RIVERINA election major party candidates have traded blows over which party would best represent the interests of Junee.
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Just days out from the federal poll, sitting Nationals member Michael McCormack and Labor candidate Tim Kurylowicz both claimed, if elected, they would deliver the best result for the Junee community.
Junee mayor Neil Smith lit the fuse on the debate this week by nominating aged care and the Inland Rail project as two of the key battleground issues for the town.
Junee has an ageing population percentage higher than the state average while the Melbourne to Brisbane inland rail route is flagged to run straight through Junee and Illabo.
“Junee was born out of the railways and we still rely on it,” Cr Smith said.
“The inland rail would be a super highway for us to the major cities, would attract more investment to town and would help farmers get their produce to port.
“As for aged care, it’s really about having enough beds locally and keeping local people in the community as they age.”
Mr McCormack said the government had ploughed money into Junee aged care and last month announced a grant for Cooinda Court.
“Aged care is a real emphasis for us because people want to stay in the community and enjoy their retirement without having to leave town,” Mr McCormack said.
He described the Inland Rail project as a potential economic boon for Junee.
“This is an extremely exciting venture for Junee and it will run straight through here,” he said.
“We’ve already committed $600 million to it.”
Labor’s Mr Kurylowicz challenged Mr McCormack’s comments on aged care funding, saying its treatment of older regional Australians was “appalling”.
“One of the first things Malcolm Turnbull did was cut $1.2 billion from critical aged care,” he said.
“If elected, we’ll look to restore as much of that as possible.”
He said Labor would also build the inland rail faster than the Coalition.
“To date, Labor has committed $900 million and we’ve promised to fasttrack it,” he said.
Also standing for the Riverina are Kevin Poynter (Greens), Richard Foley (independent), Philip Langfield (CDP), Glenn O’Rourke (Family First).
For Saturday’s election, polling booths will be located at Junee High and Illabo Public School.
