Mr Baldwin has outlined a Coalition commitment to invest $450,000 to develop the next stage of the Round the Bay Walk from Minerva Avenue to Plantation Point Parade, Vincentia.

Mrs Sudmalis said the Vincentia stage of the Round the Bay Walk was part of an ongoing tourism project that would eventually be a lighthouse to lighthouse tourist trail from Point Perpendicular in the north to Booderee National Park in the south.

Meanwhile, Greens candidate Terry Barratt is spruiking his party's dental plan, which he says will make it easier for every Australian to see a dentist. 

"We have a fully costed plan to make Medicare funded dentistry available to all Australians, beginning with those who need it most," he said.

"Oral health is important for overall health but unfortunately one in three Australians say they can't afford to see the dentist. The Greens believe that your health shouldn't be determined by your bank balance so we made dental reform a priority in this term of parliament."

Neil Reilly is today working on Kiama Council issues ahead of its meeting on Tuesday night. He and the other candidates will be attending a public forum at the Sussex Inlet Community Hall from 7pm tonight. 

August 16

It's been a busy morning for candidates. Terry Barratt from The Greens and Lyndal Harris from the Palmer United Party appeared on 2ST's Three Way Turf Talk to outline their respective policies. Then at noon it was over to the AEC office in Nowra Lane for the ballot draw. Here's the order in which the candidates will appear on the Gilmore ballot paper: Steve Ryan (Christian Democratic Party), Neil Reilly (ALP), Terry Barratt (The Greens), Lyndal Harris (Palmer United Party) and Ann Sudmalis (Liberal Party). 

August 14

Yesterday, we heard from Christian Democratic Party candidate Steve Ryan, who voiced his party's concern at Kevin Rudd's announcement during the leaders' debate that his government, if re-elected, would introduce marriage equality legislation within 100 days of resuming office. Mr Ryan wrote:

"I feel that this move will not be of benefit tour nation. Same-sex couples have equal recognition and have the same benefits as heterosexual de facto  couples.

"The Christian Democratic Party wants to protect the definition of marriage by keeping it between a man and a woman. We want to protect the core values that make up and build our nation, which is the family unit."

We also heard from the Liberal candidate, Ann Sudmalis, who is hosting a bulk billing forum on August 29 at the Dunn and Lewis Centre in Ulladulla from 11am. Her guest will be opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton.

Ms Sudmalis welcomed the $100 million Coalition commitment to help fix mobile phone black spots. 

“If you’re like me and feel like throwing your phone out the window every time you drive down the South Coast, then today’s policy announcement from the Coalition should be welcomed with open arms,” she said in a media release.

“A Coalition Government will spend $80 million on expanding failing rural and regional mobile networks across Australia, and target the remaining $20 million on improving reception in areas of high seasonal tourism like Gilmore.

“Too often the story from telcos is that they will build no new phone towers because for 10 months of the year, only 500 people live in a certain region.

“The thing telcos fail to realise is that for Gilmore, our peak holiday season can see our 500-person villages host thousands upon thousands of visitors every day.

“This is a policy that recognises our unique problem, and proposes a practical solution.

“Some of the mobile black spots that I regularly encounter include the road between Bewong and Milton, Ulladulla and Durras North, Kioloa, Shoalhaven Heads, west of Jamberoo, in Tapitallee, or along Moss Vale Rd near Nowra.

“These are all areas that meet the funding criteria of our policy, and have all been raised with me during my constant village visits across Gilmore."

Labor's Neil Reilly responded to the Too Big To Ignore campaign being staged locally by the Shoalhaven Business Chamber. He said if elected he would set up a monthly small business roundtable which would hear which regulations were working, which were not, which should be scrapped, what should be simplified and what could be done differently. He said he would take the issue of simplifying the tax system to the first party room meeting. He said he would also push for establishment of South Coast development corporation, similar to the successful Hunter Devlopment Corporation.  

August 12

1.10pm - Liberal candidate Ann Sudmalis has been at a community event all morning and is now on her way to Sanctuary Point, where she and her team will be doorknocking. Later, she will be conducting an evening village visit at the North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre in Gainsborough/Kiama Downs. 

First, a little catch-up. 

Friday saw Liberal candidate Ann Sudmalis and the ALP's Neil Reilly engage in a lively debate on radio 2ST's Three Way Turf Program. Ms Sudmalis reiterated the Coalition's commitment to scrapping the carbon tax and reviving the Green Corps, rebadged as the Green Army, to help tackle the region's chronic unemployment. She said the Coalition would return to mutual obligation with unemployment benefits. Mr Reilly said he would be pushing for the establishment of a Shoalhaven development corporation, similar in scope to the highly successful Hunter Development Corporation. This was idea initially floated by Shoalhaven City councillor Andrew Guile, who Mr Reilly acknowledged. Funding for the Princes Highway was also raised, with Mr Reilly saying neither federal party recognised it as part of national road network. Ms Sudmalis said she would seek federal funding to improve black spots. On the leaders' debate on Sunday night, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said his party was committed to building roads for the 21st century, mentioning the Pacific Highway, West Connex in Sydney and the Gateway in Brisbane. He did mention the Princes Highway.

Saturday saw a flash of red in Worrigee Street, Nowra, with the opening of the ALP's campaign office as campaign volunteers donned Labor T-shirts and held a small rally. 

On Sunday, Ann Sudmalis issued a press release welcoming a $15 million commitment by the Coalition to help combat drowning: The text follows:

 “Australians love the water, but sadly five people every week lose their life to drowning,” says Liberal Candidate for Gilmore, Ann Sudmalis.

“I welcome today’s $15 million commitment to combat drowning by the Coalition, as it will allow some Gilmore surf life saving clubs up to $25,000 over 5 years to buy and maintain life saving medical equipment.

“Our policy will provide local surf clubs with average grants of $25,000 over five years to assist them purchasing needed equipment, first aid and medical supplies. 

“A typical surf club spends $3,000 a year on medical supplies like lotions, band-aids and bandages, so these grants will help to make ends meet.

“This announcement is particularly positive for Gilmore, as we are one of the most popular beachside destinations in NSW.

“We will also provide $2 million to expand the successful Beach Drowning Black Spot Reduction programme.

“As currents can be as dangerous as rips, our policy also works with the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia to identify ways of improving water safety on our inland waterways. This includes targeting alcohol consumption, the safe use of watercraft and providing practical training on things like water safety and CPR.

“This is a practical policy that will go directly  towards helping local surf clubs across our region,” Mrs Sudmalis concluded.

People driving on local roads would have noticed a proliferation of election signs as campaign volunteers went out and about to spruik their respective candidates. 

Today, Mr Reilly will be doorknocking in Shellharbour before manning the phones from 5pm at the Nowra campaign office.

Palmer United Party's Lyndal Harris will be doorknocking in Kiama from 1pm.

The Greens Terry Barratt is spending the day indoors, conducting a co-ordination meeting with his campaign committee.

August 7

3,500 voters on the NSW South Coast have failed to enrol to vote in the upcoming federal election.

Any Australian citizen who is over the age of 18 is legally required to enrol to vote.

Enrolment closes at 8pm next Monday, August 12.

The calculations to discover how many voters on the NSW South Coast have failed to enrol was conducted by advocacy group GetUp using population data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and state-wide ratios of enrolled voters from the Australian Electoral Commission.

"Voters who aren't on the electoral rolls need to act quickly," GetUp national director Sam McLean said. "They need to get online at www.aec.gov.au and register before Monday night."

GetUp is also conducting the Enrol for Gold campaign which offers new voters the chance to win a share of $40,000 worth of gold.

"If people need a further incentive to enrol, the chance of winning a share of gold could be that incentive.  If you know someone who isn't enrolled - a young person, someone who has recently moved - give them a call and tell them they could win five grand.  If that's what it takes to reach the 1.3 million Australians still not on the rolls, it is worth it," Mr McLean said.

You can find out more about Enrol for Gold by visiting www.enrolforgold.org.au

"We will be giving away $5000 worth of gold to one voter in every state and territory," Mr McLean said. "The Enrol for Gold campaign is designed to start a conversation about the need to enrol."

12.10pm - The Shoalhaven Business Chamber has issued a reminder about its meet the candidates breakfast at 7.30am on Wednesday, August 21 at the Nowra Golf Club. The cost is $26, which includes a hearty breakfast of food and politics. To reserve your spot, email admin@shoalhavenbusiness.com.au no later than close of business Monday, August 19.

10.10am - Greens candidate Terry Barratt will be letterboxing in Bomaderry, preparing for tonight’s Shoalhaven Heads candidate forum at the bowling club and preparing  for NSW MP John Kaye’s visit to Nowra on Thursday to outline the Greens’ plan for a 100 per cent renewable future for NSW and the South Coast. Mr Barratt and Mr Kaye will make a presentation on the initiative at a free public forum starting 6:30pm in the Committee Room at the Nowra Showground, West Street, Nowra.  They will visit the old North Nowra tip at 4pm and talk about its potential as a solar energy generation site. Mr Barratt will be looking further into the issue of young people not registered to vote. He says it appears that even though they may be registered to vote in local government and state elections, unless they have separately registered to go onto the federal electoral rolls, they will not be eligible to vote on September 7. He said he would raise the matter with GetUp.

ALP candidate Neil Reilly is getting together with NSW MP Peter Primrose to nut out campaign strategy. He will be in Huskisson from about 3pm. Tonight, he will attend the meet the candidates forum in Shoalhaven Heads. Mr Reilly has indicated he will be focusing on the ALP's NBN policy after talking to local doctors, who have told him they want the fibre to the premises model.

Liberal candidate Ann  Sudmalis will be doorknocking in Culburra Beach after which she will make a presentation to a community group about her volunteer work in India.

August 6:

4.31pm - Labor's Neil Reilly has tweeted the following: 

"Abbott has said that if elected there won't be any money for public transport projects, conflicting with the Gilmore Candidate's dreams."

10.10am - A quick ring around and we have established what the Gilmore candidates are up to today. Lyndal Harris, Palmer United Party, is resigning from her job with the Department of Human Services so she can begin campaigning. She is also preparing for the Shoalhaven Heads Community Forum. Terry Barratt, The Greens, will be deskbound today, preparing campaign material. He will also be chasing up concerns about young people registering to vote with the Australian Electoral Commission. Ann Sudmalis, Liberal Party, will be conducting village visits at Bayswood, Erowal Bay and Tomerong and trying to get some doorknocking done at the same time. (Ms Sudmalis raised eyebrows last night when she turned up at a Red Frog function in a red wig - a colour that looked eerily like the tonsorial tone sported by the former PM Julia Gillard.) Neil Reilly, Labor, is on his way to Nowra to take delivery of 500 election signs, some of which will adorn his campaign office in Worrigee Street, which is due to open on Thursday. Mr Reilly says he is working on getting some ALP big guns to visit the electorate. Foreign Minister Bob Carr is expected to make an appearance in Berry on August 23.   

August 5:

3.02pm - Liberal candidate Ann Sudmalis vows to fight for improvements to the Princes Highway while taking a swipe at her Labor rival, Neil Reilly for his earlier statements on the highway:

“If you want funding for the Princes Highway, you need to first get rid of Labor,” says Liberal Candidate for Gilmore, Ann Sudmalis.

“Labor’s candidate for Gilmore says ‘a massive upgrade (of the Princes Highway)… won’t help the people of Gilmore’ and that ‘the Princes Highway is not a road of national significance’. 

(SC Register 17/5/13)

“Our local NRMA director Alan Evans even said at the time that ‘If [Mr Reilly] thinks this is a good road he hasn’t lived or been very far around the world.’

“Unlike my opponent, I know the Princes Highway, I drive the Highway every day, I’ve driven it for 25 years, and I know our Highway’s not up to scratch.

“Unlike the Labor Candidate, I will fight tooth and nail to fix the black spots, duplicate the Highway, and most importantly, get Nowra’s third river crossing built.

“The Coalition’s record on the Princes Highway is clear.

“When you voted for Jo Gash and the Coalition you got better roads.

“Under John Howard, we got Main Road 92, the North Kiama Bypass and millions of dollars worth of black spot works.

“When you voted Coalition on a state level, you got the largest single ever investment into the Princes Highway in NSW.

“The Federal Coalition understands regional Australia and understands Gilmore.

“Only a Coalition Government will deliver for Gilmore,” Mrs Sudmalis concluded.

12.10pm - Greens candidate Terry Barratt is heading to Shoalhaven Heads for some letterboxing and doorknocking ahead of the meet the candidates forum scheduled for Wednesday night. He also has a campaign committee meeting scheduled for this afternoon.

11.52am - Liberal candidate Ann Sudmalis is in Junction Court, about to head south for a meeting with business operators in Mollymook. Tonight, she is scheduled to get together with NSW MPs Gareth Ward and Shelley Hancock. Labor's Neil Reilly is on his way to Wollongong to record an interview with WIN-TV.

9.39am - Terry Barratt, Greens candidate, releases the following media statement:

“I am delighted the Prime Minister has ended the uncertainty by announcing the election for September 7,” Greens candidate for Gilmore Terry Barratt said.

“While Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott continue to fight each other in a race to the bottom on important issues like climate change and asylum seekers, the Greens are standing up for what matters.

“The Australian Greens will be calling on people to vote for a caring and sustainable Australia and to vote against cruelty and environmental destruction.

“We have our eyes firmly fixed on the big issues that matter to everyone - protecting the environment, building a caring Australia and creating a new diversified, innovative and low-carbon economy.

“Unlike the old parties, we care about what life will be like in 50 years, not just the next three.

“Last election, a record 1.6 million Australians voted for the Greens allowing us to deliver some of the nation's biggest reforms including putting a price on pollution and helping 3.4 million children access Medicare funded dental care.

“I urge the people of Gilmore to vote Green in the senate so we can continue to deliver positive outcomes for Australia”.

“However, we do not take anything for granted and we shall be working hard as a team during this election campaign to maintain our current seats and to increase our vote across the country.

“In Gilmore I will be arguing strongly for federal funding for a new bridge over the Shoalhaven River and a catchment management plan for the river, a strong stand against exploration for coal seam gas, retention of the NBN roll out to deliver fibre optics to every house, strengthening of the federal environmental law including insertion of a national park trigger to curb the states’ downgrading of our national parks, support through the Clean Energy Future Plan for investment in commercial solar energy infrastructure and sustainable agriculture, increase in Caring for Country funding, full implementation of the education funding recommendations of the Gonski report including increased funding for universities, increasing the Newstart payment for the unemployed by $50 per week and restoration of single parent benefits lost last January plus increase in their allowance by $40 per week.

“Should we achieve the balance of power in both houses of parliament the Greens will move to fund these initiatives through abolishing the $13.81 billion tax concessions the mining industry expects to get from the federal government over the next four years. We shall also move to strengthen the mining tax to provide a more realistic return than currently prevails.

“I also call on Ann Sudmalis to reassure the voters of Gilmore that Tony Abbott, if elected, will not be proceeding with the construction of the Welcome Reef Dam which he promised to undertake earlier this year.

“Given the crazy competition to outdo one another, the old parties are becoming indistinguishable. The only alternative (the only real opposition) is the Greens.

“If Australians want a political party they can trust to deliver a healthy environment, caring society and clean economy, then they should vote for the Greens in Gilmore and in the Senate.

“Anyone aged 18 or over is encouraged to enrol to vote so they don't miss out on having a say at this year's federal election. Those votes may very well help determine who runs our country.”

7.10am - Labor candidate Neil Reilly posts the following on the Shoalhaven Area Alerts Community Feedback Forum:

With election called, all young voters should register to vote. If you are 18 or turning 18 on or before the 7th September you should be on the roll. Voters must be registered by 12 August ...next Monday. Also new residents to the area should be registered in this area to ensue they have a say about their future. Go to

http://www.aec.gov.au/enrol/change-address.htm

it can all be done on line and you could save a penalty.

August 4, 5.51pm – Liberal candidate Ann Sudmalis issues the following:

“Having travelled the entire electorate, doorknocked and visited every town and village for well over 15 months, the message to me has been loud and clear,” says Liberal Candidate for Gilmore, Ann Sudmalis. 

·

It is cost of living

Can’t find a job – let alone job security

Businesses are closing their doors, and people are now punished for driving a salary sacrificed car

Roads need fixing

Health services are harder to get with longer queues

There is a lack of education stability

And fear of taking our savings

“We need someone who has experience in bringing these issues to a Coalition government.

“I am determined to continue to prove to the voters of Gilmore that with my teaching background, 17 years in business and manufacturing, six years of working in Parliament House, and through my work for the community, that our voters will have the confidence to give me their vote.

“Gilmore has a bright future, and I want to work with my Coalition state colleagues, and continue the great work of Jo Gash to make this happen.

“This election for me will be fought on the policies and issues – not on personalities,” Mrs Sudmalis concluded.