Community & Business
7 August, 2024
Frustration voiced to LNP
MAREEBA district business owners and farmers have enlisted the support of LNP Candidate for Cook David Kempton and Coalition Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald to urgently solve a host of issues during a special meeting last Wednesday.
Mr Kempton joined Senator McDonald, LNP Senator for Queensland based in Townsville, to host the lunch gathering during a tour of Mossman, Julatten and Mareeba.
About 30 people attended the Gateway Hotel to express frustration with the State Government’s dithering on the Kuranda Range Road, the Barron River Bridge, heavy transport routes, business regulations and service provision in regional Queensland.
Mr Kempton described the Kuranda Range and bridge debacles as more evidence of the State Government focusing on South-East Queensland at the expense of the north.
“For the State Government to announce money for yet another Kuranda Range study is ridiculous,” he said.
“Labor has known about the issues for decades and there has been no action, no work and no solution.
“The message I am giving to people is that to change the current situation and improve the outlook for our region you have to change the government.”
Senator McDonald, a regular visitor to the Mareeba region, said Far North Queensland had been held back by a lack of effective planning.
“Development in the state seat of Cook and the federal seat of Kennedy has been disjointed and suffered from years of no cohesive strategy being taken to Brisbane and Canberra,” she said.
“This area is one of Australia’s most important primary production centres but farmers, graziers, miners and fishers have complained for too long about roads, water security, employment laws, housing and thoughtless regulation.
“These issues can be solved but we need fresh ideas and strong, effective representation to governments.”
