Campaigning ramps up ahead of Longman by-election
FORMER Labor leader Mark Latham has teamed up with Pauline Hanson in a surprise intervention in the Longman by-election. The move hasn’t gone down well with all, including a Labor veteran who says the two would make a chaotic combination.
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FORMER Labor leader Mark Latham has teamed up with Pauline Hanson in a surprise intervention in the Longman by-election.
They are using a robo-call campaign to attack Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.
Labor veteran Wayne Swan has fired back, accusing his former boss of “ratting on battlers” and spending his time “in his basement making YouTube videos”.
The move has sparked speculation that Mr Latham, a member of the Liberal Democrats, is preparing to switch to One Nation.
Labor will today promise a $1.5 million hospital training centre for Caboolture TAFE to attract more nurses and health workers.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was in town yesterday to pledge $750,000 for a training centre for welding apprentices.
The flurry of activity was in advance of today’s pre-polling booths opening for the Longman by-election. Up to one-third of voters are expected to vote before July 28.
One Nation yesterday unleashed a robo-call campaign in which Mr Latham identified himself as a former Labor leader and attacked Mr Shorten.
“I’ve had personal experience with Bill Shorten’s dishonesty,” he said in the call.
“The reason we’re having a by-election is because Shorten lied about the citizenship of his Labor MPs.”
He stops short of endorsing One Nation, but urged voters to turn against Labor and support minor parties. The Liberal Democrats are running a candidate in Longman.
Mr Swan said Mr Latham and Senator Hanson would be a chaotic combination.
“This is the same bloke who had a go at domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty and can now be found in his basement making YouTube videos,” he said.
Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek will today promise $1.5 million for the TAFE hospital training ward for Longman, which includes state-of-the-art mannequins that simulate real patients.
“If you want funding for TAFE instead of banks, then you have to vote for Susan (Lamb) and Labor,” she said.
LNP candidate Trevor Ruthenberg said the welding centre would help youth unemployment in the region.
“It gives a fantastic opportunity right here right where the workforce is and close to where the major industry is,” he said.
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