Mayors of North West Queensland host candidate forum
Sitting member for Traeger Robbie Katter MP (KAP), Yvonne Tunney (LNP) and Georgia Heath (ALP) all participated in the forum - pictured with NWQROC Deputy Chair and McKinlay Shire, Cr Janene Fegan and newly elected NWQROC Chair and Etheridge Shire Mayor, Cr Barry Hughes.
Local government leaders from across 11 North West Queensland councils put their questions and priorities to Traeger candidates at a forum hosted in Julia Creek today.
Moderated by North West Weekly editor Matt Nicholls, candidates were given the opportunity to present to the group on their respective election platforms, before taking questions from the floor.
Sitting member for Traeger Robbie Katter MP (KAP), Yvonne Tunney (LNP) and Georgia Heath (ALP) all participated in the forum.
NWQROC Chair and Carpentaria Mayor Jack Bawden said the forum provided an important opportunity to have candidates step up and have targeted questions asked of them from across the community.
“As Queenslanders get set to head to the polls in October, we took the opportunity to turn the spotlight on our candidates and what their policies and promises really mean for our region, communities and councils,” Mayor Bawden said.
As part of the 24 local governments of the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) the group have already outlined their top region-wide asks through the WQAC 2024 State Election Platform. The platform was provided to the candidates ahead of the forum for their considered response.
“Once again NWQROC has put our heads together as a united group with our Western Queensland counterparts to drill down to seven priorities areas, representing our most significant region wide barriers to growth and development as well as those of particular importance to our individual regions,” Mayor Bawden said.
“We are seeking from the parties and candidates contesting this election their commitment to supporting our councils to address these challenges as well as build on existing opportunities across our region.
“We appreciate the opportunity to get past election jargon and hear straight form the candidates about what matters most to the North West and what commitment they can give us to deliver,” he said.
“We look forward to providing details back to our communities on what we heard and how we rate their commitment to really deliver what matters for our region when they head to Brisbane. Our response will be published on our website and across our social media.”
This is has become familiar territory for NWQROC, first hitting the campaign trail with a federal election platform in 201. Since then, the group has joined forces with the South West and Central West Queensland counterparts forming the WQAC and its first state election platform in 2020.
Thank you to Matt Nicholls for leading our forum today, and our candidates for taking the time to join us in Julia Creek.
Download the WQAC State Election Platform at: www.wqac.com.au/2024-state-election-platform
