Candidates have final say in fight for Cook

Queenslanders are set to head to the polls on 26 October to decide who will form the next state government, with Cook shaping up as being one of the Far North Queensland seats set to play a pivotal role in the outcome.

With the election now only five days away, Cape York Weekly asked each of the five candidates fighting for Cook four key questions to help voters make their decision.

We know political aspirants have a tendency to use 500 words when a dozen will do, so we asked each candidate, in their own words, to answer the following questions in a maximum of 100 words:

1. Why should electors on Cape York and in the Torres Strait vote for you?

2. What order are you preferencing the other four candidates?

3. What will your first priorities be if you are successful in being elected/being re-elected as Cook’s representative?

4. How will you ensure Cape York and the Torres Strait doesn’t get forgotten post-election if you are successful in being elected/being re-elected as Cook’s representative?

Troy Miller – Greens

Question 1

I have been a nurse and paramedic for the past five years working in Port Douglas, Mossman, Mareeba, Cooktown and Thursday Island. I have seen the struggles of these communities first- hand, and the inequality in housing, education, inadequate access and poverty all leading to poorer health outcomes. I have seen how simple changes to policies and priorities could drastically improve health outcomes. I will listen to the people of the Cook electorate and be their voice in Parliament where I will have the ears of policymakers and can fight for the needs of this community.

Question 2

1: Troy Miller (Greens), 2: Cynthia Lui (Labor), 3: David Kempton (LNP); 4: Duane Amos (KAP); 5: Peter Campion (One Nation)

Question 3

I will be feeding children in all public schools two healthy meals a day free of charge, put dental into Medicare, uphold honesty and transparency so people build trust in their government representatives, build sustainable communities, drastically increase home ownership, ensure accessible public housing for everyone, rent-to-buy public housing schemes, reduce mortgages with a publicly-owned bank, improve access to childcare for all communities, eliminate rheumatic heart disease, build better roads to provide access to all communities, increase opportunities for further education and employment closer to home, and more funding for youth sport.

Question 4

The Cape will not be forgotten under my representation. I have travelled and worked across the Cape, and understand the love and deep connection the people have to Country. It is treasured by myself and the communities that live throughout. I have seen the inequality in the communities and I will not leave any of these communities unheard. The Cook electorate is far too vast to sit in an office to get things done – I plan to personally travel to all communities throughout my four years as your representative, listening and providing solutions.

David Kempton – Liberal National Party

Question 1

The LNP will fix the crisis facing Queensland, record hikes in cost of living, the highest crime rate on record, a health system that people have lost faith in and a chronic shortage of housing. I will guarantee the Cape and Torres will not be forgotten and I will bring a strong voice, safe hands and the experience necessary to ensure the people I represent are heard in Brisbane and get a fair go. Labor and Lui have been missing for seven years. KAP will not be on the field and cannot kick any goals for Cape and Torres.

Question 2

1: David Kempton (LNP), 2: Peter Campion (One Nation), 3: Duane Amos (KAP), 4: Cynthia Lui (Labor), 5: Troy Miller (Greens)

Question 3

The first thing I will do is bring the electoral office back to the electorate. Then I will continue to build on the relationships I have formed over decades with the elected councils, representative bodies, leaders and groups to ensure I have listened to the electors, so I understand the challenges they face in daily life and long-term governance. Much of what is planned to ease the cost of living, crime, health and housing crisis may not be fit for purpose or culturally acceptable for the Cape and Torres. I will work with both groups to ensure the right outcomes.

Question 4

If I am elected, it will most likely mean the LNP will be in government. I was privileged to be your member in 2012-2015 and, as an assistant minister, know the working of Parliament and the bureaucracy very well. I will have direct access to all the ministers and department heads, and will work for the Cape and Torres to ensure the critical issues around housing, health, cost of living and essential infrastructure are addressed. I will work closely with TCICA, Traditional Owner groups and Elders to make sure you all get what you deserve and it is fit for purpose.

Duane Amos – Katter’s Australian Party

Question 1

With a long history of delivering results in the Gulf and Cook electorates, I am ready to provide the leadership Cook urgently needs. I understand the region’s diversity and its potential to shape Queensland’s future. Cook requires strategic vision, not isolated projects, to drive long-term, resilient economic prosperity. Leadership has been absent for too long. I am committed to elevating the region to its warranted prominence. With 34 years of leadership experience and strong relationships, I can immediately deliver results by aligning government and local interests to ensure sustainable growth and opportunities for all of Cook

Question 2

1: Duane Amos (KAP), 2: Peter Campion (One Nation), 3: David Kempton (LNP), 4: Cynthia Lui (Labor), 5: Troy Miller (Greens)

Question 3

The diversity of the Cook electorate demands multiple first priorities. Securing funding for the Myall Creek bridge and progressing the Lakeland irrigation project are vital for infrastructure and growth. I’ll prioritise establishing the Torres and Cape Indigenous Council Alliance shared services hub to promote Indigenous-led governance and the waste and circular economy strategy, which is essential. Additionally, I will support developing Weipa’s economy beyond mining, fostering long-term sustainability. Blue card review and remote sentencing program are prominent first priorities for the region. These priorities will strengthen the region’s economy, infrastructure, and Indigenous leadership while promoting growth across Cook.

Question 4

As Cook’s representative, I will ensure Cape York and the Torres Strait are not forgotten post-election by conducting a 100-day review of the region’s strategic plans. This will involve collaborating with councils, community-led organisations, and agencies to present a detailed economic blueprint for the electorate. Additionally, I will meet with all relevant government departments in Cairns and Brisbane after the election to clearly present the position and priorities of the Cook electorate, ensuring there is no ambiguity about the needs of our region at both the state and federal levels.

Cynthia Lui – Labor

Question 1

I have delivered for Cape York and Torres Strait – cost of living relief, big builds, new health centres, new housing, and upgrades to our schools, roads and marine infrastructure. I have a track record of getting things done, like the freight assistance scheme for cheaper groceries, restoration of birthing services in Weipa and, soon, Cooktown, and the energy rebate for Weipa. I have never backed down from fighting hard for Cape York and Torres Strait, and I have more to give. I will always stand on the side of my communities.

Question 2

1: Cynthia Lui (Labor), 2: Troy Miller (Greens), 3: Duane Amos (KAP), 4: David Kempton (LNP), 5: Peter Campion (One Nation)

Question 3

My biggest priority for Cape York and Torres Strait is addressing the high cost of living and goods by focusing on freight, roads and marine infrastructure. I will continue to focus on unlocking opportunities for the future to support sustainable economic growth, and to deliver services closer to home. My priorities will be to make good on our commitments including advocacy to the Federal Government for additional PDR stage three funding on top of our $60 million commitment, the $200 million redevelopment of Cooktown Hospital and restoring birthing services, mobile medical imaging services for Cape York communities, new primary health centres for Pormpuraaw and Badu Island, and the freight tender for Torres Strait outer islands.

Question 4

The best way to ensure Cook is not forgotten about post-election is to vote for me. The LNP did nothing when they had a representative for Cook; my record stands for itself and I will continue that record. Voting for a minor party always results in less representation.

Peter Campion – One Nation

Question 1

Cook has endured 93 years of Labor MPs and 16 years of Liberal-National MPs, and has been left deep in the dust while the sardine-tin electorates in the south-east have roared ahead. That’s because both the ALP and LNP spend the wealth created in the regions in the south-east where more voters from more electorates can see it being spent – and are therefore more likely to vote for them. Only One Nation is running in every electorate, could conceivably win government in its own right, and can be relied on to return the wealth to the regions that created it.

Question 2

1: Peter Campion (One Nation), 2: Duane Amos (KAP), 3: David Kempton (LNP), 4: Cynthia Lui (Labor), 5: Troy Miller (Greens)

Question 3

The sole constitutional duty of elected MPs is to represent the will of their electorates in the parliament – not the will of their parties, their donors or the loudest media voices. Therefore, the first duty of every elected MP must be to establish exactly what their electorate’s will is, which was near-impossible in large electorates until the internet era. I’ll be establishing Cook’s will using web-based surveys, so everyone can tell me exactly what their priorities are. I’ll analyse that data to determine what the people of Cook want done as priorities, which is what every MP should be doing.

Question 4

There are four possible outcomes from this election and three of them guarantee that Cape York and the Torres Strait will be forgotten again: a Brisbane-centric ALP/Greens government, a Brisbane-centric Liberal-National government, a hung Parliament with minor parties on the crossbench running the state, and a region-focused One Nation government. Only option four guarantees Cape York and the Torres Strait won’t get forgotten, because only One Nation’s parliamentarians can accurately explain how real wealth is created, so only One Nation can ensure money is channelled back to the wealth-generating regions that produced it.