Newman stands by his plan
SENATE hopeful Campbell Newman has no plans to separate himself from his disastrous 2015 state election loss.
In fact, the former Queensland premier backs the decisions he made, saying he still stands by his policies of low taxation, a balanced budget and an efficient public service.
When the LNP lost the 2015 election to Labor, with it went the three Townsville-based seats held by David Crisafulli, Sam Cox and John Hathaway, amid fears Mr Newman’s policies and cuts would damage the North.
Disillusioned by the LNP on a state and federal level, Mr Newman jumped ship last year and recently joined the Liberal
Democrats. Mr Newman said he became more disappointed in LNP state leader David Crisafulli and Prime Minister Scott Morrison through the pandemic, believing neither did enough to call out inconstant and overreaching policies.
“I think the whole national cabinet has been a terrible disaster because we’ve got all the states doing different things,” Mr Newman said.
“He’s (Morrison) shown no leadership and he hasn’t stood up and said ‘look, have to have consistent, clear, simple, straightforward rules that are the same across Australia’.”
Mr Newman was in Townsville on Wednesday as part of a regional tour to meet with businesses, advocates and regional leaders.
He said the key issues he believed needed to be addressed were youth crime, insurance, and the Bruce Highway.
“I’ve had seven years of the Labor Party continuing to use me in election campaigns,” Mr Newman said. “The fact is though, when I was in office … best surgical waiting times in the nation, no ambulance ramping in any meaningful way when we left and crime was down 15-20 per cent.
“I say to the people of Townsville, if I had continued to be premier, you wouldn’t have this problem today (with) youth crime. I would have dealt with it. If you don’t like Campbell Newman, the least you can say is that I get things done.”
While crime doesn’t fall under the purview of the federal government, Mr Newman said: “Who is standing up for Queensland?”
The Senate candidate said while it was a state issue, he would “have a go” at the state administration and continue to speak up about issues that were affecting people.
Mr Newman added that when he was premier, he had a 10-year plan to upgrade the Bruce Highway, which he felt had been left behind.
“I’d like to really see federal and state funds (for the highway), and a renewed push to get that sorted all the way through to Townsville and up to Cairns,” he said.
Mr Newman also said irrigation schemes and dams would be a key priority.
“There are a number of proposals out there that are important for the resources sector and agriculture, and one of the big things that has … seen me leave the Coalition is their failure to deliver.
“Nine years ago Tony Abbott promised dams and irrigation schemes … (there are) no dams, no irrigation schemes, just money for studies. The federal Environment Act is a big blocker; it stops projects being built.”
Mr Newman said that he wanted to be involved in politics again to “put the blowtorch” to both levels of government to deliver on promises.
“I want to be a senator for Queensland and the economic prospects and growth, and the potential for Queensland will come basically from things that we do north from Gladstone,” he said,
“That is really where our longterm future of Queensland is, so I am passionate about trying to help this community and other regional cities.”