Meanwhile, the Libs have chosen a real candidate:
He’s Geoff Page: MRs
Geoff Page endorsed for Lyons
Monday 8th October 2007
The Liberal Party of Australia (Tasmanian Division) is today pleased to announce the endorsement of Mr Geoff Page to contest the 2007 Federal election in the seat of Lyons.
At a meeting today of the Party’s State Executive Mr Page received unanimous endorsement.
Mr Page and his family own and operate one of Tasmania’s most successful transport businesses in Northern Tasmania.
“The Federal seat of Lyons is one the Tasmanian Liberals will be targeting, particularly as we believe the seat has seen 14 years of wasted Labor representation by a member who takes it for granted” State President Dale Archer said today.
“I’m confident the endorsement of Mr Page provides the Party with a high calibre person with a wealth of experience who will enable the Liberal Party to run a strong, issues based campaign,” Mr Archer said.
GEOFF PAGE – NEW BLOOD AND NEW STRENGTH IN LYONS
Monday 8 October, 2007
Tasmanian transport businessman Geoff Page today pledged a new era of strong leadership and representation for Lyons residents as the endorsed Federal Liberal candidate in the coming Federal election.
Geoff’s family owns and operates a successful transport business in Northern Tasmania, while his father Graeme Page was a veteran Member of the House of Assembly for 20 years, including a term as Speaker.
“I am offering Lyons voters new blood and new strength, which they so desperately deserve after 14 wasted years of Labor representation,” Mr Page said.
“I am committed to the development of an integrated transport strategy in Tasmania, and, my long term vision is for a dual carriage-way stretching from Burnie to Hobart.
“As a member of a rural family I am a strong supporter of a sustainable and commonsense water strategy so profoundly lacking in regional Tasmania, and I will fight doggedly for the maintenance of a proper and fully funded health service throughout the Lyons electorate,” Mr Page said.
“Lyons is ‘the bush’ of Tasmania- the rural, mining and fishing backbone of the State’s economy, but yet you wouldn’t know it from the performance of the State Labor Government and Federal Labor.
“The West Coast of Tasmania pours mineral wealth and royalties into the State‘s economy by the truck loads, but in return the Lennon Government closed the Rosebery hospital and refuses to listen to West Coast concerns.
“The Derwent Valley and Central Highlands contain some of Australia’s finest rural production, but in return the Lennon Government has downgraded Ouse Hospital – while hardly a peep out of Federal Labor.
“The drought stricken Northern Midlands is crying out for help, but the Lennon Government has sat on $600,000 worth of federal water assistance for seven years. John Howard gave the State Government that money in 2001!
“I will vigorously promote development in Lyons where it means jobs in the electorate and where the environmental and economic assessment has been thorough.
“I support the pulp mill, and I support Malcolm Turnbull’s tough conditions. I do so because I believe a clear majority of Lyons residents want to see the mill proceed,” Mr Page said.
“I am proud to be a Liberal because the economic and job-creation record of the Howard Government is unbeatable,” he said.
CURRICULUM VITAE – GEOFF PAGE
– Born in Launceston, 1968. Lived at Hagley, and Prospect for 39 years.
– Educated at Hagley Farm Primary School, and St Patrick’s College, Prospect.
School Captain at St. Patrick’s College in final year, 1985.
– Worked as a truck driver at family business, Page Transport, before being appointed General Manager at the age of 21. Geoff has overseen substantial growth of the business, with employment now totalling 28 employees.
– Page Transport recently established new premises, including the expansion of company headquarters near Cressy, and opened by the Prime Minister.
– Played football with the Hagley and Longford clubs and Cricket with the Westbury Club, and spent the last eight years as a player and President of the South Launceston Football Club.
– Board member of the Northern Tasmanian Football League for eight years.
– Liberal Party candidate at the 2001 Federal election in the seat of Lyons, achieving a swing to the party of 3.5%.
– Liberal Party candidate for the 2006 State election.
– Supporter of the decision to grant a conditional licence to build the Northern Tasmanian Pulp Mill.
– As the Federal Liberal Member for Lyons Geoff would fight for an integrated strategy for transport in Tasmania as a whole, and ultimately the development of a four-lane highway from BURNIE to HOBART.
– As a rural family member he is committed to the development of a sustainable water strategy in Tasmania, and the provision of proper acute and aged care health services in the Lyons electorate.
– Geoff’s father Graeme Page was a member of the House of Assembly for 20 years, including a term as Speaker.
