A proposal for Far North Queensland to become an independent state has been met with ridicule by local politicians and economic leaders. 

Palmer United Party Queensland leader Carl Judge called for North Queensland to be recognised as an independent Australian state in a press release last week.

Mr Judge said a move for independence would be a major policy of the PUP - which uses the slogan ‘Reunite the nation’ on promotional materials - going into the next state election. 

Mr Judge said North Queensland had the ‘industry and economic viability to be recognised as Australia’s official seventh state and should be able to govern itself through its own representation’.

“The Palmer United Party believes there would be significant advantages to North Queensland’s self-government,” Mr Judge said. 

“The region has long been neglected by both the state and federal governments yet it continues to act as a major economic centre and contributor to the Australian economy.”

Incumbent LNP member for the Far North Queensland electorate of Cook, David Kempton, labelled the idea as ‘ridiculous’. 

“This is a very old idea and the PUP has put it up again because they’ve devoid of other policy ideas,” Mr Kempton said. 

“We’ve got the fastest growing state in the country, why would we halve it? 

“We have two assistant ministers up here - regional Queensland is very much on the state government’s agenda.

“We are always moving toward a more centralised system of governance and we’re not going to get anywhere by self-dividing - I really don’t think it’s going to happen and the PUP should focus on coming up with ideas on how to grow the state’s economy and make our communities safer.”

Advance Cairns CEO Mark Matthews burst out laughing when asked about the idea by Newsport, describing it as ‘more a barbecue story than a serious idea’.

“I don’t see a lot of overwhelming support for it in the community,” Mr Matthews said. 

“On a scale of ridiculous to useful, it falls very much toward the former.

“I think there is a valid point about our lack of voice in Brisbane but I see that as an indication that we need to get more active and press our case harder, not split away.”

In Port Douglas the reaction to the idea of North Queensland independence was more cautious. 

Douglas Chamber of Commerce head Phoebe Kitto said she would ‘like to see plenty of consultation with the North Queensland business community and evidence that it would be beneficial to economic activity’ before endorsing the idea and Douglas Shire Council mayor Julia Leu declined to comment, saying instead that council’s efforts were ‘concentrated on practical initiatives to benefit the Douglas Shire.’

What do you think? 

Should North Queensland become an independent Australian state?

What city would you choose as an independent North Queensland’s capital?

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