Andrew Wilkie: The election in Denison will come down to character, independence and results

The election in Denison will come down to character, independence and results.

Important will be which candidate or candidates have real integrity, in contrast to those who resort to smear and fear. Also which candidate is genuinely committed to represent and fight for his or her community, rather than the self-interest of their political party. And of course there is the issue of which candidate knows how to get real results.

By these criteria I believe I’ve served Denison well for the past three years and am up to the job for three more.

For instance my decision in January 2012 to withdraw support for the Government when it reneged on its contract with me seems to have been well received by the community. And at all times I’ve served no one but the community on issues as diverse as gambling reform, the siting of phone towers and the pressing need to stop the super trawler.

I’ve also secured almost $1bn in additional federal investment, for example $340m for the rebuilding of the Royal Hobart Hospital, a $325m cash injection for the health system more broadly and $50m for the remediation of the old rail-yards site, all of which is creating jobs and boosting the economy.

The reforms of this parliament must be now be protected, for instance DisabilityCare, the Gonski education funding, the NBN and an effective price on carbon. Moreover Tasmania’s share of GST must be maintained and the method of calculating it safeguarded.

Much is being made of the importance of creating jobs right now. But the reality is that years of flawed Labor and Liberal policies and hollow promises is exactly what got Tasmania into this mess in the first place. What’s really needed are the enablers of growth, for example bringing down the high cost of getting people, vehicles and freight in and out of the State.

And we need to help people more, for instance the Parenting Payment and Newstart must be increased. Older Australians also deserve a better deal, including those on the Age Pension, self-funded retirees and all Commonwealth superannuants.

A very important pointer to the self-interest of the political parties at this election will be the grubby preference deals struck between Labor, Liberal and the Greens. For my part I will do no preference deal with any political party at the election, nor enter in to any agreement with any political party after the election to help it form government.

I will not join in the smear and fear which has characterised politics in Australia in recent years, and wish my fellow candidates all the best for next five weeks.

Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent Member for Denison