Panellists Stacee Ketchell, Josh Creamer and Tania Major with host John Paul Janke at the filming of the Leichhardt election edition of The Point on 23 April. Photo: Supplied.
Amid cost of living concerns, economic development woes and the absence of “real Indigenous policy”, one message will resonate louder than any other when a special election edition of The Point airs this week: it is time for change in Leichhardt.
The show was filmed in Cairns last week and goes to air on Tuesday (29 April) to highlight the key Indigenous issues facing Cape York and Torres Strait communities ahead of the country having its say on 3 May.
There will be some familiar faces on the screen for remote viewers, with Kowanyama’s Tania Major and Stacee Ketchell, representing the Torres Strait, making up two-thirds of the panel.
Host John Paul Janke told Cape York Weekly said panellists had been united with their key messaging during filming.
“The three panellists were saying ‘it’s time for a change’ – they were very keen to echo that with the retirement of Warren Entsch,” he said.
“They felt it was time for a change … with the [Liberal National Party] having been there for 26 of the past 29 years.”
Janke said “the absence of real Indigenous policy in the election at a national level” had also been flagged by panel members, as had driving remote economic development, and coming up with an answer to cost of living and housing problems crippling Cape York and the Torres Strait.
“[They talked about] economic development, especially in Cape York communities, and how communities can really drive economic development in their regions,” Janke said.
“Cost of living, housing and petrol prices as well – they’re saying those things have always been high in remote communities, and First Nations communities have always been experiencing high grocery and fuel prices.”
Janke said the panellists were optimistic about the future of Cape York and the Torres Strait, adding they sounded a call to action for young Indigenous voters.
“All three at the end made a pitch to young Indigenous voters to use their vote wisely,” he said.
“They’re all saying ‘just get out and vote, and vote for change if you want change, but really vote to empower the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice in those communities,’ that was their message.”
Leichhardt voters can see what other key election issues the panel identified when the episode airs tonight (29 April) on NITV at 7:30pm.
Host John Paul Janke talks to the panel about key issues for Cape York and Torres Strait on the Leichhardt election edition of The Point, which airs on NITV on 29 April. Photo: Supplied.
