Work out regional strategies

TOWNSVILLE Chamber of Commerce board member Michael Kopittke raises a fair point when he suggests the State Government needs to look at the Northern Territory’s relocation drive and implement something similar.

He points out Townsville is at risk of losing out to Darwin if the Queensland Government doesn’t cough up cash to encourage people to move north.

The latest population statistics paint a concerning picture for Townsville, which recorded a negative net migration in 2016- 17.

One of the best things about Queensland is so much of its population lives out of the southeast corner. Our regions are still strong, though we are battling to maintain that.

Already our political influence is eroded by a city- centric majority in both Brisbane and Canberra and on a daily basis parents farewell their youngsters who are forced to move south in search of a job.

The NT has realised it has a similar problem and has developed an incentive scheme – Welcome to the Territory – to try to attract people to the Top End.

The strategy includes incentives of up to $ 15,000 to encourage people to make the move.

Regional New South Welshmen bitterly lament that NSW stands for Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong.

The only way for regional Queensland to maintain its population spread so that the southeast doesn’t just melt into one big congested Brisbane suburb is for our regional cities to grow.

A stronger Queensland needs a strong Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Toowoomba to name but a few.

It will allow for infrastructure to be built in these cities as population demands it while easing the burden on the already overcrowded south.

That requires government departments to move out of capital cities. Strategies, like that of the NT, to encourage people to make the move.

Jobs, infrastructure and liveability in the regions are essentials.