, it is uniquely placed to be able to take advantage of opportunities servicing vessels, for example, that service the Pacific, the South Pacific, that's not true for people in the Northern Territory, as much as I like the Northern Territory. It has different strategic advantages and different competitive advantages relative to here in Cairns.

JOURNALIST: Is there room for both? 

MICKELBERG: Well, ultimately, that'll be a question that is probably best answered by industry. We're confident that there is interest here for a common user facility in Cairns, and we've got that feedback from industry loud and clear. I can't speak for the Northern Territory, obviously. I haven't made a part of that process, but I am very confident that industry wants to see a common user facility delivered here in Cairns, and the economic opportunity is huge. Done right, that's exactly what committed to delivery.

JOURNALIST: But surely it is a threat, as far as the business case goes, that Darwin may build a ship lift first?

MICKELBERG: Well, as I said, it's very clear that industry is of the view that there is a need for ship lift and a common user facility here in Cairns, and there is already opportunities that are going begging as a consequence of not having that capability, which is why we want to get on with the job of delivering a common user facility for the Far North, and that's why we've started these registrations for the expression of interest process here today.

JOURNALIST: When does that close? 

MICKELBERG: The expression of interest, as I said, we'll work with the industry, and we want to ensure that we do give them sufficient time, so they can form up consortiums, and that'll be informed from feedback from industry on the way through.

JOURNALIST: And Bree said that she hopes to see shovels in the ground by the end of next year, can you confirm that that is a realistic possibility? Is this happening start of next year, start of 2027?

MICKELBERG: Well, Bree is a very strong advocate for her local community, and my job as the minister is to ensure that we can deliver the infrastructure required in a calm, considered, and methodical way, which is exactly what we'll do, and I welcome Bree's advocacy alongside the local members here in the Far North. What's very clear is it'll be informed by private sector engagement, and the early feedback we've got is we could realistically see shovels in the ground next year, but what we want to see is industry to come to us with ways that they can best deliver this project, ways we can best work together to deliver the capability of the farmhouse needs.

JOURNALIST: Are you looking for the private sector to build and operate the facility?

MICKELBERG: Yeah, that's the intention. So, we are open to suggestions with respect to industry informing the way forward, so whether that is a separate design approach and a separate operating contract, or design and construct alongside an operating contract with one consortium. All of those options are on the table, and we would welcome feedback from industry on the way through. What we want to do is ensure that the capability can be delivered. I think that's the key point here today. This is a huge opportunity for the Far North. This is a stake in the ground that will allow us to move forward in delivering the capability in the common use facility that the far north needs and the far north deserves.

JOURNALIST: How can local contractors get involved in this process?

MICKELBERG: Great question. I would encourage local contractors to engage with Ports North, who are the lead agency from the Queensland Government's perspective on the common user facility, and if they jump onto the Port North website, they will see a portal in which they can get further information in relation to the expressions of interest process, and similarly, I'd encourage all of those local proponents, regardless of how big they are, to take this opportunity, look for ways that they can partner together to ensure that they deliver, not just on the construction of this facility, but also the opportunity that comes from operating this facility in time as well. We've engaged closely with entities like Advanced Cairns, for example, to be able to understand some of the local capabilities, and we'll certainly be engaging with those local proponents who have already expressed an interest. I think we have a deep understanding of what many and/or most of those proponents are, but if there is an entity that sees an opportunity, reach out to Ports North. We'd love to hear from you.

JOURNALIST: I wouldn't mind putting my Northern Territory questions to the Federal Minister. Thank you, Minister Mickelberg. So, my question was, is there a concern that the Northern Territory Government's ship lift may get there ahead of us and steal our business?

KING: No, there's room for both. I think that what we're actually seeing is a significant interest and uplift in the need across the whole of Northern Australia for significant increase in maritime maintenance capabilities, whether it is for Defence or whether it is for civil maritime as well. We know increasingly from a trade perspective, we are seeing more and more coastal shipping, we're seeing more and more international shipping as well. So, there is absolutely room for my both. What Minister Mickelberg and I are announcing today is that really, you've got the commonwealth and state, it's in a partnership, de-risking some of the investment for a private sector developer to come in and develop a facility that will make the money, and we're determined to deliver the project for the benefit of all users, which is why it's important it stays as a common user facility, but this is a good prospect. The registration of expressions of interest will allow people then to access the data room, which will provide information about what the likely customer base is, all of those things, and so, as Minister Mickelberg said, they'll be different to what the Northern Territory has to offer as part of its ship lift as well. So I think there is absolutely room for both, and I think there's a great future for maritime maintenance up here in the north.

JOURNALIST: And will the size of this one depend on how much money is generated from the private sector?

KING: Well, look, obviously we're very open to the private sector coming in and looking at how they think the business model will work for them, and that will be different depending on on the sectors. You may have, for example, a venture capital fund deciding that they want to do that and then contract out and lease the facility out further to that, and to be able to make money that way. There's a range of different models that we'll look at, and that's really what the registration of the expression of interest process is. It's really to test what those models might look like, but having the commonwealth and the state together, essentially de-risking a private sector project for the use of and benefit of common users across the maritime sector here in Cairns is a good prospect.

JOURNALIST: While I've got two Infrastructure Ministers, I want to talk about the Kuranda Range. The residents of tablelands are absolutely fed up with works on the Kuranda Range. We had Cyclone Jasper here, coming up to three years ago, it's still stop, go all the way up and down the range, and there was a terrible crash fatality yesterday, and it held up people, school kids getting home for hours and hours. What can be done about the Kuranda Range, and when is it going to be fixed?

KING: It is incredibly difficult topography. The nature of the environment here in the Far North is you have significant weather events, and we're seeing increasing amounts of those. So, there's been a lot of money put in through disaster recovery arrangements, but also through my portfolio, in terms of infrastructure investment, I think over $200 million to try and improve safety. It is difficult topography. We are doing what we can to keep the range open, but also to make it safer for all users. It is terrible to hear about the accident yesterday. We want everybody to get home safely. We're conscious that this is a really difficult, difficult road, and increasingly, because of the weather events, that these things are happening, it is tricky. There's no easy solution to this. I know a lot of people come up with ideas over time, they're not always viable. So, what we're trying to do is, with the funding we have available, make that road safer as best we can, and of course, if the Queensland Government wants to come to us with other propositions, we'll consider that through our budget process, but we're working pretty closely with them on the funding envelope that's there already.

JOURNALIST: And there has been calls to send the Kennedy Highway over to the federal government to manage instead of the state government?

KING: Well, I don't think we want to do that. I think that we're not on the ground, really. It's really a matter for  the Queensland Government to manage roads and to do that delivery of projects. What the Commonwealth does is co-invest strongly with the Queensland Government. We're investing here in this state in over $26 billion worth of projects, largely with the state government, but also with local councils to improve roads. It's the largest of any state. You get more infrastructure funding from the federal government than any other state and territory, and I know Brent would say that is exactly how it should be. My other state counterparts don't always agree with that, but we're investing over $26 billion here. We are an active and interested co-investor, and we're very keen, obviously, to continue to work with the Queensland Government on the delivery of those projects.

JOURNALIST: And you're also the Regional Development Minister, and the Local Regional Development Australia office published a paper, and in that was  the possibility of a four-lane Kuranda highway, and there's still environmental overlays on that until 2030 that's still a possibility, is that realistic?

KING: Look, I think there's lots of lots of proposals. I think we had proposals of tunnels under the Daintree, a whole range of things. I'm not an engineering expert, I leave that to the experts and engineers at TMR. What we have done is put significant funding on the table to improve safety, and I know the Queensland Government have been delivering on that, but also working on the disaster recovery arrangements, which sit with Kristy McBain's portfolio, to ensure that we can keep the road open. But we do know it's a difficult, it's a difficult topography in terms of the area that it's in, it's not the only road in the country that we've had issues with obviously, in terms of weather events. But we do know it's difficult, but I do want to commend the Queensland government for the work that they're doing.

JOURNALIST: With the federal government looking to reduce its disaster relief contributions from 75% to 50%, do you see the state government having to pick up that slack for local councils?

KING: What we're trying to do is actually trying to turn the dial to actually put more money into building resilience, and that's what we've got to do. We know when we look at the disasters that we have, it just feels like we've had flood, fire, they keep coming, and governments are increasingly having to fund substantial amounts of rebuilding. What we want to do is try and put more money into that resilience piece, so that we're actually building resilient infrastructure in the first place, and that's really what the Commonwealth changes are designed to do, is to get more money up front on the prevention, so that both levels of government are not having to spend huge amounts of money in our budgets on the recovery rebuilding arrangements, that we're actually building that resilience and that's really what the Commonwealth is trying to do.

JOURNALIST: There is always going to be rebuilding though?

KING: Well the government's always been investing and substantially investing in rebuilding, but as I said, we want to, and we have to, all levels of government have got to really turn the dial on to building resilience into our infrastructure. We have to do that because we know these weather events are increasing. We're seeing them more widespread across the community, and all levels of government are struggling in terms of the rebuilding. What we want to do is change that dial to build that resilience into the in the first place. 

JOURNALIST: I just got one last question to Brent, sorry. Can you comment on Kuranda, and then go onto e-mobility? 

MICKELBERG: I'll come back to e-mobility. Yeah, thank you. So, first of all, obviously I want to acknowledge the tragic death of the gentleman on the on the Kennedy Highway, just the other side of the Kuranda range, though, and I want to acknowledge that it's obviously a tragic event for any community when those instances happen. I know that road well. I have lived and worked here in the Far North for much of my working life, before I moved to the Sunny Coast, living in Trinity Beach, working in Atherton, driving that road twice a day, every day. I know what it means for this community when it closes, and I know the inconvenience that the community have been dealing with as we work through the difficult job of addressing the impacts from Tropical Cyclone Jasper, but also the other major weather events that we've experienced. It's raining right now. I don't need to remind people in the Far North, it's been raining for an extended period of time, and we'll consider continue to see those impacts, but I want to provide a bit of detail in relation to what has been happening, because sometimes it's difficult to see the progress that is underway, and I understand the frustration. 

So, a lot of the work that's happening right now on those different job sites on the Kuranda Range is actually on the down hillside of the road, trying to shore up the slope in those areas that are most affected. The early works that were done were all about hitting those areas that were easiest, and now we're getting into the really complicated, really challenging sections. And I think it's also easy to underestimate the scale of this task, the amount of earth nails that are required to shore up that slope. I think the figure that was given to me was it's more than the entire nation's use in one year, we will require on that one job alone, and that's a considerable impact and a considerable job. And I want to commend the work crews who are on there. One of the first things I did when I was appointed as the Minister of Transport & Main Roads was to visit the Kuranda Range, alongside Bree James, so we could inspect it in detail. After this press conference, we'll be going to the same place again to go and have a look and to better understand some of the considerations on the ground, but it's an incredibly difficult place to work. Obviously, the world heritage area has significant environmental considerations, while trying to shore up considerable damage as a consequence of the natural disaster impact, but also trying to keep traffic flowing as best we can, and my message to the community would be, we understand your frustration, we'll get this work finished as quickly as possible, and I just ask for their patience as we work through what is an incredibly complex task, and we'll do it as quickly as we can. There is meaningful work underway right now, sometimes you can't see what is happening on the ground, but I can assure you there's a considerable amount of work underway to get that open as quickly as we can.

JOURNALIST: How concerned are you about the number of people being admitted to ED departments for e-bike and e-scooter injuries? Health professionals have flagged that parents should take more of a role to ensure these injuries don't occur, do you believe this is the case?

MICKELBERG: Well, last week we passed legislation in the parliament that tackled exactly that. We passed nation-leading legislation, which will mean that those who do the wrong thing on e-mobility devices, whether it's e-bikes or e-scooters, will be held to account for their actions. Police will be given the powers from the 1st of July to seize and destroy illegal e-mobility devices, and importantly to your question, parents can be personally fined as a consequence of the actions of their children. Should they buy them an illegal e-mobility device, facilitate use of an illegal device, they can be held to account by the police for the actions of their children and I think this is a really important step forward for ensuring that there are consequences for action. We have heard the community's concerns in relation to the use of illegal e-mobility devices. It's an incredibly complex space to be able to legislate and to regulate and we've worked with the federal government in relation to changes to the standards that apply, we've then applied that through a legislative sense in the legislation we passed last week, and we'll continue to do whatever is necessary to keep our community safe, whether it's in relation to e-mobility devices or any of the other multitude of issues that communities grapple with, we understand the community's concerns, and we will do what is necessary, and I look forward to police being out and about enforcing those new laws, which will take effect on the 1st of July.

JOURNALIST: And the Cairns Western Arterial Road, are you confident, will be completed by 2032?

MICKELBERG: Well, we've made it very clear that delivering the Cairns Western Arterial Road is a priority for us. I want to acknowledge the funding contribution of the federal government in their most recent budget, and we will work to deliver a meaningful uplift to the Cairns Western Arterial Road. It's a key artery, which is clogged right now, and it needs to be cleared. I don't think a week goes past when Bree doesn't hassle me about the Cairns Western arterial, right? Which is what you want from a local member, less so if you're the minister trying to get stuff done…

KING: Matt as well, I can say. 

MICKELBERG: Matt as well, and I think the important message for the community is the next step is getting on with a job, so funding has been allocated from the federal government, we will hand down our budget next week, and we'll get on with the job of delivering upgrades to the Cairns Western Arterial Road as soon as possible.