Rudd, State MPs step in for Gray’s campaign

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a fleeting visit to Brand on Friday to inspect the progress of improvements to the Kwinana Freeway’s Mundijong Road exit.

It was the third prime ministerial visit to the electorate this year after two visits by former prime minister Julia Gillard in the first half of the year.

Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels and Brand MHR Gary Gray showed Mr Rudd the progress of the $17.8 million project, which started in April.

Mr Rudd had plenty of time to inspect the works after he was left waiting more than half an hour for the media bus to arrive at the location after it took the wrong turn off the freeway.

Earlier in the day, Mr Gray was joined on the campaign by his four State Labor colleagues whose electorates lie within Brand.

Rockingham MLA and State opposition leader Mark McGowan said Mr Gray and Labor ensured families in Brand had access to quality, local services.

Mandurah MLA David Templeman said education in his electorate had benefitted enormously through the help of Mr Gray.

“This investment is unprecedented in Mandurah and demonstrates how committed Gary is to making sure Mandurah kids get the best start in life,” he said.

“It was Gary Gray who made sure Mandurah was one of the first places in Australia where the National Broadband Network was rolled out, this will be a huge benefit to Mandurah people and Mandurah businesses into the future.”

Mr Gray claimed every school in Brand would be negatively impacted if a Coalition government was elected.

“Mr Abbott boasts he will model any government he leads on the Barnett Government — which is right now unnecessarily slashing staff and school budgets,” he said.

“All of the 60 schools in our region are impacted, whether primary or secondary.

“Principals have been gagged and parents are rightly outraged by cutbacks in staff, special resourcing and the imposition of special long-service leave ‘levy’ at a time when the student population is rapidly increasing.”