The professionalism of the Nationals is in question says Greens candidate Susie Russell.
“The Nationals started the campaign running a TV ad in which Mark Vaile told he us he was the Federal member for Lyne. This was after he had resigned giving us the reason for the by-election. After complaints from the public the ad had to be withdrawn.
“Then we heard that the Nationals were letterboxing in Stuart’s Point, far outside the electorate!
“Today the Electoral Commission acted on a complaint from the public about the Nationals How-to-Vote material having an invalid authorisation. The How-to-Votes had to be withdrawn and new ones printed,” Ms Russell said
The Nationals have also begun to mimic many of the Greens policies.
“They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, so I’m pleased that the Nationals have seen the common-sense of many of our positions and are now out there talking them up in the electorate.
“A direct mail to my household from Rob Drew today said that he wanted see ‘properly funded local hospitals’. Are these the same Nationals that supported the privatisation of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital which had to be ‘bought back’ for $80m, just as they supported the privatisation of Telstra and the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories.
“He says he wants to see increased pensions and more help for carers. Yet the Nationals voted themselves Parliamentary pay-rises of 86% under Howard/Vaile and rejected Bob Brown and the Greens call for the money to go to pensioners instead.
“Mr Drew says he wants to protect our local environment. Yet under former Mayor Rob Drew, the Port Macquarie Hastings Council was convicted of knowingly destroying threatened species habitat and rejected staff advice to choose the least environmentally damaging route for the Outer Link Road.
“He also apparently supports public transport… but I notice public education isn’t mentioned. Real funding for public education has actually decreased over the last decade.
“All these policies are only supported because they are now in opposition. They didn’t get much of run when they were in Government.
“I don’t think the public memory is that short. The Nationals were in Government for 11 of the last 12 years, they had plenty of time to implement these policies if they truly believed in them,” Ms Russell said. “We all have to be judged on our record rather than our advertising spin.”