The Premier needs to put the people of Queensland first after revelations that the Premier is not prepared to back the carbon tax in it's current form due to a lack of detail.
Premier Bligh, as the name suggests, is the Premier of Queensland. In that capacity she must put the people of Queensland first. That is her job and that is what she is paid to do. However, she is also the President of the ALP which means she should have some form of power to ensure that Queensland is not hurt by any carbon tax proposal the ALP launches.
To come out and say that she does not have sufficient detail on the current carbon tax demonstrates that she is concerned that this is a bad deal for Queensland and it will have far reaching effects. It also demonstrates that she is unable, even as the President of the ALP, to wield any influence over the faceless men running the party or to gain an understanding of this policy.
The Premier needs to stop sitting on the fence. She needs to stand up for Queensland as its Premier and she also needs to start influencing the party to ensure that Queensland is not impacted by federal legislation.
Professor Bob Carter conducting information sessions around the Far North has indicated this tax could have negative impactas on Queenslanders by $2,000 per year in extra living costs alone. This does not take into account the potential loss of business and jobs this flawed tax could have when the other major polluters of the world are not imposing a similar impost on their national production. It is hardly a level playing field.
Unfortunately, she is probably going to toe the party line, regardless of the impacts for the people of Queensland. If the faceless men in Canberra say it is going to happen, she will come out and support it. Look at the ridiculous first health deal she signed up for, sacrificing over one third of Queensland’s GST revenue. That was a poor deal and she still took it because she put ALP needs in front of the state of Queensland.
This is the problem with political parties that have to answer to party machines in Canberra, instead of local representation. The Queensland Party is the only registered Queensland-based political party. This means we can put the needs of Queensland first and foremost, just as our Parliament is supposed to and the Premier’s response to this issue shows why it is time for change to give the people of Queensland a real voice in parliament.
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