Shorten detours off script

OPPOSITION Leader Bill Shorten launched the Braddon by-election campaign for Justine Keay in Devonport yesterday amid claims he detoured from the official script.

In a clear pitch to lower and middle income earners, Mr Shorten made several pledges to the party faithful that would require Labor to win next year’s federal election.

“Labor’s policies and values are all about your family, your health and it’s about your community,” he said.

Sources said Mr Shorten made a clanger saying Labor would upgrade the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Circular Quay, instead of Circular Head.

But the Sydney reference did not appear in the released transcript.

“Labor will put the $8.8 million into the Coastal Path that stretches all the way from Latrobe right through to Wynyard and beyond,” he said.

A Labor spokeswoman last night said: “The fact that the Liberals think this is more important than health, infrastructure and jobs shows you exactly how out of touch they are.

“The Liberals should spend less time obsessing about us and more time reversing their cuts to health and hospitals.”

Labor came under fire in May when a transcript of a television interview with MP Linda Burney was heavily edited.

She said at the time it was “unintentional” and her office was solely responsible.

Also yesterday, Mr Shorten said Labor would boost staff numbers at Department of Human Services offices in Devonport and Burnie by 50.

“It’s going to bring $3.6 million to the local economy each year. And the new jobs will include a team of staff who travel to the West Coast, who will travel to Circular Head and King Island and all of the small communities so that local people can get essential services and support, face-to-face.”