TWO state Labor heavyweights visited the city yesterday to campaign for Cass Coleman, the party’s candidate for the seat of Bathurst in the March 28 state election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The opposition’s local government, housing, mental health and status of women spokeswoman Sophie Cotsis joined regional and rural affairs spokesman Mick Veitch at the campaign launch in George Street.
Ms Coleman said she was contesting the seat for Country Labor to stand up for working families.
“I’m fighting for working families, so that they can comfortably pay their bills and send their kids to the school of their choice. I’m fighting to give them a fair go – to give them a voice,” she said.
“No one knows better than me what it is like to have the last $20 in your pocket.”
The mother-of-two was born and bred in Lithgow and has family connections in Portland, Bathurst and Burraga.
She is faced with a mammoth challenge to unseat incumbent MP Paul Toole, but she is not daunted.
“The recent election outcome in Queensland clearly indicates that there is no longer any such thing as a safe seat in state politics,” Ms Coleman said.
“Anything can happen, only time will tell.”
The Labor candidate has three priorities for this campaign: to oppose the privatisation of the electricity industry and the health system and to ensure people of the Central West have access to employment opportunities.
“The main concerns for this electorate, I believe, are: the prospect of selling the ‘poles and wires’ – it will cost 200 jobs and mean higher bills for families; ensuring our health system stays in public hands and receives adequate support; and jobs, jobs, jobs,” she said.
Ms Coleman said Country Labor had developed policies to ensure employment figures in the electorate turn the corner.
“We have developed a local jobs policy which will provide local companies with support and ensure they have first go at bidding for government tenders in their areas,” she said.
“Labor has a proven record on decentralisation of government offices. We have brought the LPI and State Debt Recovery Office to the Central West and we will continue to look at decentralisation opportunities.
“And we have committed to contributing 15 per cent towards the cost of local apprentices to ensure locals are being trained or reskilled to best meet employment opportunities. To achieve this, we will also reinvigorate TAFE, ensuring it is the quality training provider people need and can afford.”
