Where were you Chris? Local takes Nationals candidate for Page to task

A letter to the editor in The Daily Examiner today taking the Nationals candidate for Page to task.

 

"Political poser

I HAVE lived in the Clarence Valley for the past 20 years.

 What I would like to know Chris (Gulaptis) is just what have you done for this community during these years? Apart from a stint as a councillor, I can't recall anything that brings you to mind.

 I do recall when I, on my own, tried to obtain an ambulance for Yamba and asked you to support my efforts at a meeting with the local Lions Club.

 You did turn up, but told me that I would not get it. Much later when Mr. Jim Agnew asked me to help in obtaining same, it was Terry Flanagan, a Labor man, that was our great support. Without him we would have struggled.

 So much for your interest in local health interests.

JUNE MASCORD

Wooloweyah"

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Howard left at the barrier in last 9 days to election

The Financial Review today highlighted Labor's superior commitment to technical education and trade skills as well as wondering how John Howard came to be left at the barrier.

The Australian in its turn suggests that Rudd's fiscal restraint is not a campaign ploy and heralds the start of a reassessment of economic policy by political leadership.

The Financial Review:
http://www.afr.com/home/viewer.aspx?EDP://20071115000019962223&magsection=news&title=Rudd+claims+budget+high+ground&source=/_xmlfeeds/home/feed.xml

http://www.afr.com/home/viewer.aspx?EDP://20071115000019962203&magsection=News&title=Tingle%3a+Rookie+boxes+Howard+in+on+spending&source=%2f_xmlfeeds%2fnews%2ffeed.xml

The Australian today:
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/paulkelly/index.php/theaustralian/comments/alp_wins_the_high_ground_on_economy/

Selected quotes from Labor's 2007 federal election campaign launch

"When I grew up, we were taught the value of community – looking out for one another when times are tough. That doesn't seem to matter to Mr Howard."

"I have no intention today of repeating Mr Howard's irresponsible spending spree.
Unlike Mr Howard, I will heed the warnings of the Reserve Bank.
Unlike Mr Howard, I will not place in jeopardy households already struggling with mortgages.
Unlike Mr Howard, I don't stand before you with a bag full of irresponsible promises that could put upward pressure on inflation.
Today I am saying loud and clear that this sort of reckless spending must stop."

"On hospitals, we have put forward a national plan to end the buck-passing between Canberra and the States.
I have a long-term plan to fix our nation's hospitals.
I will be responsible for implementing my plan, and I state this with absolute clarity: the buck will stop with me."

"Mr Howard has spent a decade in denial on the critical challenge of climate change.
Even now, Mr Howard still opposes Kyoto.
I make this commitment: If we are elected, I will immediately ratify Kyoto."

"And today I announce that if elected I will set up a major new renewable energy fund to develop, commercialise and deploy renewable energy technologies across Australia.
We need to harness our enormous potential in solar, wind, geothermal and wave power.
This fund will support projects that take renewable energy technology from the lab to the grid.
I am determined to make Australia part of the global climate change solution – not just part of the global climate change problem."

"I believe education is the engine room of equity. The engine room of opportunity. And the engine room of the economy.
I would not be standing here before you today were it not for the encouragement, instruction and opportunity provided to me by the teachers who shaped my life."

"In chapter three we announced we will tackle the chronic shortage of maths and science teachers by halving HECS for those disciplines at university, and we'll halve it again for those graduates who go on to teach maths and science in our schools."

Full transcript of Kevin Rudd's campaign speech:
http://www.theage.com.au/ed_docs/ALP-Campaign_launch_speech_141107.doc
SBS World News Australia on Rudd's speech:
http://naca.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/rudd_unveils_vision_for_future_135092