I am asking Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert to bury the hatchet and work with me on the local issues I have been championing for the people of the region.

I would welcome the support she could give, as a senior member of the Queensland Government, on issues that will benefit her constituents in Mackay.

This week I’ve been focused on getting solutions for our insurance crisis in North Queensland, reclaiming Keswick Island, getting continued support for tourism workers and businesses, and getting funding for Urannah Dam.

These are the things that matter, and all could be helped along tremendously with strong State support.

I have said before, I do not condone personal attacks on anyone, including Ms Gilbert, but I also note that the vast bulk of recent comments on her page are not personal attacks but political criticisms.

On Ms Gilbert’s Facebook page I have seen the typical name-calling insults against me, comments about my appearance, my intelligence, my personal life, comments falsely suggesting I’m a criminal, and I have even seen comments about my wife.

Such personal attacks have happened several times and I haven’t complained. I’m not complaining now. That’s politics. You just got to roll with it.  

However, I am now asking Ms Gilbert to bury the hatchet, as I’d openly welcome her support on the local issues I have just mentioned.