Election Countdown Begins

Earlier this week, on Monday, October 1, Queensland officially entered 'caretaker mode' ahead of the state election set for October 26. From this point until the election results are determined, the government is subject to several restrictions under caretaker conventions.
With the election campaign now officially underway, Queensland Premier Steven Miles kicked off his re-election bid by highlighting his government's introduction of 50c public transport fares. On Tuesday morning, he rode a bus to Government House to meet Governor Jeannette Young and formally launch the 26-day campaign. Following this, Miles flew to Townsville and later arrived in Mackay to support local Labor candidates at their candidacy launch at the Souths Suburban Bowls Club, followed by a big energy announcement made at the Resources Centre of Excellence. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli had already set his sights on the key battleground of Cairns, making his way there on Monday, quickly announcing $10B worth of election promises within the early stages of the campaign. With Whitsunday identified as a key seat for One Nation, Pauline Hanson also spent time in Mackay at a dinner for candidate, Julie Hall.
Here in Mackay, Greater Whitsunday Communities (GWC) is urging candidates and party leaders to prioritise key regional issues as part of their election commitments, outlined in a comprehensive strategic advocacy document released this week.
The document, titled Building Foundations for Growth and Wellbeing in Greater Whitsunday, highlights critical community concerns exacerbated by the ongoing housing crisis and rising cost-of-living pressures. These challenges are fuelling serious social issues, including mental health struggles and youth disengagement, across the Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday regions.
GWC’s Executive Officer, Carol Norris, emphasised the need for immediate action, noting the significant impact of rising costs on the region.
"GWC has outlined a set of priorities that need immediate attention, and we are calling on candidates in our region, as well as party leadership, to commit funding and resources to solutions that will make a real difference," Ms. Norris said.
She pointed out that while the effects of these issues are often discussed in relation to capital cities, they are even more pronounced in regional communities.
"We are seeing people who can’t afford the basics and are struggling to put a roof, or even a room, over their heads," she added.
Although the Queensland Government's Greater Whitsundays Regional Transformation Strategy 2024 aims to guide the region toward an ambitious net-zero target by 2050, Ms. Norris expressed concern that the strategy does not adequately address the soft social infrastructure needed to support this transformation.
"Yes, we can build hospitals and schools, but where are the people going to come from?" she asked.
"We know that if our doctors, nurses, teachers, daycare workers, care workers, retail workers, and council workers feel they’re moving to a region where they can access affordable housing, where their little ones can attend daycare, where there are decent sports and recreation facilities, and where they can navigate critical health services, they are more likely to stay in the region."
Ms. Norris stressed that a healthy, thriving population is essential to the success of the Regional Transformation Strategy and any efforts to ensure the ongoing resilience of the Greater Whitsunday region.
"A healthy, thriving population will underpin the success of the Regional Transformation Strategy or any efforts to ensure the ongoing resilience of the Greater Whitsunday region," she stated.
Without proactive measures to address soft social infrastructure, including housing, mental health, and youth disengagement, the challenges facing the community will continue to escalate.
"This cannot continue," Ms. Norris warned, calling for urgent action from government leaders.
Key Advocacy Priorities outlined in the Building Foundations for Growth and Wellbeing in Greater Whitsunday document include:
Housing: Tackling the severe housing shortage impacting our communities.
Youth: Bolstering support for youth, with a focus on mental health, education, and employment opportunities.
Mental Health: Expanding support for accessible and innovative community mental health initiatives to address high rates of mental distress and suicide.
Integrated Sustainability: Advocating for sustainable economic, social, and environmental development practices to ensure the region’s long-term prosperity.
These priorities reflect GWC’s ongoing engagement with local communities, which has shaped the organisation’s focus areas.
The advocacy efforts align with the broader objectives of the Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) Greater Possibilities for Greater Whitsunday and Queensland 2024 Queensland State Election priorities, calling for significant investments in roads, housing, and State Development Areas to unlock substantial regional growth.
“As we approach a pivotal election, it’s crucial to advocate for the nuanced needs of the Greater Whitsunday region.
“Our advocacy, grounded in active community engagement, presents the critical voices of the Greater Whitsunday communities and their priorities. We sincerely hope all political candidates will consider these essential regional needs."
In the lead-up to the Queensland state election, we posed a series of critical questions to the candidates of Mackay and Mirani, giving them a platform to share their policies and address the issues most important to the community. Their responses provide valuable insight into their plans for tackling local concerns such as housing affordability, infrastructure development, and job creation. These are the matters that will shape our region's future, and we encourage residents to review what each candidate has to offer.
For those interested in the perspectives of candidates from neighbouring electorates, we’ve also covered the Whitsunday candidates in the flip side of this publication, Whitsunday Life, and Burdekin candidates in Burdekin Life, which is available online.
Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication, we were unable to receive responses from Labor’s Mirani candidate Susan Teder before going to print. However, we will publish her answers in next week’s edition, ensuring her voice is included in this vital conversation.

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