EDUCATION, live cattle export and same-sex marriage were among the hot-ticket items that stirred the strong show of locals at last night’s meet-the-candidates debate in Gunnedah.
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Incumbent Nationals MP Mark Coulton, The Greens’ Matt Parmeter and Christian Democratic Party (CDP) candidate Glen Ryan fronted the event, while Labor’s Kate Stewart and Online Democratic Party’s John Ayton were unable to attend.
It comes less than a fortnight out from the July 2 election, in which Gunnedah residents will vote as part of the Parkes electorate.
A question fired at Mr Coulton about education kicked off debate in the Q&A-style forum. When asked how he planned to “bring all schools up to minimum resource standards” under the Coalition’s plan to abolish the final two years of Gonski funding, Mr Coulton said commitments should not be measured in dollars.
"Our commitment is sensible funding that is sustainable,” Mr Coulton hit back. While Mr Parmeter reinforced The Greens supported the full Gonski model, Mr Ryan, a teacher of 35 years, believed educational outcomes would be brought up by stronger family units.
The matter of live cattle export also divided candidates, with Mr Parmeter reinforcing his party were dead against it. But Mr Coulton said a “knee-jerk reaction” to ban all live export rather than just those “not up to scratch” would have a detrimental impact right down the chain.
On the matter of same-sex marriage, candidates were as equally divided. CDP’s Mr Ryan, who was speaking at his first public forum on the campaign trail, dubbed same-sex marriage “the most potentially socially-damaging, redefining engineering project”. “The traditional marriage between man and woman has been the cornerstone and building block of society for centuries and centuries,” he said.
Mr Parmeter backed the legalisation of marriage as a human rights issue, while Mr Coulton said it was against his personal belief, but supported a plebiscite.
Mr Coulton went on to say he had worked to oppose the highly-debated backpacker tax, despite wanting to keep jobs locals. Mr Ryan supported backpackers working without being taxed, but conceded “the real problem lies with locals not having incentives to work”.
Mr Parmeter, a civil engineer, pushed for renewable energy during debate, stating The Greens hoped to have 90 per cent of electricity generated by renewables in 15 years. Gunnedah and District Chamber of Commerce hosted the forum, which drew about 80 locals.
