Snubbing the North not wise

IN A worrying move by the Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, the position of Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, which was previously held by Mundingburra MP Coralee O’Rourke, has been scrapped.

While we welcome Ms O’Rourke expanding her role to take on Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, the lack of representation from outside southeast Queensland on the Premier’s Cabinet is alarming.

Apart from Ms O’Rourke, only Craig Crawford, Barron River MP, gets the nod as Fire and Emergency Services Minister. The far north’s Curtis Pitt, who contradicted the Premier during her Adani NAIF loan U- turn, has been dumped out of the Cabinet as Treasurer.

The move doesn’t bode well for regional Queensland.

THERE are more than 200,000 bats terrorising Charters Towers residents and that nothing has been done by the authorities is disgraceful.

Last week the John Andersen shared the story of Cyril King, a 60- yearold cancer sufferer who can’t sleep because of the noise and can’t spend time outside because of bat urine and faeces.

Two- year- old Alex can’t play in his own yard, while his dad Nathan says he can’t even hang out the washing. Their ordeal is shared by many families living in the town. The tennis courts are wrecked and the bowls club fears total ruin.

Two parks and a swimming pool have been closed indefinitely.

Now today we hear of 70- year- old Annie Wiltshire who has bat lice and has been bitten by a tick while just trying to keep her yard tidy.

It’s bad enough these bats are ruining people’s way of life, forcing them indoors and to close their windows to keep out the stench. But that it’s now a health risk for residents is beyond belief.

Human life needs to be put ahead of bats and these residents need action from government to end this suffering.