‘Triple whammy’ towns in ALP’s sights

Regional communities affected by a ‘triple whammy’ of drought, bushfires and COVID-19 are at the heart of Labor’s pitch in Eden-Monaro.

Unemployed Pete Camac gets his message across at his home in Adelong, in the electorate of Eden-Monaro, on Tuesday. Picture: Sean Davey

Regional communities affected by a “triple whammy” of drought, bushfires and COVID-19 are at the heart of Labor’s electoral pitch in the Eden-Monaro campaign.

Anthony Albanese spent Tuesday in the seat with his candidate Kristy McBain, vowing to help those “forgotten” amid the coronavirus upheaval.

The pair toured Adelong, Batlow, Tumut and Tumbarumba, with the Opposition Leader warning struggling communities would be left reeling should Scott Morrison “snapback” his $130bn wage subsidy following the health crisis. After touring Tumbarumba Mill, which supplies the timber for one in every four homes built in NSW, Mr Albanese accused the Coalition of having no clear map to assist workers out of the crisis.

“The government is showing some complacency by the idea that snapback envisages one day support there, next day, all gone. I don’t think that’s a realistic plan. The government needs to do much better,” he said.

The desperation of locals to find work was on display in Adelong, where 61-year-old Pete Camac had erected a sign in black spray paint: “I’m looking 4 work.”

Mr Camac, who usually votes Labor, said his trucking job in Sydney fell through in November and he was trying to keep busy after volunteering in the bushfire relief effort over summer.

“I don’t want to lie down like a mongrel dog,” he said. “I find it’s the best way to sell myself. I helped one lady building a chook cage, which I did for nothing. You help people when they’re down, even if you’re down yourself.”

Mr Camac also said he was happy the unemployment benefit had been doubled, because it was now enough to cover his living costs, and advised the political candidates to do more for farmers and less for those in the cities.

“Even though I’m a city slicker, these poor blokes around here are busting their arses for a couple of dollars,” he said.

“All they want to do is grow their wheat or whatever.”

Mr Albanese used his trip to help build a narrative of government complacency in responding to the bushfire crisis and question how it would withdraw assistance on the road out of the pandemic.  

“These communities have been hit with a triple whammy,” Mr Albanese said. “They suffered from drought, then bushfires, and then the coronavirus.

“Many people feel as though they’ve been forgotten once the bushfires stopped and the coronavirus crisis emerged.”

Woodburn Apple Orchard owner Ian Cathels was close to tears as he showed Mr Albanese and Ms McBain his charred property. He said that when the enormous firefront bore down on Woodburn Orchard on January 4, no one came to his aid.

Ms McBain said places like Tumbarumba, Tumut and Batlow had all been impacted by bushfires and now COVID-19.

“I want to make sure that I am a strong local voice in Canberra for places like this,” she said.

The Liberal Party will not endorse its candidate until Friday, but Fiona Kotvojs, who lost the seat by just 1.7 per cent, or 1685 votes, at last year’s federal election, hopes to run again.