Separatist rues apathy
A MAN pushing for a referendum to determine whether North Queensland should become a separate state is disappointed regional leaders did not back the idea.
Cairns man Bill Bates will continue his efforts despite his six- month lobby to the State Government closing on December 15 with just 629 signatures.
“I am disappointed in the fact that it never got picked up by our regional leadership – those who I would have hoped would lend their support to it,” Mr Bates said.
“I emailed a lot of regional leaders, in the sugar cane industry, dairy industry and fruit and vegetable industry. “I’ve tried to keep it separate from the political sphere to make it something the public want, rather than a party push.”
The poor result has not deterred Mr Bates who, after travelling 8000km and speaking to 19 regional newspapers, believes it does not reflect the attitudes of North Queenslanders.
“I’m just an ordinary person off the street, I’ve got no influence,” he said.
“I think the most heartening thing was that after the election there was a lot more vocalisation of people saying we need a new state.”
He now plans to relaunch the campaign in 2018, this time taking up a digital strategy. “Over the next three or four months, I, along with some others, will develop the website and Facebook page and, if we can, will raise a small army in central and northern Queensland to relaunch an effort by June 2018,” he said.
“The petition is simply aimed at getting a referendum.
“That’s it – we’re just trying to get the people of central and North Queensland to vote on the proposition of forming a new state.”
Katter’s Australian Party state leader Robbie Katter said the existing geographic political bias had denied the opportunity for the proper development of North Queensland.
“This will continue unless we radically change the way this area is governed,” he said.
“After the last redistribution we have less representation in this area and this seems certain to continue in the future. “Money always goes where the votes are and plainly the votes aren’t in North Queensland.”