Hard slog to win seat

By Sarah Schwager
THE Labor Party has a tough job ahead in the Federal seat of Flinders if it is to secure the majority vote.
Labor would need an 11.2 per cent swing to get ahead in the Liberal safe seat held by Greg Hunt.
However, Labor candidate Gary March said it would be unwise for the Liberals to think Labor could not win Flinders.
He welcomed the call of the Federal election, saying Australian electors could now confirm their judgement of Prime Minister John Howard in the opinion poll that counts, and vote for a fresh new government led by Kevin Rudd.
“In a swing of the size the polls have been indicating, many a ‘safe’ seat will fall,” Mr March said.
He said the people of Flinders needed a fresh, energetic new representative who would work effectively for them at a national level.
Mr Hunt said voters would be better off sticking with the Liberals and that since 1996, unemployment in Flinders had dropped from 9.4 per cent to 4.1 per cent.
“Thousands of families in the Western Port region have benefited from these jobs,” he said.
“In particular, small businesses have been able to employ more people at better wages by having more flexibility.
“It would be a tragedy to put those jobs at risk and to put small business owners at risk by returning to the practice, under Labor, of ‘go away money’.”
Greens candidate Bob Brown said the Greens were the best party to represent the electorate because they were aware of the nature of the issues facing the electorate.
He said living on the peninsula, a big issue was climate change, perhaps even in the immediate future.
“The Greens are the only ones who have set realistic options for emissions,” Mr Brown said.
He said the dredging of the bay was another issue that would have a huge impact in the electorate, while the development of the Port of Hastings and the identification of Western Port as a potential nuclear power site were big concerns that the Greens would be fighting against.
Mr Brown also said pensioners had been left in the wake under the Howard Government and he would like to see a $60 a week fortnightly rise in single pensions.
“And we need to make sure WorkChoices is repealed especially since there are so many casuals here.”
Mr Hunt has promised to deliver drought relief to local farmers in the electorate, secure $5.5 million for a Kooweerup bypass, construct a truck bypass at Lang Lang, fight state plans for a freight rail through towns and farms, upgrade Clyde Road, construct a new jetty at Lang Lang and keep the Lang Lang Community Medical Centre open.
Mr March wants to ensure there is no nuclear power in Western Port or Australia, that there is a fairer and more equitable industrial relations system, improve the access to health care, increasing bulk billing, provide trade centres in all secondary schools, act on climate change and water conservation, and ensure that everyone has access to affordable, appropriate and accessible housing.