THE writs have not been called but northern Queensland LNP Senator Ian Macdonald was unequivocal about the election date when he spoke to the North West Star on Tuesday.
“The election will be on July 2,” Senator Macdonald said.
Senator Macdonald was confirming what everyone expects after the Senate handed prime minister Turnbull a double dissolution trigger last week.
“This week we were supposed to be in Canberra sitting on the (Australian) Building Construction Commission bill but that finished in two days not three weeks so it was a good opportunity to come to the north west, see what’s happening and smell the issues and see what I can do to help,” he said.
Senator Macdonald said the downturn in the mining industry was affecting all of northern Queensland.
“I’ve spoken to small business and the chamber and there is concern – not pessimism – about the downturn and does concern me because while Glencore and the mines are important, small business is the backbone of any community,” he said.
Senator Macdonald said the Northern Australia White Paper offered a plan for northern Australia which committed money to the north.
“That money is starting to roll out, we’ll see announcements in the next couple of months of one and a half billion dollars of new road money, I’m hopeful of new announcements of water projects, either feasibility or small infrastructure projects in the north, those decisions are coming close,” he said.
“But clearly the north west is set up for mining, (Mount Isa) is a mining town and an important city and it’s important to keep it going so at the government level we want to make it as attractive as possible for mining expansion and to help mining companies do what they do best.
(Mount Isa) is a mining town and it’s important to keep it going so we want to make it as attractive as possible for mining
- Senator Ian Macdonald
“The best way we can do that is by getting the infrastructure right.”
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