State Election issues that matter

THE environment, the need for a drug court, the proposed River Street Bridge over the Macquarie River, and the privatisation of essential services have all been identified as vote-changing issues for people in the Dubbo electorate.

These were some of the points raised in an online call for comments by Dubbo Photo News, with the March 2019 state election in sight.

DUBBO residents have identified 21 unique issues which matter to them and which they want 2019 state election candidates to address. The issues were identified by Dubbo Photo News readers via our exclusive online poll over the past week.

State issues on the minds of Dubbo voters include the environment, with questions raised about the support or not of coal seam gas and thoughts on global warming and climate change.

“Do you support the closure of coal fired power generation? Do you support the subsidies going to foreign producers of alternative power generators? Do you support the reduction of diesel and petrol-powered transport? Do you support the culling of the national/state herd/ flock to meet carbon dioxide emissions targets?” Warwick Wheeler asked.

Peter Chambers was specifically interested in the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party stance on coal seam gas.

Frustrated local man, Joshua Bee, raised the issue of a drug court for Dubbo and a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre.

“Where are the ALP, Greens, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and Independent candidates on those major issues? No need to ask the National Party as eight years of inaction has unequivocally answered that question,” he said.

Geoff Attwell wanted to know what the candidate’s positions are on the proposed River Street Bridge over the Macquarie River, and for Nicholas Wilson the issue of gender identity was raised.

Buck Davies chose to question the National Party’s selling spree of “everything we own to free enterprise” and suggested stopping “the privatisation of essential services would be a great start”.

The candidates announced so far for the 2019 election are Rod Pryor (Greens), Lara Quealy (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers), Mathew Dickerson (Independent), Stephen Lawrence (Labor), and Dugald Saunders (NSW Nationals).

Some of the issues raised in the poll are actually Local Council concerns, and so are more appropriately addressed by Dubbo Regional Council. Those issues included the de-sexing of cats and the negative economic impact on retailers of closing the main street in Wellington during festivals.