Premier Anna Bligh has kicked off her week of running the state from North Queensland with a historic Cabinet meeting.
While ministers gather at the executive building in Brisbane the Premier chaired the Cabinet meeting via videoconference from Townsville.
The Premier said it's believed to be the first time in Queensland a Premier has run cabinet while not in the same location as ministers and it's certainly the first time via video hook-up.
"Running the state from Townsville means continuing to hold the normal meetings I would hold in Brisbane – and they don't get much more important
than Cabinet,” she said.
"Many businesses already use this technology regularly and it's time government took a leaf out of their book.
"I'll also be using videoconferencing to chair a Cabinet Budget Review Committee and a meeting of the Premier's Council on Climate Change.
Premier Bligh said the regionalisation push to encourage more people to settle outside SEQ will mean more business leaders settling into regional cities and using this sort of technology to conduct business.
Member for Thuringowa and Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said that as a Townsville-based minister he would also participate in the cabinet meeting via videoconference.
"The Premier running Cabinet from Townsville shows how serious she is about this exercise," Minister Wallace said.
"With Townsville considered Queensland's second capital it is only fitting that the Premier has chosen our city as the first regional centre to base herself in for a week as she runs the state.
"The spotlight will really be on Townsville -as it should be," Mr Wallace said.
Member for Mundingburra Lindy Nelson-Carr said the symbolism of conducting Cabinet via videoconference was important.
"Regional centres like Townsville are embracing the digital economy and businesses here are using modern technology to hold their own with companies anywhere,” she said.
"Townsville has been chosen as the first site in Queensland to be connected to the NBN which will provide a huge boost to this region.”
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