September 5, 2012
Former National Party candidate for Nanango John Bjelke-Petersen is peeved with the LNP State Government … so peeved, in fact, that he may challenge Member for Callide – and Deputy Premier – Jeff Seeney at the next State election.
Mr Bjelke-Petersen, who stood for the National Party at the 2006 and 2009 State elections but failed to dislodge sitting Independent Dorothy Pratt, believes that rural and regional Queensland is being unfairly asked to bear too much of the pain of the LNP Government’s current round of cost-cutting.
“The regions suffered for 20 years under Labor and they’re still cutting. It peeves me off,” he told southburnett.com.au today.
“They talk about renewing the North Bank Parliamentary precinct in Brisbane but in the next breath announce the number of rail lines that are going to be closed.
“The regions are where the money that drives the State is made. All we want is our fair share back.”
Mr Bjelke-Petersen said the LNP government hadn’t been very “accommodating” to rural and regional areas.
He said there was a combination of things that had encouraged him to speak out, but he singled out the closure of the Monto rail line and the fact that the government “can’t find the money to do the Warrego Highway”.
“It’s gone from ‘can do’ to ‘can’t do’,” he said.
“I think they’ve got too big a majority; they just go along their merry way …”
Mr Bjelke-Petersen admitted that the next State election was “a long way down the track” but he wanted to give “them” something to think about in the meantime.
“I was asked today, ‘Why Jeff?’, and I said, why not?” he said. “He should be taking the lead in dealing with all these issues in rural and regional areas.”
Mr Bjelke-Petersen said the politicians in George Street hadn’t felt much pain during the cutbacks.
“There should be a moratorium on their wages; no pay rises until Queensland gets back its AAA rating,” he said.
“They only raised the meal fees at Parliament House by 15 cents, and they already get it cheap anyway.
“We need leadership. They need to start showing that they’re going to experience a bit of pain themselves.”
Mr Bjelke-Petersen said the LNP Government needed “a reality check”.
“It’s either bad or it’s not,” he said.
“If things are so bad, stop the Parliamentary Precinct development.”
