Federal election 2022: Leichhardt candidate Rod Jensen proposes 27 ‘miniports’, Ootann Rd upgrade
Twenty-seven coastal “miniports” and a 90km stretch of inland road are being touted as the solution to less unethical cattle culls and building sustainable economies in the state’s north.
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May 12: Rod Jensen proposes 27 ‘miniports’, Ootann Rd upgrade
A LEICHHARDT candidate fresh off a Cape York tour has proposed a two-fold solution to the region’s stagnating economy saying a lack of road and sea transport infrastructure is locking up critical resources in the nation’s north.
Katter’s Australian Party candidate for Leichhardt, Rod Jensen is proposing to build 27 “miniports” along Queensland’s coast line from Cape York to Gladstone, which he says would release products that have previously been stranded in the regions by high logistic and transport costs.
Mr Jensen said this would allow farmers and miners to access global markets, generating “jobs and prosperity in regional communities.”
“Miniports would relieve congestion and maintenance costs on road and rail networks, and boost Australia’s defence and emergency response capabilities.”
“Accessing the full untapped potential of remote towns in the North is key to getting the regional economy on track and keep it robust into the future.”
He said miniports in the Cape York region would also help those communities become more economically sustainable.
“We know the mines have a limited time, so people are starting to think about the future. Miniports could open up access for tourism and give locals more opportunities with boats, fishing, diving and tour charters.”
Mr Jensen also said if elected, he would commit to ensuring the upgrade of 90km of Ootann Rd – a key freight route – which labelled as a “dirt track”.
“Ootann Rd is about getting cattle back into the Cape to begin with, opening up the industry so trucks are able to move more vibrantly through that area. Bringing the Cape to Mount Isa, opening that for the trucks.
“It is something that is open, but it’s a 90km stretch that needs to be looked after, at the moment B-doubles can’t go on it, if they do, they’re risking their trucks.
“In the last two years, they’ve dropped 5000 cattle, they’ve gone out there and shot it. But that cattle could’ve been rounded up, put on trucks and hauled out. It could’ve been jobs and industry, but we don’t have the infrastructure.
“The cattle is one piece of the pie. But with the ports, there are communities sitting on mineral and silicone deposits, and their ability to bring that out is non-existent.”
Mr Jensen said upgrades to road and sea infrastructure would also attract additional industries to the north beyond primary exports.
“When it costs hundreds of dollars to fly to these communities while it’s $150 to Sydney from Cairns … no one is interested. But I’m saying let’s get this infrastructure built not just for the cattle, but then it makes things like retail easier and adds prosperity.”
EARLIER: A COALITION pledge to connect Cooktown, Lockhart and Seisia to 5G mobile phone networks has copped a lashing from one Leichhardt contender.
Katter’s Australian Party candidate Rod Jensen said Cape York communities should not have to wait until elections to get basic infrastructure.
“The problems have been around for ever, so isn’t it interesting that as soon as an election arrives there’s money available to fix it,” he said.
Mr Jensen went further to say regional connectivity programs had failed to deliver regional upgrades when they were needed.
“The mayor of Lockhart River says they have been waiting 10 years for Telstra or the federal government to get off their backsides to propose a fix,” he said.
“The fact that communities in the Cape were waiting for years and years for basic reliable mobile and internet services tells you how well these so-called connectivity programs are working.”
The KAP candidate said he would campaign to set aside more funds for telecommunications infrastructure, rather than forcing residents to wait for Telstra to drag the chain.
“Reliable internet and mobile service is now accepted as a human right to ensure the full and equal participation of all people in the modern economy,” he said.
“We can’t let that responsibility fall to private entities like telcos.”
Leichhardt election preference whisperer’s plan for minor party coup
A DISILLUSIONED “hardcore green” activist has become Leichhardt’s unofficial preference whisperer as minor parties trade political horseflesh to topple the majors.
Rod Davis is a man of contradictions.
The passionate environmentalist used to chain himself to trees in the Daintree but now finds himself promoting right-wing candidates in the federal election.
He is prone to colourful language, speaks with the hyperactive zeal of a provocateur, and has established himself as a conduit between many of the minors in Far North Queensland.
The likes of One Nation (ONP), Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) and United Australia Party (UAP) are not his usual cup of tea, but they share a common trait.
Like the Informed Medical Options Party (IMOP), they are militant in their opposition to vaccine mandates, an issue that has thrown a curve ball to the nation’s biggest political race.
“I’m old left green – hardcore left green,” Mr Davis explained.
“I mean, I was (former Douglas shire mayor) Mike Berwick’s right-hand man in the Daintree s***fight.
“What the hell am I doing with a right-wing party?”
Mr Davis, who also runs luxury tours aboard the Bigkanu liveaboard charter trimaran in the idyllic Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua, has found himself fraternising with the enemy.
He has been buzzing between ONP, KAP, UAP and IMOP candidates and any others willing to make putting the majors last an overt hallmark of their campaign.
The United Australia Party is unquestionably on the right side of politics, but Mr Davis argued its stance against mandates made it more left than modern Labor, at least on that issue.
“We would never allow our unions to chuck out 10-15 per cent of employees (who were not vaccinated),” he said.
“We would not create a segregated society where people can’t go to a bar or a BBQ.
“Those are the actions of complete fascists.”
Experts have been torn on whether the mandates were effective, although state governments have insisted they were implemented based on the best health advice.
Right or wrong, the decisions have alienated a lot of voters.
Even LNP incumbent Warren Entsch slammed the measures at a debate last week.
Mr Davis believes the Greens could have boosted their primary vote by as much as 20 per cent if they had opposed mandates.
As it stands, he thinks the Greens vote will be throttled into inconsequence.
Anti-mandate candidates are now in cahoots to put the majors and pro-mandate Greens last, and to back each other at the top of the ballot.
Mr Davis acknowledged the plan could favour Labor if none of the minors managed to take out a top-two spot.
He thought prospect unpalatable, since state Labor governments were the most aggressively pro-mandate, but worth the risk.
“The ALP will still get preferences from the Greens and (Socialist Alliance candidate) Pat O’Shane,” he said.
“They’re not going to have their preference lines strangled, whereas Warren is.”
Voters are under no obligation to follow how-to-vote recommendations, and parties and candidates themselves have no direct say in how preferences are placed.
Surveys of elections in South Australia and Victoria in 2010 found fewer than half of voters followed how-to-votes down to a tee.
However, that still means a lot of votes going exactly where parties want them.
Candidates from KAP, ONP, UAP and IMOP – and potentially others – will hold a conjoined rally on the Cairns Esplanade on May 14 to plug their wares.
Previous anti-mandate rallies have attracted thousands of people.
“They will have their tents set up to share in an argument that puts forward their point of view,” Mr Davis said.
“Hopefully people will go and listen, make up their mind and head straight down to prepolling to cast their vote.”
Minor parties are ramping up their efforts in Leichhardt with Pauline Hanson in town this weekend and UAP’s Craig Kelly due on Monday.
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Originally published as Federal election 2022: Leichhardt candidate Rod Jensen proposes 27 ‘miniports’, Ootann Rd upgrade
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