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Election Countdown

Labor and Don Wishart's promises for Gippsland

By Don Wishart - 5th October 2004 - Back to News

Don Wishart Federal Labor Candidate for Gippsland

Media Release

Election Countdown is on

With only a few days to go before the Federal election, and policies and promises coming at voters from every angle, here is a clear and concise guide to what Labor and Don Wishart are offering the voters of Gippsland.

Labor has promised a fresh approach that will rebuild our democracy, develop our communities and provide opportunity for all Australians. The key issues shaping the election in Gippsland are Education, Health, and Jobs.

Education

Labor’s Aim Higher policy will provide an extra 20,000 university places and an extra 20,000 TAFE places. University places will be gained on merit and not how much money you earn.

Under John Howard, massive funding increases went to the well-resourced schools while other, more needy schools, missed out. Labor will restore fairness and provide more money to government schools and needy non-government schools. In Gippsland every single school will get an increase in funding (bar one which will have funding maintained at current levels).

Labor will bring all schools up to a decent national standard. Government schools will get a 42 per cent increase in federal funding under Labor (by 2008-09). Labor’s policy is fully costed and funded. It’s a $2.4 billion investment in Australian schools over five years.

Labor will also invest in pre-school education and childcare by introducing a free day of childcare each week for all 3 and 4 year olds eligible for the Child Care Benefit. In Gippsland we have pledged an additional half million dollars for extra ‘long day’ care places.

Health

Labor will provide $998 million to save Australia’s public hospitals. Along with Labor’s $3.4 billion New Deal to Save Medicare, this represents a massive investment in health.

In Gippsland, for the first time we will invest in a much needed MRI machine.

Labor will invest $300 million in Australian Dental Care over four years. This will provide up to 1,300,000 extra dental procedures for Australians – enough to clear the existing backlog and substantially reduce dental waiting lists.

Labor will invest an extra $216 million for carers, this will allow Gippsland’s 700 plus carers access to respite each year.

Jobs

Labor will commit $150 million towards the construction of a $300 million plus ‘demonstration’ coal gasification plant for the Latrobe Valley This represents the largest investment in the Latrobe Valley for over 20 years and is a striking example of the importance Labor places on employment in our area.

Aged Care

Labor will provide $300 million in interest free loans to help aged care providers build more residential and respite facilities for older Australians.

Labor will provide Australia's 3.5 million pensioners with an extra $725 million over the next four years by introducing quarterly pension increases.

Labor will introduce Medicare Gold – a $2.9 billion plan to pay for health care in public and private hospitals for Australians aged 75 and over so that our elderly citizens receive medical treatment when they need it.

Telstra

Labor will ensure that a majority publicly owned Telstra focuses on providing all Australians with decent telecommunications services. Labor is committed to Telstra remaining in majority public ownership, unlike the coalition, which will sell Telstra off.

In Conclusion

Labor will reinvest and refocus on the things that matter most to people living in Gippsland - better education, better health care, better employment prospects, better care and support for our older citizens and ensuring a decent provision of services -like Telstra.

A Federal Labor Government will finally end the buck-passing between the Commonwealth Government and the states and work with organisations and communities to build a better Australia.

If you’d like any more information on any of our policies, please phone 5175 0677.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: labor2win@yahoo.com

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