PM claims Liberal economic strategy rudderless

The push to gain a foothold in the Dickson electorate has started early, with the party leaders of both sides of federal politics spruiking their party’s virtues during recent visits to the Pine Rivers region.

Less than a week after Opposition Leader Tony Abbott visited Liberal Party faithful at Strathpine, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was in the area on Monday to trump the benefits of Labor.

Flanked by ALP candidate for Dickson Fiona McNamara, Mr Rudd inspected Moreton Bay Regional Council’s plans to revamp the Strathpine CBD,followed 

by a visit to the Strathpine GP Super Clinic.

While Mr Rudd said he had not yet discussed the Strathpine renewal project with Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland, he said it would receive his support if it helped improve “the local quality of life”.

But when asked if the Federal Government would lend financial support to the project, Mr Rudd replied: “Let’s have a look at it and see what we can do.”

Mr Rudd challenged Mr Abbott and Federal Member for Dickson Peter Dutton on the future of the government’s ongoing economic stimulus programs, claiming the Liberal Party lacked economic foresight.

He said the Coalition planned to abolish the economic stimulus schemes, including funding for school building projects.

“Mr Abbott and Mr Dutton are intent on abolishing all the economic stimulus programs we have put in place,” he said.

“If he (Mr Dutton) is fair dinkum about this he should list all the school projects in Dickson that he wants to pull the plug on.”

Mr Rudd said the issue of complaints about the schools infrastructure program was largely a “media beat up”, claiming complaints had been received for around  only  100  of  the 26,000 projects undertaken at schools across the country.

When asked how the Federal Budget would be received by families when it is released next week, Mr Rudd declined to discuss the matter further, except to say: “the Budget will speak for itself”.

Mr Rudd said Labor’s financial commitment to Dickson included raising pensions for around 14,000 pensioners in the region, as well as spending $3.6 million on social housing in the area.

“I fully support affordable housing for all Australians, and it takes proper plans to bring things together,” he said.

“That goes for everywhere from Greater Sydney to regional areas and outer urban communities like this.”

Mr Rudd said the government had also spent $2.5 million on local traffic black spot projects and provided almost $45,000 to rehabilitate biodiversity corridors around the South Pine River.