PROMISES, promises, promises.
With 11 candidates now running for the seat of Cowper and 10 running for the seat of Lyne, the media releases and community appearances are coming thick and fast.
But for all the election rhetoric, “promises” is the one word you’re unlikely to see or hear.
That’s because candidates cannot possibly know what they can and cannot deliver until long after the votes are counted on 3 May.
Being elected is just the start for new or returning MPs trying to make good on their commitments to voters.
They also need their party to win control of the purse strings – or for the result to be so close that they can leverage their vote in parliament to get what their electorates need.
It’s a gamble that often sees important community projects shelved until the next election campaign, as has been the case in Cowper and Lyne, which have been held by the Nationals under a Labor Government.
Being in Opposition meant Cowper MP Pat Conaghan was unable to deliver the $5m pledged in 2022 for a High Performance Football Centre in Port Macquarie.
Last week, that funding injection was “re-announced”.
Some in the community excitedly thought it was new, while others who have campaigned for the complex for years were happy to see it back in play.
“We pledged that this facility would be delivered at the 2022 election under our watch, and interestingly, so did the Labor candidate at that time,” Mr Conaghan said. “And yet, here we are.”
If the re-announcement triggered a feeling of deja vu, that’s because Football Mid North Coast Chairman Lance Fletcher was again pictured with Mr Conaghan, although this time Port Macquarie-Hastings Council was represented by Mayor Adam Roberts instead of his predecessor Peta Pinson (the updated media release even left in comments from 2022 and referred to the current Mayor as a “she”).
The pledged $5m, which will top up Council’s already allocated $15m, is still dependent on Mr Conaghan reclaiming his seat and his party being voted in.
A facility like this in a region the size of the Port Macquarie-Hastings should be on every candidate’s list of priorities.
As should the planned $2m Emergency Evacuation Centre at Club North Haven, which has been a campaign priority for Lyne candidate Alison Penfold.
Ms Penfold, who is the Nationals’ pick to replace retiring MP Dr David Gillespie, announced on 2 April that $1m for the upgrade was “locked in”, but only if she is “elected as part of a Coalition Government”.
These examples are being used purely because they are from the region’s incumbents.
Other candidates without access to parliamentary budgets are instead announcing what they hope to see funded and how they will vote on important issues like housing and cost of living initiatives.
Their media releases are short on promises and pledges, but there are plenty of “demands”, “commitments” and “support”.
News Of The Area has these tips to help local voters interpret “pollie-speak”.
“Slanguage”: These are the slang-like words politicians use when they want to appear like everyday Aussies. Voters can expect to hear plenty of “fair dinkums”, “fair go”, “battlers” and “maaate”.
Talking points: Party candidates are often issued centrally coordinated “talking points” to ensure messaging and policy explanations are consistent. One day these might focus on the fuel excise, the next it might focus on families and so on. It is why the same jargon and quotes are attributed to candidates in multiple electorates.
Pledge: Like a “promise” but more emphatic. It sounds like a personal commitment and is used to build trust.
Announcement: These are designed to attract media attention and may include a funding pledge or simply a declaration of support or opposition.
Policies: These are the most important announcements as they tell you what a candidate or party represents and what they really “promise” to do. With the exception of Independents, they are generally announced by party leaders in metro locations to maximise media exposure. All candidates should have their policies on their website.
By Sue STEPHENSON
