Election is a cash call
AS our wallets recover from the race that stops a nation, our household budgets are watching closely the race that hopefully turbo-boosts our region. Electioneering in the Far North has been robust and if you didn’t realise it already, we’re going to be pivotal in the November 25 poll. Leaders of the major parties have already been here – Annastacia Palaszczuk dodging protesters and Tim Nicholls diving into aquarium tanks – and unless there are more breakdowns along the way, Pauline Hanson’s battler bus will be spluttering and spitting into town in the near future. Today we reveal the results of our exclusive Galaxy Poll for the seat of Cairns, which highlights how close this race is going to be. Support for Labor has dipped predictably since the 2015 election since their man, Rob Pyne, decided to go it alone but his voters’ preferences should push Labor candidate Michael Healy across the line.
What is very clear is that both Labor and Liberal are feeling the effect of One Nation in the Far North.
With One Nation receiving 13 per cent in the poll, the Greens 7 per cent and Mr Pyne 11 per cent, collectively they hold 31 per cent of the primary vote and highlight just how disenfranchised voters are with the two major parties.
That’s despite the frequent visits and some sound announcements.
Brisbane politicians know the importance of the regions thanks to heavy media campaigning over the past few years but their messages aren’t winning over everyone.
Many are simply not listening or don’t buy it, which begs the questions — why not and what do they have to do to win back trust?
1. The cost of living: People in the North love living here but why does it have to cost a motser? Fuel, food, electricity and insurance. It’s the exorbitant cost of paradise.
2. Jobs: Tourism is a major and important part of the economy but construction is what drives it. There should be a focus on stimulus in a number of areas to keep bringing down unemployment, and growing Cairns.
3. Environment: We love our environment and it must be respected and preserved but even if every member of this community shunned electricity, only allowed rowboats in Trinity Inlet and rode bicycles from tomorrow we couldn’t save the planet on our own. Sensible and sustainable policies please.
4. Safe and secure: Target dangerous crocodiles and focus on punishment fitting the crime. We deserve to feel safe.
5. Why the agony?: Why do we have to wait for elections to get commitments for action or funding when they could have been signed off on months and years earlier? There is no time to waste.
THE NORTH IS INUNDATED BY POLITICIANS LOOKING TO WIN OUR VOTES WITH THEIR BIG-SPENDING PLANS AND PROMISES. BUT WHY MUST WE ALWAYS WAIT UNTIL A POLL TO GET COMMITMENTS FOR ACTION OR FUNDING? THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE