New state makes no sense
State Member, Rob Katter is grabbing at headlines by calling for a New State for North Queensland.
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This is a naïve proposal, a throw away vacuous idea, that Mr Katter is using to distract voters from the real issues effecting the Electorate of Traeger.
Let’s talk plainly here; the funds required to set in motion plans for a new state would be exorbitant.
Mr Katter, how would you expect to pay for the duplication of existing Government Departments not to mention the external infrastructures, buildings, power plants, railways, schools, staff, etc.?
Where would you find the finance to build new much needed dams? And a new parliament House with all the extra pollies and their staff and their travel etc.
The fact that these departments are already in situ does not equate to the Queensland Government ‘gifting’ these facilities to a break-away New State.
The infrastructure needed to build, maintain and govern such a new state would require a massive expenditure that North Queensland could not afford in a hundred years.
And to expect mining royalties and the cattle industry to provide the finance for such a separation of State is both naïve and a nonsense.
Such a proposal lacks consideration to the whole gamut of recreating government infrastructures; it would create havoc and destroy our North Queensland which sits perfectly within the State of Queensland.
Concentrate on the issues which really matter to people and industries of Traeger, Mr Katter.
Kendall Santillan
Mount Isa
Keep Pauline Hanson out of power in Queensland
In 2012, the Campbell/Nicholls government promised a $160 cut in electricity prices.
They went up by over 40%.
Mr Nicholls was the Treasurer that facilitated 14,000 job losses until he was dumped on his derrière after one disastrous term.
This time he reckons he will find 500,000 new jobs in 10 years by fiddling with the payroll tax and bringing in those phantom power cuts and some vague, partially funded infrastructure plans.
As the LNP continues to drop in the opinion polls, he is not ruling out any deals with One Nation to grab hold of power.
Can you imagine a Queensland government with a space cadet like Malcolm Roberts as an Education/Science or Environment minister?
A weak LNP minority government with a Pauline Hanson One Nation balance of power would be the worst possible outcome for Queensland.
George Harley
Mount Isa
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Letters commenting on election issues must bear the name and full address of the writer(s).
Responsibility for election comment in this issue is accepted by North West Star editor Derek Barry, 112 Camooweal Street, Mount Isa, Qld.
Writers should disclose any alliance with political or community organisations and include their telephone number for verification.
Election candidates should declare themselves as such when submitting letters.
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.
