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Wednesday, December 9, 2015
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$1,650 Christmas Vouchers Giveaway! Christmas tree stars at carols Mareeba’s new Christmas tree was officially unveiled at Carols in the Park, last Sunday night. Locals packed into Arnold Park for a night of Christmas carols and dance performances to kick off the festive season. New Christmas trees now feature in towns across the Mareeba Shire at Kuranda, Mt Molloy, Dimbulah and Chillagoe. Pictured is Mareeba Shire Council Mayor Tom Gilmore with Natasha Srhoj in front of Mareeba’s new tree.
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Game
over By Justin Fris
A
bid for greater electoral representation in regional Qld has been denied by the Palaszczuk Government and the Independent Member for Cook, Billy Gordon. Katter’s Australia Party crossbenchers Shane Knuth (pictured) and Robbie Katter saw their private members bill Electoral (Improving Representation) and Another Act Amendment Bill 2015 deadlocked after support from the LNP, until Mr Gordon’s vote sealed the bill’s defeat. The bill was designed to increase the number of MP’s in state politics from 89 to 93 - with four additional seats spread across regional and remote areas - in a bid to improve resources and services for the bush. In terms of other remaining Far North MP’s, Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt, Member for Barron River, Craig Crawford and Member for Cairns Rob Pyne all voted against the bill. The result has dire consequences for all regional electorates, with between three and four seats set to be either culled or merged prior to the next election. MP numbers will remain at 89, with the re-allocation of seat distribution set to be spread across south east Qld. Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth was naturally disappointed with the deci-
sion, with the fate of his electorate currently unclear. “We are determined to see the interests of rural and regional Qld advanced,” he said. “This re-distribution is going to take us back to the point where it is an insult. “Up to three or four seats will disappear – which will also allow for further expansion of electorates in Brisbane.” The current situation has a sense of déjà vu for Mr Knuth, who had a similar situation occur during 2009. After being elected to the seat of Charters Towers in 2004, Mr Knuth was required to run for the then new seat of Dalrymple in 2009, after his seat was abolished. CONTINUED PAGE 3
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