Three Senators from the Liberal and National Parties who have come together on the first Queensland Coalition joint Senate ticket in 30 years will together take off on an ambitious trip through regional Queensland this week to immerse themselves in local community issues and assist their Coalition lower house candidates. Liberal Senators Ian Macdonald and Sue Boyce, and The Nationals Senator Ron Boswell will together visit Gympie, Maroochydore, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville on a tight three day programme. We will be meeting with local community groups, businesses and supporters as we go along. We are looking closely at the big issues like the Traveston Dam proposal, as well as examining proposals for local projects along the way - like helping to deliver broadband services for Technology Park industrial precinct at Bundaberg, Senator Macdonald said. We will also be campaigning with local Coalition candidates and assisting them where we can. Senator Boyce said that she expected Coalition candidates would be giving the Senate team a taste of local campaign issues, and enlisting their help in chasing funds for local projects and communities. As Senators, we sometimes are able to bring a different angle of influence on our government Ministers and Departments to prioritise projects and provide funding and assistance where it is required, she said. Our candidates are well aware of this, and we expect a certain level of gentle persuasion from them for us to help their local projects along and we are happy to be persuaded. Nationals Senator Boswell said that he was pleased to be campaigning with his Liberal partners on a joint Senate ticket, and stressed the importance of a united Coalition team in taking on the combined power of Labor and the Greens at the upcoming election. We will continue to go out there, spreading the message that our united Queensland Senate team, as part of our Coalition Government team, has the life experience, the record in Government and the strong, balanced affinity with regional and urban Queensland to provide the required representation and defence against Labors union dominance combined with the radical environmental and social activism of the Greens, Senator Boswell said. ENDS Media Contacts : Senator Macdonalds office Shannon Pell 0427 960 255 Senator Boyces office Mark Yore 0448 193 903 Senator Boswells office Paul Leven 0428 714 779