When the government came to power by winning regional seats, they said ‘they’d govern from the regions’. Well tomorrow is their day of reckoning. Do they govern for the regions or for Brisbane? The Leader of the KAP and state Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has said.
More than half of the LNP members are from outside SEQ, while only four are in Brisbane
“The big test for this government is they going to choose regional and rural Queensland, or focus on Brisbane and the Olympics just as Labor did? Mr Katter said.
“The Premier started down a very slippery slope when he flipped his position on no new stadiums, recently saying the newly announced upgrades don’t cost anything because it’s out of legacy fund. Well, that is still our money that could be used elsewhere.
“Spending on the Olympics simply means less money to go to healthcare, schools and roads.
“The upgrades to Suncorp Stadium could easily hit $500 million, and that would pay for a doubling of the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) three times over!
“Everyone must realise the cost of the Olympics isn’t just the direct cash cost, it’s the cost of what isn’t able to be done as a result.
“Tradies in North Queensland have been as rare as hen’s teeth for a while already and then add the gravitational pull of Olympics construction – building anywhere outside of the Brisbane Bubble will become more of a nightmare than it already is,” Mr Katter said.
Mr Katter encouraged Queenslanders to dig beyond the headlines and spin doctors, and to question where their hard-earned taxes were going.
“The spin doctors have been doing an excellent job at keeping Queenslanders thinking that everything is rosy, but don’t take it from them, look beyond the catch-phrases and headline, and see where they’re spending your taxes.
“And, it’s not just what they’re spending it on, it’s what they’re not spending it on.
“Will a new stadium in Victoria Park cost Cloncurry a new hospital? Will an upgraded Suncorp Stadium cost 70,000 patients the ability to affordably access healthcare?
“The government must balance the books and there’s always winners and losers. The question is, will the government shower Brisbane with the winnings, or will they remember where they were voted in from?” The KAP leader said.