07.09.10
The people of the Lyne electorate have every right to feel disappointed by Robert Oakeshott’s decision to endorse Julia Gillard as Prime Minister and risk Australia’s future at the hands of the ‘faceless men’ of the Labor Party.
The Nationals Candidate for Lyne Dr David Gillespie said Mr Oakeshott had ignored the views of the people of his electorate in putting Labor back into power.
“Many people are understandably disappointed, confused, angry and concerned with this decision. Another Labor Government, this time propped up by the extreme Greens and three independents, was not what people voted for,” Dr Gillespie said.
Mr Oakeshott received 47% of the primary vote, the Coalition received 35%, while Labor received only 13% and the Greens just 4%. In the Senate, nearly 46% of the people of Lyne voted for the Coalition while only 30% voted for Labor.
“Mr Oakeshott would also be aware from his scrutineers who watched the vote count on election night that the vast majority of people that put him as their first preference had the Coalition as their second preference,” Dr Gillespie said.
“This electorate certainly did not endorse Ms Gillard and the Labor Party, so why has Mr Oakeshott?
“Had Mr Oakeshott declared that it was possible he could vote with Labor prior to the election, the considerable swing that he experienced against him two weeks ago may have been even bigger.”
Dr Gillespie said he was deeply concerned for the future of regional Australia and the nation, based on Labor’s appalling track record in its first term and its alliance with the extreme Greens now.
“While Labor may have made a lot of promises to secure Mr Oakeshott’s vote, they have now been given the green light to continue the waste and mismanagement which has resulted in record debt, the pink batts fiasco and school hall rip offs to name just a few examples,” Dr Gillespie said.
“Unlike Labor, my Coalition team has a track record of delivery and a track record of strong economic management. This election, we announced plans for a genuine overhaul of the Health System , three thousand more beds nationwide and local control of the Base Hospital,to boost higher education in the Manning and Hastings, allocate funds for local roads and bridges and roll out much faster broadband services in half the time and at a fraction of the cost of Labor’s plan.
“The new Labor-Greens-Independent Government has plans for a great big ETS tax on everything, a new tax on mining, fishing bans, more spending and more borrowing.
“For all these reasons I strongly disagree with Mr Oakeshott’s decision, but I respect his right to make his decision.
“As for my Nationals team and I Australia wide we had a very good election, increasing our Parliamentary numbers and achieving a 6% primary vote swing and 3.4% two-party preferred swing. We will continue to work hard to repay the trust placed in us by regional voters and to hold this new government to account.”
Media Contact: David Gillespie 0488 628 701
