Independent critical of Coalition promise

Independent candidate for Lowan Barry Shea has described a Liberal-nationals promise to include a return of a domestic Horsham service as ‘typical spin by a politician’.

Mr Shea said he believed the Coalition had made the statement because it was worried about his declaration to ‘seriously’ campaign for passenger rail to Horsham and Hamilton.

He said he was critical of uncertainty surrounding circumstance and time frames when a Coalition government might re-establish passenger rail to both centres.

He also added that any government elected in the November election should work on establishing basic services before launching into a grandiose project.

“Member for Lowan Emma Kealy stated that in the best-case scenario, people might be stepping on and off Horsham Railway Station platform with a domestic service in four years – on the proviso the Coalition won government. That is a big ‘if’,” he said.

“It is like saying ‘if’ the fox hadn’t stopped to smell a bush he would have caught the rabbit, but I digress.

“The fact is that Opposition leader Matthew Guy has stated his government would build a $19-billon super-fast rail service to cities such as Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong and then work out what is needed beyond these centres.

“So from that you can work out how long it would take to get the train service to and from Horsham and Hamilton – probably next century.

“What I would be demanding is putting the horse before the cart – for example, commit to spend a fraction of that $19-billon dollars to get the rail to Horsham and Hamilton first – not the other way round.”

Mr Shea said he could be the difference in forcing ‘real’ change if Lowan voters elected him as an independent representative in parliament’s lower house.

“At the moment the polls are indicating a return of the Andrews Labor government, which means we would get nothing,” he said.

“But that is where I would have pulling power if elected as an independent.

“The same applies to the Warracknabeal Education Precinct, which is only half completed. Think about it.”

Mr Shea, a retired police officer who with his wife has raised their now adult family in Horsham, said anyone keen to discuss issues with him could email barryshea1955@hotmail.com.