Day one of the federal election campaign couldn’t have started in less rock star fashion.
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Foreign Minister and deputy leader of the Liberal Party Julie Bishop made a rapid visit to the region on Monday, May 9, to kick off what may be a short but eventful campaign.
Member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy described Ms Bishop as the “most important woman in Australia” to a room full of Anglican College students before a quick stop at the Bega Cheese factory to talk free trade with executive chairman Barry Irvin.
Ms Bishop’s visit also involved touring a dairy farm and a walk through a number of Carp St businesses.
Hospitality worker Alana Holdsworth was approached by Ms Bishop who stopped to chat and request a “selfie” with the 19-year-old.
“I asked her about whether they will cut penalty rates and she said she’s not going to touch them,” Ms Holdsworth said.
Ms Holdsworth has worked in the hospitality sector for four years and said she is skeptical of Ms Bishop’s assurances.
“She’s just being a people pleaser, she may have been sincere but we’ll have to wait and see,” she said.
Waiting for Ms Bishop outside Dr Hendy’s Bega office was Paula Park.
Ms Park said she was concerned about the effects of factory trawlers such as the Geelong Star in Far South Coast waters.
“It is all about big business and I don’t want to see us fished out of our stock like Africa,” Ms Park said.
Bega High School student Rohan Nolan heard about Ms Bishop’s visit on social media and came along to see a visiting minister first hand.
“I haven’t really kept up with politics so I don’t know what I would ask her,” he said.
Ms Bishop’s visit comes just a day after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull officially called a double dissolution election for July 2.
Dr Hendy and Ms Bishop were in the news late last year after it was revealed her chief of staff attended a meeting at his home the night before the removal of Tony Abbott.