Coalition warms to port case

SUPPORT is growing for the Federal Government to fund a share of the vital Port of Townsville channel widening.

The kicked off the Support Our Port campaign last month, pointing out the project was shovel ready, would provide 120 jobs and would generate millions of dollars for the North Queensland economy.

If elected, Federal Labor has agreed to throw in $ 75 million needed to start the project and the LNP candidate for Herbert, Phillip Thompson, has written to the Prime Minister to ask for his support.

The region’s resolve was strengthened last week when Dawson MP George Christensen said the time was right to fund the upgrade.

It’s not just a project that will benefit Townsville. It’s a project that will benefit North Queensland as a whole. That was evidenced by today’s story in which Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone Inc, added its voice to the growing chorus of support calling for the Federal Government to redivert funding allocated for the proposed Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor ( TEARC).

That’s not to say that TEARC shouldn’t go ahead but that if it isn’t likely to proceed at this time, it’s essential that funding be used elsewhere.

FOR once, Queensland’s richest man is on the opposite end of a defamation suit.

Clive Palmer, who took action against Townsville City Council Mayor Jenny Hill for allegedly defamatory comments and last month threatened Member for Herbert Cathy O’Toole with similar action, is now himself being sued for comments he’s made about the liquidators of Queensland Nickel Pty Ltd.

Mr Palmer says the truth about the liquidators’ actions will ultimately come out in court but the liquidators will say Mr Palmer has misrepresented them.

The people of Townsville will watch on and wonder whether it’s possible Mr Palmer will ever, as promised, get the Yabulu refinery back up and running.