Editorial: Secession no antidote to north Queensland’s woes

NORTH Queensland politicians are agitating for a split from the south over claims they are treated like poorer cousins, but a new state is unlikely to be the answer.

Secession no cure to north’s woes

THE vexed question of north Queensland becoming a separate state has been debated since before federation. In 1852, founding father John Dunmore Lang was one of the first people to propose the colony of Queensland be divided into three states.

Others since have backed similar motions of secession from the south, including late-19th-century sugar farmers intent on keeping their indentured Kanaka labour, and politicians of all persuasions. In 1897, a late-night secession Bill was passed in a sparse, but deadlocked, house by the Speaker’s vote. It was overturned the next day when the absent members voiced their displeasure.

CAGE FIGHT: North Queensland, it’s time for your own state

In recent times, as was so passionately demonstrated on Friday night, the main battleground between north and south is at Lang Park, the hallowed ground named in honour of John Dunmore Lang himself.

Yet now a group of north Queensland politicians are stoking the fires of a fresh fight, agitating to split from the south over claims they are treated like poorer cousins entitled to a bigger share.

In a modern deadlocked house, Katter’s Australian Party crossbenchers Shane Knuth and Robbie Katter, together with renegade Labor MPs Rob Pyne and Billy Gordon, have engaged in a game of brinkmanship with the Palaszczuk Government, driven by a mix of political self-interest and strong representation of their northern constituents. And they have won some ground.

Recently returned Townsville mayor Jenny Hill is proposing an alliance of northern mayors to argue for more funding. The rumblings of secession appear to be brewing.

Crossbenchers (left) Robbie Katter, Rob Pyne and Shane Knuth have won some ground in their game of brinkmanship with the Palaszczuk Government.

A state the size of Queensland provides a complex funding conundrum, with a multitude of competing demands unmatched in Australia. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is to be commended for calmly approaching such a difficult balancing act, after successive state governments failed the north.

Addressing issues of rural unemployment, the mining downturn and an inexhaustible list of infrastructure projects in north Queensland requires dedicated government intervention. It is equally arguable that the population density of southeast Queensland necessitates a greater spend. Per capita expenditure is a basic tenet of economics – you spend most where the population resides.

As was so passionately demonstrated on Friday night when the Broncos clashed with the Cowboys, the main battleground between north and south is at Lang Park. Picture: Getty Images

A new state of North Queensland – yet more government – is unlikely to be the answer, but the house should debate whether the question be fairly put to the people who live there. The greater issue is examining the flaws in our federation.

John Howard was a keen advocate of reforming federalism. In a 2007 speech, Mr Howard argued we should be focused on outcomes, not the systems of governments that deliver them.

The question of how to best deliver outcomes to all Queenslanders and Australians should be at the heart of any discussion regarding whether we need more states, less government, or any restructure to the centralisation of political power.