Doughnuts for all
Newcastle Greens
29 October 2006
Labor’s doughnut the shape of things to come
The weekend revelation that Sydney’s Labor powerbrokers are determining exactly what their Newcastle Labor candidate says to the media offers a glimpse into how the Labor candidate would be handled if she were elected in March, the Greens candidate for Newcastle, Cr Michael Osborne, said today.
“Whilst Ms McKay’s first media release is just a stale doughnut (a generic media release filled in with the local candidate’s name), it’s what the document doesn’t say that is most significant.
“It tells us with absolute clarity exactly who is calling the tune in the case of Ms McKay. This reinforces the fact that she’s been hand picked to represent Sydney Labor.
Cr Osborne said it was understandable that Sydney Labor powerbrokers had become desperate to have Ms McKay say something to Newcastle voters other than empty cliches about ‘doing it for Newcastle’.
“We still haven’t heard a single significant policy statement from Ms McKay," Cr Osborne said.
“After this latest embarrassment, she owes it to Newcastle voters more than ever to tell us what she believes in, and what her position is on key local issues.
“Where does the Sydney appointed candidate stand on the Royal Newcastle hospital site; does she support a twenty storey tower?
“Does she advocate keeping the rail line into the city? Or does she want it sold off to developers?
“Will she get the State Government to stop the Botany Bay expansion to bring forward the multi-purpose terminal for Newcastle?
“Does she support a planning strategy which will result in up to 10,000 hectares of bush being knocked over for development?
“Does she support Minister Costa and his scepticism about climate change?
“We need an advocate for the people of this city – not someone who is a mouthpiece for the powerbrokers in Sydney.”
