PM speaks on domestic issues
Fri 11 August 2006
Jennifer Meager, Journalism
Prime Minister John Howard made a fleeting visit to the Glass House Mountains, Queensland, on Thursday, August 3 as part of his state tour.
A media frenzy greeted the Prime Minister after his short stop at a local cafe for a cappuccino.
Mr Howard visited the small town on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to officially announce the Glass House Mountains National Park’s National Heritage Listing.
Member for Longman Mal Brough joined Mr Howard at the official opening.
“I can understand why people live here, including Mal Brough,” Mr Howard said in his introduction.
Mr Howard made an official announcement, thanking Mal Brough for his help in ensuring the national park made National Heritage Listing, before taking a tour of the lookout.
The Prime Minister may have come to the Glass House Mountains to announce the new listing, but talks quickly turned to the national and international issues of concern, including the Middle East, petrol prices, interest rate rises and the Cyclone Larry Disaster Relief.
Mr Howard visited Innisfail in north Queensland on Monday and said the Cyclone Larry Disaster Relief operation would be extended from 13 weeks to 26 weeks.
The operation has seen $237 million spent in the region.
“Every dollar has been well spent,” Mr Howard said. “We are lucky as a country that we can afford this very significant amount.”
Mr Howard said it was impossible to know when the original decision was made how long the operation would take in the cyclone devastated region and expected to extend the operation at a later date.
Although providing more relief for north Queensland residents, the Prime Minister did not have relief for motorists. Good transition
Mr Howard said with high crude oil prices and conflict in the Middle East the cost of fuel was not expected to fall any time soon.
“There’s no easy way,” Mr Howard said. “It would cost $3 billion in excise to help alleviate the high prices.”
“If Australia has $3 billion to spend it should be spent another way.
“At the last election [fuel] was about $1, now it is up by 30 or 40 per cent.”
The Prime Minister said high fuel costs were due to current international issues not excise or local taxes.
“The current issues are impacting on our strong economy,” he said. “There will be no comfort on petrol prices with the conflict in the Middle East.”
Mr Howard announced he would speak to Australian Islamic leaders to discuss the conflict between Israel and Lebanon.
“The government's position on terrorism will not change,” he said. “If there is a cease fire it will not last. The renewal of fighting may be worse.”
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Submitted Comments
This is a very interesting story because it has covered many issues of concern, whilst incorporating a local area in the lead paragraph which catches the audiences attention. The article shifts smoothly from one issue to the next, making for an enjoyable and informative read.
Sarah Rex