Opinion: Qld Labor may have left pitch for the regions too late

Queensland’s Labor Government appears to have learnt the lesson of its federal party counterparts, writes Peter Gleeson. But its belated love affair with the bush may have come too late.

QUEENSLAND’S next state election will be won and lost in the regional and country towns that cost Bill Shorten the prime ministership.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Cabinet know that, and so too does the Labor political brains trust at ALP headquarters, who have made it clear that the upcoming state conference will be all about the regions.

Former Labor mining minister Tony McGrady says its time for the ALP to publicise its support for mining

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But is it too little too late? Has the horse bolted on the regional vote for the Labor Party in Queensland?

Certainly AgForce – which represents the bush – believes so. It took out double page ads in the weekend papers, asking the question: Who will stand up for regional Queensland?

It cited crippling electricity prices, lack of infrastructure, a record number of business closures, removal of basic services like teachers, police and doctors, no plans for rural communities and a lack of support for drought preparedness.

AgForce president Georgie Somerset – describing herself as a beef farmer, wife and mother – said if regional Queensland was suffering, so too did the whole state.

“We need you to stand up for Queensland – our farmers, teachers, doctors and nurses, our small businesses, families and community organisations,’’ she said.

“The most exhausting part of this (battle) is the relentless tide of red tape and legislation that continues to work against them (farmers) experiencing a fair go.

“It seems to be relentless, and it’s targeted against those of us in the regions.

“There are people out there pitting mate against mate, and city against country. Imagine having to drive 90 minutes to take your sick child to the doctor because the local GP closed six months ago. Imagine the anxiety you feel on the way.”

The problem for Labor is that its dominant Left faction, which has the numbers, doesn’t give a fig about the bush.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is attempting to remake her image.

The Queensland public service is stacked with Labor acolytes who are too scared to make a decision for fear it may come back to bite them on the bum. It has created a moribund,
do-nothing culture.

The Left champions legislation such as new tree-clearing laws that not only hurt farmers but make their jobs dangerous, as we saw with the Bundaberg bushfires earlier in the year.

The Left curry favour with crazy vegans, who storm our farms and chain themselves to abattoirs because they don’t want Australians eating meat.

The Sunday Mail has exposed widespread deficiencies in Queensland’s rural maternity services, detailing case after case of pregnant women putting themselves and their unborn baby at risk because of a decline in neonatal care.

The Left orchestrated the
anti-Adani campaign, only begrudgingly abandoning it after Shorten’s shock defeat.

The Left have jumped into bed with the Greens to chase down insane renewable energy targets, forcing power prices up as they give coal the cold shoulder.

Have you been down the main street of Bowen lately?

There are tenancy vacancies on every corner and homeowners unable to sell.

Bowen is like so many communities in regional Queensland. They need help, not just weasel words from politicians.

Is the sun setting on the Palaszczuk era?

It was the good folk of places like Bowen, Mackay, Townsville, Rockhampton, Clermont and Gladstone that sent a message to the Labor Left at the federal election.

That message was: “Don’t take us for granted. We won’t be consigned to the electoral dustbin and become collateral damage as part of your wacky ideology madness.”

If the Labor Party wants to win the next Queensland election, here’s some free advice.

The Premier must demonstrate to the regions that she won’t be handcuffed to the policies of the Left anymore, sacking key Left Cabinet ministers such as Jackie Trad, Mark Bailey, Mick de Brenni, Steven Miles, Leeanne Enoch and Shannon Fentiman.

What’s that old saying – it’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees?

Once Ms Palaszczuk wields the axe, she must move the Mining, Agriculture, State Development and Tourism departments – along with the thousands of bureaucrats who work for them – to Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay and the Gold Coast.

Shower the regions with love and money. Even then, the much-maligned and cynical bush voters may not buy it.

But it’s worth a shot. It’s Labor’s only chance.

If a poll were held today, they’d be lucky to win a seat north of Noosa.

Festival an elitist bore

WHAT has happened to the Brisbane Festival?

That’s the question being thrown around in corporate boardrooms and even in the corridors of Parliament as business and political leaders lament its change in direction.

The Brisbane Festival was created in 1996 as a joint venture between the State Government and the Brisbane City Council.

It evolved from the hugely popular Warana Festival, which was first held in 1961.

Warana’s theme was “entertainment for the people, by the people’’, and although it was successful, there was an obvious need for a more sophisticated approach.

When the River Festival emerged a few years later, the Government decided to merge it with the Brisbane Festival.

The centrepiece is now known as Riverfire, a spectacular fireworks display each September that lights up the city.

So far so good.

But other than a great fireworks evening, the Brisbane Festival has morphed into an elitist and trendy bore, fixated with obsessive
PC-inspired shows.

OK, we might not want to go back to dressing up as bananas on floats, but where’s the civic pride attached to the arts niche overload we’re being served up now?

Where are the family attractions other than the fireworks? It’s hipster baristas at 10 paces.

Sydney does this sort of stuff well. They have their Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and it’s totally separate to the Vivid Festival.

Let’s make the Brisbane Festival for everybody, not a select few.

John Paul Langbroek

Racing plan on track

OPPOSITION racing spokesman John Paul Langbroek is developing a racing blueprint if the LNP wins the next election.

It includes a major shake-up of the way Queensland racing is administered.

There will be finite timelines on major infrastructure projects, including lights for the Gold Coast Turf Club and new harness and greyhound tracks.

Barbie debate fuels IQ fears

WHAT’S that about do as I say, not as I do?

The Extinction Rebellion mob had a robust discussion on Facebook recently about whether to take a gas stove to one of their events for a ­barbecue.

“Is there a non fossil fuel alternative we can consider,’’ asked James Conroy.

“I don’t feel comfortable with us giving money to big gas.’’

Someone suggested boiling water on an induction cooker and putting it in thermal flasks.

Did somebody say IQ levels?

Back in military mode

LOVELY commemoration last week of Kokoda Day in Surfers Paradise.

Local military man George Friend was on hand. He’s now back in uniform.

Push for bridge honour

A PETITION is circulating to rename the Isis River Bridge after the late federal Coalition MP Paul Neville. Makes sense.

Making a meal of schmoozing

QUESTIONS are being raised about a certain company that does a lot of work for Labor skirting the developer donations laws.

Seems the modus operandi is to get developers on to their table at functions and then have senior Labor politicians “drop by’’ for a chat. Cute.

Darryl Kelly

Major events chief sought

THE Gold Coast is getting fair dinkum about attracting major events.

It’s on the lookout for a chief executive to run its newly formed Gold Coast Major Events organisation, after merging Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Coolangatta events bodies. Chairman of the new entity is Darryl Kelly, who part-owns the Titans.

Committee members include Jessica Norris, Peta Fielding, Jackie Cross, Clark Kirby, Geoff Hogg, Michael Coe and Mark Peters.