Phil Davenport and Brendon Barlow at the Rockingham pre-polling voting centre.
Camera IconPhil Davenport and Brendon Barlow at the Rockingham pre-polling voting centre. Credit: Supplied/Elle Borgward

Sides in final pitch

John Dobson, Weekend CourierWeekend Kwinana Courier

Both the camps of Brand MHR Gary Gray and Liberal candidate Donna Gordin have refused to predict the result, with polls released earlier this week suggesting the two-party preferred vote is dead even.

Signs for both Mr Gray, Ms Gordin and other candidates including Greens candidate Dawn Jecks and Palmer United Party candidate Craig Lawrence fill many local streets.

Several residents have also complained to the Courier about the large quantity of mail-outs, particularly from the Liberal party.

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The campaign trail has featured Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, former prime ministers John Howard and Bob Hawke and several high-profile members and ministers from both parties.

Mr Gray’s final message to voters followed on from the Government’s attack this week on whether voters could trust a Tony Abbott-led government, with warnings about potential severe cuts across the board.

‘Local people can expect savage funding cuts to our schools if Tony Abbott is elected PM,’ he said. ‘Mr Abbott boasts he will model his government on the Barnett Government ” which is slashing staff and school budgets. All of the 60 schools in our region are impacted.

‘Principals have been gagged from speaking on the cutbacks in staff and funding which are occurring, at the same time as the student population is rapidly increasing.’

Ms Gordin’s final message urged voters to question whether they wanted another three years of a Labor government and whether a change was needed in Brand.

‘Brand has been a safe Labor seat for 30 years and it has been taken for granted,’ she said.

‘This election is a clear choice between a united Liberal Party and the chaos and dysfunction of the Rudd Labor Government.

‘To get real change, scrap the carbon tax, reduce the cost of living, create new jobs, have a true local representative and stand up for WA, we need to send as many Liberals to Canberra as possible.

‘That’s why you need to vote Liberal this Saturday.’