QLD PARTY CALLS FOR CAIRNS TO BECOME AIRPORT HUB

The Queensland Party Candidate for Cairns Darren(D.J) Hunt has called on the state government to take advantage of the Federal government announcement regarding travelers from China to substantially help the devastated Far North Queensland economy and tourism industry.

Mr Hunt said "The Federal government has announced they have secured an agreement with the Chinese government to increase the number of travelers between Australia and China. This places Cairns in the box seat to establish Cairns as an air hub with Asia.”

“The government needs to fast track a deal with someone like South China Airlines or Air Asia for direct flights to Cairns to the same amount they did for South China Airlines to fly to Brisbane. The Cairns Post reported 50,000 visitors wanted to come here but couldn’t. If those visitors would have spent $1,000 here, that’s $50million our economy missed out on. The government’s original decision, to subsidise direct flights to Brisbane instead of Cairns, shows where the governments focus is and always will be and that is South East Queensland.”

Mr Hunt said “It is time that the Far North was given a realistic long term solution to help our economy recover. The Premier can no longer hide behind blaming the Chinese government for not completing this deal given the Federal government announcement that an extra 4,000 visits have been approved by the Chinese government. Providing the same subsidy given to Brisbane would bring huge amounts of tourists through our area and give our economy a much needed and long term boost. ”

Mr Hunt stated “The deal the government struck for Brisbane airport has been kept secret. The people of the Far North deserve to know what they missed out on. The Queensland Party calls on the government to honour their promise to make public the amount of the subsidy given so that it can be determined if a similar amount can be provided for the same deal for Cairns. I believe the people of the Far North deserve that much.”