EXCLUSIVE: Lindsay MP David Bradbury is sticking by the policies that are threatening the stability of the Gillard Government.
EXCLUSIVE
On Saturday the 100th asylum seeker boat entered Australian waters on Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s watch.
The carbon tax was introduced to parliament on Tuesday.
Live export trade. Same sex marriage. Mining tax. Pokies.
Poor Newspoll results, credit card queries and speculation of a leadership showdown.
The issues confronting the Federal Government are mounting, and the thick of it all is Lindsay MP, David Bradbury.
He holds Lindsay by the slimmest of margins and knows his job is on the line.
“I don’t spend any time worrying about the polls because there is only one poll that is going to matter and that will be the next election,” Mr Bradbury told the Weekender.
Mr Bradbury said that he realises his job is at risk but is determined to engage in debates that will shape Australia’s future rather than speculation about his popularity.
“We know that sometimes that means that these things are not popular, sometimes that means that that is a threat to the job security of people like me, but we are in this for the long haul to do what we think is right,” he said.
And his strategy may be working with Newspoll showing that the total population in favour of the carbon tax has increased from 30 per cent in April to 36 per cent at the end of July.
“For those who are open-minded on this issue I have seen many people shift their position to a more favourable position as a result of sitting down, having a cup of tea and a discussion with me,” he said.
But embarrassment caused by the High Court’s ruling and subsequent decision by caucus on Monday to resurrect the Malaysian refugee swap deal isn’t helping Mr Bradbury’s cause.
“How many refugees does Australia take in a year? 13,750… I am more interested in the 700,000 Australians that have a job today because of the economic policies of this government than I am about – now its an important issue – but in the context of the challenges that governments face, our economic policies are having a bigger impact on a larger number of Australians than those other policies,” Mr Bradbury said.
