Queensland Parliament has voted against the idea of splitting the state in two, with the LNP joining with Labor to defeat the motion 82 to 3.

Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) moved the motion in the House, arguing mining royalties derived in the north were not being spent there.

Rob Katter’s Australian Party argues mining royalties derived in the north are not being spent there. Photo: AAP/ Rio Tinto

Government MPs said the north could not survive economically on its own.

While all 42 Government MPs voted against the motion, only 28 Opposition members cast a vote.

Independent Cook MP Billy Gordon also abstained.

MP Rob Katter said north and western Queensland were under-represented and not achieving their full potential.

“We only have one senator left, while there are 12 in Tasmania, which represents a smaller population and a significantly smaller gross domestic product,” he said.

He said many laws including housing codes, vegetation management, and Year 7 transition to high school may have benefited metropolitan areas but had not helped regional areas.

“The one-size-fits-all legislation doesn’t work,” he said.

Cairns independent Rob Pyne voted for the split.

“The people of north Queensland are fortunate to have strong representation through the crossbenchers in this Parliament, but what worries me is we could go back to one of the big Brisbane-based parties running this Parliament and we know when that happens the voice of the north is not heard down here,” he said.

The split state trio @RobKatter3 Shane Knuth @RobJPyne @abcnews #qldpol pic.twitter.com/nO2kpgyhHn

— Chris O'Brien (@COBrienBrisCan) September 15, 2016

“If we’re all going to be Queenslanders surely we are entitled to the same level of service.

“By no barometer, by no measure, could the people in this House say the people of my city receive the same level of services as the people in south-east Queensland.”

More North Qld voices need to be heard @MountIsaNews @ABCNorthWestQLD @TheCairnsPost @tsv_bulletin @couriermail https://t.co/xikqVwzgy9

— Robbie Katter MP (@RobKatter3) September 15, 2016

However, Treasurer and Mulgrave MP in far north Queensland, Curtis Pitt, told Parliament the proponents had not made a clear argument on how they would fund the split.

“There’s been much talk about how much the north produces in terms of royalties and gross state product, without any discussion of how much it would cost to run the necessary health, education, police and emergency services,” he said.

He also had other arguments against the move.

Queensland State of Origin player Jonathan Thurston would qualify for the south. Photo: AAP/Dave Hunt

“Now I know that the member for Mount Isa is as big a Cowboys supporter – as I am – but I wonder if he’d change his tune when he realises that Jonathan Thurston would qualify for Queensland South,” he said.

Mr Katter had 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”.

The constitution, section 124, allows a state parliament to approve the separation of that state.

However, even if the motion had been passed, it would not be a binding decision — just an expression of MPs’ opinions.

– Gail Burke