COUNCIL WELCOMES QUEENSLAND CROSS BORDER COMMISSIONER VISIT TO SHIRE

Published on 25 March 2025

Balonne Shire Council welcomed the newly appointed Queensland Cross Border Commissioner Ian Leavers’ visit to Mungindi to meet with the local community and hear of local cross-border issues.

Commissioner Leavers was accompanied by the Queensland Assistant Minister to the Premier for Cabinet and South West Queensland, Trevor Watts who together held a series of meetings with local community associations, business owners, Emergency Services and government departments from Queensland and New South Wales.

The aim of these meetings was to hear from the local community about specific cross-border issues that can be resolved and dealt with through effective government collaboration.

Balonne Shire Council Mayor Samantha O’Toole welcomed the visit and meetings with the local community.

“As a Council, we’ve been seeking the appointment of a Queensland Cross Border Commissioner for many years, so we warmly welcome the recent appointment and this visit and meetings with the local community”, said Mayor O’Toole.

“Operating in the cross-border town of Mungindi adds a whole range of complexity to ordinarily simple government matters and having a dedicated Cross Border Commissioner will help to simplify that complexity.

“The town of Mungindi is split by the border, with the hospital, schools and other government services delivered to the one community by governments from different states.

“A great example of the cross-border challenges is that in many instances people require dual licensing under different regulations to either work or support local sporting and community groups.

“In 2022, our Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the neighbouring Moree Plains Shire Council in New South Wales to limit cross-border challenges at a local government level.

“These initial community meetings are a first step in addressing broader cross-border challenges for residents at a State Government level.

“We are looking forward to continue working with Commissioner Leavers, the Queensland Government, and the New South Wales Government and the Moree Plains Shire Council to simplify cross-border issues for our residents in Mungindi and beyond.”

ENDS

Location: At the new Mungindi Childcare Centre. Left to Right: Trevor Watts MP, Assistant Minister to the Premier for Cabinet and South West Queensland; Balonne Shire Mayor Samantha O’Toole; Digby Whyte, Director of Community & Environmental Services – Balonne Shire Council; Lisa Orchin, former Councillor of Moree Plains Shire Council; Ian Leavers, Queensland Cross Border Commissioner.

Cross Border Commissioner Ian Leaver, Assistant Minister to the Premier for Cabinet and South West Queensland and Balonne Shire Mayor Samantha O’Toole met with a range of local community members, emergency service representatives and local businesses in the cross-border town of Mungindi.