THE political focus turned to business matters at a Port Macquarie forum only days out from the federal election.
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A crowd of about 60 people heard from six of the seven Cowper candidates during the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce forum on June 28.
Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce president Hadyn Oriti said business provided a sound foundation for the sort of society we liked to live in.
The candidates spoke about issues from jobs programs to the national broadband network, climate change and employment.
The Greens’ candidate Carol Vernon recognised the importance of businesses.
“There are 18,000 small businesses in Cowper alone and these have a vital role to play in the make-up of what happens in our electorate and they need support and The Greens are there to give them support,” she said.
Labor candidate Damian Wood said skills and training in the workplace needed to be respected.
He said this was about understanding members of the workforce were also your customers and clients, and their wellbeing was your own.
Independent candidate John Arkan said it was important to have a business-minded person involved at government level.
“It’s integral because we think a different way,” he said.
Mr Arkan said we all had it in our minds that we needed to make Cowper a marginal seat to make a difference.
Cowper MP and The Nationals’ candidate Luke Hartsuyker spoke about the Coalition’s jobs plan and Youth Pathways Program.
Mr Hartsuyker said he was passionate about regional development and including Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour in the one electorate provided some fantastic opportunities.
“We are keen to partner with you, I am keen to partner with you and further your interests to create wealth for us all,” he said.
Citizens Electoral Council candidate Michael Gough said the party took a top down approach to alleviate political problems.
“If you fix the top, the rest will follow and you can address all the smaller problems and there are many of them,” he said.
Independent candidate Rob Oakeshott spoke about projects he was pleased to see being developed, including health and education projects, dating back from his time in politics.
But it was not just bricks and mortar, he said.
Mr Oakeshott said there had been a really good jobs plan in place working with the community which included strategies and pathways.
He said that good jobs plan had been lost.