Six of the 13 candidates for the upcoming election debated several issues including inland rail, domestic violence and affordable housing, with one even bringing up Sportsbet odds. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Australian Citizens Party candidate for the Riverina Richard Foley has tried to win over voters by referencing Sportsbet odds for the upcoming federal election.
During the Committee 4 Wagga candidates forum on Monday night (28 April), Mr Foley highlighted the chances of a minority Labor government coming into power by showcasing what the bookies think will happen.
Mr Foley – like all other candidates during the forum – was given two minutes to pitch why he, as a representative of a minor party, should be elected as the candidate for the Riverina.
He used his time to tell voters he’d have the opportunity to shift the balance of power should a minority government be elected – an outcome where neither Labor nor the Coalition would have a majority of seats, but would need to rely on the support of minor parties and independents to govern.
“Sportsbet has the 48th Parliament of Australia (as of 6:45 pm Monday 28 April) at $1.15 for Labor to come back with the minority government and its currently at $5.80 for a Coalition government,” Mr Foley said.
“So I say to people, particularly those who are National Party people, you’re going to have to decide. If you put the National Party back in, they’re going to be on the wrong side of a minority government.
“You need to know that you’re going to have someone else in your corner who’s going to stand for the issues that matter for regional and rural Australia.
“I’m prepared to stand for the traditional old-school Labor values of the working class.
“I come from that background, so I am basically somewhere in the middle, which can give you something from the centre. I can be quite ruthless with the new government to see that we get what we need for our region, and that is, I believe, at least six and a half billion dollars for this seat, because that’s the lag of infrastructure that we need to fix up.”
Monday night’s candidates forum saw only six of the 13 Riverina candidates attend.
Those who debated included Labor for Riverina candidate Mark Jeffreson, Australian Citizens Party candidate Richard Foley and independent candidates Barbara Baikie, Grant Hardwick, James Gooden and Jenny Rolfe.
Among the candidates who didn’t appear were incumbent Nationals MP Michael McCormack, Greens’ Pheonix Valxori and Family First’s Mark Burge.
Mr McCormack sent in a brief statement to be read at the forum explaining he was asked to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, while Mr Burge also had a statement read on his behalf, which highlighted the need to return to traditional family values.
Candidates in attendance clashed over issues such as inland rail, domestic violence, cost of living and housing. Region will provide further coverage on this debate before election day.
