Why is Lui moving?

THE member for Cook, Cynthia Lui, has her electoral office in Mareeba, which makes perfect sense because Mareeba is the largest town in her electorate.

Mareeba’s population is 11,000 some 4000 larger than Atherton. It is also 7000 larger than Thursday Island, Weipa, Cooktown and all other towns in the Cook electorate, so why would the Member for Cook move into another electorate?

Mareeba is the multicultural capital of the area, it is part of the town’s success.

Traditionally an elected member resides in the electorate, it is a requirement of our representative democracy.

The member for Cook represents the voters of Cook, not Leichhardt – that is a different electorate.

An electoral office in Mareeba is far cheaper than one in Cairns. Mareeba is without doubt the gateway to Cape York Peninsula. The Mulligan Highway to the Cape begins at Mareeba.

The Member for Cook is far more accessible to her constituents in Mareeba than in Cairns.

The Member for Cook should think hard before she spends $70,000 moving out of the electorate of Cook and into Leichhardt. Irene Shanks, Mareeba 1908: The Federal Bureau of Investigation - the FBI - is established in the United States. 1942: Two Japanese flying boats drop bombs near the wharves at Townsville, the first of three attacks on the north Queensland town. 2004: A fast-spreading computer worm MyDoom disrupts the world’s most popular online search sites, scanning the vast databases of Google Inc and others. 2011: Renowned Australian artist

Margaret Olley (above) dies aged 88. 2017: Australia’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, reveals he will plead not guilty to multiple, historical abuse charges brought against him at his first court appearance. 2018: Former Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan wins the country’s general elections, promising a “new” Pakistan following a vote marred by rigging allegations.