Surrounded by the Presidents of ALP branches of Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca Heads and with the solidarity of Jodi McKay, the Member for Strathfield and Shadow Minister for Roads, Valla macadamia farmer and Nambucca Shire councillor, Susan Jenvey, launched her campaign for the seat of Oxley in Urunga yesterday, Monday.
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With her campaign motto of ‘Changing Local Values for a Better Future’, the Country Labor candidate spoke passionately about why she had decided to stand in one of the largest rural NSW seats.
“First and foremost I stand before you as someone who has family farmed for 20 years and as a real deal farmer, I want action on climate change,” Susan said.
“As farmers we are exposed to rising temperatures, more intense storms, more flooding and droughts …our freedom to farm is being threatened and we need action on climate change.
“Coal is not awesome … the ALP likes science, we want to be climate smart and we want to see NSW stop lagging behind the other states in renewable energy.”
Her second reason is the need to act on the growing wealth gap.
"In spite of the beauty in this landscape, all is not well – people are going hungry here, people are homeless here, and the Mid North Coast’s lack of affordable rental accommodation is a key driver of this.
“Affordable housing is a complex issue that requires innovative planning … we know the Nationals have no plan. This is not about lazy people, this is about structural faults in our society.”
Susan then moved on to the decimation of TAFE …
“Since 2012, 5700 teachers have been sacked, fees have gone up by 25 per cent and enrolments have dropped by 175,000.
“Labor has committed to rebuild this once great institution and guarantees that 70 per cent of vocational education and training funding will be used to do so.
“Opposition Leader Luke Foley has announced Labor’s Regional Jobs Fund using $4.1 billion from the transfer of the Snowy Hydro Corporation. Labor will spend 100 per cent of these funds in regional NSW and top of the list will be projects that create jobs and leave a lasting legacy.”
“Standing up for your amenity” is Susan’s third motivator.
“On council I’ve stood up for the regulation of intensive horticulture causing grief for rural residents. And I’ve come out in support of the 3000 people whose amenity has been affected by the Kempsey Intensive Pilot Training School.
“We need to stand shoulder to shoulder with our neighbours in Coffs Harbour and pressure the State Government to come up with a bypass plan that does not force them to be closed in their houses behind double glazed windows with the air conditioning on.”
Public schools were also in the firing line: “Oxley has the dubious honour of having the second highest school maintenance backlog in the state … from the holes in the floors at South Kempsey to the tiny old house that houses administration at Bowraville Central … NSW Labor prioritises hospital and schools over stadiums.”
Susan said local libraries would definitely get a lift with a funding commitment of $60 million and that main street beautification was another priority – especially when it came to Nambucca Heads, with highway signage to support that.
The Bellingen-Bowraville Rd got a mention and was firmly placed on the Shadow Minister's list of things to investigate. Susan said the NSW Government’s koala policy was one that lacked koalas and said Labor’s Great Koala National Park was the only sensible plan to give koalas permanent tenure along with transitions for forestry workers and solid planning for plantation timber.
“Labor is ready, I am ready … let’s make it happen.”
