By JONATHON HOWARD
THE political sledging for the State seat of Noosa has got off to a screaming start this week, as both Labor candidate Mark Denham and Greens candidate Joe Shlegeris take aim at Premier Campbell Newman and LNP MP Glen Elmes, in the race towards the 2015 State Election.
Several questions were emailed to both Mr Denham and Mr Shlegeris asking for their key focuses in the lead-up to the election and their campaign initiatives.
Mr Elmes was also asked to field several questions and his responses will be provided in next week’s edition.
Mr Denham said job creation was the key focus for Labor and one that he views as the most important for Noosa.
“Skilling Queenslanders for Work to help young Queenslanders get the skills they need, Jobs Queensland to match skills demand with worker skills sets and more will come prior to the election,” Mr Denham said.
Mr Shlegeris said his focus was to create a robust private sector to drive better environmental outcomes.
“The best economic policies and the best environmental policies are exactly the same,” he said.
“Queensland can have far better environmental outcomes by spending far less money.
“For example, the private sector is busting to provide cheap, clean power, plus all the jobs that go with it, with no subsidy required.”
In response to campaign initiatives, Mr Denham said Labor was focused on maintaining essential health services and local job creation.
“Maintaining essential health and emergency services, local jobs and job creation initiatives in the local area for both new and experienced workers and a commitment to bio-diversity and balancing the environment with job creation,” he said.
Mr Shlegeris said the Noosa Green party campaign initiatives would focus on “grotesquely excessive pay packets for MPs” and “gigantic subsidies to mining companies”.
“These have left the state with the highest debt in Australia, and the state’s continuing effort to prevent Queenslanders from using the cheap, abundant, and clean energy which is there for the taking, with no subsidy required,” he said.
When asked whether each candidate thinks next year’s election will see a swing towards Labor or the Greens, both candidates took aim at the ailing popularity of Campbell Newman.
“Voters will comment on this awful LNP government,” Mr Shlegeris said.
“On the huge increases in electricity charges, water charges, and state debt.
“On the destruction of the reef. On the failure to commit permanent funding to the Noosa Hospital.
“People must realise that if they elect an LNP member here, they’re voting for Campbell Newman and his spiteful cronies.”
Mr Denham said Labor was the underdog going into next year’s election.
“We have to overcome a massive majority in the parliament and the full force of the LNP machine,” he said.
“There is no doubt people are unhappy with how the Newman Government has been performing and I’ll be fighting every day to make sure the people of Noosa know there is an alternative to arrogance and aggression.
“A Labor team won’t sell your assets and won’t thumb its nose at accountability.”
In closing, both Mr Denham and Mr Shlegeris were asked how they plan to capitalise on any election swing.
Mr Denham said he would create a clear choice.
“By providing a clear choice between an arrogant out-of-touch Premier, who won’t listen, or a Labor team that will put the community first,” Mr Denham said.
Mr Shlegeris said the best results were close results.
“For Noosa, it’s important that our electorate not be regarded as a safe seat,” Mr Shlegeris said.
“Otherwise we’ll see hospital services diminish until the public hospital shuts down.
“For Queensland as a whole the best result would be a 50/50 split between the tired old parties, with Greens and independents holding the balance of power.”
Check out next week’s edition for Mr Elmes responses and campaign initiatives.
