By Margaret Maccoll
Labor candidate for Wide Bay Jason Scanes was on the campaign trail last week in Noosa to meet and greet local residents and promote his aim to listen to the people and fight for what they want in Canberra.
Fighting is something the Scanes knows a thing or two about, having spent 19 years with the Defence Force.
“I’ve fought in Afghanistan and the Middle East and I know what it was to survive,” he said.
“I take my orders from the people. That’s my job. I think some of the politicians have lost that focus.”
Mr Scanes said not being a marginal seat meant Wide Bay received little support and needed someone able to drive significant change.
He believes he is the man for the job after having secured funding for community projects and advocated for foreign veterans and interpreters who assisted Australian forces in combat. He established the charity Forsaken Fighters Australia to assist interpreters left behind after the conflict.
After retiring from the Defence Force five years ago Mr Scanes, who grew up in Dubbo, moved to Maryborough where he lives with his wife and three children. He completed several university qualifications including a Masters in Business and has been CEO of a hospitality business employing more than 70 staff.
