Federal Election 2016

The North Coast Primary Health Network has been selected as one of four lead sites across Australia to implement a new suicide prevention program if the Coalition is returned on Saturday.

North Coast GPs say local patients will be the losers if the the current ‘freeze’ on the rebate for Medicare consultations is not ended by whichever political party wins government this weekend.

The number of apprenticeships in the Page electorate has fallen by 31.5 per cent in two years, according to Federal Department of Education figures. Federal Labor candidate for Page Janelle Saffin said the drop in numbers equated to 666 apprenticeships, with the figures replicated across Australia.

The next federal government must address the youth unemployment crisis in the Page electorate, which has left 21.6 per cent of young people out of work, according to the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

The last few days before the July 2 federal election will see more high profile politicians in the Richmond and Page electorates in an effort to shore up last minute voter support.

The Greens candidate for Page Kudra Falla-Ricketts joined residents of the lower Clarence in a pop up protest against a proposal for industrialisation of the Port of Yamba. Developers are currently lobbying government to allow the construction of a large industrial port in the Clarence River estuary.

Supporters of a rail trail between Casino and Murwillumbah have been buoyed by positive responses from candidates in the federal election.

The three leading candidates in the Page electorate have all indicated they would like to see a federal Bill of Rights. The chorus of agreement came at a meet the candidates forum in Casino this morning.

A two-month election campaign is a long time, and no doubt exhausting, but the audience at last night’s Richmond candidates forum was clearly disappointed that Nationals candidate Matthew Fraser was unable to make it.

Volunteers will be doorknocking throughout the Page electorate on 26 June as part of the grassroots campaign against proposed cuts to Gonski funding.

That is the question Byron mayor Simon Richardson has posed after successive election promises have ignored the needs of the ‘Byron Bubble’ while funding big-ticket and, some might argue, less urgent projects in neighbouring shires.

NSW independent candidate for the Senate Liam Munday has a vision for the future. The 32 year-old Brunswick Heads diver has turned his skills to politics in a heart-felt quest to promote the concept of Ubuntu.

Page MP Kevin Hogan and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester today announced funding of $2 million to upgrade local roads.

A skatepark for Broadwater, an adventure playground for Woodburn and a study into a rail trail between Casino and Lismore are among promises made by Labor candidate for Page Janelle Saffin.

The three main contenders for the seat of Page will face the scrutiny of arts lovers at a specially convened candidates’ forum next week.

Wooden bridge replacements across Kyogle Shire will be fast-tracked by a re-elected Coalition Government, following a $2 million commitment from The Nationals Member for Page Kevin Hogan.