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Kath Dickson Toy Library

July 18, 2025

I visited the Kath Dickson Toy Bus - a brilliant new mobile toy library bringing play-based learning to families across South West Queensland!

I was glad to donate toys, to help stock the bus, which is now loaded with quality resources for kids aged 0-5 years. Pictured here with Trish and Sarah.

A big thanks to the local Men’s Shed for helping deck it out!

The commissioning trip is next week; it will be great to see the positive impact this will have in regional and remote communities.

Well done to the Kath Dickson Family Centre on this great initiative!

Visit https://kdfc.com.au/toy-library/ to find out more.

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Welcome for Ambassador of Qatar

July 16, 2025

I was pleased to host His Excellency Mr Ali Saad M.H. AL-HAJRI, Ambassador of Qatar at Parliament House.

We shared an engaging conversation around areas for trade and investment collaboration, including agriculture, food security, water preservation, Liquefied Natural Gas, healthcare and technical advancements in mining.

We further discussed tertiary education and future opportunities for Australian undergraduate programs to be offered in Doha.

The Ambassador shared Queensland’s excitement in hosting the upcoming 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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Some of my family, visiting Parliament House

June 24, 2025

It was a pleasure to welcome my uncle, Terry Coonan, along with his daughters Shaelene, Melissa, and Danielle, to Parliament House during Budget Week.

I enjoyed the opportunity to show them around and share lunch together while they were visiting.

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Royal Flying Doctor Service - Ambassador Program

June 17, 2025

I visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service base Brisbane, as a member of the 2025 Ambassador Program – Lighting the Way.

Ambassadors champion the work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and raise awareness for regional, rural and remote Queensland healthcare.

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Welcome for Ambassador of Denmark

June 17, 2025

I hosted the Ambassador of Denmark, Her Excellency Ms Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, as part of her first official visit to Queensland. The Ambassador’s responsibility also encompasses New Zealand and Fiji.

We shared meaningful discussion around Danish investment in Queensland and areas for collaboration and shared learning, such as energy security and efficiency, renewable energy initiatives, health, AgriTech and free trade relations.

Denmark and Queensland maintain close bilateral relations with a shared commitment to international cooperation.

Australia of course, also shares a special connection with Denmark, through Australian-borne monarch, Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark.

Pat in Parliament

Fire Ants question without notice

May 03, 2024

I asked a Question Without Notice to the Premier in Parliament this week concerning the lack of public information on the fire ant infestation in Oakey. My speech below relays my question and the Premier's response.

Energy Renewables Transformation speech

April 26, 2024

Recently I spoke in Parliament to the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023 and

the Clean Economy Jobs Bill 2024 in a cognate debate. Click on my speech below to hear as I outline the reasons the LNP opposed the Renewable Energy Bill 2023.

Crime speech

On Thursday March 31, I spoke in Parliament on the crime issues that the Condamine electorate is experiencing at this point of time.

Click on the video below to hear my speech.

I would also like to express my sympathies for the recent tragic loss of lives due to flooding in the area.

Pat has lived his whole life in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. He grew up near Cecil Plains on the family property ‘Donegal’ where he produced grain and cotton and ran a small cattle breeding herd.

Agriculture has played a significant role in Pat’s life and continues to be interested in the primary industry sector and its future.

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