This is not about the tinned meat.
You can tell what socioeconomic bracket I grew up in, given where my thoughts first went.
Paul Fletcher (@PaulFletcherMP)
Media Statement on Woolworths Spam Act Breach https://t.co/ffm0iXIIky #auspol pic.twitter.com/kYwEhLWgBS
July 2, 2020
Updated
Closing statements from the Eden-Monaro candidates on ABC South East.
Fiona Kotvojs says she’s heard “heartbreaking stories” while out campaigning but she’s been “really inspired by the resilience and optimism of our wonderful communities”.
There are “more important things than politics” but Eden-Monaro would be “best served by a local who can be part of government”.
Kotvojs promises infrastructure upgrades, Snowy 2.0 and support for businesses and farmers. Then she rattles off the CV again, including 15 years as an RFS volunteer.
Kristy McBain says she wants to make a difference, she’s not a career politician or motivated by power. “I’ll put our community first every time if I’m elected on Saturday,” she said.
Leadership matters – “especially at the federal level ... it matters that you show up” – this all sounds like a dig at Scott Morrison for the Hawaii summer bushfire trip.
McBain says she understands if elected she will “govern for all”.
Updated
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Fiona Kotvojs says local media is important and she misses the death notices on ABC.
“Yes I will continue to fight for local media coverage,” she said.
But Kotvojs refused to commit to fight for a reversal of the $84m cut to indexation – instead repeating the prime minister’s line that “there hasn’t been a reduction”.
This is a gimme for Kristy McBain, given that Labor has promised to reverse the cut (in government, if elected at the next election).
But the heat turns on McBain with the next question about Labor branch-stacking (in Victoria, presumably).
McBain says it hasn’t been raised with her once on the campaign because it doesn’t affect people’s lives. Then she pivots to jobkeeper and an economic plan, again.
Kotvojs denied the government has pork-barrelled the election by making promises for primary industries such as apple growing and wineries – she notes the programs, although announced in Eden-Monaro, apply Australia-wide.
Next question is about Kotvojs submission to the religious freedom review – which included a call for a right for commercial service providers to refuse same-sex weddings.
Kotvojs says differences must be “based on respect” and expressed respectfully – but doesn’t go to the substance of discrimination law.
McBain says discrimination based on sexuality and gender is a “massive no” from her, arguing that religious practices and beliefs might be “thousands of years old” but need to be updated.
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The second question is on bushfire recovery and what the federal government could do better.
Fiona Kotvojs says the problem is not enough information sharing between agencies, including councils refusing to give info because of privacy reasons.
She called for a “single consolidated list” of affected businesses and households so everybody eligible would know to apply for support.
Kristy McBain said after the Tathra fires in 2018 it was obvious that more streamlining of assistance was required – and more federal money for caseworkers was needed.
There has to be a better response and it has to be lead by the federal government – actually getting state and local government working together, getting across bureaucratic issues such as privacy, when you’re all working for the same outcome and goal.
Then Kotvojs is asked about her record of downplaying climate change and refusal to say whether it added to the intensity of the summer bushfires:
My belief is very clear: I believe the climate is changing and humans are contributing to that change.
She repeats her view that it was lack of hazard reduction that caused the intensity, a point she made in a submission to the bushfire royal commission.
Kotvojs was asked about reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reduce heat, and she replies the Coalition has a “great plan” to reduce emissions.
She incorrectly claims Australia has reduced emissions by 40% in the last 30 years – that would be emissions per capita, not total emissions.
Kotvojs attempted to say the government was walking the talk, but had an unfortunate stumble, saying:
We’ve put our foot where our mouth is.
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