Two of our three MPS to sidestep parliament

TWO North Queensland politicians will skip federal parliament next week as a mandatory self-quarantine is introduced while another has vowed to be the voice of the north.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson and senator Susan McDonald have opted to stay in Townsville as the situation south of the border worsens.

But senator Nita Green, who is based in Cairns, has decided to go and spend the two weeks’ quarantine at home when she returns.

Mr Thompson said he made the decision to pull out of travelling before Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young made it mandatory to quarantine.

“I won’t be putting the people of Townsville at any undue risk,” he said.

Mr Thompson said since he initially announced he would go to parliament last month, the situation south of the border had worsened.

For Senator Mcdonald, a trip to Canberra and two weeks’ quarantine would take her out of action for too long.

“The requirement to quarantine for an additional two weeks on return would mean a whole month of not being on the ground helping people with the many extra issues arising during this COVID-19 pandemic,” she wrote on Facebook. “Being in the regions and alerting ministers to problems is the best way I can serve people at this time.”

Senator Green said: “I think it is incredibly important when parliament does sit, we have people from across the country there, particularly from our regions, to make sure important decisions being made have the voice of regional Queenslanders included in them.”