Martin Government Disregard For Alice Springs Increasing

During a halting performance on 8HA the ALP candidate for the seat of Greatorex, Jo Nixon, made a mockery of her campaign theme that the people of Alice Springs need to vote ALP to get a strong voice in government.

As a caller pointed out, the seat of Macdonnell incorporates part of Alice Springs, and despite being held by the ALP, Clare Martin has been deaf to the calls for help from the people of the town. The ALP also hold the seat of Stuart, which has part of Alice Springs in its boundaries.

"In fact the Martin Government's disregard for Alice Springs has only increased since Alison Anderson won the seat of Macdonnell for the ALP,” says Jodeen Carney, Leader of the Opposition.

"The monumental blunder of not knowing that the party she is standing for already represents Alice Springs exposes her 'Strong voice in Government' theme as totally fatuous.

"What Jo Nixon should be saying to Clare Martin is that people shouldn't have to scream to be heard.

"Jo Nixon needs to understand that Governments have an obligation to rule on behalf of everybody – not just those people that vote for them.

"What Jo Nixon should be telling Clare Martin is that her treatment of Alice Springs has been appalling.

"It also shows that when Jo Nixon talks about a strong voice in government she is just sprouting a line fed to her by the backroom boys of the ALP machine.

"If elected, what she will be is another backbencher, subservient to the ALP's desire to hold onto the seats in the northern suburbs of Darwin no matter the cost.

"Ms Nixon is also categorically wrong regarding her assertion that the CLP advertisement on the Martin Government's contribution to the Waterfront development in Darwin is misleading.

The $529 million figure quoted in CLP advertising is drawn from the Auditor Generals report. Is Ms Nixon accusing the Auditor General of being misleading?

2007-07-25