Baby, I’ve got something on my mind and it is pretty big news for Cairns. Powderfinger is coming to town and Cairns is the only regional stop on their Australian reunion tour. That is right: two exclusive shows will be held on 17 and 18 September 2027.
This did not happen by accident. ‘My happiness’ is certainly overflowing because, as the local member for Barron
River and the assistant minister for tourism, I am proud to have worked alongside the Premier, the tourism minister, Tourism Events Queensland and the team at Cazalys that helped make that happen.
Understanding the opportunity is one thing, but backing it with investment and securing the event is another. Powderfinger is just one example. Our government wants Queensland to be the events capital of Australia. That means actively pursuing major events, working with industry and making sure regional Queensland gets its share of opportunities.
We are seeing that ambition translate into results for Far North Queensland. Take the T20 Cairns Gold Clash, coming to Cazalys Stadium this November. It is an Australian-first event bringing cricket royalty and sporting legends from other codes together for a T20 showdown. We are talking Brian Lara, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey and Ash Barty taking on sporting greats, including Johnathan Thurston, Sam Burgess, Joel Selwood and Dale Thomas. That is an extraordinary line-up coming to Cairns, attracting attention and giving visitors another reason to come to our region.
A huge shout-out to Suzy and James Dean and their team for brining another sensational Savannah in the Round festival to Mareeba, with 27,000 people attending on the weekend. Our government is proud to have confirmed funding for the festival through to 2029, helping provide certainty for an event that brings visitors, supports local businesses and showcases our region.
We are also investing in the infrastructure needed to attract bigger events, including the Barlow Park upgrade which will increase permanent seating capacity from 1,700 to 5,000 with the potential to accommodate future concerts of more than 15,000 people. If we want to attract bigger events, we need the infrastructure to match our ambition.
Our government understands that events are not just about the show, the match or the race.
They bring visitors through our airports, fill our hotels and restaurants, support local businesses and create jobs. When people come for an event, we want them to discover everything else our incredible region has to offer: the Great Barrier Reef, our ancient rainforests and the people who make Far North Queensland such a special place to visit. When it comes to major events, Cairns is not just dreaming of ‘these days’; we’re making sure there is plenty more to come and plenty of exciting things to get in your calendar.
