Show us the budget money

THE Far North and our four Labor MPs will be expecting the Palaszczuk government to give generously in Tuesday’s State Budget.

After all, the electors gave Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk four seats, so it’s time we received our rewards.

Much of the big-ticket items of late have been provided by Cairns Regional Council and private enterprise.

Top of the list is funding for the $152 million Smithfield bypass promised in the election campaign and, if there are savings, the leftovers should be used to fix the northern approach to the city as well.

Secondly, the $120m dredging and associated works of Trinity Inlet must be funded and started this financial year.

No more dilly-dallying on this issue so we can get bigger cruise ships to dock in town instead of offshore.

The $176m convention centre expansion is on the list and will dovetail nicely with the port upgrades and the push for a Global Tourism Hub.

It would be nice for some cash for the Courthouse Hotel’s transformation into an art gallery.

Labor’s foundation is health, education and social issues so the youth crime problem needs to be tackled, plus extra school capital works and adequate funding for Cairns Hospital and other facilities such as the Mareeba Hospital.

Tourism is the lifeblood of the region so we need more cash to draw more airlines to the region, particularly Emirates, and also another big Asian player this year.

It’s time to deliver Labor so the region keeps on punching above its weight.