General News
6 July, 2020
Independent puts her hand up for Cook
Cairns resident Yodie Batzke has announced that she will be running as an independent against Labor incumbent Cynthia Cook come poll time.
Another candidate has put their name up to run for the seat of Cook in the upcoming October state elections.
Cairns resident Yodie Batzke has announced that she will be running as an independent against Labor incumbent Cynthia Lui come poll time.
Ms Batzke first came to the attention of Far North voters when she ran as an independent for the federal seat of Leichhardt in the 2010 federal election.
Ms Batzke also ran as a Division 4 candidate in the 2020 Cairns council elections and also as a senate candidate for Clive Palmers United Australia Party in the 2019 federal election.
Ms Batzke says she has family ties to Torres Strait and Cape York and is a Traditional Owner from the Wuthati tribe on Cape York.
“I was part of the traditional owner group that was involved with native title and I’ve always had a desire to run for the seat of Cook,“ she said
“Cook is where my heart is, this is my backyard. It’s always been a passion of mine, to see community needs being met.”
“As an independent, I see it as important that we have a seat at the table, we have so much on offer here, but we are always left behind.
Even though she has had several shots at running for government in Cairns, Ms Batzke claims that after being brought up on Thursday Island she is passionate about issues facing the residents in Cook.
“One of the key issues facing Cook at the moment is water security from the provision of water, to infrastructure, to farmers needs and water quality; they all need to be addressed," she said
“There is a lot of untapped potential in Cook that needs to be championed and we need to have a representative at the table that is not going to be bullied by party politics."
Ms Batzke says that if she was voted in she would base here self with an office in Mareeba.
“It’s a no brainer considering that for a lot of cape communities, Mareeba is the first point of call.”
“The only time people from the cape or TI come to Cairns is for health or family reasons, they come to Mareeba for shopping or services.
“I firmly believe that the office should be relocated back into Mareeba.”
