Shorten’s promises adding up

LABOR seems to be just one step ahead of the Coalition each time it comes to ticking something off the North Queensland wish list.

Again today, with the third big ticket announcement in two weeks, the Opposition will make a major funding announcement with leader Bill Shorten promising to invest $100 million to upgrade the crucial Mount Isa to Townsville rail line.

Townsville’s economic future — plus the ongoing prosperity of all the towns to our west — are dependent on the future of that line. Of course, any real improvements to service and cost of service need to be done hand-in-hand with the Queensland Government, but Herbert MP Cathy O’toole is on-song with Townsville’s pressing needs and is managing to convince Mr Shorten to open the purse strings.

In contrast, the Coalition is playing catch-up, announcing that it would also fund Townsville’s premier defence support hub to the tune of $5 million, a month after Ms O’toole announced Labor’s pledge for $4.1 million.

The Coalition’s position on motorsport facility Driveit, Reef HQ and the Mount Isa to Townsville rail line still hasn’t been made clear.

There is a lot more to this election than just the big-ticket items. The issue of Adani and mining in the Galilee will just not leave either side of politics alone.

The latest polling reveals that’s biting the hardest for Ms O’toole who, despite making her own position clear, is being punished for her party’s mixed messaging on the coal industry.

People’s views on each party’s economic policies should not be underestimated either and, in particular, Labor’s changes to negative gearing, franking credits and capital gains taxes are hugely divisive. But there is a long way to go in this election race and let’s be honest, today, there are few things we’ll all be talking about more than the fact

Cowboys’ machine Jason Taumalolo could be back on the field this Friday night.