At the start line

LABOR MP Anthony Byrne believes next month’s Federal Election will be a close call – but it appears his contest in the Holt electorate won’t be as tough.
As the race to the polls begins for the 21 August election, Mr Byrne looks set to retain the seat he has held since 1999, with no candidates confirmed as yet to contest Holt.
Mr Byrne said he was aware residents in his electorate experienced trouble accessing fast broadband internet, and said Labor’s National Broadband Network would provide a world-class service for residents.
Mr Byrne said he agreed with Prime Minister Julia Gillard about a ‘sustainable’ Australia.
“People in suburbs like Cranbourne, Fountain Gate and Endeavour Hills want our cities to grow in a sustainable way, not an uncontrolled way, because this affects our quality of life,” Mr Byrne said.
Things also appear to be safe in the Flinders electorate, with Greg Hunt hoping to continue the Liberal’s reign of the seat it has held since 1984.
Competition exists, however, with challengers from Labor’s Adrian Schonfelder and Bob Brown from the Greens.
Issacs MP Mark Dreyfus said the issues in the area continued to be maintaining jobs, investing in schools and recreational facilities and health.
He is being challenged by Chris Carman from the Greens.