State Election 2020: Open borders and light rail named as new government priorities
Locking in funding for light rail to the airport and open borders are just some of the priorities put forward by Gold Coast business and political leaders to solving the city’s economy woes.
QLD Votes
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GOLD Coast business and political leaders are challenging the re-elected Palaszczuk Government to roll up its sleeves and find a way to safely reopen the city to visitor-rich Sydney and Victoria.
The Labor Government was re-elected despite a last-minute push from tourism bosses imploring voters to back the Opposition over the ongoing closed borders.
With the election now decided, Village Roadshow theme parks chief operating officer Bikash Randhawa said the focus needed to be on the economy.
REVEALED: WHAT HAPPENED IN EVERY GOLD COAST SEAT
“That appeal was not made because of a specific political party, it was made because we did not agree with a decision,” he said.
“I congratulate the Premier but I sincerely hope she will work for everyone in Queensland and with Christmas coming up and the cloud of the election gone, she will be in a better position to communicate.
“The past is the past and the future is right in front of us.”
Mayor Tom Tate also congratulated the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on her win and said he looked forward to working together for another four years: “There is much to be done and the priority needs to be getting our economy firing on all fronts again - and key to this is tourism,” he said.
“We need to diversify our tourism offerings and get those borders open to as many regions as possible as quickly as possible.
“Light rail all the way to the airport must be locked in and budgeted for this term.
“We also need to see a commitment from the State to maintain its bushfire mitigation services here on the Gold Coast and to retain the World Surfing Reserve status quo - as a ceremonial title only.
“We need to roll up our sleeves - and get to work. There’s a lot to be done. “
Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan welcomed the result but called on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to appoint a southeast MP as the new Tourism Minister replacing Kate Jones.
“We also need to look at getting these borders open in a way that lets Sydney and Victorian people back into Queensland,” he said.
“Operators are hanging out and nobody wants to risk a second wave here but we need some certainty going to the peak Christmas period.”
Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said the election result was good news for the extension of the light rail and the Coomera Connector.
However, he insisted that work must begin on both projects as soon as possible to stimulate the economy during the pandemic.
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