Candidates are jovial and excited as the clock ticks down on the NSW state election. Although when compared, each party could be described as polar opposites in their political mindframe. But what they do have in common is that beneath the smiling faces resides an echo of exhaustion as a result of the strain of the epic campaign for your vote.
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Five candidates vying for the seat of Goulburn — Wal Ashton; Outdoor Recreation Party, Iain Fyfe; Greens, Pru Goward; Liberal, Ursula Stephens; Labor, and Adrian Van der byl; Christian Democrat Party — have put forward their final pitch to the public before the poll.
"It has been a fantastic experience with keen supporters and a new and exciting campaign team, eager to learn the ropes and get the show on the road. The city of Goulburn grabbed the ‘centre of gravity’ for the electorate, setting a cracking agenda and sucking most of the energy. The candidate ‘team’, Wal, Pru, Ursula and Adrian were great to be with, in small doses of course. Respectful and focused on issues, but still entertaining for the voters I hope. I was very impressed with the interest shown by the Yass and Crookwell communities at their MTC forums!
The Greens are the quieter achievers. Not so much fanfare and campaign paraphernalia, but straight-down-the-line policies and attitude. People appreciate that. I’m expecting to smash through double figures for the percentage primary vote on Saturday.
The Yass Valley is my home, and I have represented it as a fast growing region with immediate needs to keep up with the pace. I have run stalls in the Murrumbateman markets, Yass Show, door-knocked and attended forums. I have championed the need to make the Barton Highway safe, to upgrade the hospital and the high school, build a school in Murrumbateman and get more grant funding for infrastructure."
"This election campaign has been about the great opportunities a re-elected Baird Government can offer the people of this region. On Saturday voters have the choice between Mike Baird’s promise of prosperity and a Labor-Green alliance.
For starters with Mike Baird returned as premier, NSW will keep our No.1 economic ranking, ensuring more local jobs. I will also be able to deliver that critical $35 million to the Yass Valley for Barton Highway overtaking lanes, improved health services, upgraded water treatment works and mobile phone black spots.
Critically, under Mike Baird’s plan to lease 49% of the state’s electricity networks, household power bills are guaranteed to come down several hundred dollars a year. That’s pressure off the cost of living, good for business and even better for jobs. The Government will still own the assets.
The successful lease of our electricity assets means the Baird Government will provide regional NSW with a $6 billion infrastructure fund. My job is to fight for a fair share for the Yass Valley region. Yass knows only too well it needs a strong voice inside Mike Baird’s government- not outside, in Opposition. Only I can be that strong voice and I will be."
"I have thoroughly enjoyed the election. I have learned so much about how and why politics has become the way it is. As we travelled around the electorate I developed a real affection for my fellow candidates. One thing I can say; there is much more that connects us than divides us.
I started out as a single issue candidate demanding that we get our National Park back and pointing out how excluding, unpleasant, less than honest and totally authoritarian the bureaucrats are who run the National Park. They take our natural heritage from us and lock us out of both its management and participation. I then found that this also occurred with the LLS, Coal Seam Gas and windfarms. It appears to be endemic that our local assets fall into the control of the bureaucrats and the community that nurtured them ends up without input and receive a pittance in royalties compared to the State and Federal Government. I am strongly about grassroots involvement and control.
If I don't get 15 percent of the primary vote, I have not got my message out. I would be disappointed and fear that the big parties will continue to treat our interests with disdain and disrespect. It seems to me we only count at election time – we need to be considered throughout the term."
"On Sunday morning the people of Yass Valley will wake up to a new local member. This has been a very lively election campaign and hopefully, the voters of Yass Valley have had the chance to examine the policies and promises of all the candidates, and will make an informed vote.
For me, this has been a campaign about community action. I have been really heartened to see how local community groups have geared up their campaigning in response to having access to local candidates. They've told me that this hasn't really happened in the past. We have picked up more than 130 volunteers during that time, and the skills they have developed in six months will make them great community activists in the future.
The redistribution makes it impossible to predict the outcome, but whatever happens, I'm confident that neither side of politics will be able to take this electorate for granted in the future. The commitments made in Yass Valley reflect the priorities of the community and have raised expectations that government can deliver the services and infrastructure the communities are demanding. This would not have happened without a strong challenger in the field.
I have made ongoing commitments to many people in the Yass community and intend to keep them, regardless of the outcome. Yass Valley deserves nothing less."
"This election campaign has been like no other in terms of exposure to the media and the community. Even the news media have realised that I am capable of having them in an uproar. I am also the first CDP candidate to have opened his own campaign office, but also in Australia’s first inland city, Goulburn. My campaign has gained considerable traction as I have campaigned on issues that the other two major parties are not able to address, islamisation, Halal certification, Local Land Service rates, while still campaigning rail transport issues for Goulburn.
Predicting the outcome of this election is difficult, while promoting the distinctive values of the CDP in the backdrop of the corruption that affected both Labor and Liberal. However, I feel that my campaign will have a significant influence on the outcome of the election result.
The Yass Valley is part of a rural electorate and rural landowners should not be ignored and be burdened with Local Land Services rates. The primary producers of the Yass Valley should be aware that Rev Fred Nile of the Christian Democrats would be pleased to put up a bill for the abolition of Local Land Services when parliament resumes after the elections.
