THE NEWMAN ON THE BLOCK , MAYBE .

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LIBERAL National Party (LNP) leader-in-waiting Campbell Newman has promised a strong regional focus should he become the state’s next premier, pledging a statewide infrastructure plan with a strong emphasis on improving the Bruce Highway.

The current Brisbane Lord Mayor labelled claims, in particular those from recently retired State Minister Robert Schwarten, that he was not in touch with regional Queenslanders as “nonsense” when he spoke to APN today.

“I know Queensland and there are few regional centres I haven’t been to,” Mr Newman said.

Mr Newman caused a stir last week when he announced he would quit his position of seven years to become the next LNP leader to take on Premier Anna Bligh at the next election.

When asked what the main issues facing regional Queensland were, the one-time army man cited agriculture, mining and infrastructure as his biggest concerns.

"Government infrastructural support is essential if the state’s agricultural sector is going to survive," he said.

“We’re in danger in some locations of not being able to produce food. For example, we have a salad bowl in the southeast of the state, but it’s lacking a reliable water source and that should be dealt with.”
Mr Newman said he would work fast to stop flooding along the Bruce Highway at various locations from Cairns to Brisbane as part of a proposed statewide infrastructure plan.

“There are far too many places along this tourist and commercial artery that are prone to flooding, even putting aside the recent big wet.“If elected we’re going to have a clear infrastructure plan for the whole state, in particular the Bruce Highway. I’m also concerned with the highway west of Dalby. It is a deathtrap.”

Investing in rail and port projects to transport coal was another key issue, he said.“We can’t get our coal out,” he said. “We need to invest in rail and ports. There’s a huge demand in raw material from China ... and the government needs to get out of the way and get these projects going.“We also need to do this to get the jobs and we need more incentives to ensure that local towns are enhanced and we don’t see as much fly-in, fly-out work.”

Before he can aim for the state's top job, Mr Newman needs to win pre-selection for the Labor-held seat of Ashgrove in Brisbane on April 3. He said he would complete a full-term regardless of the outcome of the state election.

“The moment I have got Ashgrove I will walk out, resign on the spot as Lord Mayor and, endorsed by the party, get on the road immediately.”

From there, Mr Newman said he would be talking to local members, candidates and community groups from every electorate, but could not confirm any dates or locations at this stage.

“For now I am still Lord Mayor and people are quite mindful of that. I am not campaigning on ratepayers time.

“For every electorate I will be talking about two main things. Number one, what is the plan we need for their electorate?

“And number two, what is their view on the big picture, that is the statewide issues they want to see implemented.”



“We’re in danger in some locations of not being able to produce food. For example, we have a salad bowl in the southeast of the state, but it’s lacking a reliable water source and that should be dealt with"

"“We can’t get our coal out,” he said. “We need to invest in rail and ports. There’s a huge demand in raw material from China ... and the government needs to get out of the way and get these projects going."

“We also need to do this to get the jobs and we need more incentives to ensure that local towns are enhanced and we don’t see as much fly-in, fly-out work.”

Lucky the ‘L’ ( liberal ) word is just below the ‘G’ ( greenies) word in Gympie .

This rat should not be let loose in the Mary Valley . Rats are good at tunneling .

“The moment I have got Ashgrove I will walk out, resign on the spot as Lord Mayor and, endorsed by the party, get on the road immediately.”

He was to gutless to take the ANNACONDA on , and who is the dickhead that has calculated he can take Kate Jones out ? Seeney , Gibson , ? Whats the bet that the 2 headed kissing cousin monster called the LNP , eat each others faces well before the election ?

The only green thing about newman is the shit under his lawnmower.

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Newman headhunts old adviser
Lisa Martin
March 25, 2011


AAP

The mastermind behind Campbell Newman's successful lord mayor campaigns has confirmed the Queensland opposition leader in waiting has tried to poach him for his tilt at the state's top job.

The Liberal National Party (LNP) plans to install Mr Newman, Brisbane's lord mayor, as leader at the next election, as long as he can be preselected in and win the seat of Ashgrove.

Ben Myers helped Mr Newman take the lord mayor's robes from Labor's Tim Quinn in 2004 and maintain power in 2008.
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He served as Mr Newman's director of business, strategy and communications at the Brisbane City Council before taking up a lucrative public relations gig with Queensland Gas Company.

It's understood the move back to Newman's camp would mean a substantial pay cut.

Mr Myers told AAP Mr Newman had approached him.

"I can't really comment. I haven't had a chance to speak to my employers," he said.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Greens have warned the close links between the LNP and the coal seam gas industry will strengthen under Mr Newman's leadership.

"The current parliamentary leadership of the LNP has been distressingly half-hearted in its defence of rural communities facing gas wells and bore water contamination from a rapacious gas industry," Greens spokeswoman Libby Connors said.

"This is set to worsen with Campbell Newman reportedly recruiting a Queensland Gas Company spin doctor to lead his election campaign team.

"The links between the LNP and the gas sector are already notoriously close."

Former national leaders John Anderson and Mark Vaille were directors of the Eastern Star Gas company, which was exploring for coal seam gas in rural New South Wales despite widespread community protests, Dr Connors said.

Mr Myers said he found the Greens' comments "offensive" but would not comment further on any potential conflicts of interest.
© 2011 AAP

I think the member for Gympie needs to reassure the people of the Mary Valley , that the LNP will protect the biodiversity and agricultural viability of the Mary Valley from the mining sector , given the interest in open cut and CSG .