2011 Clarence By-Election Scorecard. Part Four - the field begins to spread out

NSW Nationals candidate Chris Gulaptis in the media this week:

FEARS up to 50 jobs would be lost in the Clarence Valley under the State Government's planned new tender process for road works were "a storm in a teacup", Nationals candidate for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said. “All it means is that instead of the tender going to council, contractors can bid for the work," he said…..

Greens MLC Jeremy Buckingham last week called on the government to fast track a Regional Land Use Policy for the North Coast, which was not yet even budgeted.

Mr Gulaptis agreed.

"There is no reason we should be last in any area of government expenditure ... we've been doing it tough so if anything we deserve special consideration."

Responding to a challenge issued by Mr Buckingham for the National Party to choose between its rural constituents or big mining companies, Mr Gulaptis said the Greens' attempt to polarise the election on one issue was over-simplistic.

But Nationals candidate and former Page electorate hopeful Chris Gulaptis has been very quiet. Since he was announced as the party's candidate on October 16 we have seen only about three media releases from Mr Gulaptis.

As a candidate he is free to choose how to run his campaign and his campaign team might believe he has sufficient profile from his former mayoralty of Maclean Shire and his tilt at the Federal seat to see him through. But it is an unusual and risky approach, even for a frontrunner.

People expect to hear from the candidates, and in a State election campaign when we are about to lose 200 jobs from the local abattoir they deserve to know how they would deliver new jobs or improve the other areas of State responsibility such as roads, bridges, education, tourism, policing, health or the environment.

We have heard little of that. [The Daily Examiner Campaign on the quiet 10 November 2011]

NSW Country Labor candidate Peter Ellem released his first campaign flyer this week covering promises to fight for more jobs and better health services in the Clarence electorate particularly the Lower Clarence Valley, more police resources, a safer Pacific Highway, a second Grafton Bridge which doesn’t destroy Dovedale; and fight against any move to divert water from the Clarence River or privatise Grafton Goal.

He also sent out a very targeted media release on 10 November which took the fight up to the Nationals candidate concerning coal seam gas:

"I'm calling on the O'Farrell-Stoner Government to immediately suspend all Coal Seam Gas exploration licenses before irreparable damage is caused to ground water and aquifers in the Northern Rivers," Mr Ellem said.

"I'm also demanding the O'Farrell-Stoner Government cease issuing Coal Seam Gas extraction licenses and refuse any applications to expand existing operations.

"Coal Seam Gas has the potential to damage our local rivers, drinking water, prime agricultural land, fishing industry and tourism industry.

"The NSW Labor Opposition believes that until a regulatory framework is in place based on independent scientific research and conclusive evidence, we should not be allowing Coal Seam Gas mining to proceed freely.  

NSW Greens candidate Janet Cavanaugh put a number of media releases out this week including this strong statement:

“The Greens have a good track record when it comes to electricity privatisation,” Ms Cavanaugh said.
“We opposed it under Labor and we are opposed to it now under the Liberal/ National Coalition Government.
“It doesn’t make sense, particularly when it comes to the poles and wires which deliver electricity to our region and our households. These are an essential service and a natural monopoly. They should not be run for profit.

Janet also scores a small advantage because her supporters are enthusiastically getting her message out, including about a Clarence River Catchment anti-antimony mining rally to be held at Karangi Dam on 12 November 2011 at 11am. As well as for a clever use of buses as mobile advertising and showing a sense of humour by posting this; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy90ylMRjLY.

Independent Wade Walker in the media this week:

I think it's about time we move forward in developing the Clarence electorate right across the board - areas like health facilities, sport facilities and renewable energy,"……….Among Mr Walker's other key policies is more of an emphasis on renewable energy in the Clarence and also a halt to coal-seam gas exploration and antimony mining in the Clarence area until more is known about their environmental and health-related impacts.

Christian Democratic Party candidate Bethany Camac has no media presence this week.

Outdoor Recreation Party candidate Clinton Mead has no media presence this week.

Australian Democrat candidate David Robinson has no media presence this week.

Independent Stewart Scott-Irving has no media presence this week.

Assessment:

1. Chris Gulaptis appears dismissive of local fears about more job losses on the NSW North Coast and his attempt to straddle the fence on coal seam gas and antimony mining doesn’t engender much trust. However, it is his attempt to deny that he had once approached the ALP concerning pre-selection which means that his minus score doesn’t mark time – it grows.

2. Peter Ellem continues to echo community concerns in relation to a number of issues, but still displays a strange reluctance to take a strong stand against antimony mining which is perhaps a more immediate threat to the south-eastern section of the Clarence electorate than is coal seam gas mining. His score moves forward from last week.

3. Janet Cavanaugh remains more adept at the use of social media than the rest of the field and her policy statements generally do not disappoint. She adds to her score.

4. Wade Walker has found his voice and gets his first run on the scoreboard for briefly mentioning some of the most pressing issues concerning the Clarence River catchment. Although it is hard to see his idea for four Clarence Advisory Teams made up of community leaders, senior citizens and also senior high school students in Casino, Evans Head, Maclean and Grafton, to raise important community issues ever getting off the ground. His publication of a campaign advertisement with no authorization, when a simple read of his candidate information pack would have shown him what pitfalls to avoid means he doesn’t score well. Swings and roundabouts for Wade.

5. Bethany Camac is virtually mute and her score doesn’t change.

6. Clinton Mead – Clinton Who? He can write a letter to the editor in his far distant home town but can’t be bothered putting pen to paper up here. Loses points.

7. David Robinson remains a puzzle as he is yet to tell the electorate what he is about. Losing ground.

8. Stewart Scott-Irving obviously doesn’t care about the Clarence electorate or its voters, as he is not speaking to them in any meaningful way. Enters minus territory simply because he can’t be bothered.

Rolling Scorecard

Gulaptis -3

Ellem 3.2

Cavanaugh 3.5
Wade Walker 0.5
Bethany Camac -3

Clinton Mead -2

David Robinson -0.5

Stewart Scott-Irving -0.5