POSSIBLY in the hope of converting Cash into votes, Liberal federal election candidates Zoe McKenzie (Flinders) and Sharn Coombes (Dunkley) were last month photographed in shops with the Attorney General Senator Michaelia Cash.
Faced with the highest cost-of-living inflation for two decades and stagnant wages growth, the candidates praised small business and the positive effects of the federal government’s JobKeeper program.
For McKenzie, on Facebook, her time with Cash on Thursday 21 April was “a day full of terrific stories of optimism, positivity, small and family businesses into which local families have thrown their lives to create places we all love”.
The previous day Cash was with Coombes for “an exciting afternoon” to launch her Local Plan for Dunkley.
“I am committed to strongly representing our community in Canberra. I will always listen and remember my purpose – to represent you – our beautiful community,” Coombes posted on Facebook.
Since the advent of Cash on the hustings, the two Liberals have jointly announced that, if re-elected, the Scott Morrison-led government would hand over $5 million to complete the Moorooduc-Mornington section of the $50m Peninsula Trail.
Spruiked by Mornington Peninsula Shire as destined to be one of “the great walking and cycling trails of the world”, the Peninsula Trail remains years and at least $35 million away from of being completed (“$35m extra needed for ‘world class trail’” The News 4/4/22).
About half of the 100km trail is now in place, with the shire so far committing $10 million to the $50 million project, the state government $3 million and federal government, until the candidates’ promise, $2 million.
Coombes said the trail has the “potential to become one of the great scenic trails of the world”, while McKenzie it “should be what Cradle Mountain is to Tasmania”.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 3 May 2022
