WAGGA WAGGA MIGHT BE A GARDEN OF EDEN, BUT IT AIN’T IN THE MONARO!

Labor has again demonstrated it doesn’t understand Eden-Monaro, doesn’t have a plan for Eden-Monaro and obviously doesn’t even know where Eden-Monaro is!

In today’s edition of Wagga Wagga’s The Daily Advertiser, the Labor Candidate for Eden-Monaro claims she will be “a local voice for Wagga Wagga” – a city not even in the electorate and more than 100 kilometres from Mike Kelly’s old electorate office in Tumut.

In fact, since Federation in 1901, Wagga Wagga has never been in the electorate of Eden-Monaro.

Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of The Nationals Michael McCormack said the misstep was another example of Labor failing to understand regional Australia.

“If you don’t even know which towns you’re seeking to represent, you cannot be an effective advocate for your community,” Mr McCormack said.

“Labor has never understood the regions and today has confirmed its inability to deliver for regional and rural Australians.

“Labor should tell its Sydney Sussex Street head office to stop focusing on branch stacking and instead take a close look at a map of the electorate it is seeking to represent.

“The Nationals’ Candidate Trevor Hicks has real life experience, has been a part of the local community for decades and as you’d expect from every candidate for the seat, he also knows which towns are in the electorate.”

Mr Hicks said when casting their ballot, the people of Eden-Monaro should remember which party understood their electorate and which did not.

“I have been part of the wider Eden-Monaro community almost all of my life and I will use that experience to deliver for the many towns in our electorate,” Mr Hicks said.

“Whilst disappointed in Labor’s lack of interest and understanding of our important electorate, I am not surprised and the people of Eden-Monaro won’t be either.”

Shane Manning