A division of the Liberal Party of Australia
WELCOME to the September edition of my occasional Online Newsletter Northern Opinion Online
COALITION TARGETS FNQ
Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull led an array of senior coalition leaders to Far North Queensland in the 2 week Parliamentary recess.
In the one week, Malcolm visited for a range of consultations with Defence and Industry people and also attended an LNP social function.
In the same week, Shadow Treasurer, Joe Hockey had a round of engagements in Cairns including an Institute of Company Directors’ Lunch before moving on to Townsville for other appointments and a Chamber of Commerce lunch.
High profile Indigenous Affairs Shadow Minister, Tony Abbott was also in the Far North speaking with a range of indigenous leaders including Noel Pearson.
We are determined to win back Leichhardt at the next Federal Election and the regular visits by senior party figures are just part of this ongoing campaign.
State Opposition John-Paul Langbroek has also been to Cairns 5 times since his election as LNP State Leader.
ENTSCH FOR LEICHHARDT??
Whilst on matters FNQ, the local Cairns Post has run a story reporting on a rumour circulating that former, popular, high profile Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, may well be the party’s candidate in Leichhardt at the next election. Pre-selection of candidates for the party are, of course, a matter for local pre-selectors, but if Warren were interested it would certainly make our job of winning Leichhardt much easier.
The people of FNQ long for the days when their local member fought for them in the Federal Parliament and showed leadership and courage on all local issues. A stark contrast to the current Federal Incumbent who is simply making up numbers in the Labor Party Room.
A QUIZ…..
What is the name of a fabulous little town in Western Queensland with a population of about 1000 that boasts 4 hotels, 2 ‘gentlemen’s clubs’, 3 very significant manmade attractions and some world class unique mountain scenery.
See later for answer
CAIRNS AMATEURS – ANOTHER VICTIM OF LABOR?
The Cairns Amateurs has for decades been one of the high points on the Queensland social and racing calendar.
The city is ‘packed to the rafters’ with local, interstate and international visitors.
But the Sunday Mail recently questioned whether this could be the last Cairns Amateur Meeting.
The State Labor Government has been captured by bureaucratic and regulatory controls that are making it increasingly difficult for patrons to enjoy the spirit of the Carnival with ever restrictive alcohol, OH&S and Union type regulations. Nobody is quite sure what ills are trying to be cured by this burdening red tape.
This year’s Amateurs was again a rip-roaring success in spite of the State Government but organisers are concerned.
Whilst not particularly a racing fanatic, I always enjoy attending the Cairns Amateurs as it is one way to speak with all the community and business leaders of Far North Queensland, in one afternoon. Regrettably, elected parliamentarians in the Cairns area seem to have little interest in this major tourist attraction which is so important for small business and support industries in the far north. In the face of mounting concern by organisers and criticism by the public, local elected members have not raised a voice in support of this significant event.
One can only yearn for past years (and hopefully the future – see above story) when Warren Entsch showed real leadership in FNQ and refused to let bureaucratic stupidity impede the growth of the northern region.
OUTBACK WAY – WINTON TO LAVERTON
As co-chair of the Parliamentary Group Friends of the Outback Way I attended the opening of the first permanent office of the Outback Highway Council Incorporated in Alice Springs and the AGM of the Council in Winton.
Together with a number of Councillors from Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland, other politicians and supporters, I drove part of the Outback Way from the Alice to Boulia and then from Boulia on to Winton.
The Outback Way comprises some 2750 kilometres with about one-third of that distance currently bitumen sealed and the balance in varying states of gravel formation.
It is the goal of the Outback Highway Council to upgrade the highway to an all-weather trafficable condition by 2014 with sealing to take place over the next 10 – 20 years.
The Outback Way joins Perth to Townsville and Cairns and cuts approximately 1600 kilometres off the road trip between those 2 powerhouse regions of our nation.
The Outback Way is increasingly attracting international adventure tourists and will lessen the cost of transporting freight between the resource provinces in North West Australia and in the North West mineral province of Queensland.
As well, an upgrade of highway will have significant defence implications. Australia’s largest Army Base is in Townsville, the SAS is based in Perth, Darwin is significant to our Border Protection and our principal training facility for Afghanistan is not far north of Adelaide.
I was delighted that Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Peter Lindsay was able to join me in traversing part of the route and in demonstrating support for this major piece of Australian infrastructure.
And the answer is………..
WINTON, in central western Queensland boasts 4 Hotels, the Australian, the Tattersalls, the Winton and the North Gregory (famous for being the only hotel ever to be owned by a local Council with special State Legislation enabling!) in addition to the RSL Club and the Winton Club – which incidentally both accept women members! It was in the Winton Club that the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service (QANTAS) held its first board meeting back on 10th February 1921.
The Waltzing Matilda Centre is an emotive for those Australians (and isn’t that all of us?) who revere our unofficial National Anthem, Waltzing Matilda.
The Age of Dinosaur Centre will become the palaeontology capital of the world with its increasing research into dinosaur and the Lark Quarry home of the world’s only recorded fossilised dinosaur stampede is a ‘must see’ for anyone interested in the past. The geology around Winton is spectacular with prominent plateaus known locally as ‘jumpups’ breaking the otherwise rolling downs country of the Winton Region.
I had the pleasure of being with the Outback Highway Council when they were hosted to an ‘under the stars’ formal dinner on the jumpup at Rangelands Station just north of Winton and also was delighted to be part of an awe-inspiring tour of a jumpup with spectacular range, mountain and valley views over Carisbrooke Station just south of Winton.
For those who’ve ‘been everywhere’ I would recommend a trip along the Outback way and a visit to Winton to experience some uniquely spectacular sights.
EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME
It’s visiting places like Lark’s Quarry where scientists have now uncovered secrets of 95 million years ago when inland Australia was part of a much larger land mass of Gondwana land and when this area was covered first by rainforests and lush natural forests and later by an inland sea, that one realises the stupidity of some of the arguments surrounding the debate on the Emissions Trading Scheme.
No one denies that the world’s climate is changing – it’s been changing for 95 million years! And whilst scientific opinion varies on whether it is human activity that is causing the current change in our climate, what is clear is that Australia’s emissions alone are having practically negligible impact on what is happening around the world.
Suggestions that by voting down Rudd’s ill-conceived, poorly planned Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme we are destroying the Barrier Reef is just so ridiculous as to barely warrant comment. What Australia has to do is encourage the big emitters, the United States, China, India and Russia and our competitors in coal and primary products like Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina and Columbia to reduce their emissions.
Australia making an heroic statement leading the world and destroying our economy into the bargain is not going to make one iota of difference to the decisions made by other countries.
And the sooner Mr Rudd and Senator Wong accept the reality of this, the better off our country will be.
POOR ROCKHAMPTON
The closure of the cement Australia Plant at Rockhampton and the loss of 43 jobs in that city is a precursor to what will happen to central Queensland should Mr Rudd’s CPRS ever become law.
In announcing the closure, the owners attributed the closure to the global downturn, massively increased taxes of the Queensland Labor Government and uncertainty over Mr Rudd’s CPRS.
Central Queensland, more than any other region of Australia, will suffer mightily if the CPRS should ever become law.
AND ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
The passing of the Renewable Energy Target Legislation in the Federal Parliament with amendments insisted upon by the Liberal and National Parties has given the green light to Mackay Sugar’s Cogeneration Project converting waste sugar cane material into electricity. The Cogeneration Project will supply all of the Mill’s needs for the future and will contribute into the grid some 35% of the total electricity consumption in the city of Mackay.
Some Politicians were opposed to the RET Scheme but clearly the cane farming industry and the people of Mackay will be serious beneficiaries of the Renewable Energy Targets proposed by Malcolm Turnbull prior to the last Federal Election.
LET ME KNOW
If there are issues you believe the Federal Opposition should be investigating, please do not hesitate to drop me a note.
As a Senator, the whole of the State is my constituency, and I am happy to help in any way possible.
I also welcome your feedback, positive or negative, on any of the issues raised in this online newsletter.
Ian Macdonald
Liberal Senator for Queensland
Opposition Spokesman on Northern Australia.