Like prior times, Cloncurry was the centrepiece of his visit and also like prior times, Mount Isa, the largest population centre in the region was ignored.

The latter fact is starting to look like a deliberate snub rather than an accidental omission and it would seem Mr Morrison prefers to be at home in the mainly LNP-voting town of the Curry rather that the bigger mining city which tends to vote for either Labor or the Katters.

It's a shame as it would have been good for the PM to hear from Mount Isa business leaders about the issues they have, especially since as he brought a high-powered delegation of four ministers with him - Michael McCormack, Keith Pitt, David Littleproud and Scott Buchholz.

Nevertheless it was important to see the PM and his ministers in the region and all local mayors - including Mount Isa's - got the chance to put their issues on the agenda at a breakfast on the Wednesday morning.

The breakfast was the idea of Cloncurry mayor Greg Campbell who clearly has an excellent relationship with the prime minister and the ability to get his ear.

That ability will be important if there are to be any lasting benefits to the North West Star

The atmosphere the evening before the mayors breakfast at Florence Clark Park was one of celebration and Mr Morrison used the occasion to tell his appreciative audience the experience learned in the 2019 floods helped inform his government's response to the COVID-19 crisis with good local communication important - a fact, though he didn't explicitly state it helping the decision to create a national cabinet in 2020.

Also on the Wednesday, Mr Morrison visited South32 Cannington mine where apart from a small misadventure with a stalled lift, he espoused the government's support for the coal industry, much to the dismay of environmentalists.

Mr Morrison also visited Quilpie, Longreach and Winton to inspect flood and drought recovery initiatives on his western Queensland tour.