Labor has unveiled a plan to position Townsville as Queensland's second capital city.
Premier Anna Bligh, who is campaigning in the north Queensland city on Wednesday, says a re-elected Labor government would cement the city's position as a major hub in the nation's north.
'Townsville is ... the largest service centre in the nation's north, as well as the key centre for economic and population growth in North Queensland, so it makes sense to promote it as the state's second capital city,' she said in a statement.
She said the city already had vital infrastructure including a major port, rail links, international airport and tertiary, research and medical facilities.
The Townsville Futures Plan was about building on that, she said.
The plan includes a state development area to be set up in the city to ensure land is ready for development, a CBD revitalisation plan, and a new committee to look at opportunities from the rollout of the national broadband network.
A joint federal-state-local advisory body will also be set up to develop the northern Queensland defence hub.
