The Invisible Woman appears in Mossman
MEMBER FOR COOK
24 hours after copping a spray from constituents in Mareeba, State MP for Cook Cynthia was on the move again, this time setting up a mobile electorate in Mossman and eager to talk local issues.
Mareeba locals called Ms Lui ‘the invisible woman’ and sarcastically commented it was generous of Ms Lui, who is based in Cairns, to spend three hours in her own electorate.
One resident Steffany Fenton was quoted as saying “If the sitting member for this electorate came out more often, instead of hiding away in Cairns, people might be more favourably disposed to her, she should be taking an active part in this community and standing up for what is so sorely needed in the community”.
Ms Lui was first elected in 2017 and won a second term at the November 2020 state election but in October 2019 she revealed she was packing up her electoral office in Mareeba and moving it lock stock and barrel to Cairns.
Her reasons were and still are that Mareeba hasn’t got the transport for people to travel there from other parts of the electorate, including the Douglas Shire, whereas Cairns in more central.
Today in Mossman Ms Lui was upfront with Newsport over the recent Mareeba reaction.
‘Look people will say what they want to say, everyone is entitled to their opinion but I can only do what I can do” she said “my electorate is one of the biggest in Queensland with 13 Mayors and one Town Authority but people can always email me or even conduct a video conference” I’m sorry some people were upset with me but there are only a certain number of hours in the day”.
We then spoke to Ms Lui about other important issues on behalf of Newsport readers
What is the State Government going to do now after the Federal Government threw a lifeline to Port Douglas apartment owners, by finalising the design of a 10-million-dollar reinsurance pool for cyclone and related flood damage?
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch says it’s time for the Queensland Government and its four local MPs to start supporting Far North Queenslanders by reviewing State Strata Legislation, including the option to choose to insure for full market value or full replacement value and to abolish stamp duty on insurance premium renewals which would further reduce premiums.
In response, Ms Lui says ‘it sits in the Federal Government space but there probably needs to be a better partnership between State and Federal Governments and a deeper conversation over this insurance issue, because we need to start somewhere”.
What are the main issues the Douglas Shire are concerned with?
Ms Lui was quick to say Health “Health is always going to be high on the list of concerns for this Shire” We poured 10 million dollars into the Mossman Hospital and that’s paid off, they seem to be travelling well but there’s always more to be done” and another ‘hot button’ issue she says is the proposed Splash Park for Port Douglas.
Ms Lui says “1.5 million dollars is available to the Douglas Shire Council to deliver a Splash Park and I’m working closely with Mayor Michael Kerr to make that family friendly project happen as well as the Newell Beach Boat Ramp that I inspected today, boaties will see that ready around July this year”.
The proposed Hydrogen Micro Grid in the Daintree will bring power to people who the live and run businesses in this unique part of the world. Millions of litres of diesel is burnt into the eco system annually. Do you support it, Yes or No?
‘can’t say I fully support it at this stage, but Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen and Minister for Public Works and Procurement Michael de Brenni is keen to come up and look at it, but there’s no yes or no at the moment from me”
Only 56% of the Douglas Shire has received their booster and have you any concerns about the lack of take-up by indigenous communities?
‘I do know that with indigenous people there was initially that slow uptake during the vaccination rollout but in Cape and Torres I’ve got roving vax teams who are travelling around to different communities to make sure they get vaccinated and have their booster shot” Ms Lui went on to say, “everyone should get their booster shot so were all protected”.