NSW Election 24 March

Compulsory voting for all Australian citizens over the age of 18 years is a corner stone of our democracy. Compulsory? Too right! Preserving our democracy is a responsibility for all adults. And while other democracies might vaunt their freedoms including their freedom to vote or not, Australians have recognised the danger of skewed results when voting is left to personal whim. Come the 24th of March all voters in NSW will go to the polls to determine who will form the state government.

Substance beats Style

In order to help you decide I have put together a series of links to policies, events, commentary, polls, and the transcript of the Stateline debate between Premier Morris Iemma and Opposition Leader Peter Debnam. It is interesting that a SMH poll dated 23/02/07 on Style versus substance : “What will determine your vote in the end?” found that only 8% thought the personalities of the leaders mattered; 62% felt policies of the parties were important while 30% would vote the way they’d always voted.

NSW vs NewcastleSydneyWollongong

I agree with the poll. I think policies are extremely important. And I’d like fair policies, not ones that favour major coastal cities at the expense of regional NSW. It irritates me that the current water tank rebate brought in by the NSW government can only be claimed by residents of the Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong.. It irritates me intensely that Morris Iemma will spend a fortune on a desalination plant and a recycled water system for gardens in Sydney but has no policy to provide decent water systems for communities in regional NSW.

Want policies that are friendly for regional NSW? Drop in to Katrina Hodgkinson’s office for copies. Or hop on line at home or at the library and check out my list of links. This article and its links can be found at the Web Weeds & Wisdom blog: http://webweedswisdom.blogspot.com

Sites to Visit

Katrina Hodgkinson MP for Burrinjuck
www.burrinjuck.com

NSW Nationals
www.nsw.nationals.org.au
www.andrewstoner.com.au

NSW Liberal Party
www.nsw.liberal.org.au
www.peterdebnam.com.au

NSW Labor Party
www.nswalp.com
www.morrisiemma.com.au

NSW Greens
www.nsw.greens.org.au

NSW Democrats
www.nsw.democrats.org.au

ABC Stateline: Transcript: Iemma vs Debnam Debate 16/02/2007
www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2006/s1850166.htm

ABC Stateline: Transcript: On the Stump 23/02/2007
www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2006/s1855943.htm

ABC: Carr bequeaths Iemma electoral buffer by election analyst Antony Green
www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/featureitems/s1428242.htm

ABC: NSW Nationals launch regional development plan
www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1850647.htm

SMH: Iemma recycles $2b pledges - Launch of Labor and Nationals campaigns
www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/02/18/1171733612746.html

SMH: Iemma accused of fudging spending
www.smh.com.au/news/national/iemma-accused-of-fudging-spending/2007/02/18/1171733612782.html

SMH: Love my family, love youse all: the cult of Morris
www.smh.com.au/news/national/love-my-family-love-youse-all-launching-the-cult-of-morris/2007/02/18/1171733612749.html

SMH: We'll recycle water: Debnam
www.smh.com.au/news/national/well-recycle-water-debnam/2007/02/16/1171405413490.html

SMH: Peter Debnam takes the yuck factor head-on
www.smh.com.au/news/editorial/peter-debnam-takes-the-yuck-factor-headon/2007/02/16/1171405437026.html

SMH: Voters' choice: it all comes down to water
www.smh.com.au/news/national/voters-choice-it-all-comes-down-to-water/2007/02/16/1171405446702.html

SMH: Polls
www.smh.com.au/polls/politics/form.html

Crikey: Does Morris Iemma understand how justice and democracy work?
www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20061214-Does-Morris-Iemma-understand-how-justice-and-democracy-works.html

Crikey: The silent Peter principle by Richard Farmer
www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20070212-The-silent-peter-principle.html

Crikey: The race starts in NSW: both nags are suspect
www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20070219-The-race-is-on-in-NSW-.html

Mumble: January 8 entry - change in government in NSW has favoured the loser's federal counterpart at following national election
www.mumble.com.au/index_oldish28.html