From The Campaign Trail

John Howard's Government repeatedly claims to be great economic managers. That's just factually wrong. Here is what Bernie Fraser, former Governor of Australia's Reserve Bank, had to say yesterday:

"I think the Government has missed an enormous opportunity to use the good fortune of this commodities boom over the last five or ten years to make major improvements in our social and economic infrastructure. And I think that's the great pity of the last five, last ten years really, that this once in a lifetime experience of tremendous export growth - basically commodities with low inflation, big budget surpluses, good growth and all that - but we haven't converted that into improving our social infrastructure or our economic infrastructure. We've got problems in education, in health and we've got problems in power supply and transport facilities and the opportunity has been missed I'm afraid".

I urge you to read the full interview with Mr Fraser: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1833106.htm

I've received many questions from concerned residents of Ryan electorate about my position on the Ipswich Motorway. Let me make it very clear. Unlike the current Federal Member for Ryan I am committed to a full upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway. So too is Labor! Labor has been committed to the full upgrade of this vital economic and social link for eight years, while the Howard Government refused to act. The current motor way is unsafe and dangerous. I don’t want any more studies or excuses. The Howard Government has had since 1996 to fix this problem and it has failed.

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Welcome back from the Christmas and New Year break. 2007 is a great New Year because it is the year the Howard government disappears. By the end of 2007 Queensland's own Kevin Rudd will be Prime Minister, and his Labor government will deliver a fairer and more decent Australia. Together, we can make Ryan part of that better Australia, by helping rid Ryan and Australia of this divisive, backward-looking Liberal government. If you are interested in being part of our team, please let me know - use the link to the contact page on our website. In the meantime, I wish you and yours a peaceful and stress free start to the New Year.