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Copyright © David Mathews 2010
Speech to Australian Christian Lobby Senate Candidates Forum16 August 2010
Firstly I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we are meeting on tonight andacknowledge their elders past and present, and the ongoing contribution they make to our beautiful city.Thank you to Nick and the Australian Christian Lobby for putting on tonights event. It is a privilege and anhonour to represent the Labor Party and to put forward our platform for the federal election on Saturday.I am David Mathews, and along with Senator Kate Lundy, I am running as a Senate candidate for Labor in theACT. Senator Lundy sends her good wishes and apologies  she regrets that she was unable to be here tonight.I have lived in Canberra for over 15 years, I live in Hughes with my family and I run a local business.I am aware day to day, of the responsibility of employing people, of providing quality employment andconditions.
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f providing a flexible environment so that staff can achieve their objectives at work, while still activelycaring for their families and maintaining their personal lives.
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f making sure we have enough business coming in the door to house, clothe and feed many people,both directly and indirectly in the community.
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And to make sure our team members can build a future for themselves in our vibrant city.Make no mistake, while some commentators have said that this is a boring and meaningless election, I believethe decision we make on Saturday has very important implications for how we want to see Australia in thefuture, the future we want for our children and grandchildren.At the heart of the election is a set of fundamental values. Do we want to take Australia forwards with a visionfor a secure economic future? With better hospitals and schools? An Australia where there is no Workchoices?An Australia where we can take care of people, and respect peoples views and the right to present thoseviews in an engaged democracy?There is a stark choice in this election.
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n one hand you have Julia Gillard who has a better plan for a strongereconomy with the budget back into surplus by 2013, or no economic plan from Mr Abbott and the Coalition,and who present a risk to our economic future.There is a stark choice on health and education  we can have more nurses and better hospitals, or gobackwards with Mr Abbotts cuts to health.A stark choice on education  where they are more opportunities for our children, more apprentices to helpdrive our skills needs, or go backwards with Mr Abbotts cuts to education.And there is a stark choice on jobs, and particularly in the Canberra region. Labor has a clear track record inproviding relatively stable staffing levels in the Australian Public Service, with an increase of 3.2% projectedover 3 years. We have ensured ongoing efficiency and effectiveness within the APS, better targeting programsand ensuring the efficiency dividend for Agencies is kept in place. Labor is committed to maintaining servicelevels, unlike Mr Abbott who is determined to cut services.The Coalition have said they will cut 12,000 public sector jobs by natural attrition. And when you look at theestimated cuts in a range of government agencies, you see the potential impact on the delivery of services andCanberras economy:
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