By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
The marginal seat of Corangamite has been winning in the visiting politician stakes so far in this election.
Incumbent Liberal MP Sarah Henderson squired Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull from Anglesea to Waurn Ponds as a busload of Canberra press gallery reporters shadowing his carefully stage-managed appearances.
He announced $5 million for Anam Cara House and $60 million for the third round of the Federal Government’s mobile black spots program.
Mr Turnbull revelled in the environment at Carbon Revolution, gleefully lofting a lightweight one-piece carbon wheel overhead during his Tuesday 24 May visit.
“This is a great example of what we are going to see a lot more of with our innovation and science agenda,” he said.
“Collaboration between our smartest minds, our universities, Deakin Uni in this case, collaborating with industry.”
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash arrived on Thursday, again with Ms Henderson in tow, to visit King’s Cars at Waurn Ponds to push the Government’s new youth employment program, PaTH.
That path to electoral recognition was also being followed by Liberal candidate for Corio, Richard Lange.
Mr Lange, a business and marketing manager for food manufacturing and agribusinesses, said funding announcements were part of politicking.
“Promises are one thing, delivery is another,” Mr Lange said.
“That’s why I’m backing the Turnbull Liberal government’s $840 million youth employment plan PaTH, which is so important to the families of Corio.
“This program directly targets jobs for youth which is running at almost 30 per cent unemployment in the northern suburbs.
“I’m running a campaign focused on Making Corio Matter because Corio, from Lara to St Leonards, has been taken for granted for far too long by an MP who is never in his electorate.
“I will be a strong, full-time voice for Corio in Canberra as part of Malcolm Turnbull’s team.”
Opposition leader Bill Shorten promised $1 million to plan for the duplication of the rail line between Waurn Ponds and South Geelong, supporting Labor’s Corangamite candidate Libby Coker.
He also pledged $7.5 million to help the city’s car industry workers who are facing redundancy.
Jenny Macklin, shadow minister for families and payments and disability reform, visited Geelong on Thursday to call for the Turnbull government to match Labor’s commitment for a National Redress Scheme for child sex abuse survivors.
A spokesperson for Corio MP Richard Marles pointed to his achievements in gaining infrastructure funding for Geelong as well as the northern suburbs’ GROW jobs program.
