By JONATHON HOWARD
THE FIVE candidates for the Federal seat of Maranoa this week kicked off their election campaigns. The Free Times gave each candidate the opportunity to share their opening thoughts entering the battle for Maranoa.
BRUCE SCOTT (LNP):
FEDERAL LNP Member for Maranoa, Bruce Scott, says he has spent the past three years travelling the electorate to meet and listen to constituents to be their strong voice in Federal Parliament.
“Our rural communities deserve a better deal and that’s why I fight hard for road infrastructure, access to health, education, telecommunications and support for families, farmers and small business,” he said.
“I’m a team player in a strong Coalition team. I’m absolutely committed to getting the best for the Maranoa and do everything I can for a change of government in Canberra.
“As a previous minister in the Howard Government and an experienced representative of regional and rural Australia, I’m keen to make a significant contribution to an Abbott-Truss Government restoring the confidence of Australians in the economic management and direction of our nation.
“At this election, only the Coalition can form the strong, stable government to deliver a stronger economy with more jobs, real help for families and small business, lower taxes and secure borders.”
NICK CEDRIC-THOMPSON (ALP):
NICK Cedric-Thompson was born in Toowoomba and went to school at St Thomas Moore’s Primary.
His family has been in Texas for generations and he has strong family ties to the area.
He has a Bachelor of Social Science and is currently studying to attain a Masters of Social Work as well as a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management.
Mr Cedric-Thompson says he has a strong commitment to social justice and helping working people. As a community worker in a rural area, he understands how important jobs and services are to working families in regional Queensland.
He believes that Labor’s plan for better schools will be crucial in ensuring that children in regional towns and communities have the same opportunities as the rest of Australia.
Mr Cedric-Thompson lives in Roma and says he is dedicated to giving a strong voice to working people.
GRANT NEWSON (The Greens):
GRANT Newson has flagged as several key issues for his campaign.
These include halting the CSG industry, keeping cropping land, water and rural lifestyle safe and establishing and improve farmers’ ability to sell direct – curbing the duopoly of supermarkets.
He says renewable energy projects and lowering the cost of living are vital for the future.
“Roads, infrastructure, communications and emergency services in rural areas have been forgotten by the two major parties,” he said.
“It’s time for a change and rebuild rural Australia with The Greens.”
JOHN BJELKE-PETERSEN (Palmer United):
JOHN is a passionate advocate for the regional sector having been raised on the family peanut farm ’Bethany’ in Kingaroy.
He operates the family’s mixed farming and tourism property and understands the importance of supporting local businesses in the area.
“I am passionate about rural Queensland and am honoured to be selected as the Palmer United Party candidate for Maranoa,” he said.
“Regional Australia creates the majority of the wealth that drives this country yet we struggle to maintain services and infrastructure due to lack of will and funding by state and federal governments.
“I support Clive Palmer’s policies to reunite Australia and return the wealth back into the areas that create it.”
JOHN SPELLMAN (Family First):
CANDIDATE John Spellman says Family First is a mainstream conservative party which believes in strong families, strong values and a strong Australia.
Strong Families: Family First believes public finances should be diverted from expensive (high taxing) governments to families.
Strong Values: Values are the foundation of a nation. Family First believes in the importance of values. Values like telling the truth, living within your means, hard work, respect, courtesy, compassion, courage, generosity.
Strong Australia: A strong and prosperous nation builds up its infrastructure – roads, ports, power stations, airports and telecommunications. Australia needs a political party which understands business and how markets work; how and why investment decisions are made; how real jobs are created; and that ’barriers to entry’ to getting a job causes unemployment.
