Greens may decide seat

LIST OF CANDIDATES

(Sustainable Australia)

HAMISH JENKIN MITCHELL

(United Australia Party)

MORGAN COX

(Christian Democratic Party/ Fred Nile Group)

JUSTINE ELLIOT

(Australian Labor Party)

RAY KARAM

(Independent)

TOM BARNETT

(Involuntary Medication A POLITICAL pundit suggests the closely contested seat of Richmond is on the Coalition’s radar as one it can snatch from Labor in the looming Federal election.

But Griffith University political expert Dr Paul Williams writes in the Bulletin today it is unlikely in the “current climate” and he doesn’t expect the Greens vote to grow exponentially.

Nevertheless it is set to be another tight contest in NSW’s most northerly seat, which takes in Tweed, Murwillumbah, Byron Bay and Ballina – and could be decided by Greens preferences.

In 2016, sitting Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot narrowly retained the seat she’s held since 2004 when she defeated Nationals contender Matthew Fraser – with help from Green voters.

Labor won 31 per cent of the primary party vote in 2016 compared to 37 per cent for the Nationals. But thanks to preferences from the Greens snaring 20.4 per cent, Labor ended up with 54 per cent of the twoparty preferred vote.

Who is your incumbent member for Richmond?

22 Don’t know 12 Justine Elliott

Mrs Elliot clung to the seat despite what was a 4 per cent swing against Labor and her slim margin has been further impacted by the shuffling of electoral boundaries.

As part of a Labor Opposition vying for power in Canberra, Mrs Elliot has pledged “a fair go for all Australians not just the top end of town”.

She has campaigned around healthcare, education and tax cuts for workers under Labor’s “Fair Go Action Plan”.

Mrs Elliot said Labor would “put people first to ensure every community has quality public schools and hospitals”.

“Labor will ease the pressure on family budgets and we’ll end the Medicare freeze as well as give tax breaks to workers and stop the cuts to penalty rates,” she said.

Mrs Elliot has pledged more than $52 million to upgrade the Kennedy Dve and Kirkwood Rd interchanges at Tweed Heads.

Labor would reduce the costs of childcare and provide some older voters in Richmond with free dental care, she said.

She has also announced cash injections for community

Who is the current Australian Prime Minister?

38 Scott Morrison groups, including $137,500 for palliative care at Wedgetail Retreat.

Meanwhile, Mr Fraser has honed in on Labor’s controversial tax system changes during his third “underdog” attempt at the seat.

“We already know that Justine Elliot and Bill Shorten’s Labor retiree tax policy will affect over 8000 individual seniors and pensioners from Tweed Heads to Ballina at the hip pocket,” he said.

“Only the Nationals Retiree plan will help seniors and pensioners feel safe and secure in their working and retirement years.”

Mr Fraser has also promised a new regional cancer facility in Tweed under the LNP.

Greens candidate and Acting Mayor of Byron Shire Council Michael Lyon is focusing his campaign around homelessness and environmental issues.

“We have some of the lowest rates of social housing provisions in the country,” he said.

“Tweed has a much higher rate of rough sleeping, with as many as 500 people homeless.”

Mr Lyon will advocate for more affordable housing.

Biggest issue?

16 Don’t have one 4 Economy 4 Climate change 3 Electricity prices