Rob Katter pushes to split Queensland into two states
Katter's Australian Party is pushing ahead with its call to split Queensland into two states, proposing a boundary be decided by the Queensland Redistribution Commission or another independent body.
Rob Katter will move to debate the idea in Parliament tonight.
"I give notice that I shall move that the Queensland Legislative Assembly supports in accordance with section 124 of the Commonwealth constitution the separation of Queensland into two states, and that the boundary of the two states is to be as recommended by an independent body such as the current Queensland Redistribution Commission," he said.
"Section 124 of the constitution says: "A new State may be formed by separation of territory from a State, but only with the consent of the Parliament thereof, and a new State may be formed by the union of two or more States or parts of States, but only with the consent of the Parliaments of the States affected."
Mr Katter has previously told the ABC the split was needed to address what he described as a "sinkhole" of funding to "keep building aquariums in Brisbane and office buildings and to buy votes".
Cairns-based independent MP Rob Pyne has also indicated support for the concept, which has been discussed many times.
The recent LNP state convention voted down a motion to pursue the idea, although it was backed by senior MPs Ian Macdonald and George Christensen.
However even if the motion is passed it would not be a binding decision - just an expression of MPs' opinions.
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