New faces: Far Northern MPs David Kempton (Cook), Michael
Trout (Barron River), Gavin King (Cairns) outside Parliament House in
Brisbane. Picture: SARAH MARSHALL
WORK has officially started for Cairns' new political leaders
who must now tackle the delivery of campaign promises that saw them
elected in sweeping victories recently.
David Kempton, Gavin King, and Michael Trout were
sworn in as members of Queensland’s 54th parliament yesterday and will
cast their first votes as parliamentarians tomorrow.
It
comes as the new-look Cairns Regional Council prepares to be sworn in
today, led by Mayor Bob Manning who said his team would get straight to
work to deliver its election commitments.
"I would
like to think that any councillor in Queensland who doesn’t get
straight down to business is not making a very good start," Mr Manning
said.
The new Barron River MP, Michael Trout, said
the North and Far North complement of the new State Government would be
a formidable presence in the 89-seat parliament."We’re all sitting together, which is a good thing for the voice of the region," Mr Trout told The Cairns Post.
Although
the new parliament’s first legislation will not be introduced until
tomorrow, Mr Trout said the Far Northern contingent would get straight
to work after they were sworn in. "We’re having a
meeting this afternoon with (Attorney-General and Justice Minister)
Jarrod Bleije to discuss youth crime on our streets," he said yesterday.
Cairns
MP Gavin King said the first Bills to be passed tomorrow would help
ease cost of living pressures such as car registration bills. Although
only 11 members of the parliament do not belong to the Liberal National
Party, Mr Trout insisted the appointment of Fiona Simpson as
parliamentary Speaker would ensure robust debate. "The
party’s gone to great lengths to ensure there’s fairness on the floor
of parliament and the Speaker will be there to hold everyone to
account," he said.
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