Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to shine a light on three towns in my electorate of Dawson nominated in the QTIC Queensland tourism awards for 2023. First up is my wonderful home town of Bowen. People come from near and far to visit our glorious beaches, fish our plentiful waters and enjoy the relaxed and laid-back lifestyle.

Townsville, a bit further north and a tad warmer, has also been nominated as a finalist. Townsville is the unofficial capital of the north. It has World-Heritage-listed national parks and is home to the mighty North Queensland Cowboys. Carn the Cows!

And Airlie Beach, the magnificent tourism town of the Whitsundays, which boasts 74 beautiful islands and is the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, has also been nominated. Airlie has a feel like no other small town. With its cruisy vibe during sun-filled days and the buzz of night-life, it wins over everybody who visits.

Nominations for awards like this are rare. I must mention the hard work of several groups who contribute to this: the staff of both the Whitsunday and Townsville councils; our volunteers at tourism information centres; and our world-class tourism operators. These groups all ensure a great experience for visitors to our region.

Good luck, Bowen, Townsville and Airlie Beach. You've got my vote.