LNP Leader Campbell Newman visits the Whitsundays

 Queensland’s Premier Anna Bligh went south after the regional Parliament sitting in Mackay, but LNP’s Campbell Newman came north, dropping into the Whitsunday Coast Guardian last week.

 “I’m focussed on getting out across Queensland and meeting as many people as I can. I love being back in this part of the world. I used to buy molasses from the Proserpine Mill back in the mid ‘90s,” Mr Newman said.

 Mr Newman commented on the condition of the Bruce Highway, having observed it firsthand on the trip. “Not one overtaking lane past Mt Ossa – that’s a disgrace,” he said.

 If “can-do Campbell” is successful at next year’s election he plans to focus on the two pillars of our economy – tourism and sugar.

 “The sugar industry’s been neglected. Growers have been made to feel like environmental vandals. That’s something we’ll be dealing with if we get into government,” he said.

 Mr Newman also said if he became Premier he would “go out on the front foot”, to attract tourism from the emerging markets of India, China, South Korea and the Gulf countries, to our shores.

 “I want to build the tourism industry here and I will then fight for the restoration of direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne,” he said.

 An LNP government, Mr Newman says, would focus very much outside of parliament.

 “I’m always mindful of what Queenslanders want. I don’t want to be this micro-manager sitting in Brisbane. I want to give powers back to the mayors and councils. You elect them. They’re there to make local decisions.”

 “The labor party are going to make all sorts of promises – they’re scattering fairy dust around. Don’t look at what they say. Look at what they do. The state of Queensland’s finances are appalling. The debt is going through the roof. In two-and-a-half years’ time the interest on the debt will be $540,000 per hour. We’ll make commitments but we’ll make modest, sensible, deliverable commitments,” he said.

 Mr Newman was full of praise for Jason Costigan, LNP’s candidate for the seat of Whitsunday.

 “The main thing is to have someone who’s going to be an outspoken advocate for the region. He won’t be a shrinking violet,” Mr Newman said.

 “I know the Whitsunday electorate from north to south. I’ve got the get-up-and-go to help this part of Queensland go forward,” Mr Costigan said.

 Campbell Newman and his entourage said they enjoyed a “lovely” steak burger with chips and gravy from Café on Main in Proserpine during their stay.