Save the Cairns Taipans

Denis Donaghy met with the Director General last week in Brisbane.

March 10th

“Save the Taipans” committee have today confirmed that the $1m guarantee to ensure the Taipans continuation in the new NBL is being sought from the Queensland Government.

Desley Boyle, the Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns was approached prior to launching the 'Save the Taipans" campaign to present our proposal to her Government. Desley saw the merit in our endeavour and agreed to take our request to Treasury.

Subsequent to an informal discussion with Treasury, Desley arranged for Save the Taipans to prepare a formal presentation which Desley would hand deliver to the Treasurer on our behalf. The meeting with the Treasurer to discuss the submission was scheduled for the Monday on which the election was called, and as a consequence any decision was put on hold whilst the Government is in caretaker mode.

Denis Donaghy and Michael Scott met last week with the Director General of Local Government, Sport and Recreation, a meeting arranged by Minister Boyle, to discuss in detail aspects of our proposal. The exceptional
contribution of the Cairns community was emphasised and in particular the $750,000 raised by the “save the Taipans” membership drive.

The fact that the Taipans are Cairns only sporting team competing in a National
Sporting League and the myriad of benefits the survival will bring to the City and Region were also highlighted.

At this meeting Denis and Mike discussed in detail the community role of the "New" Taipans and how their objectives meet many of the Department's strategic objectives. The Director General undertook to include the request
in “the top 10” matters in the initial brief going to the new Minister. This brief will go to the Minister in the week after the election.

“Mike and I are quietly confident, given the direct and indirect number of jobs created by the Taipans, the National brand recognition the Taipans give Cairns, and the focus the new Taipans will have on community involvement,
demonstrated by the close connection to Cairns Basketball and the success of programmes (like the Hoop Dreaming project) emanating from Cairns Basketball over the past years. We aim to increase the Taipans players workload to give the community greater access to the players who can be wonderful role models to get kids active and involved with sport and recreation and healthy life choices.” Donaghy added.

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