THE Cairns Post's editor-at-large and senior investigative journalist Gavin King has resigned from the newspaper to seek a career in state politics.
Announcing his intention to run for the controversial Liberal National Party candidacy in the seat of Cairns, Mr King, 32, said he wanted to "fight for a better deal for Cairns".
Mr King will replace former LNP Cairns candidate Paul Freebody, who was dumped from the party after an investigation into an email scandal involving the Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Mr King said the he was moved to run for LNP candidacy because he could no longer take a back seat in the affairs of the region. "The next state election is a critical moment for the future of Queensland and Cairns in particular," Mr King said.
"I have spoken to people from all walks of life across the Far North and written about the issues facing the city and the broader region. I can no longer just observe and write about them from the sidelines. Being elected to a seat in state parliament is the best way to affect positive change for the city."
Mr King said he would seek the LNP candidacy on a platform of economic development and diversity, CBD revitalisation, and real action on issues such as health, law and order and the tourism industry.
He said he supported the dredging of Trinity Inlet, the scaled-back version of the Cairns Entertainment Precinct and the Cairns Business and Sporting Group's plan for a range of sports infrastructure upgrades.
LNP regional coordinator Dennis Quick said the party was delighted at Mr King's bid.
"We have had several people of high quality who have expressed an interest in running for the LNP candidacy for the seat of Cairns. We are very excited Gavin King is one of those," he said.
"However, we now need to go through due process in finalising our candidates and would hope to be in a position to make a final announcement early next week." Mr King will serve four weeks notice on the newspaper. He will no longer report on political issues and his weekend opinion column is at an end.
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Announcing his intention to run for the controversial Liberal National Party candidacy in the seat of Cairns, Mr King, 32, said he wanted to "fight for a better deal for Cairns".
Mr King will replace former LNP Cairns candidate Paul Freebody, who was dumped from the party after an investigation into an email scandal involving the Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Mr King said the he was moved to run for LNP candidacy because he could no longer take a back seat in the affairs of the region. "The next state election is a critical moment for the future of Queensland and Cairns in particular," Mr King said.
"I have spoken to people from all walks of life across the Far North and written about the issues facing the city and the broader region. I can no longer just observe and write about them from the sidelines. Being elected to a seat in state parliament is the best way to affect positive change for the city."
Mr King said he would seek the LNP candidacy on a platform of economic development and diversity, CBD revitalisation, and real action on issues such as health, law and order and the tourism industry.
He said he supported the dredging of Trinity Inlet, the scaled-back version of the Cairns Entertainment Precinct and the Cairns Business and Sporting Group's plan for a range of sports infrastructure upgrades.
LNP regional coordinator Dennis Quick said the party was delighted at Mr King's bid.
"We have had several people of high quality who have expressed an interest in running for the LNP candidacy for the seat of Cairns. We are very excited Gavin King is one of those," he said.
"However, we now need to go through due process in finalising our candidates and would hope to be in a position to make a final announcement early next week." Mr King will serve four weeks notice on the newspaper. He will no longer report on political issues and his weekend opinion column is at an end.
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