PETER Alley has been named as the Country Labor candidate for Lyne for the 14 September Federal Election.
His candidacy was announed by Narelle Rich, president of Country Labor Federal Electorate Council for Lyne.
Mr Alley, 52, has been a party member for more than 20 years and was elected unopposed.
He and his wife have eight children between them, the two youngest still live at home.
Mr Alley has worked in the IT, banking and finance industries for some 25 years and in more recent times has worked with schools and churches.
A resident of the Camden Haven, he is an IT consultant and is studying Law at Southern Cross University.
A community-minded man, Mr Alley is Parish Councillor in the Camden Haven Anglican Church; a volunteer with the Camden Haven State Emergency Services and president of the Hastings Morning Talkers – Toastmasters Club.
His personal interests include rock climbing, caving and body surfing and spending time with family and friends.
“The National Broadband Network provides a clear distinction between what Labor is delivering to Lyne and what the National Party want to deliver,” Mr Alley said.
“Labor’s National Broadband Network is a fast, industrial strength network, built from the ground up and by delivering fibre to the premises, provides sufficient capacity for the rest of the century. The Nationals want to cease the rollout of optic fibre to our homes and instead rely on an aging copper network that has reached its use by date.
“The Nationals don’t care that once again, regional Australia will get a second rate service.
“Labor has delivered much more to this electorate in the last six years of government than the Nationals were able to deliver in the 11 years of the Howard Government.
“Labor believes in education at all levels and in its importance to regional Australia and to Lyne.
“In the last six years, under Labor, regional campuses of three universities have either opened or expanded in Port Macquarie and Taree, providing more opportunities for young people to stay in our regional communities.
“Through the Building the Education Revolution program, Labor has made the largest capital investment in our schools in Australia’s history. Labor is committed to improving education standards through the Gonski reforms.
“The Pacific Highway upgrade did not really start to happen until Labor was elected in 2007. In the 11 years of the Howard Government, only $1.3 billion of federal funds was spent on the Pacific Highway. Since 2007, through to 2015, the Labor Government will be spending $4.1 billion and has committed another $3.6 billion to complete the highway when the NSW Government matches it dollar for dollar in accordance with the Auslink agreement.”
