Population growth is key issue

Chris Trevor

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FLYNN needs a seat at the Prime Minister’s table, says sitting member Chris Trevor who is off and running for the federal election on August 21.

“The Prime Minister has blown the whistle and it’s game on. I’ve been working extremely hard for this for the past two-and-a-half years so I’m more than ready,” Mr Trevor said in a press release yesterday.

“The Gillard Labor Government offers our local community a strong partnership to help guide us through the massive growth expected and the infrastructure required to deal with this growth.

“The Gillard Labor Government has strong policy on health, infrastructure and education. Tony Abbott has none other than to cut these services.

“The only thing that Tony Abbott stands for is to cut funding for vital local projects for our community whether that is cuts to better broadband, cuts to our schools or roads like the Calliope Crossroads and that is not fair on local residents.

“Tony Abbott also wants to bring back Workchoices.”

His opponent, Liberal-National party candidate for Flynn Ken O’Dowd sees the uncertainty of the mining tax as the biggest issue influencing Gladstone voters.

“Companies such as Rio Tinto, the Gladstone Port Authority and the coal mining industry will be affected by this issue as well as the future Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) uncertainty,” Mr O’Dowd said.

“This uncertainty doesn’t go well for the vibrant industries in Gladstone.

“The ETS system will hit coal-fired powerhouses which will deeply affect our aluminium industry.”

Mr O’Dowd said other issues influencing Gladstone voters were the ageing population and mental health care.

“Underlying all this is a struggling economy with a debt growing at $700,000 per week, which is just reckless spending and will need to have the brakes put on it,” he said.

“The Liberal-National Party will bring a government that has better policies than the Labor Party and will bring budgets back into line. “I have worked in small business myself and know how a business operates. Whether it be a small business or a large government, it all works the same.”