Lenders’ Labor strategy in Caulfield
VICTORIAN Treasurer John Lenders outlined Labor's strategy for the November 27 state election in Caulfield South on Monday night.
VICTORIAN Treasurer John Lenders outlined Labor’s strategy for the November 27 state election in Caulfield South on Monday night.
Speaking at the launch of Labor candidate for Caulfield Heather Abramson’s campaign, Lenders conceded it is going to be difficult to counter expected Liberal negative advertising and “a campaign of 46 more days of The Age newspaper, in particular, seeing itself as the official broadsheet of the opposition, whether it be Liberal or Green”.
He praised the 11-year-old Labor Government on improving an increasingly crowded public transport system, putting thousands more police on the beat and introducing a “respect agenda”. But, he said, unless Victorian voters are aware of these achievements, it will be hard to convince them to vote Labor.
“When a person comes to vote in a polling booth in Caulfield and they see Heather’s name and they see [Liberal candidate] David Southwick’s name and they see The Greens’ candidates names, if they think, ‘this is the future, here are objectives, here are plans, these people can deliver’, then I think we will win,” he said.
Present at the launch was Southern Metropolitan MLA Jennifer Huppert, who is working with Abramson to retain her position.
Abramson, a former teacher, delivered a speech touching on local and state concerns.
She emphasised her passion for environmental issues — speaking about her enthusiasm for green technology, such as electric cars, and introducing her new mantra, “it’s the environment, stupid”.
She explained that a vote for The Greens is not a vote for the environment, rather it will bring about “all kinds of radical policies not mentioned in their campaign”.
She also accused Southwick of spreading “mistruths” in the electorate, “frightening people by telling them crime is rife in Caulfield.
NAOMI LEVIN
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