LABOR’S THIRST FOR LEICHHARDT IS STRONG

AFEDERAL election win by Labor offers up an interesting future for the Far North. It will mean a “red wash” in the state seats of Mulgrave, Cairns, Barron River, Cook and the federal seat of Leichhardt.

You would presume that bodes well for the Far North. With the LNP’s grasp firmly held by Warren Entsch for eons the prospect of toppling the warhorse in a bellwether seat must be tantalising for the ALP. Win Leichhardt and the odds have Anthony Albanese showing Scott Morrison out the back door of the Lodge on Saturday night.

Labor has pulled out all the stops this campaign in Leichhardt against the backdrop of Albanese’s big blunders – he hasn’t found it particularly easy to remember his own policies or be abreast of key numbers.

They’ve announced big on big issues that matter to Cairns - Cairns Water Security Project, CQUniversity campus, Kuranda Range Rd, JCU placements for our uni hospital plan and Cairns’ maritime precinct.

Today the deputy Premier Steven Miles will announce the state government will match federal Labor’s $150m marine precinct pledge.

It’s contingent on Labor winning the election but it does mean there is bipartisan support for the project which is excellent for Cairns.

The state has been slow to act on masterplans, business plans and actual building of major projects in our region including this one but amazingly has now found the cash.

Can we also expect the state to stop dragging the chain soon on its missing piece of the Cairns University Hospital project – finally publishing its preliminary business case for the Cairns Health Innovation Centre (CHIC)?

Having representatives in both state and federal governments is a win for a region but doesn’t excuse years of stonewalling and excuses.

Jennifer Spilsbury

Editor