State member for Mount Isa and KAP candidate for Traeger Robbie Katter has said his party would fight to ensure regional Queensland gets its fair share of government funding.
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“The major parties are too busy pork-barrelling their own electorates in the south-east corner to give country areas a fair go,” Mr Katter said.
“It really hurts to see $5.8 billion on a cross-river rail tunnel, it hurts that a $300 million sports stadium we don’t need, it hurts to $650 million on an office tower when you are told the whole state is broke.”
Mr Katter said there was a lot of great infrastructure we could build that would make Queensland money.
“But unfortunately they have to be built where there aren’t any votes and major parties, they chase votes.,” he said.
“The happy news is what’s good for rural and regional Queensland is good for all Queensland.”
Meanwhile Labor candidate Danielle Slade was talking about the need for dialysis in Doomadgee and Mornington Island.
“Currently patients have to travel to Mount Isa and at times Townsville for treatment which means having to leave their family and friends for long periods of time whilst they are receiving this treatment,” Ms Slade said.
“There are large costs associated with having to re-locate away from their community, including accommodation, travel to and from the hospital, and other out of pocket expenses, which can add more stress to the patient and their family.”
She said some patients had made the sad decision not to have life saving dialysis treatment, due to not wanting to leave their family and home.
“I have written to the Minister for Health, Cameron Dick in October and appealed to the Minister to consider making it a priority for these communities to have this treatment available locally,” she said.
The LNP was also talking about indigenous health, promising $3m for the mobile IDEAS van to address Indigenous diabates.
Independent Craig Scriven said the major parties had released their how to vote cards, which he said he was against as it was dictating to voters.
“KAP has me as three, Labor as four, LNP as two, and I can't find anything from the Greens,” he said.
“I'm running a Vote 1 only. Giving everyone the choice of who they want as their own choice. It's a given that I want you all to vote for me, but if you have your roots stuck with a party, that's okay, just put me as your number 2. If you feel that a party can represent you better, I'm okay with that.”
Note the rules have changed in this election. While in previous years you could have just voted one, this time in Traeger you must vote one to six for your vote to be valid.
Read Also: Traeger: 11 days to go
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
