Billy Gordon, the endorsed Labor Candidate, will compete against the LNP's Warren Entsch for the seat of Leichhardt at the coming Federal Election on September 14.

Mr Gordon, who currently works for Cairns-based owned and operated Skytrans Airlines as their Community Development Manager, said he welcomed the opportunity to represent the Far North community.

"I love the Far North and have spent most of my life here. The Labor Government is delivering big reforms for our region particularly around education and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I want to ensure that locals in the Far North as well as our children benefit from these important reforms."

Mr Gordon said his focus would be on creating jobs and strengthening the regional economy. He added that despite recent tough times in the tourism industry, he is optimistic about the future with more flights arriving from Asia.

"I recognise that the Far North is still trying to overcome a high unemployment rate and I’m really looking forward to getting up to Mossman and Port Douglas to talk to locals and businesses about how we can do things better.

"I want the Far North to thrive and be a place where our children have the opportunity to get a great job without having to leave town.

"I have real concerns, as I know many locals do, that if Tony Abbott is elected he’ll do to Australia what Campbell Newman is doing to Queensland."

Mr Gordon took a swipe at Mr Entsch and the LNP's State Member for Cook, David Kempton, saying the pair "need to stop shirking their responsibilities."

"There’s been a distinct lack of leadership from both the Federal and State members here...People should be able to rely on them to stand up for their jobs and job security.
 
"We are looking down the barrel of creating a permanent underclass in this country between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. One class of people that can afford health cover and education and one class of people that cannot," he said.