North Queensland separate state survey results against breakaway but vote Cairns as capital

A nationwide survey asking whether North Queensland should become a separate state and which city would be the capital has delivered surprising results.

Cairns has been voted by Australians as the ideal capital of North Queensland, should it ever become a separate state, in a poll which opted against the overall breakaway.

The Institute of Public Affairs undertook a national survey, questioning 1001 respondents on “attitudes towards statehood for Northern Queensland.”

Three questions were posed to participants with the first being: Should North Queensland should become its own state?

Contrary to recent commentary, only 19 per cent of Australians agreed on the new state movement, 27 per cent were indifferent and 54 per cent disagreed.

A map of North Queensland and its associated states and territories.

Interestingly, when asked if they believed northern Australia would become even more important to the country’s economic future and defence systems, the results showed 60 per cent agreed, eight per cent did not and 32 per cent felt neither.

However, the most surprising data arose from the question: what do you believe should be the capital city.

Dethroning the “unofficial capital” of North Queensland, Cairns won the race with 58 per cent of respondents electing the city regarded as the closest neighbour to the Pacific, operating aneffective international airport and a vibrant tourism industry as their capital.

Townsville received 32 per cent of the vote, followed by seven per cent for Rockhampton and three per cent for Mount Isa.

Townsville at sunset - still not as nice or popular as Cairns.

IPA deputy executive director Daniel Wild said while Cairns was the clear favourite, there was a long way to go for Northern Queensland statehood.

“This is a key lesson for our leaders to consider when developing defence policies those that affect the north’s key industries, particularly its agriculture and resources sectors. We need to back the region to keep delivering for Australia as it has done for decades,” he said.

Cairns MP Michael Healy agreed the city “would be the best place” for a capital, but noted “we’re the most over-governed state in the world” suggesting a “long-term” outlook of abolishing state governments, increasing regional councils and placing representatives from those local administrations in the federal senate.

Cairns was voted as the preferred capital of North Queensland, should the state break away. Who can blame them? PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Section 124 of the Australian Constitution allows for the separation of a territory from a state, but any move would need the approval of the both the Queensland and federal parliaments.

In May Mount Isa-based Traeger MP Robbie Katter moved a motion in state parliament attempting to cut ties with the south and last month federal senator for Queensland, Rockhampton’s Matt Canavan also rehashed similar calls for the creation of the seventh state.

Data for the poll was collected by independent research firm Dynata between September 7-8.

Originally published as North Queensland separate state survey results against breakaway but vote Cairns as capital