WA: Government announces its first election sweeteners

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2008
WA: Government announces its first election sweeteners

PERTH, Aug 8 AAP - The West Australian government has stolen another march on the opposition
by announcing its first round of election sweeteners before the Liberal Party forms its
shadow cabinet.

After calling an election yesterday, less than 24 hours after the Liberal opposition
had recalled Colin Barnett to the leadership, Premier Alan Carpenter today announced free
public transport for seniors and the disabled.

He said the free travel would apply to senior card holders, aged pensioners, and disability
support pensioners between 10am and 3pm on weekdays and at all times on weekends.

The move would cost $50 million over four years, Mr Carpenter said.

He also promised a doubling of the seniors' spectacles allowance from $50 to $100 and
said the WA government would lobby the federal government for an increase in the aged
pension.

Mr Carpenter said the government had decided on its campaign slogan, which will be
"Vision, Stability and Leadership".

He said he would travel to Albany, in the state's south, today to make several announcements,
including some regarding the city's hospital.

Meanwhile, the opposition scheduled a press conference for noon (WST) to announce its frontbench.

Former Liberal leader Troy Buswell quit the job on Monday and Mr Barnett was elected
unopposed to at a party room meeting on Wednesday, despite having previously announced
his retirement from politics.

Mr Barnett's plans to announce his shadow cabinet yesterday were interrupted by the
calling of a snap election for September 6.

Meanwhile, the first polling carried out during the election has been favourable for
the opposition.

The Quick Ideas snap poll, conducted for Fairfax Radio in three Perth electorates,
showed 39 per cent of respondents intended to vote Liberal, while just 18 per cent said
they would vote Labor.

The poll, conducted in the electorates of Perth, Morley and Cottesloe, found 35 per
cent were undecided about their vote.

AAP was/ht/cdh

KEYWORD: POLLWA CARPENTER

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.