Quiz state candidates

YOUR article “Driving case for new State to call our own” (CP, 11/7) was the most encouraging initiative I’ve seen in years.

Here we have a man, Bill Bates, who is prepared to use his own time, money and effort to achieve proper political representation for regional Queenslanders.

If successful, we will have better government at the local, state and federal level.

Peter Beattie’s kneejerk reaction was to dismiss the idea without being able to articulate any reason for doing so.

Candidates in the next state election should be asked where they stand on this issue.

I will request an answer in writing from my candidates and, depending on how they answer, I will vote accordingly. Garry O’Brien, Mt Sheridan 1822: The Greeks defeat Turks at

Thermopylae in Greece. 1837: King William approves the naming

of Adelaide after his queen. 1878: Russo-Turkish War ends. 1912: Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area at

Yanco, NSW, is officially opened. 1913: First Commonwealth of Australia

banknotes are circulated. 1930: The first-ever soccer World Cup

competition begins in Uruguay. 1945: Ben Chifley becomes Australian prime minister following the death of John Curtin. 1985: Live Aid concert watched by 1.5 billion worldwide and raises $100 million for African famine relief. 2001: Fiji’s coup leaders release their remaining 18 captives, ending a twomonth-old parliamentary hostage crisis. 2008: Pope Benedict XVI arrives in

Sydney for World Youth Day events. 2012: Australian cricketer Brett Lee (above) retires from international matches. 2015: Royal commission into family

violence begins hearings in Melbourne.