Jason wants out of the woods

By CASEY NEILL
OUSTED La Trobe MP Jason Wood will fight to regain the seat at the next election.
The Liberal Party candidate represented the electorate from 2004 to 2010, when he lost to sitting Labor representative Laura Smyth.
In a Liberal Party statement, Mr Wood said his campaign would focus on the cost of living pressures in the electorate and delivering essential services.
“I am listening to the concerns of residents of La Trobe and letting them know there is a better way,” he said.
“The Coalition has a plan to restore hope, reward and create opportunity for hardworking Australians.
“I am terribly dismayed at the hardship people are facing today, despite working long hours to support their families and loved ones.
“I promise to work with families and businesses in our community to ensure their voices are heard.
“I will campaign every day of every week until the next election, in the interests of the residents of La Trobe.”
A 1.4 per cent swing cost Mr Wood his seat at the 2010 polls. The next Federal election will take place by 30 November next year.
Ms Smyth said it was unfortunate Mr Wood had started his campaign “on such a negative note”.
She said there were 10 interest rate rises in a row the last time the Liberal-National Coalition was in power.
“So local families with a mortgage of around $300,000 were paying $3000 more a year in interest than they are today under Labor,” she said.
“Mr Wood needs to give local residents the facts, not clichés and not the fear campaign that Tony Abbott has been pedalling.”
Ms Smyth said the Coalition also under-invested in education, health and housing.
“Locally, Labor has dedicated more than $110 million in support for our schools,” she said.
“We’ve had major investments in health, mental health, early learning and housing across La Trobe and Australia.”
She said Labor had looked after the economy and local jobs during the global financial crisis and Mr Wood had voted against Labor’s job-creating stimulus package.
“During the last election, I was happy to front up and debate these issues on many occasions in public,” she said.
“I hope this time around Mr Wood will be prepared to come along to some of these debates and do the same.
“The key question for Mr Wood is whether he is able to stand up to Tony Abbott and defend our community.”
About 140 delegates voted in the La Trobe Liberal pre-selection held at Hillcrest Christian College in Clyde North. Mr Wood and four other candidates vied for the spot.