MP, candidate trade barbs on hours

MEMBER for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts has labelled “pathetic” a shot across the bows from political opponent Kerry Shine who complained Mr Watts’ office closed each day at 3pm.

“It’s unacceptable that Trevor Watts office closes at 3pm,” Mr Shine said in a press release which also appeared on Facebook yesterday.

“Let’s be honest, politicians earn a pretty good salary and the public expects and are entitled to full-time representation.

“Local residents doing it tough, going to work every day and running small businesses work well past 3pm.”

Mr Shine said when he was the Member for Toowoomba North, his office operated during normal business hours.

“Not only did my office operate during normal business hours, I was the first politician in Toowoomba to run mobile offices on a Friday afternoon and Saturday, across different areas of the electorate,” Mr Shine was quoted as saying in the release.

“If elected I will open my electorate office until 5pm every week-day and run mobile offices on Saturdays.”

However, Mr Watts said his staff worked well past 3pm.

“I think this is a pathetic scare campaign from a desperate Labor candidate,” he said.

“The staff of my office work past 3 o’clock dealing with constituent inquiries and answering phone calls every working day of the week.

“I, of course, am available from breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week as anyone who lives in Toowoomba knows.

“I don’t sit behind a desk shuffling papers before 3 o’clock or after 3 o’clock.

“I go out listening to the people where they are and delivering the things they need.”