“Therefore, I hope that the focus of the Federal Budget will be to protect the Australian economy as much as possible from the affects of the global downturn, while at the same time providing fundamental services to communities within the constraints that we face.

 “Support for industry, especially in manufacturing and innovation, will be important for the future of our area, especially given the difficulty of our current circumstances. 

“Education, as always is vital, and support for improved school facilities, including new Science and Language Labs, will be most welcome. 

“Health is always a priority, and I sincerely hope that the Parliament will finally support the Government in implementing a new Dental Health package – an area of great need in this electorate.