Ray, you are not hearing voices
‘Ray, you are not hearing voices’ — A tongue-in-cheek email run down leading up to MP Ray Stevens’ shock cableway announcement
WHAT was the lead-up to the shock announcement last week in Parliament by Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens that he intended to revive the Naturelink cable car project?
The Leader of the House surprised colleagues by declaring his role as an adviser and investor in the new $100 million Hinterland proposal.
Below is a tongue-in-cheek email trail of the political drama the night before.
From: Ray Stevens
Date: 29 October 2014, 6.30pm
To: Campbell Newman
Premier, I wish to formally notify you that I will rise in the House tomorrow to announce a major new project, the first on the Gold Coast for a decade. I am part of a consortium which will build the $100 million Springbrook to Mudgeeraba cable car. Campbell, I’ve been hearing voices. They are saying “Build the skyrail, Ray, and people will come”.
From: Campbell Newman
Date: 29 October 2014, 6.35pm
To: Ray Stevens
People will come, Ray, people will come. They’ll come to Mudgeeraba for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up at your cableway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. People will surely come, Ray. The one constant through all the years on the Gold Coast Ray, has been cable car projects.
From: Ray Stevens
Date: 29 October 2014, 7.02pm
To: Ros Bates
Dear Ros, as a courtesy, I intend to announce a cableway project in your electorate. You might recall, 16 years ago, with Naturelink I planned using helicopters to drop 12 towers to support the gondolas which went within 100m of World Heritage national park. I concede this did divide the electorate, helped produce numerous No Way Cableway car bumper stickers and effectively gave Labor an 18 per cent swing and the seat. But if I build it, people will come, Ros. Regards Ray.
From: Ros Bates
Date: 29 October 2014, 7.04pm
To: Ray Stevens
Ray, you need to realise that I’m only a trained nurse. You have to see a doctor, or a team of doctors. I will arrange for either Dr Alex Douglas and/or Dr Bruce Flegg to attend your parliamentary rooms. Regards Ros.
From: Dr Alex Douglas
Date: 29 October 2014, 10.30pm
To: Ros Bates.
Dear Ros, patient is stable, admits to flashbacks, hearing voices and upon examination found to have a severe middle ear infection.
Once resolved, realised “the voices” were, in fact, constituents telling him to “build the light rail, Ray, build the light rail”.
Patient currently resting, was administered with a large glass of red wine by Dr Flegg and has asked for another.
Suggest follow-up consultation in my electorate at Dreamworld location to visualise cablecars in theme parks and not rainforest. Keep monitoring. Regards Alex.