Palm ‘ gutted’ by move to Hinchinbrook

PALM Island Mayor Alf Lacey says residents are gutted after a electorate redistribution which has put the community in the seat of Hinchinbrook.

Townsville Labor MP Scott Stewart currently represents the island community but under changes recommended by the Queensland Redistribution Commission they would vote in the seat held by LNP MP Andrew Cripps.

Cr Lacey ( pictured) said the island had been surprised by the decision and would make a submission calling for Townsville’s boundary to remain.

“The preferred models for Palm Island in terms of electoral representation would be to stay in the seat of Townsville,” he said. “We are gutted. Our social ties are stronger with the city, our ferries and planes travel there and back and that’s the regional hub.

“Palm Island will always be a friend of Townsville and we put money into their economy.”

Cr Lacey said he would make a strong case to have the move reconsidered. “The current arrangement puts us in a position where we are out of sight, out of mind and we don’t want to be that,” he said.

Mr Cripps described some of the recommendations for his Hinchinbrook electorate as curious and impractical.

“The commission seems to have totally ignored well established transport and service links between the Palm Island community and Townsville,” he said. “The concept of communities of interest are supposed to be considered.

“I will be ... giving consideration to a submission to the redistribution commission.”

Mr Cripps said it was also impractical to remove the Cassowary Coast region from his electorate given its ties to the Herbert River district.

Editorial: page 40