Welcome from the President - Beatrice Booth

The North Queensland Party welcomes you to our website. The NQP is moving from strength to strength as our membership grows bringing with it energy and skills that will soon help us realise the 500 strong membership we need to register as a political party.

Our immediate target is to contest the next Queensland State election due in 2012.

The North Queensland Party area includes 14 state electorates. The southern boundary is formed by the electorates of Mt. Isa, Dalrymple and Mirani. The western boundary is formed by the electorates of Mt. Isa and Cook that includes the Torres Strait in the North.  Of the 14 seats, there are only two safe seats and the rest have been won on preferences and not the primary vote in the last election. The NQP is aiming to win these seats and with it the balance of power in the Queensland Government.

As North Queenslanders, we have an opportunity to be part of our own political party with allegiance to our community not major party policy. This is a fundamental flaw in our 2 party preferred electoral systems. While the two major parties are kicking each other for brownie points to keep their votes in the larger populations our communities miss out. This is precisely what the NQP want to change. A North Queensland Party can fight for North Queensland’s fair share of funding without the shackles of major party politics. Regardless of which party forms Government the people of North Queensland can force its political will.

We have some prospective candidates and encourage any of our members to nominate for pre-selection. The pre-selection process includes all party members to select our candidates. We hope to do this well before the upcoming State election allowing people in the North plenty of time to know their NQP candidate.

We are driven to reverse historical neglect. The North, with 16% of the State’s population earns 60% of the States export earnings. Precious little of our share of these earnings is returned by way of government spending in the North. We aim to change this.

As a member of the party you will have your opportunity to contribute to policy development. Policy development by a strong base of at least 500 members will help ensure we stay on track representing North Queenslanders. Our major policy areas to date address social inequity, economic inefficiencies and unproductive investment.  We are fighting for better health services, better transport infrastructure and equitable access to tertiary education. We are fighting for the right to sustainable economies that support local production and consumption that is not burdened by hypocritical legislation and regulation that erodes the ability to be sustainable. High unemployment, a sign of sick economies, is not tolerated by North Queenslanders.

Issues that divide North Queensland, our cities and communities, stem from very poor quality decision making by a government based too far away.

The North Queensland Party is your insurance policy for a fairer deal for the North. Many say it is about time. We are working for positive change and your membership is critical to our success. If you can get involved or volunteer in some minor or major capacity contact us for more information.