TOOWOOMBA NTH MAY HOLD KEYS TO POWER
WILL TREVOR'S WATTAGE PROVE TOO BRIGHT FOR KERRY'S SHINE?
TOOWOOMBA North voters may hold the keys to government in today’s state election.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk admitted as much during a brief stop in Toowoomba this week.
The visit was part of a whirlwind tour of regional seats that could come down to the wire.
Speaking at Laurel Bank Park alongside Toowoomba North candidate Kerry Shine, Ms Palaszczuk said she needed to win Toowoomba North to get a majority in parliament.
“Toowoomba North is going to be one of the key seats in this election.’’
Mr Shine lost the seat to the LNP’s Trevor Watts in the 2012 election tidal wave that kicked Anna Bligh’s government from power.
Mr Watts won by a huge margin of 9.58%.
Mr Shine campaigned again in 2015 and narrowed the gap, losing by a slim margin of 1.61%, meaning a handful of voters who change their mind today could hand the seat back to Mr Shine, and potentially deliver power to Ms Palaszczuk.
THERE were promises aplenty in the bid by both major parties to convince the voters of Toowoomba they would be best suited to govern for the next three years.
The ALP, led by Annastacia Palaszczuk, pledged $51.425 milion across the electorates of Toowoomba North and South.
The LNP, led by Tim Nicholls, has made promises totalling $25.102 million across both electorates.
The promises from both sides address a range of areas, from education to agriculture, tourism, crime, health, business and racing. LABOR PROMISES
180 more nurses for Toowoomba
$13.4 million for Toowoomba-Darling Downs racing industry over four years.
$2 million upgrade for Cancer Council’s Toowoomba lodge
$6 million for Ruthven and North intersection upgrade
Additional $10 million to complete Stage 3 Highfields State Secondary College
$2.8 million state-of-the-art
Highfields Police Station.
At least $10 million funding for TSHS refurbishment.
49 new police officers for the southern region.
$45,000 for delegation of Friends of the Quarry Gardens to visit Butchart Gardens, Vancouver.
$4m over three years for TAFE campus redevelopment and refurbishment in Toowoomba.
$3 million over five years
for the Toowoomba Hospice Association
LNP PROMISES
$1.5 million for Taste of Queensland campaign
$2.7m for Highfields police station
$300k for Newtown police beat
$1.5m for new hospital commission to design a master plan
$4.5 million to upgrade the Warrego Highway Withcott Controlled intersection
$3.5 million for Stage 2 of Highfields Sport and Recreation Park development
$17,000 for cultural and recreational upgrades in Toowoomba North
$450,000 Captain Cook Reserve lighting project.
$5 million for vital upgrades to North and Ruthven Streets.
$145,000 crime-prevention infrastructure for Toowoomba
$5.49m for a dedicated ice detox and rehab centre