QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT HAS KILLED OFF COMPETITION TO GET ITS OWN WAY
The Queensland government continues its well orchestrated campaign to build a Brisbane cruise ship terminal base port despite being offered a far superior and cost free proposal on the Gold Coast the details of which can be found on Facebook.
To compare the two proposals and their benefits, below is an extract from and a link to The Urban Developer story. This is followed by what is questionable about the government’s handling of what is fundamentally the future of the Gold Coast and how it effects our entire State.
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Extract:
Plans for a mega cruise ship terminal near the mouth of the Brisbane River have progressed after stakeholders reached an in principle agreement with Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd.
Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Curtis Pitt said the agreement with the State Government, Brisbane City Council and Queensland Urban Utilities meant the project had taken a significant step forward in the government’s Market- Led Proposal assessment process.
‘This milestone shows this government, through our Market-Led Proposal initiatives, is in the business of creating jobs and working with the private sector to facilitate good ideas” Mr. Pitt said.
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It’s a pity that this government did not follow the same principles and self congratulatory initiatives when the Gold Coast based Breakwater Group submitted its cruise ship terminal Market-Led Proposal in December 2015.
The submission went unread, was rejected outright, and without any consideration at all, dismissed, good idea or not.
Gold Coast residents can be excused for believing that this government has once again put its political aspirations before the good of their city and for that matter the State. These political overlords still count us as a Regional Center, an extension of Brisbane not the 6th largest city in the country.
The manipulation was well done. First this government did not just move the goal posts but removed the entire playing field. Before the last election Opposition Leader now Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said; “There will be no development of Wavebreak Island or an area north of SeaWorld.” The Premier has repeated that ill considered statement and now adopted government policy ‘ad- nausea’.
Adding insult to injury and in response to the Breakwater Group submission, Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Anthony Lynham said; ‘The people of the Gold Coast do not want a cruise ship terminal.” The Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s 72% landslide election result certainly puts paid to that assertion.
The Premier firmly hammered the final nail into the coffin when she said; “If there is a cruise ship terminal in Brisbane, I see no reason for having one on the Gold Coast.” In other words, screw you, Brisbane comes first no matter how good your offer. It’s actually an insulting statement when you consider that the Gold Coast is the tourism capital of the country with the assets and 13 million visitors last year to support that claim and reputation.
It’s not the first time a government has passed over the Gold Coast and if we let this happen it won’t be the last.
This is not about a development as the anti-everything lobby would like us to believe and should not be the lynchpin the government uses to justify its position.
It’s about our future, our jobs, opportunity, critical infrastructure and generating security. It’s about our right and ability to compete in the tourism industry that built our city, an industry that continues to support our economy and way of life. Most of all it’s about securing the future of our children and theirs.
Competition delivers better prices, better services and generates new ideas. This government has, by manipulation and decree, circumvented competition making their Brisbane cruise ship terminal the only game in town and making a mockery of Minister Pitt’s latest statement.
To put it mildly, this is unacceptable behaviour for a government whose members are sworn to faithfully represent and govern for and on the behalf of the people.
Is it any wonder why we are increasingly disillusioned with mainstream politics? But there is a choice. We can accept the status quo and forever dance to the tune of those who would suppress our desires and ambitions or we can speak out clearly, loudly and often by all means available to us including Facebook, contacting the media and your local member. Change only happens when you make it happen while doing nothing delivers exactly that. NOTHING!
© 2017 Bob Janssen | BobJanssen.com.au
