Monday was day one of an eight-week campaign that will culminate in the federal election on July 2 and with inside information early in the weekend, the deputy leader of the Australian Liberal Party, Julie Bishop, made a pre-emptive strike on the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro, hitting Merimbula Airport, Sapphire Coast Anglican College, Bega Cheese, a dairy farm and some Bega businesses, accompanied by the sitting MP, Peter Hendy.

There was a sense of expectation particularly around money for airport upgrades to allow larger aircraft to land although council’s general manager, Leanne Barnes, explained that jets would not be landing at Merimbula, just minutes before the RAAF jet carrying Ms Bishop, touched down.

Ah the delicious ironies of politics!

No money was announced but in reality, at this stage in an eight-week campaign, it would be too early to hand out any major rural remedies.

Rural patients are being urged to take regular and daily doses of two magic potions: “jobs and growth” and an “economic plan” both of which were being dispensed liberally on Monday morning.

And if you were feeling a little under the weather just remember, Coalition members have swallowed these potions wholeheartedly and are happy to spruik their benefits.

By Tuesday, Dr Hendy was providing more than the daily dose in his press release about the previous day’s visit by Ms Bishop. In a nine-paragraph press release, seven paragraphs were liberally sprinkled with “economic plans” or “jobs and growth”.

So what will these potions do for us, specifically? Well it seems that we’ve been looking for this remedy and in doing so we are a reflection of what the government has concocted for us. It’s a ‘You asked for it and now we’re giving it to you’ sort of a moment.

“People are looking to export to Asia and looking to provide new tourism jobs for a booming tourism industry so this area reflects the coalition’s overall plan for the future, more growth and more jobs,” Ms Bishop said.

So settle back, remember that you’re not obliged to take the medication as supplied. There will be other medications that you may like more, or less. But do read the small print in case of side effects!    

                                                               Denise Dion