The Premier’s representative in North Queensland won’t listen to stakeholders from the hospitality and tourism industries in North Queensland about their concerns regarding the Palaszczuk Government’s 1 am lock out and 3 am closure policy for licenced venues.

Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps said Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, Coralee O’Rourke, had brushed aside questions during estimates hearings yesterday about the concerns of industry stakeholders concerning the impact of Labor’s policy.

“I pointed out to Minister O’Rourke that the Cairns City Council had passed a resolution opposing the Palaszczuk Government’s 1 am lockout and 3 am closure policy and specifically requested the former LNP Government’s Safe Night Out Strategy be retained” said Mr Cripps.

“One of the Minister’s formal responsibilities is to engage with stakeholders about the implementation of the Palaszczuk Government’s priorities in North Queensland, one of which is the 1 am lockout and 3 am closure policy, but it seems that doesn’t matter here” he said.

“Despite her official consultation role, Minister O’Rourke made it clear that regardless of the views of North Queensland’s hospitality and tourism industries, Labor’s policy will be implemented because it was an election commitment – what’s the good of her then?”.

“You would have to be hiding in a cupboard not to have noticed the concern expressed by business community in Cairns about the potential impact that Labor’s lock out and closure policy could have on businesses and jobs – maybe that’s the problem with this Minister?’.

Mr Cripps said the former LNP Government had implemented the successful Safe Night Out Strategy to increase public safety for patrons in licenced venues, but the Palaszczuk Labor Government was mindlessly tearing it down for political purposes.