LEICHHARDT'S MP's hit list: 'the need to co-operate, get rid of the bloody politics and start looking at the interests of the community'

Warren Entsch has a fire in the belly and a whiteboard listing the election commitments he and Labor made to the Far North.

And the newly-elected Leichhardt MP says he will keep it on display until "every one of those commitments is crossed off".

Mr Entsch also had some terse words for politicians he said had been "mute" about the needs of the Far North.

Speaking at the Australian Electoral Commission’s official declaration of Leichhardt yesterday, Mr Entsch said he was unfazed that he will be in Opposition for the first time.

"I believe I can be just as effective in government as I can be in Opposition. The one difference is that it may take a little bit more time," he said.

"I’m looking forward to the challenge."

Although disappointed the Coalition failed to form government, Mr Entsch said he was relieved to finally get to work.

Mr Entsch said he planned to use Private Members’ Bills to win concessions for Far Northern residents and intended to work closely with independent Kennedy MP Bob Katter.

He challenged the two independent MPs who helped Labor form minority government, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, to support Bills designed to help regional areas.

"We’ll see the commitment of those rural independents to regional Australia or whether they’re parochial," he said.

Priorities for Mr Entsch include ensuring deregistered cardiologist Dr Roger Chatoor stays in Cairns and to restore funding for the Tropical Sciences Research Facility.

He said he would remind Prime Minister Julia Gillard about her commitments for a $3.5 million to upgrade the Jones Park rugby league grounds and $3 million for the Cazalys AFL stadium
redevelopment.

Mr Entsch said he would ensure the Gillard Government’s promised $40 million for the Cairns Cultural Precinct is delivered but would push his alternative to the proposed $240 million waterfront complex.

He will also fight for funding for international-standard sports facilities, which he said could bring 50,000 to 100,000 additional people to the
region.

"We can still have 1000 people for (Mayor) Val (Schier’s) ballet, that’s not a problem," he said.

"We can have a half-dozen events occurring at any given period."

Mr Entsch said he was "sick to death" of politicians wasting taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money and said the four state MPs had been silent on issues affecting Far Northerners.

He called Senator Jan McLucas a "part-time politician" and said he would not "pander to the whims" of Cr Schier.

"They need to co-operate, get rid of the bloody politics and start looking at the interests of the community," he said.

"The whole place has been mute."

Mr Entsch said he was negotiating terminating the lease at former Leichhardt MP Jim Turnour’s office on Grafton St in favour of moving to Mulgrave Rd, which he said would provide more parking for constituents and security for staff.

WARREN'S HIT LIST
Reregister Cairns cardiologist Dr Roger Chatoor
Restore funding for the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility
Reopen the Aborigines and Islanders Alcohol Relief Service
Restore funding to the Dr Edward Koch Foundation, which delivers suicide prevention services
Restore funding to Cairns Youth Mentoring Scheme
Introduce strategies to protect dugongs and turtles from hunting
Secure funding for a cultural and sporting precinct in Cairns
Obtain funding for the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine at James Cook University
Repair and upgrade deteriorating sea wall infrastructure in the Torres Strait
Reverse the Wild Rivers legislation to give better economic opportunities to people living in Cape York

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