The longest and most tedious election campaign in the nation’s history is drawing to an end.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Today, the five candidates vying for the seat of Riverina give their final pitch to voters ahead of Saturday’s poll.
You can grill the candidates directly on Wednesday and Thursday in a series of Q and As on the Daily Advertiser’s Facebook page.
Richard Foley will be online from 10.30am Wednesday, while Tim Kurylowicz (10.30am Thursday), Kevin Poynter (1pm Thursday) and Michael McCormack (3.30pm Thursday) have also agreed to take part.
Michael McCormack, Nationals:
I am the only candidate with a properly costed plan for local infrastructure; for example, the levee bank, Dunns Road and mobile blackspot funding.
I have the runs on the board and I know how to deliver in government; for example. the new indoor sports centre for Wagga, Eunony Bridge, CCTV for Wagga and Gundagai’s main street redevelopment.
I’ve got the passion, desire, commitment and energy to continue to work hard.
Tim Kurylowicz, Labor:
People in the Riverina are tired of being let down by career politicians.
For years now I've fought for better services across the Riverina: public hospice beds, a prostate nurse, the hydrotherapy pool, the Wantabadgery blackspot.
With your vote, I'll deliver more.
Labor will give every school a boost, meaning for the first time ever our kids will have the same opportunities as city kids.
Labor are serious about investing in roads, rail and renewables right here so that our farmers and businesses can prosper.
We'll ease the burden on ordinary people with tax breaks for small businesses and better funding for childcare.
And we'll always invest more in healthcare because seeing a doctor should depend on your Medicare card, not your credit card.
Glenn O’Rourke, Family First:
I’ve been around politics long enough to know it’s about building a relationship with a community over a long period of time.
So many people are generationally rusted-on to a major party and people have to ask themselves, what am I getting for my vote?
Am I really getting value?
No matter how good a local member is, he is beholden to directions and policies of the party.
Make your vote count and vote for Family First then vote for the majors next.
If we can reduce the Nationals’ margin in the Riverina, we send a very clear message to the Coalition to stand up and start listening to us.
Kevin Poynter, Greens:
I’ve been very disappointed at the level of debate about the economy.
It only seems to take into account the private sector, it doesn’t address the important government and not-for-profit sectors.
It just reflects the major parties’ obsession with the old way of doing things.
The government has wasted the mining boom and they haven’t transitioned us to the new economy.
It’s completely irresponsible.
They actually increased the budget deficit.
It’s important for the Greens to have a mature and balanced approach to transitioning to the new economy, one that includes new opportunities for real work.
Philip Langfield, CDP:
I want to stand up for traditional marriage and look after the bush better.
I want to look after the smaller people because the big end of town looks after itself.
Freedom of speech is a big one for me, too, and there should be the same laws for everybody.
If you’re coming to Australia and don’t want to live by our laws, then go back where you came from.
Richard Foley, Independent:
If people want change in the Riverina, they have to change the way they vote.
If we could make this an independent seat, we would get enormous amounts of funding.
If elected, I will give people a say on every piece of legislation so they can guide the politicians, rather than the other way around.
Also, if I’m in a position where I have the balance of power, I would err on the side of a conservative government.
I don’t think Labor is ready to govern.