No show at debate insolent

IT WAS disappointing enough that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk refused to come to a North Queensland leaders’ debate, but the last- minute decision of the three sitting Labor candidates to pull out was frankly disrespectful.

This debate, organised by Townsville Enterprise in partnership with the

was held to give the leader of each party the opportunity to tell local voters what, if elected, they would do for the North.

Following the Sky News debate in Brisbane, where the majority of the audience was against Adani mining in the Galilee Basin, this debate was also an opportunity for those in attendance to send a clear message that the majority in the North support the Carmichael project.

It was the opportunity to discuss power prices, rail, crime and the growing gap between northern and southern infrastructure and priorities. These are all matters on which the voting public and the parties have differing views.

The debate was a ticketed event but streamed live for all to watch. The Premier was given ample time to prepare to come to the event but she chose not to.

The Labor members organised tickets to attend and each issued last- minute apologies, claiming their time was better spent doorknocking the community.

We hope they weren’t knocking on too many doors before 9am, when the breakfast event was held.

Townsville Enterprise representatives rightly reminded the audience that the organisation had enjoyed a good working relationship with Labor and it would want that relationship to continue.

The organisation was respectful and philosophical about the party’s decision not to turn up. However, it would be remiss of the

not to challenge that decision. It’s not out of pettiness that the paper has taken Labor to task on this no- show. It’s simply for the fact, questions needed to be answered and the debate was not balanced without their presence – that’s not something that sits well with us.