Federal Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien has welcomed the reopening of the newly rebuilt $10 million Woolworths Maryborough following the devastating floods early this year.
“I welcome Woolworths’ commitment, as a major employer and retailer, to rebuild in Maryborough after the floods devastated this region,“ Mr O’Brien said.
“The fear for any flood-ravaged community is that significant employers and retailers will shut down for good, taking wages and jobs out of our regional communities rather than rebuild.“
“This store employs 140 people, most local, and has been here for 44 years. Many will know the face of their the longest-serving team member Michelle Broom, who has been there since 1989.“
“Congratulations on reopening and thank you for recognising the importance of Maryborough as a commercial centre and keeping jobs in this region.“
The four Woolworths stores in the Fraser Coast LGA, spread across the federal electorates of Wide Bay and Hinkler, represent over $17 million in wages each year.
Mr O’Brien worked closely with Woolworths during his 2019 campaign to raise the retail price of $1 per litre milk.
“Woolworths showed corporate leadership in being the first major supermarket to stop the sale of $1 milk, breaking a practice that had been harming the dairy farming industry,“ Mr O’Brien said.
“I’m continuing to support dairy farmers to address further issues in the industry.”
Mr O’Brien, who has tested positive for Covid, could not attend the official opening due to quarantine restrictions.
