Under the lighthouse at Wollongong’s Flagstaff Hill, two Illawarra politicians shone a light on why they should get your vote next Saturday.
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As the protracted 2016 federal election campaign inches closer to a conclusion, Labor MPs Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones have urged electors to remember one thing when they head to the ballot box – the “deafening silence from Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals”.
Flanked by party faithful at the iconic Wollongong location on Friday, Ms Bird and Mr Jones – the Cunningham and Whitlam candidates, respectively – made their latest pitch.
“Labor has made it very clear that we have the Illawarra absolutely on our agenda,” Ms Bird said, listing a number of region-specific pre-election commitments.
“In the Illawarra, Labor has been announcing policy after policy for the people of our region, because we put people first.
“There has been deafening silence from Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals - not a single announcement for our region.” Mr Jones said only Labor had plan for the future of the steel, which he described as “tough, proven and legal” that would “guarantee the future of the steelworks in the Illawarra and around the country”.
Liberal candidate for Cunningham Michelle Blicavs hit back at the suggestion her party was sitting on its hands.
“The Coalition are delivering lower taxes for Illawarra small businesses,” Ms Blicavs said. “The Liberal Party are the only ones who have a carefully-structured plan to provide jobs, growth and a secure future for Australian families and businesses.”
LABOR ILLAWARRA ELECTION PROMISES
- Steel Industry Plan
- Maldon-Dombarton – $50 million + commitment to work with private sector
- Appin Road – $50 million
- Illawarra Legal Service – $300,000 for services
- Bulli Surf Life Saving Club – $200,000 for upgrades
- Support for disability employment services.
- Funding for a permanent, full-time judge for Federal Circuit Court, Wollongong
- Education – $59 million in funding for Cunningham and Whitlam schools.