24 Sep BRISBANE VOTES BOUGHT FOR 50 CENTS WHILE NORTH QUEENSLAND PAYS THE PRICE: KATTER

Katter’s Australian Party Leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter MP has condemned an election promise from both major parties to lock in 50-cent public transport fares as reeking of shallow vote-buying in the South East while once again ignoring the needs of North Queensland.

“Labor has vowed to continue this scheme, and in typical fashion, the LNP is all too happy to jump on board with little thought about the wider consequences,” Mr Katter said.

The KAP had remained consistent in calling out these South East-focused handouts and fighting for North Queensland, demanding a fair share for rural and remote Queenslanders.

“Both major parties are scrambling to secure votes in Brisbane by throwing 50-cent crumbs at the people, but while they’re busy buying votes down south North Queenslanders are left waiting to hear what we will be bribed with,” Mr Katter said.

He added that millions of dollars had been funnelled into a public transport system that only served Brisbane, while rural and remote areas were left to struggle without even basic services.

“For many people in North Queensland, just having public transport at all would be a luxury, let alone 50-cent fares,” the Member for Traeger said.

“I saw an ad in the local paper here and had to laugh before I cried – bus services were being advertised as $70 from Mount Isa to Camooweal one way!  Talk about non-economic, let alone 50c.

“This policy will never benefit us; in fact, it will cost us. We will be left footing the bill for yet another vote-buying exercise and watch as resources continue to be poured into Brisbane at the expense of rural and remote towns,” the KAP leader said.

Mr Katter slammed the Premier’s response as absurd when questioned about the absence of public transport in rural and remote towns, calling it out as completely out of touch with the realities faced by regional Queenslanders.

“It is insulting to hear the Premier say that too few people use public transport because there aren’t enough services, but more services can’t be delivered because too few people use public transport – what backwards logic,” Mr Katter said.

“The reality is simple – North Queensland is not a priority for Labor or the LNP; they are taking us for fools. We are not asking for handouts – we are asking to redirect the money that’s funding 50-cent fares to where it is desperately needed – to upgrade essential bridges and reduce the cost of living for our communities.

“The KAP listens to and knows North Queensland and knows the real needs of our communities. It is time for real investment, not token gestures and crumbs handed out by the Brisbane-centric parties.”

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