Question Time AU

General Debate

Rural, Regional and Remote Australia: Services

House of Representatives · Tuesday 3 March 2026

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

Colin Boyce raised three grievances concerning the neglect of rural and regional Australia. He criticised the decline in healthcare services at Gladstone Hospital, the stalling of the Inland Rail extension to Gladstone, and failures in tick biosecurity management. Boyce argued that these issues stemmed from underinvestment and poor policy decisions by previous governments. He called for urgent action to restore services, progress infrastructure projects, and fix inspection systems.

Outcome

The debate concluded with no further speakers or formal vote recorded in the transcript.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Colin Boyce (Flynn) (Liberal National Party) LNP

Boyce argued that healthcare access in the Gladstone region had deteriorated following the closure of Mater hospital and the downgrading of Gladstone Hospital. Boyce cited a hidden report indicating poor building conditions and welcomed the Queensland government's commitment to expand the facility with 51 additional beds. Boyce also highlighted the failure to progress the Inland Rail extension to Gladstone despite a completed business case costing $4.8 million. Boyce noted that CSIRO modelling indicated potential annual freight cost savings of close to $213 million. Finally, he raised concerns about tick outbreaks and the inadequacy of third-party inspection systems introduced by the former state government.