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FEBRUARY 1 2013 ISSUE 1088
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT CIRCULATION: 58,865
THE HEARTBEAT OF PENRITH
IVAN OPENS UP As a crucial season for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL draws near, coach Ivan Cleary has opened up to the Weekender about the enormous changes the club has gone through in recent years. He reveals why the loss of Michael Jennings’ speed is no big issue, says he doesn’t listen to rumours on Twitter, and pledges his support to Phil Gould in a period of transformation at the club.
• ELECTION CALLED FOR SEPTEMBER 14 • FIONA SCOTT AND DAVID BRADBURY IN LOCAL BATTLE
PAGE 78
• UNPRECEDENTED 8 MONTH CAMPAIGN • PAGE 8: GILLARD, ABBOTT COLUMNS SUCCESS STORY Federal Member for Lindsay, David Bradbury, declared he was ready for battle during a visit to Howell Oval on Wednesday night. Photo: Melinda Jane.
Now it’s ‘game on’
How Jason Dundas changed his life PAGE 25
The battle for Lindsay begins as Labor calls election CASSANDRA O CONNOR
W
ith his sleeves rolled up to signify he is prepared for what is ahead, Lindsay MP David Bradbury declared on Wednesday that he was ready for an election battle – a battle that comes down to the 1.1 per cent margin by which he holds the crucial seat. Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, stunned the nation on Wednesday afternoon by calling an election for September 14. “Announcing the election date now enables individuals and businesses, investors and
Keep your Cool this Summer with
consumers, to plan their year,” she said. And the eight-month campaign period will give Lindsay constituents more than enough time to decide who to give their vote to – Mr Bradbury, or Liberal candidate, Fiona Scott, who is considered one of the Coalition’s rising stars. “The next eight months will provide local residents with the chance to scrutinise the Liberals’ $70 billion black hole and their plans to cut support to families, and frontline services in health and education,” Mr Bradbury said. Mr Bradbury said that he hoped that his opponent would “front up” during this campaign as local residents deserved the opportunity to compare the candidates and their plans.
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JOINING FORCES NRL stars join the battle against bullying PAGE 77
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Th ings got off to a rocky start in that regard on Wednesday when the Weekender invited both Mr Bradbury and Ms Scott to a friendly photograph to launch the election campaign in Penrith. A Liberal Party representative emphatically declined the offer on behalf of Ms Scott. Ms Scott told the Weekender that she welcomes the announcement of the election, and that it offers Lindsay voters “a clear choice”. “The Coalition will deliver a strong, prosperous economy and a safe and secure Australia. Julia Gillard and David Bradbury are part of a divided and dysfunctional government which has no plans for Australia’s future other than more taxes and more debt,” she said.
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