ALP Candidate To Announce NSW Labour Policies

ALP Candidate To Announce NSW Labour Policies On Climate Change And Fossil Fuels

The ALP candidate for the NSW seat of Gosford, Katie Smith, has agreed to furnish local group Climate Action Central Coast with a written outline of NSW Labour’s policies on climate change and fossil fuel industries. These include coal mining and coal-fired power generation, offshore gas drilling and coal seam gas extraction.

“Our members were disappointed that Ms Smith was unable to attend our Gosford Candidates’ Forum on Climate Change at short notice last week” said group spokesperson Mira Wroblewski. “We sent each of the candidates a list of five questions of direct importance to residents of the Central Coast. We are now clear about the policies of the other candidates on these issues, but not about Ms Smith’s”

However, Ms Smith was quoted in the February 14 edition of the Gosford Central Community News as saying that she is willing to provide the group with written responses to the questions. She said that this offer had been made before the Forum, but that the group had refused.

“This is absolutely not true” said Ms Wroblewski. “Ms Smith’s assistant rang me to say that she wouldn’t be able to attend. I asked her if she would like to send an alternate, and her assistant replied that it would be better for the candidate herself to speak. She said that she would notify me on the night of the Forum to tell me whether Ms Smith would be able to make it towards the end of the event. In fact, I received an sms twenty minutes before the end of the Forum to say that Ms Smith had been “held up at her previous engagement and unfortunately (was) unable to make the forum on time”. said Ms Wroblewski. “At no time was a written response discussed”.

“We would welcome a written response to these questions from Ms Smith. In fact, a written response would be very valuable to us. We can compare it with what the candidate and/or her party does if they are elected.” said Ms Wroblewski. “I have written to Ms Smith today and asked for a written response from her by the end of this month.”

ENDS

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