POLITE: Labor’s Neil Reilly and Liberal candidate Ann Sudmalis have a friendly encounter in the 2ST studio on Friday.
POLICY not personality would set the tone for the upcoming federal election, according to the two main rivals for the seat of Gilmore.
Liberal candidate Ann Sudmalis and Labor hopeful Neil Reilly were quick out of the starting blocks for the federal election campaign, debating each other on 2ST’s Three-way Turf Talk program on Friday morning.
Both said they would be campaigning on policy, not personality and would be pushing agendas that might not suit their party bosses in Canberra.
Mr Reilly said he would be focusing on job creation and suggesting a waiver of superannuation and workers compensation levies charged on employers for the first year of a new worker’s employment. He said this was not ALP policy but something he would push for in the party room if elected.
Ms Sudmalis said her jobs focus would be on improving infrastructure and cutting red tape, as well as removing the carbon tax.
Both said they would be pushing for funds to be made available for further improvements to the Princes Highway.
Mr Reilly said he would argue that the highway had a national strategic importance because of the defence assets in the region.
Ms Sudmalis defended the Coalition’s announcement that it would axe the school kids bonus, saying it had little impact on improving educational outcomes.
As political encounters go, it was polite and low-key, with both candidates agreeing that the long lead time to the September 14 poll would enable thorough discussion and debate on the policy offerings of the two parties.