Palmwoods
District News

November
1998

Page 7

Wellington's Way
With Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington

IN this my first column as the Member for Nicklin, I take the opportunity to thank you, my constituents most sincerely for putting your trust in me.

And, I give you this pledge that I will do my very best to be your strong voice for Nicklin in State Parliament.

In the first four weeks, we were deluged with phone calls and mail.

Because of the unique position that I hold in Parliament, there are calls for help from individuals and lobby groups throughout Australia. My door is always open - but the people of Nicklin have first call on my time.

I have enjoyed meeting constituents and to date have attended more than 50 functions across the electorate.

Highlights of the past three months were a visit to Parliament House by Maroochy Shire Junior Council and of course the community cabinet meeting in Nambour.

This was a huge success and a major coup for Nicklin. It provided an excellent opportunity for individuals and organisations to meet with Cabinet Ministers and put their cases to them personally.

During the first week of parliament I pledged my support for the Beattie Labor Government because I believed in my heart that it would give stability and certainty to all Queenslanders.

Last month I presented my private members bill on citizens initiated referenda that had a mises response from the political parties. I hope that in the coming weeks I can persuade my colleagues to put e matter to a referendum.

What I am saying to them is: don’t make a decision on whether to allow citizens initiated referenda but instead, let the people of Queensland decide the matter at a referendum. This could be held in conjuntion with an election (state or local).

The political parties don’t want CIR, then they can go to the people and lobby against it before that referendum.

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