Campbell Newman tells Cairns audience crime fix means bootcamps and tough love

LibDems candidate Campbell Newman visited Cairns to talk up his tilt for a senate seat and give his take on fixing the city’s urgent problems.

CRIME, water security, infrastructure and tourism are four urgent issues Cairns needs to solve, according to former Queensland premier Campbell Newman.

The Liberal Democrats Senate candidate was in the Far North on Tuesday to address a Cairns Chamber of Commerce business luncheon of about 100 at the Pullman Cairns International Hotel.

It was his first foray to the region as a newly-minted voice and aspiring senate candidate to flag his Freedom Manifesto.

Mr Newman said he believed Cairns needs to solve its youth crime problems with “tough love”, before another tragedy like the crash where Bradley Smith, 14, died.

“The crime issue needs to be jumped on with a visible police presence and a program to divert young offenders off the streets, I support boot camps to come back,” he said.

Mr Newman shared other policies including flat taxes, nuclear power, stopping all ABC funding and no mandatory vaccinations.

He said he opposed vaccination mandates and downplayed Covid’s seriousness, but denied being an anti-vaxxer.

“I have had two vaccinations and I will get the booster when I feel the need to … I am fiercely opposed to vaccination mandates,” he said.

“We all know people who got through Covid OK.”

Liberal Democrats senate candidate, Campbell Newman with his Freedom Manifesto, before he spoke at the first Cairns Chamber of Commerce luncheon for 2022. Picture: Alison Paterson

Mr Newman said he had met with Cairns Mayor Bob Manning about the proposed Integrated Water Supply Project and will support the city’s request for $215m funding, calling it “a drop in the ocean.”.

Chamber president Sally Mlikota said while the group is non-political, she felt Mr Newman while “controversial,” would be an interesting and energising speaker to kick off their 2022 luncheon program.

Originally published as Campbell Newman tells Cairns audience crime fix means bootcamps and tough love