Michael Healy MP State Member for Cairns
Michael Healy MP
State Member for Cairns
1. Over the years what is the one thing you have come to appreciate about the city of Cairns?
The beauty of our city and region is unrivalled, however, what I’ve always been so impressed with is the ingenuity, drive and resilience of our community at ALL levels and in every sector. We are tough, hardworking, community minded and we understand the need to stick together.
2. The region has experienced many tough times throughout the years, but none quite like we are experiencing now. What is one message you would like to give to the people of Cairns at this uncertain time?
Stay strong, we will get through this. We are seeing governments at all levels stepping up to the plate matching the unprecedented times, with unprecedented measures.
These measures are focused on our community’s health and well-being, in addition to our capacity to quarantine our city and region’s commercial sector, ensuring that infrastructure stays in place and can re-start as we graduate back to normality.
Of course, adversity also brings opportunity and I am so impressed with the creative ways some businesses are handling this setback, like the local curtain maker who is now sewing face masks, local distillers like Wolf Lane who have transitioned to making hand sanitiser and of course Coles, Woolworths, local IGA’s and Piccones who have really accepted this challenge and have put in place some great measures to assist those most vulnerable in our society.
3. Leaders like yourself have united to fight for the region in what are unprecedented times – what role are you and your organisation playing in all of this?
From the outset, myself, Warren Entsch and Bob Manning immediately recognised the need to establish a local leadership team. In doing so we have provided both our city’s business and community human services sectors with a strong voice at all levels of government. We meet twice a week with the goal of representing our constituents in these important areas and ensuring the flow of information from government back into our community.
I have always acknowledged strong leadership and co-operation in these challenging times is part of what’s needed and expected from our community. Ensuring Brisbane and Canberra get our message is essential and we are doing just that.
I am doing my best to get the messages out there by speaking every morning on local radio stations, doing television interviews and in my daily video update on my Facebook page. In addition, although my office doors are closed to the public we are still here, answering calls and emails, assisting with many and varied enquiries and will continue to do this through the coming weeks and months.
4. While there are many negatives about the current situation we all find ourselves in – what is one thing you are looking forward to doing while in isolation?
Getting through my wife’s list of things which need to be done around the house.
