Cash strapped but still pitching

By Melissa Donchi
IT’S one of the Liberal Party’s safest seats but that hasn’t stopped Labor and the minor parties from trying their best in the lead up to this month’s federal election.
Liberal MP Tony Smith holds Casey by a comfortable 11.3 per cent which means he is safer than the Prime Minister and most of his cabinet.
With plenty of money to spend, Mr Smith is running a campaign that relies on the strength of the economy.
“The key themes are a desire to keep our economy strong to keep building the local community,” Mr Smith said.
“I am discussing with people my future plans, if re-elected, which is to build on funding for roads and other great funding projects we have been able to secure for community groups.”
So, while Labor, the Greens and the Democrats have a very slim chance of winning the seat they are hoping the community is ready for change.
Campaigning in an opposition’s safe seat is never easy with party headquarters preferring to direct its funds to winnable seats.
As a result, Labor’s candidate Dympna Beard is running a grassroots campaign.
“I’ve been doing a lot of doorknocking and talking with people at train stations and shopping centres,” she said.
“There’s no money in this campaign so it’s all about getting out and talking with people.”
A former state MP between 2002 and 2006, Ms Beard has worked as a teacher at a local primary school and run a taxi service with her husband.
“Working in the community for so many years I have experienced first hand the issues that affect everyday working people,” Ms Beard said.
“Labor is about giving people a fair go and I’ve had a very good response from people who are looking for a positive change in government.”
The Greens are also shaping up as a force to be reckoned with as climate change becomes an issue with voters.
Salore Craig is the Greens candidate for Casey and is concerned that the two major parties still don’t understand the issue.
“The Greens have had a climate change policy for 10 years and it is really worrying that the major parties still don’t understand what a two-degree rise in temperature could have on our environment,” Ms Craig said.
But it’s not just about the environment, the Greens are campaigning on all the same issues as the major parties.
“I think people are starting to see the Greens as the third party,” Ms Craig said.
“We have policies on all the major issues and are still the only party that is committed to getting rid of WorkChoices.”
The Democrats candidate Tony Inglese agrees that climate change is a major issue but is critical of short-term tax cuts and an inequitable tax system that rewards investors ‘but not the average family’.
“There are still no answers to our increasing need for infrastructure and services, quality education and general healthcare,” Mr Craig said.
“We must give a greater share of our financial services and moral support to low income families, the under employed, those in casual jobs, single parent families, young people, pensioners, disabled, mentally ill, plus the three million carers and volunteers who day after day support those less fortunate than ourselves.”