Nemingha’s Ian Coxhead questions Peter Draper’s track record as the member for Tamworth and points out a number of projects that Kevin Anderson has been able to deliver to the electorate since he took over the seat at the last election.
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PETER Draper, the former MP for Tamworth, has announced that he intends to stand at the next state election (NDL, Thursday December 18) suggesting of Kevin Anderson, that “it’s OK for him to go and open things I had already opened years earlier...”, but then Mr Draper failed to mention what was actually opened twice.
Of Kevin Anderson’s alleged penchant for appearing in nice photos, I have this very clear picture of Mr Draper appearing in a nice photo along a ramshackle Manilla Rd with a corrupt, former Labor roadsminister – Joe Tripodi.
Now under Kevin Anderson and The Nationals, the upgrade of Manilla Rd is almost complete, something Peter Draper and Labor never looked like starting.
Then there was the Split Rock to Barraba pipeline completed with funds from the NSW Coalition government, as well as funds from Tamworth Regional Council and the former federal Labor government.
Peter Draper and state Labor were never going to start that lifeline for the people of Barraba.
There’s plenty of other examples of state money flowing into this electorate since Peter Draper departed.
The Oxley Highway (Gunnedah Rd) upgrade, the replacement of the dangerous Tangaratta Creek bridge, over $1 million spent on the regional park in Kable Ave, state funds for Chaffey Dam and the Tamworth hospital.
The best Peter achieved on the hospital was funding for a plan to redevelop it, promised by Labor Premier Morris Iemma in 2007.
Gunnedah is to get a new rail overpass. Under Peter Draper and Labor this was a distant pipe dream.
So while Kevin appears in nice photos delivering for his electorate, I remember a smiling Peter Draper appearing in plenty of photos with, as history has demonstrated, corrupt and or incompetent former Labor ministers and very few achievements to speak of.
Kevin isn’t perfect but nor was Peter.
It is now up to Mr Draper to demonstrate how he will be able to deliver for the Tamworth electorate during the next Coalition government, should he win.
Kevin has already proven that he has delivered for his community.