Rob has been doing a fantatsic job for Port Macquarie as State member. The proof is in his funding allocation – $345 million this year as compared to the enighbouring seat (held by a National representative) which received only $96 million. Let’s take him to the top!

Monstar – you and I would no doubt agree that we need more honesty and transparency in government and less spin.

Unfortunately your comments would seem to encourage the latter , rather than the former.

Government expenditure is not based on personalities or electorates according to Treasurer Costa. Treasury says : “Decisions on spending allocations are not determined according to electoral boundaries. Rather, spending decisions on essential government goods and services are based on community needs and government priorities, which will change over time. Factors which determine spending allocations include demand for services, population and economic growth, changing demographics and technology.”

A very large proportion of the $339 million (on your calculations $345 million) spending in the Port Macquarie electorate for 2008-09 comprises upgrade work to the Pacific Highway (intended to benefit all road users travelling from Sydney to Brisbane). That work is long over due and has been deferred from year to year.

Indeed the median “electorate spend” for 2008-09 in electorates outside metropolitan areas is $129 million and when the pacific Highway allocation is removed from the Port Macquarie “spend” it is not significantly different to other electorates.

Indeed by your logic – the member for Albury should be made Prime Minister because spending within the boundaries of that electorate are $410 million this year.

SO lets have less “spin” please and a deeper consideration of the real issues.

Although unfortunately I confess to being rather ignorant of the complexities of politics, and a lot of the issues relevant to my area, I have had the opportunity a couple of times to meet Rob, and found him to be very approachable and friendly and he took the time to really explain a couple of things to me, a personal touch I found very surprising and refreshing. I look forward to bending his ear more often.

The is an interesting situation with the way the candidates have put there preferences.The way Oakeshott has done his prefs no one gets them should not win outright. Drew has put Oakeshott last, so if Drew doesn’t win outright, his prefs are likely to end up with Susie Russell of the Greens. Susie has put her preferences to Oakeshott. This could lead to a big upset where, unless Oakeshott wins outright, the combination of Nationals prefs and a strong Greens vote with a modest swing could put Susie over in front of Oakeshott and Drew.

I believe Oakeshott had this very realisation after the Cadidate’s Forum last night.

If you want real action on climate change?

Don’t get Rob’d, vote for Susie :-)