ANOTHER federal Labor heavyweight has thrown his support behind the push to have a special $2 coin minted to mark Bathurst’s bicentenary.
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Opposition agriculture and rural affairs spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon was in Bathurst yesterday to support Councillor Jess Jennings’ bid for the seat of Calare at the next federal election.
He said there were many reasons why Bathurst should be featured on a $2 coin to commemorate the bicentenary.
Mr Fitzgibbon said Bathurst represented the origin of rural Australia, it was Australia’s first inland settlement, the first agricultural farming took place here, and it was the place from which all future inland exploration was mapped.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen is also supporting the $2 campaign, speaking about the matter before the parliament and sending a letter to treasury.
“I believe the case is so strong that in the end the government would have no choice but to embrace it,” Mr Fitzgib-bon said.
“If they don’t we will step up our campaign.”
Cr Jennings, who ran unsuccessfully for the Labor Party at 2013 federal election, said he would be stepping up his coin campaign in the new year.
Meanwhile, Mr Fitzgibbon also took the opportunity yesterday to visit some of Bathurst’s heritage buildings, along with Ribbon Gang Lane and Machattie Park.
He was also given a local history lesson by Dr Rob McLachlan at the site of Bathurst’s bicentenary flag staff.
Mr Fitzgibbon said he would love to come back to Bathurst on 2015.
While he was in town, Mr Fitzgibbon was keen to stress that he believed Labor had a very good chance of taking back the seat of Calare.
He said he believed the Abbott government’s budget had made a greater impact on regional and rural Australia than the rest of the country.
“The petrol tax and GP tax have the greatest impact on regional and rural Australia,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“It’s hard enough to retain GPs in regional Australia as it is. These measures will make it even harder.”
Mr Fitzgibbon said he and Mr Bowen would put a lot of energy into helping Cr Jennings in winning Calare.
“We see real potential for the party to win the seat,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“I believe we can do things better in Calare.
“We all realise [incumbent MP] John Cobb is missing in action. He is taking the seat for granted.
“I’ve been tasked with putting competition into relatively safe seats. Providing competition will bring good things to Calare, even if we don’t take the seat. We are extremely fortunate to have Jess. It’s hard to find quality candidates to stand in seats they don’t think they can win.”
