One of Australia’s most high-profile politicians took time out of a gruelling election campaign to attend a sold-out fundraiser in Wagga on Tuesday night.
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Labor Party frontbencher Anthony Albanese was the guest speaker at the 10th annual Eddie Graham dinner at Royal Gardens restaurant.
In his speech, the minister for infrastructure and transport talked about opportunity for all and said it was time the inland rail project was started.
“Inland rail would be a boon for this region,” Mr Albanese said.
“By allowing people to get products to market more quickly, it would allow us to expand existing export industries in this part of the world and promote the development of new industries.”
Mr Albanese said he supported the proposal for high-speed rail.
“This ambitious project would revolutionise interstate travel, allowing people to move between capital cities in as little as three hours,” he said.
“But more importantly, it would boost the economies of the regional cities along its route, including here in Wagga Wagga.”
Mr Albanese said the city would be a key stop between Sydney and Melbourne.
“It’s not just about giving you quicker access (to the capital cities),” he said.
“It would mean businesses located here could have quicker access to those markets.
“It would also boost tourism in your region.”
Mr Albanese opened his speech by talking about opportunity for rural Australia.
The dinner pays respect to the former NSW Labor member for Wagga, Eddie Graham, who served the town from 1941 to 1957 and is was lauded as one of the best agricultural ministers in NSW.
Mr Albanese has just marked 20 years in parliament. He grew up in a public housing community in Camperdown and became a fighter for social justice so that there was equal opportunity in society.
