Upper house, not big split, best fix for regions’ representation

THE flexing of regional Queensland’s muscles at the federal election, and the barely concealed panic of the State Government as a result, only reinforces the longstanding frustration of the people of regional Queensland being treated as secondclass citizens by the Seq-dominated parliament and administration, particularly while SEQ relies heavily on the wealth generated in the regions.

For over 120 years some Queenslanders have been calling for a separate state of North Queensland but while this is emotionally fully understandable, particularly in light of the current attack on farmers, it is simply not practical or cost-effective. Imagine the logistics and cost of setting up a whole new parliamentary system based in NQ, new legislation, government departments and service administration (for existing services) not to mention a lot more politicians and public servants. A hard sell indeed.

Besides, it is all of regional Queensland that suffers the effects of the dominating and self-focused SEQ, not just the north, and perhaps there is a simpler, cost-effective way to ensure regional Queenslanders get their proper say in the legislation and decision-making of state government. That is to reintroduce an upper house of parliament, whose membership consists of a majority of representatives from outside SEQ. A house of review to ensure fairness and proper consideration of Queenslanders’ concerns.

Upper houses of parliament are not bound by the one-vote one-value rule: that is a requirement in the lower house where government is formed. The Australian Senate, for instance, has an equal number of senators from each state regardless of population, which was designed to ensure smaller states don’t get overruled or ignored by the large ones.

The same principle can apply to an regional upper house in Queensland. It would not require any significant new facilities, no change to the existing administration of government, departments and service delivery, and only a small number of extra politicians and public servants.

The catch 22 is that this can only be done by a referendum of all Queensland voters, and 75 per cent of them live in SEQ.

STEPHEN WALLACE,

North Mackay.