Nationals ‘ignored’ in election campaign — Saffin
Even the Nationals think John Howard and Peter Costello have been ignoring the National party in this election campaign, ALP candidate for Page Janelle Saffin said.
“Former National Party leader John Anderson has told the Australian newspaper that the views of the Nationals have been ignored by the Prime Minister and the Treasurer,” she said.
Ms Saffin said that in a candid interview with the Australian newspaper (November 8, page 7) Mr Anderson said: “There’s a little bit of a tendency to ignore what’s happening with the third party [the Nationals].”
“According to Mr Anderson it’s a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for the Nationals under John Howard and Peter Costello,” she said.
Ms Saffin says the Page electorate has been ignored by John Howard for the past 11 years.
“Even Mr Anderson thinks the Nationals have become irrelevant when it comes to representing the needs of families in regional Australia,” Ms Saffin said.
“I’d like to ask National Party candidate Chris Gulaptis to explain why his party has allowed the Page electorate to become ‘out of sight, out of mind’ under the Howard Government.
“It’s not good enough for the Nationals to come out with some promises just before an election about what they will do for Page.
“If John Howard and the Nationals are re-elected this area will be out of sight and out of mind again.
“Federal Labor has practical plans to invest in the future of this region including major infrastructure funding for the Pacific Highway, upgrading local hospitals and health services, investing in council infrastructure projects, trades training in high schools, national water security, housing affordability programs and renewable energy projects.”
