Iemma and Debnam square off online

By Staff Writer

In an Australian first, NSW Premier Morris Iemma and Opposition Leader Peter Debnam have used online video pitches to unveil their pitch for voters in next month’s state election. The videos are available at no cost at news.ninemsn.com.au/nswdecides

Hilary Clinton was the first politician to opt against traditional methods and announce her run for the US White House via the internet, according to ninemsn managing editor Max Uechtritz. But the NSW election candidates have approached the task of talking directly to voters via the internet with gusto.

Mr Iemma’s video is aimed firmly at NSW families and he opens saying “as a parent bringing up four kids and paying off a mortgage in the suburbs, I undertand the needs and aspirations of working families”.

He nominates the Labour agenda as:
• helping working families by increasing public services;
• creating better schools and hospitals;
• delivering more reliable public transport; and
• providing more police to make the community safer.

Mr Iemma also says he shares NSW families’ concerns about water.

Mr Debnam warns viewers that although Labour says it is heading in a new direction, it is “a con, just like last time”. He says the “same old Labor faces” of Michael Costa, Joe Tripodi and Frank Sartor will continue to make the decisions affecting people’s future in NSW.

Mr Debnam says his navy days taught him that “there’s no place for talkers, just doers”.

He outlines the Liberal/National Coalition’s top priorities as:
• getting the economy moving;
• tackling the water crisis; and
• restoring faith in public services such as transport and health.

The NSW state election will take place on Saturday March 24.