FNQ leaders reveal what Katter and Entsch need to fix in their communities
From housing to health, connectivity to tourism, education to cost of living, FNQ business and community leaders reveal the solutions they want Warren Entsch and Bob Katter to deliver.
Cairns
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AFFORDABLE and accessible housing, healthcare, cost of living, reducing crime and boosting business are among the key issues community and business across FNQ want their federal MP Bob Katter or Warren Entsch and Senator Nita Green to achieve on their behalf in the first 100 days of the new government.
These comments came ahead of the Queensland Ministers and MPs meeting on May 30 with a group of committed FNQ locals in Cairns, as part of a new round of Regional Community Forums and co-chaired by Member for Cairns Michael Healy, Member for Cook Cynthia Lui and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt.
Mr Entsch said his priorities were the CQ University project and the Cairns water security project which received bipartisan support.
“I’ll be working with them to make sure they are delivered without delay,” Mr Entsch said.
“When I find out who the ministers are I want to sit and talk to them.”
Mr Entsch said although the Weipa Bowls Club all-weather cover project wasn’t matched by Labor, he would definitely be talking to the relevant ministers to get that on track.
But he said $210m towards the Kuranda Range was not necessary.
“That amount is not going to be needed in any shape of form,” he said.
“What they need to do is take a bit out of that $210m and do something to identify an alternative route.
“There needs to be a business case, engineering and costings to have that work done for 2024 then both sides can consider putting money in.”
Meanwhile Labor Senator Nita Green said the ALP would follow through with their promises and wanted to see the Indigenous housing commitment promised by Mr Entsch in 2019 in the Cape and Torres Strait delivered.
“I will be starting with some things I am sure Warren will get behind because he promised them himself,” she said.
“CQ University is my next priority.”
Mr Katter said his priority was water and transportation infrastructure.
“I will be going full-throttle on the Bridle Track Tunnel Highway and will be seeking meetings with the Minister once parliament resumes,” he said.
“I will be seeking a meeting with interested parties on the Atherton Tableland to build a corporation to build the North Johnson Transfer.
“It will nearly double the current irrigation water available and I want to negotiate some of that water to MSF Sugar on condition that the farmers get $4 a tonne for their electricity.”
The results FNQ wants from Bob Katter and Warren Entsch
Michael Kerr Mayor and Chair FNQ Regional Organisation of Councils
“The FNQROC Mayors would like to see both members building relationships with the new government and progressing commitments made during election campaigns," he said.
‘In particular we’d like to see some of the $210m on Kuranda Range road committed to identifying an alternative solution to industry efficiency and capacity for the corridor, for example the multiple options put forward to date.”
Joe Moro president FNQ Growers – President and Mareeba Chamber of Commerce
“We’d like Bob to work with the new government to see if we get on the agenda a few important issues,” he said.
“One is to look at the health issue for Mareeba in regards to getting more GPs into the community.
“We are hoping Bob can work with the Labor government to work out what is the best way to improve the efficiency between Mareeba and Cairns or alterative routes and an upgrade to the Kuranda range.
“ I think the ongoing improvement of mobile coverage is needed for the Far North to help farmers.”
Patricia O’Neill Chief executive Cairns Chamber of Commerce
“We want to see some active pressure put on the current government to ensure the pre-election promises are delivered upon, mainly the CQ university campus as we need shovels in the ground for that as that is going to have significant impact on retailers and springboard residential unit development to cater for the 4000 students,” she said.
“Plus some ink on paper in terms of water security project where there was a commitment of $107m”.
Nick Trompf Chairman Advance Cairns
“There are several of Labor Party's key promises including JCU, the new university campus for CQ, the water project, all bipartisan,” he said.
“I would imagine Warren would continue to champion those projects, given he’s been there so long and has a range of contacts across party lines.
“We hope as he has in the past he works those relationships to get the best outcome for his electorate.”
Denis McKinley Mareeba Crime spokesman
“At the end of the day Mr Katter has been running this show for 30 years and I have a real concern that in the 30 years the single lane surface on our major highway in his electorate is in very bad condition,” he said.
“The other thing is that road from Almaden to Mount Garnet Highway needs to have a docking station, where we can bring big trucks in from down south.“
Evan Martin Acting Operations Manager, Anglicare Cairns
“Anglicare is looking forward to working with Mr. Entsch in relation to the two big ticket items, the urgent need for social and affordable housing and the need to focus on income and living costs,” he said.
“Our recent Rental Affordability Snapshot clearly demonstrated the depth of this crisis, and with the cost of living increasing daily more and more individuals/families are struggling to make ends meet.”
Mayor Mark Nolan, Cassowary Coast
“Our region is facing a significant challenge in the face of the rising cost of living and availability of social housing,” he said,
“And the effects on securing workers to the region are a key concern as we currently support a nationally significant food production industry as the home to about 80 per cent of Australia’s bananas, a significant sugar producer and a premier grower of tropical fruits and vegetables, cattle and fisheries.
Suzanne Andrews chief executive, Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
“Mr Katter recently met with us and key issues discussed included the ongoing third world telecommunications service and link from Yarrabah to the outside world, chronic overcrowding in Yarrabah housing and the collapse of the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund,” she said.
Dr Jason King, Director of Clinical Service, Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
“What price do we place upon patient safety and care? The current third world telecommunications situation in Yarrabah severely compromises the delivery of patient services,” he said.
“In one week alone, prior to the Federal Election, our Health Service suffered 5 Code Browns, due to a failing telecommunications system that compromised our service.”
Mayor Wayne Butcher, Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council –
“We need help with reliable mobile coverage and more Indigenous housing, because overcrowding will always make health and education struggle,” he said.
“But I don’t have much faith in Warren Entsch coming through for us, he is well aware of the mobile problems here but nothing happened in the nine years his party was in power.
“Now Mr Entsch is in the position, I am not sure how much change he can influence, I feel it is pretty low.”
Christine Reghenzani OAM, PhD, State Vice President Northern Region, Queensland Country Women’s Association
“While the Association is apolitical, we are political in the sense that we lobby the government of the day, the opposition and independents on issues affected women and their families,” she said.
“The top three issues from a federal perspective that we will be lobbying are, Aged Care staff ratio with a permanent staff not a casualised staff, child care, early learning should be part of the school system and Health, the lack of GPs in regional, rural and remote areas, obstetric services being reduced in regional, rural and remote areas and ambulance ramping is of concern.”
David Monaghan Executive officer, Vinnies FNQ
“We call on Mr Katter and Mr Entsch to stand up for FNQ as we need more social and affordable housing stock,” he said.
“Additional support for FNQ residents struggling to afford rising rent costs, increased funding for local Aboriginal organisations to help meet targets outlined in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.”
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