DEVELOPING Northern Australia’s Cooperative Research Centre’s interim chairman advocates the state of North Queensland, saying it is “the only answer” to fight increased lack of parliamentary representation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Richmond mayor John Wharton said the proposed new state was economically viable because of the large amount of mining and agricultural resources based in the north.
“It could also be run much more efficiently than it presently is, as we decentralise the government for a start, spread them through the regional larger towns, and have a much smaller government,” Cr Wharton said.
He said the functioning of the proposed new northern state would be more affordable and similar to running a local council.
“We would not be paying massive rents in a major city CBD to have office space. We would not be requiring the huge high rise buildings that seem to be necessary for government,” Cr Wharton said.
“All our taxes are spent in the south, providing services to the population. Many people like the lifestyle of the north and would move up here also. Our laws and policies would be made to suit our life and our people.”
In the electoral commission’s proposed changes there will be 17 electorates that are in northern Queensland – assuming that Gregory, Keppel and Rockhampton are included. There would be 93 seats in Queensland.
Cr Wharton said it was an ideal political time to create a new state, considering the federal government’s determination to develop the north.
“Let’s put the new state straight along the Tropic of Capricorn, and then the whole of Northern Australia will be in the same jurisdiction,” he said.
The Richmond Shire Council proposed this idea at the Local Government State Conference in Mackay in 2014.
Cr Wharton said it was nearly supported by votes in the conference.
Mount Isa State MP Rob Katter brought a motion to create a new state in the Queensland Parliament last September.
“I give notice that I shall move that the Queensland Legislative Assembly supports in accordance with section 124 of the Commonwealth constitution the separation of Qld into two states,” Mr Katter said.
The motion was defeated 82 to 3.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt supplied budget numbers in parliament which he said showed that the proposed new state would be unable to fund itself.
