Ahead of tomorrow’s federal election, Labor candidate for the seat of Leichhardt, Billy Gordon, spoke to The Newsport about his election campaign and plans for the region, if elected.

THE NEWSPORT: You’re the only Aboriginal candidate in Australia for lower house. What’s the pressure and expectation like?

BILLY GORDON: I understand that there’s some significance there, but by and large (I’ve been the candidate since March), I think we’ve got over that bubble. When I do the door-knocking - and I do a lot of door-knocking! Every weekend, I’m out in the suburbs,  I do the street stalls and get out amongst the public, and do phone calls - by and large, it’s the policy stuff that shines now.
People probably see past the colour of my skin. And that’s good, because I’ve got to appeal to a broader public out there. But it is special, as an Indigenous person, I do feel proud about it. From my family perspective too, [I’m proud] that I’m putting my hand up and having a go.

TNP: What’s your connection to the Leichhardt electorate?

BG: I’ve been a Far North Queenslander all my life. I was born and bred in Innisfail, and have lived and worked in Cairns for a while.  I have heaps of family up around Cape York and the Torres Strait, and Cairns particularly, and I worked at Cairns TAFE for many, many years. [I also] worked at Native Title [in Cairns], and recently I’ve worked with SkyTrans Airlines as their Community Relations manager (around the state, but based in Cairns), and I’m an ex-serviceman. I served with the 51st Battalion here in Cairns (an Army Reserve battalion consisting of approximately 30% Torres Strait Islanders and Aborigines), as well.

TNP: If elected, what do you hope to achieve for the Douglas Shire that counterpart hasn’t?

BG: One of the big things I’ve been talking about is how tourism will always be the backbone of the region’s economy here in Cairns. Whilst there’s a recovery under way, we still have to do a lot more work. Particularly with small to medium business, cutting red tape will be important for small business growth and new industry.

We do need to look at diversifying the region’s economy. The Federal Labor Government has outlined key strategies to make red tape for small businesses a lot less of a burden. They’re practical measures to free up time and save costs.

[Also,] a paid parental leave scheme. No longer will small to medium businesses be asked to cover costs of paid parental leave - we’ll get Centrelink to pay, and the Government will underwrite the cost.

The waterfront project is something the local community wants, and I would like to be able to push that forward. I’ll continue further consultation and roll that project out.

I believe Port Douglas is overdue for a large facelift.

TNP: How much of a priority for you and Labor is the Douglas region?

I think we’re waiting for the de-amalgamation process to happen and that will present a clear platform for us to work closely with the new local government authority to map out what the priorities are.

[The Douglas Shire is] in a bit of a limbo at the moment, and until that gets sorted…I think [sorting that out is] going to be critical. If I’m elected, I’ll be learning from the new [Douglas Shire] council what the priorities for the region are.  Also, I’ve worked in the sugar industry and know how important sugar is to the region.

TNP: When will Douglas receive the NBN?

BG: The Cairns CBD was one of the first sites to go live for the NBN. I’m not sure about the Far North, [the NBN] is a huge infrastructure project and we’re going to make sure we do it right the first time.

The website for NBN Co. has some interactive maps with coverage and dates, so people can look up Mossman and Port Douglas, but I’ll be advocating for these services to be rolled out a lot sooner than what they’re projecting. I want [north Queensland] to have the best services as possible – it’s important in terms of diversifying the region. The NBN will be critical in terms of closing the tyranny of distance for businesses. And Port Douglas is a town that would love the NBN – I think it’s well-suited for the NBN and [the network] will do wonders to attract more business to the area, especially from China.

TNP: Warren Entsch is the incumbent MP for Leichhardt, and has been a sitting member for some time. Do you think you’ve done enough during your election campaign to get yourself known to voters within the electorate?

BG: You can never, never do enough to get your profile up. My budget is nowhere near what Warren’s is, so when it comes to producing materials and TV commercials, he’s always going to have the upper hand as the sitting member. But I think we’re punching above our weight in that regard. It’s the anecdotal stuff I hear [when] I walk around town and in the supermarket.

I’m the underdog, that’s definitely the case, and I’ve still got a mountain to climb, but we’ve got a good, hard-working, honest campaign. We’ve got a strategy and we’re executing it.