Bill Shorten launches Fair Go for Far North Queensland policy during Cairns visit

Bill Shorten has scratched a turtle’s back and sat down with a heart patient before unveiling his plan to give a “fair go” to the Far North.

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BILL Shorten scratched a turtle’s back and sat down with a heart patient during his second visit to Far North Queensland since the election was called a month ago.

The Opposition Leader took a tour of the Cairns Aquarium with senators Penny Wong and Kristina Keneally by his side before facing the cameras at the Cairns Hospital.

Bill Shorten addresses the media at the Cairns Hospital with Leichhardt Elida Faith in the background. PICTURE: CHRIS CALCINO

But it was candidate for Leichhardt Elida Faith who had the most impassioned reason for spruiking Labor’s $4.2 million announcements for upgrades to the hospital’s endoscopy ward and elective surgery facilities.

“Bill has spoken very proudly this week about his mum,” she said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to talk about my mum.

Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is seen during a tour of Cairns Aquarium. PICTURE: AAP IMAGE/LUKAS KOCH

“Because right now my mum is actually here in the hospital.

“My mum came in via ambulance yesterday morning at 6am.

“She came into a hospital that was already at full capacity.

“It had an ambulance bay that was full of ambulances with patients on stretchers waiting to be transferred.

“Mum is still here.”

Stop Adani protesters (from left) Clare Galvin, Garrett Swearingen, Australian Marine Conservation Society’s David Cazzulino, Nicole Senn and Bec Tuma await Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's arrival at the Cairns Aquarium. PICTURE: CHRIS CALCINO

Ms Faith said she expected her mother to remain in the hospital for a couple of nights, but staff were yet to find her a proper bed.

“I hear stories like this every single day,” she said.

“It’s one thing to hear these stories, but it really brings it home when it’s one of your own family that experiences these things.

Bill Shorten addresses the media at the Cairns Hospital with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chairman Clive Skarott and Labor candidate for Leichhardt Elida Faith in the background. PICTURE: CHRIS CALCINO

“Far North Queenslanders are going to have a choice.

“They can choose to have their hospitals properly funded under a Labor government.

“Or they can choose to see more cuts and chaos under an LNP government.

“It’s not fair that my mum is still sitting here waiting for a bed.

“This is not good enough for Far North Queenslanders and it’s not good enough for my mum.”

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally claims a pre-poll volunteer has been switching between LNP and United Australia shirts, during a media conference at the Cairns Hospital. PICTURE: AAP IMAGE/LUKAS KOCH

Mr Shorten said it was his seventh visit to Cairns since the last election.

“In that time Labor has developed, and we’re launching, our plan to give a fair go to Far North Queensland,” he said.

“This is something which you won’t see from the Liberals — it’s called a policy.

“In fact it’s called a whole set of plans.”

Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten touches a turtle during a tour of the Cairns Aquarium. PICTURE: AAP IMAGE/LUKAS KOCH

The document outlines all of Labor’s key commitments to the region, including $287 million to extend the Bruce Hwy to Smithfield, $315 million to upgrade the Peninsula Development Road and more than $20 million on smaller community projects.

Mr Shorten also touched on the announcement revealed by the Cairns Post this morning that a Renewable Energy Zone would be declared in the Far North.

Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is seen during a tour of Cairns Aquarium. PICTURE: AAP IMAGE/LUKAS KOCH

“We’re nominating a number around Australia,” he said.

“We’ve nominated northwest Tassie, for example, we’ve nominated this area as well.

“We’ll make sure they get fast-track access to the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which has been spectacularly successful.

“For every dollar of taxpayer outlaid, it’s delivered nearly $2 back.

Labor Leader Bill Shorten meets with heart patient Dan Arbi while attending the Cairns Hospital. PICTURE: LIAM KIDSTON

“We also want to make sure this region gets the power it needs.

“So we’ve got an energy modernisation fund of $5 billion.

“So by making this a Renewable Energy Zone, that’s what happens.”

Bill Shorten during a doorstop at the Cairns Hospital this morning. PICTURE: LIAM KIDSTON

Sen Wong had a dig at Coalition Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch over his environmental credentials, saying he was “quiet as a mouse” on the issue when in Canberra.

“Mr Entsch has recently discovered climate change,” she said.

“He seems to be wanting to talk a lot about it.

Bill Shorten addresses the media at the Cairns Hospital with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chairman Clive Skarott, Labor candidate for Leichhardt Elida Faith and Senator Kristina Keneally in the background. PICTURE: CHRIS CALCINO

“Mr Entsch, for all his talk about climate change, is part of the chaos and part of dragging down Malcolm Turnbull — helped the far right drag down Malcolm Turnbull, signed the petition.

“So he shouldn’t come to Far North Queenslanders now and tell them that he cares about climate change.”

Originally published as Bill Shorten launches Fair Go for Far North Queensland policy during Cairns visit