KATTER’S Australia Party (KAP) members are hopeful that with a new premier, the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games will be cancelled.
Party leader Robbie Katter has been vocally opposing the games due to the high cost the games would put on the already strained Queensland public as residents struggle through a cost-of-living crisis.
With Labor leader Stephen Miles rising to the rank of Premier after Annastacia Palaszczuk’s sudden resignation, Mr Katter was not hopeful there would be any practical benefit to North Queenslanders under the new leadership.
“We are sceptical, but we wish the new Premier well, and hope that he is aware of the challenge ahead,” he said.
“The new Premier has an opportunity to demonstrate he leads a government for all Queenslanders and not just the south-east corner.
Mr Katter believes Mr Miles can do this very easily by taking three actions; cancelling the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, spend more money in crucial Far North Queensland communities, and addresses the youth crime epidemic.
“The KAP has provided to the Deputy Premier, and the rest of his team, a copy of our proposal for Relocation Sentencing which would send these kids out bush, long-term,” Mr Katter said.
“This immediately needs to be funded and trialled.”
KAP Deputy Leader and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto echoed the calls of Mr Katter while adding that a genuine focus on bush issues would be necessary for any state leader to put Queensland back on track.
“You can’t govern for the whole state while continuing an assault on the main pillars of our State’s economy,” Mr Dametto said.
“If the incoming Premier keeps to the previous playbook of destroying mining, agricultural and commercial fishing businesses while stifling regional development, he will be well on the way to losing support from key seats that shape Queensland.
“Regional Queensland was a land too far away for the outgoing Premier to connect with and understand.
“The North has been neglected and will be savage in their scrutiny of anyone looking to take the reins.”
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: Ergon ready to tackle outages and Police make arrest and appeal for footage of hoon.
