Quote:

.........Wilkie's list: National 1/ Introduction of maximum $1 bet and $120/hour loss limits on all poker machines in Australia. 2/ Urgent action on climate change, including a price on carbon. 3/ Honouring the word and spirit of the UN Refugee Convention. 4/ Federal whistleblower legislation. 5/ According the same funding priority to mental health care as afforded currently to GP and hospital services. 6/ Including dental care in Medicare. 7/ Overturning the recent Federal Government decision to extend to 2014 the review of the Federal funding model for education. Instead complete the review by 2012, and implement the recommendations as soon as practicable. Increased funding for tertiary institutions. 8/ Increasing all Government pensions, allowances and other payments to levels people can actually live on. Enhance the method of indexation so as to ensure they genuinely keep pace with inflation. 9/ A conscience vote on same-sex marriage. 10/ Increased funding of aged care facilities. 11/ The introduction of a national disability insurance scheme. Local 12/ Replacement of the Royal Hobart Hospital. In the interim, leasing of sub-acute beds in private hospitals to help reduce the RHH occupancy rate to the national level. 13/ Stage 3 of the National Broadband Network complete by end 2012. 14 / Withdrawal of all Federal Government approvals for Gunns' Tamar River pulp mill. 15/ Immediate release of the $20 million relief funding for Tasmanian forestry contractors pledged by the ALP and Coalition. 16/ Stage 1 of the Southern Councils Transport Plan implemented. 17/ The northern suburbs light rail funded and developed. 18/ Re-alignment of the Brighton bypass to protect the Jordan River levee Aboriginal heritage site. Upgrade of the Brooker Highway and Plenty Valley link road. 19/ Upgrade Hobart inner port infrastructure. 20/ Realisation of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery master plan. 21/ Stage 1 of the Glenorchy Sports, Recreation and Community Precinct funded and developed. Office 21/ Adequate staffing and office space to deal with the workload of an Independent Member of Parliament. ...

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/wilkie-releases-20point-list-of-priorities-20100830-13y87.html

PORK BARRELLING !!!!!!!!!!

It seems Wilkie doesn't see the rest of Australia.  Neither Julia Gillard and Labor or Tony Abbott and the Coalition could possibly meet all these demands,  nor should they.

I accept that rural and regional Australia has often been left behind the door by both Labor and Coalition goverments ,  but to be in the position Wilkie is in and to make these demands is ridiculous and nothing short of blackmail.

I also take exception to his remarks about Afghanistan at this particular time, as a family has one of it's boy's body on it's way home.   I think he has been  most insensitive.  Those remarks could have waited until the the families of those who have been killed so recently  have had a chance to at least come to terms with their grief.

The more I hear about the four Independents, the more another election looks preferable.  

Most of his wish list looks reasonable - probably unaffordable but most would be good things to do.

Wilkie scares the crap out of me, and virtually every Club across NSW, Victoria and Queensland.