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Labor’s Kristy McBain officially launches campaign to retain the seat of Eden-Monaro

Photo: Kristy McBain at the Murrumbateman Village Markets with some local volunteers – Liam Rankine, David Grant, Judith Williams and Fiona McInnes. 

Current Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain, officially launched her campaign to retain the seat over the weekend in Queanbeyan.

On her way, Kristy stopped by the Murrumbateman Village Markets to talk to locals about community issues and the upcoming election.

“I am so thankful to everyone who joined me in Queanbeyan yesterday to officially launch my campaign to retain the seat of Eden-Monaro,” Kristy said on Sunday.

The Eden Monaro electorate stretches from Narooma, Queanbeyan, Braid- wood, Yass, Tumut, Cooma, Jindabyne, Eden, and Bega with many stops in between. Kristy has travelled around 90,000km in the last two years popping into towns and villages, meeting with locals, listening to their concerns and advocating for the Eden Monaro community.

“It was heartening to see so many members of the local community and branch members come out to show their support,” she said. “It was humbling but exciting.”

The mother of three and former Bega mayor is passionate about making sure the community, economy and environment are strong into the future.

Kristy was the first woman to represent Eden-Monaro after she won the seat in 2020 focusing on local issues including bushfire relief, the economic impacts of COVID-19 and drought.

“Our community has been hit hard by drought, bushfires, floods and COVID-19,” Kristy said. “With those challenges comes opportunity and I am more determined than ever to forge a path towards a bigger, brighter future for regional communities based on the lessons learnt and values we have rediscovered along the way.”

Recently Kristy has spoken out on the Morrison Government’s response to the devastating floods across the east coast.

“For people in my communities, it feels like Deja vu. I’ve spoken to people across Eden-Monaro and received countless messages from bushfire survivors who all say the same thing – why hasn’t the government done more?”

“Why haven’t we learnt from the past? Why didn’t the government invest in disaster preparation projects?”

“Why are communities feeling that same sense of abandonment that was felt two years ago [after the bushfires]?” she asked.

“As a nation, we should be world leaders in disaster recovery, preparedness, and mitigation. We should be setting the standard. But this isn’t the case, and it needs to change.”

Kristy said she wants to ensure that bushfire-affected communities aren’t forgotten.

Additionally, Kristy is focusing on key issues across the electorate from ensuring future career prospects for locals to prioritising tangible regional development.

“I share that same fundamental aspiration of all parents – to give our children a better life with more opportunities than we had growing up.”

“It’s this aspiration to build a better future for my children – and everyone in our region – that drives me as both a parent and as your representative in Parliament.”

While Kristy campaigns to retain the Eden Monaro seat she thanked Katy Gallagher, Andrew Barr ACT Chief Minister and David Smith MP for their support.

“I am proud to be a member of the Labor Party because Labor has a plan to invest in our future by providing cheaper childcare, access to free TAFE, and more university places to tackle the skill shortages that are holding back our economic recovery.”

“We’ve got a few big weeks ahead of us and the momentum is building.” “It’s time, we’re ready for a change of government – let’s do this!”

The 2022 Australian federal election will be held on or before 21 May 2022 to elect members of the 47th Parliament of Australia.

Earlier this month Vivian Harris, who has held more than 150 climate strikes, was named the Greens candidate for Eden Monaro. The Bega woman has been holding a weekly sit-in at the Litteton Gardens to peacefully engage with her community on the urgent need for climate action.

A teacher with qualifications in veterinary and environmental science, climate policy will be the primary issue of Vivian’s campaign.

Meanwhile, Liberal candidates for NSW in the upcoming federal election will soon be finalised after the party’s federal executive resolved to intervene in selections.

A committee made up of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and former federal Liberal president Christine McDiven will have control over the NSW branch until Saturday, April 2.

They must select candidates for the seats of Eden-Monaro, Fowler, Grayndler, Greenway, Hughes, McMahon, Newcastle, Parramatta and Warringah by that deadline, in preparation for an election to be called.

Currently, former Queanbeyan-Palerang Council deputy mayor Mark Schweikert and ex-Navy seaman Jerry Nockles are reportedly vying to be the Liberal candidate in the integral Eden Monaro seat.

By Brianna O’Rourke

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