Convoy is a publicity stunt

THE Cairns TNQ Convoy to Capital Q going “cap in hand” to Brisbane, like the Convoy to Canberra in 2018, is simply a publicity stunt in an attempt to get their “wish list” into the proverbial “pork barrel”.

The outcome of these forays is in no way a measure of the convoy’s effectiveness but rather the simple correlation of the wish list with the imperatives the major political parties’ determine as the “spends” that best support their election prospects.

I suspect few of the convoy have even a basic knowledge of the sources of or annual value of the revenue that flows into the Brisbane Treasury or understand the poor returns to the nearly one million residents of central and north Queensland in return for the contribution they enrich those coffers. They are oblivious to the now $5 billion per annum royalties from our regions or our regions’ calculated entitlement of the more than $19 billion per annum GST redistribution which is provided by the Commonwealth to ensure our residents have the same access to services and infrastructure as is afforded to those of southeast Queensland.

While we have representatives, who revel in the all too few occasions they secure crumbs from the Brisbane banquet table, and leaders who go cap in hand to the Brisbane parliament to reaffirm our bondage to our colonial masters, we will continue to have our opportunities and development restrained by Brisbane and the interests of SEQ.

If any of Convoy Q are willing to publicly debate the value of a thousand capin-hand processions verses that of statehood for the nearly one million residents of central and north Queensland along with its associated political representation to at least equal of that of 520,000 residents of Tasmania, I am happy to facilitate it.

Bill Bates, co-ordinator, Boot Brisbane Inc faced by people with disability and urge candidates to share how they plan to address these issues if elected.

These key local issues include reviewing and updating council’s access and inclusion plan, increased regulation and availability of disability parking spaces and improved transport options and community connections such as footpaths, kerb ramps and pedestrian crossings.

Other areas of interest include promoting inclusive tourism opportunities and raising awareness of the needs of people with a disability among local businesses, along with encouraging housing developers to meet or exceed the silver level of liveable housing guidelines.

By listening to feedback from residents with a disability, and putting these ideas into action, we can all work together to create long-lasting change and ensure the community is open and accessible for everyone. Any improvements will surely help Cairns prosper into the future.

Don Tennant, Spinal Life Cairns peer support officer, Edge Hill 1928: Britain recognises independence

of Trans-Jordan.

1942: Japanese invade island of Bali in

Dutch East Indies during World War II. 1986: Russia launches the Mir space

station.

2008: Space shuttle Atlantis and its crew return to earth, wrapping up an eightmillion km journey highlighted by the successful delivery of a new European lab to the international space station. 2011: A 14-year-old boy is taken by a crocodile while swimming in a remote Northern Territory creek.

2014: Australian journalist Peter Greste and two Al Jazeera colleagues go on trial in Egypt on terror charges.

2016: British Prime Minister David Cameron announces the date of a June referendum on Brexit.

2019: Meghan Markle (above) holds a baby shower in New York amid condemnations in the media that

Royals are not allowed to accept gifts.