9 September 2013
Liam Parsons
The Cairns Post
THE Far North can expect to enjoy an era of economic and population growth when the Coalition implements its northern Australia policy, re-elected Federal Member Warren Entsch has promised.
The Leichhardt stalwart says the new government will develop a strategy within the next 12 months to boost key industries such as agriculture and tourism in the north, while it will also scrap the carbon tax and review the Coral Sea marine park legislation that restricts fishing.
But Mr Entsch has vowed to stand against Prime Minister elect Tony Abbott’s plans to give more control of Cape York initiatives to Noel Pearson, saying he fully backed eight community mayors who objected to the idea.
While Mr Entsch sauntered into his sixth term in office, Bob Katter’s 20-year grip on the seat of Kennedy has been loosened by a strong challenge by the Liberal National Party’s Noeline Ikin.
Pollsters have tipped a win for Mr Katter, who suffered the biggest swing in Australia this election, but Ms Ikin yesterday remained hopeful that postal votes would deliver her a surprise victory.
Courtesy of the Cairns Post