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MARCH 15 2013 ISSUE 1094
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT CIRCULATION: 58,865
THE HEARTBEAT OF PENRITH
HAPPY RESULT A story that appeared in The Western Weekender last week has had a very happy development. Kim Bellamy was struggling to fi nd the funds to adopt a puppy that she had rescued in her local area. Her family had found the puppy by the side of the road and minded her for five days, waiting for Council rangers to collect it. They wanted to buy the dog, but couldn’t afford the fee. But that’s where a Weekender reader stepped in...
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COUNCIL DRAMA Lindsay MP David Bradbury and Prime Minister Julia Gillard speak exclusively with Western Weekender journalist Cassandra O’Connor. Photo: Melinda Jane.
Over to you, Dave
Labor Councillors storm out of meeting PAGE 7
Exclusive: PM declares Bradbury can win Lindsay
T
CASSANDRA O CONNOR
he campaign trail will be long and arduous but the Federal seat of Lindsay is “absolutely” winnable, according to Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The Prime Minister will be banking on the “incredible track record of achievement” of Lindsay Member and Assistant Treasurer, David Bradbury, to get Labor across the line. “He’s got an encyclopaedia in his head when it comes to the needs of the people here in the electorate of Lindsay and he brings that depth of local knowledge into the Parliament,” she said.
Speaking exclusively to the Western Weekender at the end of her week-long tour of western Sydney last Thursday, Ms Gillard showed much determination and optimism about the Federal Election scheduled for September 14. When asked whether Lindsay could be won by Labor at the next election, Ms Gillard replied with, “Certainly, absolutely, absolutely”. But winning the seat, held by Labor by a slim 1.1 per cent margin, would require one of the great political comebacks of all time from Mr Bradbury and the Prime Minister herself. Ms Gillard believes that is achievable and believes Mr Bradbury can make it happen. “You couldn’t get a more energetic, more
focused member with a deeper knowledge of the community than David Bradbury,” she said. Whilst the colour and flair of leadership speculation and the “theatre” of politics often dominate headlines, Ms Gillard said that residents like those of western Sydney are more interested in how the Government is addressing the practical issues they face in their lives. “People going about their day to day lives aren’t interested in that colour and movement,” she said of the speculation that has dogged her party. She pointed to issues like cost of living, health and traffic congestion as key concerns to locals. Continues page 3
ABBOTT VISITS Liberal leader calls for childcare inquiry PAGE 17
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