General News
24 February, 2026
Premier’s tick of approval
PREMIER David Crisafulli was among more than 80 people gathered to launch the new office for the Member for Cook David Kempton on Thursday night, marking a permanent state government presence in the heart of the town.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Crisafulli said the Cook electorate was a diverse, “great electorate”, from Torres Strait through to the south, but Mareeba was the “hub”.
“It always has been, it is the economic engine room,” he said.
Mr Crisafulli said the office move to Cairns by the previous member for Cook had not made sense and had been “disrespectful” to the electorate. Mr Kempton had promised to return it to Mareeba following his re-election.
“While it’s great to have Cairns as a hub nearby, it’s not the electorate, this is the electorate and it deserves to have a member who has a presence here,” Mr Crisafulli said.
He added that there was a very “real sense here of the opportunity to grow”, especially in the current redevelopment of waste and water infrastructure, and the government would ensure more funding would come “on to the table” for future projects.
The new office suite, on the corner of Rankin and Walsh Streets, features a large open-space office for staff and a well-equipped kitchen area, a separate office for Mr Kempton, a security room and a separate conference room, which Mr Kempton said is used for community meetings.
Mr Kempton said on social media later in the evening that it had been “wonderful to have the premier, and his “good friend and colleague” Senator Susan McDonald attending the opening.
