ARMIDALE self-employed handyman Stephen Hewitt has been announced as the ALP candidate for the seat of New England.
Mr Hewitt, who grew up in the New England, recently returned to the region to be closer to family.
Describing himself as an ‘ordinary bloke’, Mr Hewitt said he was prepared to put his name forward so that voters in the New England had a choice about who represented them in parliament.
“I am not a polished or professional politician like Mr (Barnaby) Joyce, and I have not been groomed by political factions or parties to put my name forward, but I do have a strong commitment to social justice and believe in the fair-go,” he said.
Mr Hewitt will campaign on the strength of the Labor Government’s achievements during the past six years and its positive vision for the future. He said the government had acted decisively to protect the Australian economy in the face of the global financial crisis and the toughest economic conditions the world had experienced for 80 years.
“People in the region appreciate the fact that our economy continues to grow, inflation and unemployment remain low, interest rates are lower than they were under the previous government and we are one of the few countries in the world with a triple-A credit rating,” Mr Hewitt said.
“Frankly, I am sick of Mr Joyce recklessly and falsely talking-down our economy.”
During his campaign, Mr Joyce will reinforce the Labor Party’s commitment to ensuring all Australians have the opportunity to enjoy a quality of life, including doubling the investment in school education, substantially boosted aged pensions, introduced paid parental leave and a national disability scheme.
In terms of local achievements, Mr Hewitt said the Labor Government was committed to providing regional Australians with a first class communications network, which would do much to combat regional isolation and disadvantage.
A spokesperson for the New England ALP, John Scott, said the Labor Party was committed to the region and described the upcoming battle for the New England as a ‘David and Goliath’ struggle involving a political underdog against one of the political elite.
“We are in this to win it and provide voters with an alternative to the antics of Mr Joyce,” he said.
