Double standards

Andrew Mathieson
A LABOR MP has accused his election rival of double standards over a glossy brochure printed in Melbourne.
Corangamite’s Darren Cheeseman said Sarah Henderson had demonstrated a “lack of consistency” after attacking him in the Independent four weeks ago over his own brochure printed outside Geelong.
Ms Henderson had ridiculed Mr Cheeseman’s mail-out as “ironic” for creating printing work in Melbourne while talking about his efforts protecting jobs in Corangamite.
She told the Independent her objective was “to do as much of our printing as we can in the Geelong region” and that “it’s very important to deliver work to the region where I live.”
Mr Cheeseman defended his brochure as “getting the best value for local taxpayer dollars”.
But Ms Henderson’s own brochure began arriving in letterboxes this month with the name of a Melbourne printer on the spine.
Mr Cheeseman said her about-face on printing locally was indicative of the Liberals’ campaign for votes in the marginal seat.
“I think the overall issue here is about the Liberal candidate’s lack of consistency – and this has happened on a number of issues,” Mr Cheeseman said.
“In this case, she’s criticised me for not printing everything locally, then done it herself.
“On the WorkChoices issue she pretends to oppose it but then supports individual contracts and abolishing laws protecting people against unfair dismissal.
“You can’t be saying one thing one minute then doing the complete opposite in reality.”
One of Ms Henderson’s priorities listed on the back of the brochure was to “support responsible economic policies to create job opportunities and maintain jobs across Corangamite”.
Ms Henderson said her campaign team has produced a mixture of highway signs, introduction brochures, stickers and surveys printed in the Geelong region.
Liberal party headquarters in Melbourne had arranged others using commercial contractors and privately donated funds, she said.
“Unlike Mr Cheeseman, I don’t have the luxury of a taxpayer-funded and staffed electorate office or taxpayer-funded printing allowances to convey my message to the people of Corangamite,” Ms Henderson said.