By XAVIER SMERDON
PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has declared that her government will work towards creating a “stronger, fairer and smarter future” for Wyndham if she is re-elected this year.
Last week Ms Gillard shocked both sides of politics when she started the longest election campaign in Australia’s history, announcing that voters will go to the polls on 14 September.
In a statement to Star, Ms Gillard said she had invested hundreds of millions of dollars into local projects in Wyndham since being elected to parliament.
“I believe that the issues that are most important to the Lalor electorate, are the issues that are most important to my Labor Government – education, jobs and skills, health, infrastructure, managing our strong economy and creating a fairer Australia,” Ms Gillard said.
“Since being elected as Member for Lalor, my priority has always been to deliver for our local community.”
Ms Gillard said her track record over the last four years included more than $133 million in funding for building projects at 57 local schools in the Lalor electorate, $29.5 million for three trade training centres in the electorate, including Western Edge Cluster Trade Training Centre, the Hobsons Bay Region Trade Training Centre and the Wyndham Regional Community Trade Training Centre, $28 million for improvements to the Mercy Hospital in Werribee, and $15 million for a GP Super Clinic in Wyndham Vale.
She also listed funding the Regional Rail Link, delivering the Schoolkids Bonus to more than 17,000 local families and delivering a tax cut for 74,000 local low and middle income earners amongst her achievements.
“My plan for 2013 is a plan to deliver for modern families, and a plan to take the right decisions now to build a stronger, fairer and smarter future,” she said.
The Federal Opposition has not announced an opponent for Ms Gillard but the Lalor seat is considered extremely safe for Labor with the party holding it for all but three years of its existence.
At the 2010 election, Ms Gillard strengthened her grip on the seat, enjoying a six per cent swing to claim 72 per cent of two-party preferred votes.
