THE arrival of left-of-field independent candidate Rob Oakeshott in the race for the blue ribbon seat of Cowper has added spice to the local voting landscape.
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Mr Oakeshott has returned to the political fray with renewed passion and energy, saying frustration was a major driver in his decision.
“That frustration is for what I am seeing both locally and nationally,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“Locally one example is the loss of direction on education policy with the privatisation of TAFE, which has been an important pathway out of poverty in our region.
“Nationally refugee policy, tax reform and the flat-lining of constitutional reform for our First Australians really saddens me.”
He said that when it came to preferences he was keen to talk more to other minor players, although he was adamant he would put the Citizens Electoral Council (CEC) last because he strongly disagreed with aspects of their policy platform such as their protectionist policies and their support for the Royal Family.
“Preferences are really up to the voter – just make sure they put me first and fill in every box.”
He said he had been buoyed by the response he had received thus far after a couple of days out and about in the northern end of Cowper.
“What I am keen to do is peel politics away from a couple of postcodes in Sydney and Melbourne.”
The sitting member, Luke Hartsuyker, said strong stable government was what was needed and he was working hard to ensure “the catastrophe which was the Labor /Greens/Independents alliance of 2010” did not happen again.
He pointed to Federally-funded projects such as the Kempsey Cinema and Riverside Dr in Nambucca, which had happened thanks to his direct intervention.
He said the Christian Democrats would be second on his how-to-vote card with John Arkan in third position “and straight up the card with the CEC last – that makes it simple.“
Cowper Greens candidate, Carol Vernon, said Mr Oakeshott’s entry to what was already a big field would “certainly make things interesting”
“I am always concerned when there are too many candidates because there are never enough votes to go around,” Mrs Vernon said.
“The Greens have put Labor second in our preferences because while we have some difficulty with some ALP policies such as asylum seekers and the fact that while they say they want to do something for climate change, they are still supporting coal mines, we are aligned in other areas.”
The Greens have put Rob Oakeshott as their third preference, Labor also has him at number three.
