Thursday 17 May 2012

Far North MPs down to business to start delivering election promises


Daniel Strudwick
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
© The Cairns Post

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.

                               ___________________  |  ____________________

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.