The North Queensland economy will benefit far more from Labor’s targeted infrastructure investments than Malcolm Turnbull’s $65 billion big business tax cut that will flow largely to southern capitals and foreign multinationals.

Bill Shorten this week committed $75 million to widen the Port of Townsville, while Labor has already committed $100 million for Townsville’s water security and $200 million for a hydro-electro power station at Burdekin Falls Dam.

Our Plan for Real Jobs in Regional Queensland, which includes road and infrastructure commitments for North and Central Queensland, is about growing regional economies and providing job opportunities.

These are some of the main concerns that have been brought up with me while meeting with business leaders in North Queensland this week and the key issues I’ll expand on in my keynote address to Townsville’s CEDA members today.

The Liberals are making life harder in the North, by cutting penalty rates, cutting funding for education and services, and jacking up income taxes for workers.

The choice for North Queensland is between a tax cut that favours others at their expense, or genuine investments in the local area, its infrastructure and its people.

Turnbull, Morrison and Cormann are presiding over record and growing government debt, so we need to be disciplined and direct precious taxpayer dollars where they can do the most good.

Labor’s plan will provide much more support to jobs and the economies of regional Queensland sooner.