Council’s local spend gets the tick as Toowoomba visits State Parliament
Explore Councils by state
Toowoomba Regional Council’s continued commitment to support local business was high on the agenda as a delegation visited Queensland’s corridors of power Tuesday this week (29 March).
Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio and Deputy Mayor Councillor Geoff McDonald lead a delegation to Queensland State Parliament where they met various State Government Ministers and advisors to further the interests of the Toowoomba region.
These meetings included important sit downs with a number of Ministers including Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer MP, Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Olympics Stirling Hinchliffe MP and Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minster for Water Glenn Butcher MP.
Mayor Antonio said Minister Farmer was particularly complimentary about Council’s continued commitment to support local business through procurement initiatives that give strong preference to local suppliers.
“Minister Farmer was particularly impressed given her small business portfolio that Council had spent around $142 million this financial year already with local Toowoomba region businesses which represents almost 65 per cent of all Council spend,” Mayor Antonio said.
Cr McDonald said it was wonderful to hear such positive feedback on Council’s local spend initiatives from Minister Farmer.
“It’s particularly pleasing to hear the Minister support Council’s desire to see local workers and suppliers delivering projects across the Region. Stimulating local employment is one of the most constructive and immediate ways Council can continue to support the regional economy and we will continue to be a small business friendly organisation into the future,” Cr McDonald said.
Other topics of note with the Ministers included vital water security infrastructure, proposed community and stadium infrastructure as well current and future regional workforce challenges.