The 2025 Federal Budget was never just about dollars and centsit's about the path Australia takes in the years ahead. Treasurer Jim Chalmers' latest budget, handed down on 25 March, focuses on cost-of-living relief, housing, and a shift towards a more sustainable economy.

Making it the number one priority of his visit to the Burdekin last week, Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, presented Vietnam veteran, Greg Walters, with a Certificate of Appreciation, recognising his service given in the Defence Force.

The Whitsunday region marked a historic moment with the official opening of Club Whitsunday in the Whitsunday Sports Park precinct at Airlie Beach.

The Coalition government has announced that if elected, they will give older Australians, who want to work a few more hours, the opportunity to do so without losing their pension.

The Federal Government’s $7.2 billion pledge to upgrade the notoriously dangerous Bruce Highway has already hit its first set of potholes.

North 'needs highway money' North Queensland politicians are willing to challenge their parliamentary counterparts in pursuit of funding the Bruce Highway where its most needed in the North.

Mackay RSL sub-branch president Ken Higgins and Dawson MP Andrew Wilcox acknowledging the Federal Governments response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

One of Australia’s ‘living treasures’ is celebrating his 90th birthday and community leaders have lined up to give war hero Keith Payne their best wishes.

The political division on the Voice to Parliament referendum continues to ring true among North Queensland federal MPs.

LNP member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says he will vote ‘no’, and that the Prime Minister has given Australians little to no information on what “Labor’s proposed Canberra Voice to Parliament” will look like, how it will operate, and what it will do.

Offering low-cost groceries to the region’s most vulnerable, Whitsunday Foodbank opened its second location last week and its first in Mackay.

Whitsunday Foodbank Mackay, located at 352 Bridge Road, West Mackay, offers grocery items priced at half the RRP for those who need it most.

From Whitsunday Mayor to Federal Member, Andrew Willcox, has catapulted himself to Canberra and, over the past year, he has certainly made some waves in Parliament, spruiking the merits of our region, and demanding a fair share for his community.

The most influential political leaders in the region attended a lively Whitsunday Coast Chamber of Commerce special event on Tuesday evening, the key item on the agenda: a new vision for the Whitsundays.

Regional pharmacies are feeling the brunt of budget cuts with the new 60-day prescription policy set to halve their annual dispensing fee, with one local pharmacist saying this will cost his business $250,000 per year.

The Australian Government has handed down a budget that, for the first time in 15 years, is in surplus.

In their second budget, the Labor government announced a $4.2 billion surplus which has largely been credited to corporate tax gained from the resources industry.

Community owned and operated, Whitsunday Foodbank Proserpine, has officially opened its doors this week.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivers his second budget on May 9 and the funding allocations he makes will determine the future of our region on everything from infrastructure to social programs.

For Nationals MP Andrew Willcox, more money for the Bruce Highway and water infrastructure are core priorities.

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox and State Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm were “shocked” by Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey’s “political spin” when questioned about the Bruce Highway – Goorganga Plains Upgrade project in early March.

A FARMERS’ association say they will oppose the government’s tax grab on richer retirees arguing it will “significantly impact” the handing down of family-owned farms.

Bowen Gumlu Growers Association CEO Ry Collins said the group would fight any ruling that increased the tax rate from 15 to 30 per cent for earnings on super balances above $3m from 2025.