North Queensland mayors demand own State



Wed 11 August 2010

North Queensland mayors demand own State

98 of 100 North Queensland Mayors believe North Queensland should become its own State, but Cairns Mayor Val Schier isn't one of them.

The Mayors cite losing our wealth to the south east corner of Queensland as the reason behind the request, and will be calling for a referendum to be held in 2012 at the next State election.

Of the 100 delegates who voted on the motion, just two voted against - Charters Towers Mayor Ben Callcott, and Cairns Mayor Val Schier.

"The State Government is so busy governing the high-growth areas of Queensland that they can't govern us,'' Cr Wharton, the instigator of the motion said.

"We need to do something to protect our future. It is in the constitution to allow for a separate state.''

Former Mayor and Federal candidate for Herbert, Tony Mooney, said the economy of north Queensland could warrant its own state as it was the size of Tasmania'sand twice the size of the Northern Territory's.

"We should be doing everything in our power to keep our prosperity in north Queensland,'' Mr Mooney said.

"I think we could quite easily manage our own affairs with the current number of public servants that we have.''

Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey said there would be strong support from indigenous councils.

"For rural and remote Queensland, particularly indigenous remote Queensland, we hardly get a guernsey,'' Cr Lacey said.

Mayor Schier could not be contacted for comment.

So what do you think? Should the North split from the South? Take part in our poll and voice your opinion.