LNP vows to act on North’s woes
COSTINGS? YEAH, IT’S ALL GOOD
Voters were given just over a day to get their heads around how the parties were going to pay for their election promises. For three weeks, they had announced policies without detailing how they would pay for them or how they would address the state’s growing debt issue. That finally changed on Thursday afternoon. Labor announced it was going to introduce four new taxes — but nothing that would hit the hip pocket of ordinary Queenslanders. The LNP said it would all but scrap Cross River Rail, saving $ 2.5 billion to reallocate to other infrastructure projects. One Nation kept it nice and simple, releasing a statement with six lines about how it would make budget savings, including reallocating Cross River Rail funds and cutting the $ 1 billion renewal energy program.
HE SAID, SHE SAID
Traditionally, the leaders of the two major parties publicly debate each other at least once during the election campaign. But it didn’t happen this time, with “scheduling issues” blamed. So instead of Ms Palaszczuk going head- to- head with Mr Nicholls ( pictured), the only time they appeared together was during a people’s forum that also included One Nation’s Queensland leader Steve Dickson. The following week, Nicholls and Dickson appeared at another “leaders’ debate” with KAP’s Rob Katter in Townsville but without Palaszczuk, who was blitzing central Queensland.
GETTING AROUND
Voters in Central and North Queensland have had their fill of politicians this campaign. The Premier, with her media pack in tow, flew straight to Airlie Beach within hours of her calling the election on October 29. But it was a slower start for Team Nicholls, who had trouble sourcing a plane. They finally flew out of the southeast by the end of the first week. The pair have been zipping up and down the coast ever since. Pauline Hanson ( pictured) took a more down- to- earth approach, launching the Battler Bus — which lived up to its name by breaking down — in the second week of the campaign.
STAR POWER
It’s not unusual to bring in the big guns to jazz things up. Ms Palaszczuk had boxing world champion and Queensland hero Jeff Horn in her corner at Labor’s otherwise low- key launch. She also managed to be by Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston’s side ( pictured) when he was named as Queensland’s Australian of the Year nominee. Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten made an appearance or two as well. The LNP had to wait until the beginning of the final week to get a globetrotting Prime Minister involved. Malcolm Turnbull delivered a rousing speech to the campaign launch before heading to St Lucia to help shadow treasurer Scott Emerson. And then he was gone. Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce was tied up with his own by- election campaign, but he did make a visit to the Burdekin in support of Dale Last on Thursday. Campaigning old hands John Howard and Julie Bishop also made appearances. TOWNSVILLE voters have a clear choice when they head to the polls today, according to the LNP’s three candidates.
Mundingburra’s Matt Derlagen, Townsville’s Casie Scott and Thuringowa’s Nick Martinez said the region had suffered from record high unemployment and out- ofcontrol crime for too long under the Palaszczuk government.
Mr Derlagen said the North had been under- represented.
“We have a clear choice,” he said.
“We have had record youth unemployment in our city.
“You have a choice between a LNP government and ( then) a Labor government who has done nothing when it comes to crime causing havoc across our streets.”
He said the LNP would get on with the job and work and listen to Townsville.
Mr Martinez said the LNP would stand up for the regions.
“None of the Labor Party showed up at all ( to the Townsville Enterprise leaders debate),” he said.
“You’ve seen the ALP ditch the Adani loan, which is going to wreak havoc here in Townsville. You’ve seen the Labor Party turn a blind eye to the crime that’s just out of control and you’ve seen the Labor Party just do nothing when it comes to the infrastructure we need.”
Mr Martinez said the LNP would be tough on crime and domestic violence.
“We’re going to give police the resources they need to get the job done,” he said.
“We’re going to bring in stronger and tougher laws and we’re going to be putting more emphasis on parental responsibility.”
Ms Scott said an LNP government would implement solutions for Townsville’s problems.
“We’ve seen record high crime in Townsville,” she said.
“We’ve seen record high unemployment in Townsville.
“Only the LNP is offering positive solutions to these solutions.”
Ms Scott said only the LNP had the policies to make North Queensland thrive again.
“They ( Labor) have no track record to run on, that’s why they’re running on a campaign of fear and smear,” she said.
“Only Labor has the track record of cutting domestic violence services in North Queensland.
“I think that the answers are there for all to see. I would ask the people of North Queensland to have a serious think about what this do- nothing Labor government has done for them over the last three years. Only the LNP is serious and has serious solutions on the table to fix these problems.”
BREAKING NEWS @ TOWNSVILLEBULLETIN. COM. AU