Cape York Weekly FREE – #007 | Monday, October 19, 2020
Editor: Matt Nicholls – 0477 450 558 | editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au
ALMOST AT THE FINISH LINE
Tonia May could be the most excited person in Weipa. The co-founder and president of CAPS walked through the site of the new animal welfare facility last week and is rapt with the progress. All going to plan, the $2.1 million project will be open for business in early 2021. Feature – Pages 6 & 7
Annastacia Palaszczuk?
Cynthia Lui?
Mayors undecided By MATT NICHOLLS
CAPE York mayors are on the fence about who should get their vote at this month’s state election. Speaking to Cape York Weekly, most were impressed with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, especially during the COVID crisis, but were not pleased with the representation of local MP Cynthia Lui. It leaves the local leaders with a
conundrum with 12 days until the polls close on October 31. Eight candidates are running for the seat of Cook and Mapoon mayor Aileen Addo said she had yet to hear from one of them. “They might have visited when I was out at meetings, but I haven’t seen any (candidates) or spoken to any,” she said last Wednesday. “The state government has been pretty good to Mapoon and has
given us pretty much what we have asked for, but we haven’t seen a lot of (Cynthia Lui).” Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott, who has the biggest council area in Cape York, said he was weighing up the candidates. Cr Scott was able to hear from candidates Desmond Tayley, Yodie Batzke, Tanika Parker and Nipper Brown at the Torres and Cape Indigenous Council Alliance AGM.
MELBOURNE CUP
Ms Lui did not present to the mayors and council staff, he said. “I think we’ve only had limited representation over the last eight years,” Cr Scott said, referring to former MPs David Kempton, Billy Gordon and Ms Lui. “More than anything we want a genuine commitment from candidates to look after all of Cook. We need someone who is energetic, proactive and across the issues.
Cr Scott said he had good relationships with the Premier and the cabinet and was largely happy with the state government’s role. “I think they handled the whole COVID thing really well,” he said. “There are some things I don’t agree with. I think they are a bit anti-development in the Cape. “They have some strict clearing and vegetation policies.” Continued -- Page 4