Dear supporter,

Firstly, I wish to thank all of you for your hard work, encouragement and support in the campaign so far, as we have been busily doorknocking, leafleting train stations, holding stalls and visiting workplaces.

On Saturday, at both the Glenbrook Festival and the River Dreaming Festival in Bathurst, I was greatly encouraged by the public support for our plan for the future.

This was reinforced by the visit of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke to Springwood and Lithgow last Friday. His speeches highlighted the negative effects of WorkChoices, which have replaced cooperation and consensus with conflict and unfairness.

With election day fast approaching, we need to arrange for hundreds of volunteers for polling booths across Macquarie. Please take this opportunity to ask your family, friends and workmates if they would spend a couple hours helping elect a Rudd Labor Government.

And you can still support my campaign by buying a bottle of limited edition Kevin07 wine. Produced by award-winning Mudgee winemaker Andrew Harris, they are a bargain at $15 a bottle. You can download an order form from www.bobdebus.com.

Election Night Parties:

Volunteers and supporters are invited to our Macquarie election night parties.
Bathurst – Campaign Office, 137 George St, Bathurst. Bob will be there from 6pm to 8pm.
Lithgow – Campaign Office, 50 Main St, Lithgow. Bob will be there from 9pm to 9.30pm.
Katoomba – Family Hotel, 15 Parke St, Katoomba. We are joining with the YR@W team. Bob will be there at 10.15pm.
Winmalee – Venue TBC. We are joining with YR@W team.

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Bob Debus

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Lithgow Business Association candidates forum
When: 7pm, Wednesday 14 November
Where: Lithgow Golf Club, Eskroy Park, Marrangaroo

Bathurst Walk Against Warming

Our campaign team will be joining the Walk Against Warming in Bathurst this Thursday to highlight the Howard Government's failure to act on this important issue and the need to implement a plan for reducing carbon emissions.

Please come and join us – and wear a Kevin07 t-shirts if you have one. There will also be a number of Kevin07 shirts available at the walk.

Meet at Peace Park, near the Conversation statue, before walking through town to the Metro Cinema for a viewing of The Power of Community followed by the premier of Elizabeth: the Golden Age.

When: 5:30pm, Thursday 15 November
Where: Peace Park, Bathurst

Bathurst Street Stall

If you can spare some time on Saturday it would be great to see you at our street stall between 10am and 1pm, or helping our with some doorknocking in the afternoon.

When: 10am to 1pm / doorknocking in the afternoon, Saturday 17 November
Where: Outside Stockland Mall, William St, Bathurst

KEVIN 07 Wine Tasting Fundraiser

Come along to the Alpine Motor Inn Restaurant in Katoomba this Saturday for a fun fundraiser. Try our fabulous Kevin07 wines to the tune of musicians Merv Lilley, Bluey Quilty & Friends. Bookings are essential, $5 donation for catering.

Contact: marillanorth@optusnet.com.au, tel: 4782 5977

When: 4-6pm Saturday November 17
Where : Alpine Motor Inn Restaurant, cnr Great Western Highway and Orient St, Katoomba

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

Federal Labor's plan to improve trades training

Labor's Shadow Minister for Education and Training, Stephen Smith, joined me at Portland Central School to announce that a Rudd Labor Government will invest more than $820 million to improve the quality of trades training in Australian secondary schools.

Labor's Trades Training Centres in Schools Plan will provide between $500,000 and up to $1.5 million to local secondary schools to build, upgrade or enhance trade workshops , commercial kitchens , hairdressing facilities , a utomotive workshops and computer laboratories. The plan includes:

* Investing $800 million to establish Trades Training Centres in secondary schools
* Investing $24 million to help students studying for a trade to get on-the-job training
* Introducing a Job Ready Certificate to help businesses assess the job readiness of students engaged in trades training

Federal Labor to support Evocities project for regional NSW

Simon Crean, Shadow Minister for Trade and Regional Development, committed $1.2 million for the Evocities project during a visit to Bathurst last week.

Bathurst , Dubbo, Albury, Armidale, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga have developed a strategy to attract people from Sydney to live, work and invest in their cities.

Federal Labor's commitment will enable the project to proceed for the first year and will be delivered in partnership with the local governments and corporate sponsors.

Early voting:

If you will be away from home on election day, don't miss out on having your say. Early voting is now occurring in Lithgow, Bathurst, Katoomba and Springwood. You can also contact the AEC to arrange a postal vote.

Lithgow – Lithgow Commercial Premises, 18-20 Main St
Open 9am-5pm from Monday 19 to Thursday 22 November. Open from 9am-6pm on Friday 23 and from 8am-6pm on election day.

Bathurst – George St Plaza, 8/62 George St
Open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. Open from 9am to 1pm on Saturday 17. Open from 9am to 6pm on Friday 23 and from 8am to 6pm on election day.

Katoomba – Katoomba/Leura Senior Citizens, Town Centre Arcade, Katoomba St
Open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. Open from 9am to 1pm on Saturday 17. Open from 9am to 6pm on Friday 23 and from 8am to 6pm on election day.

Springwood – Town Hall Plaza – 5C, 127 Macquarie St
Open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. Open from 9am to 1pm on Saturday 17. Open from 9am to 6pm on Friday 23 and from 8am to 6pm on election day.

Springwood – Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) office, Shop 4 Raymond Mall, Raymond Rd
Open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

How you can help:

There are plenty of jobs to do leading up to election day. If you can help, please contact our local campaign offices (Springwood – Amber Jacobus 4751 4239, Bathurst – Mike Dickson 6331 6488, Lithgow – Matt Martin 6352 5570).

Letterboxing

During the next 10 days we will need a large number of volunteers to help letterbox voters with vital information about Labor's plans for the future.

Street Stalls and Train Station

We are holding street stalls around the electorate this Saturday morning and in the next 10 days, and also handing out material on the early morning commuter trains in the Blue Mountains.

Signage

We are still looking for front yards, shop windows and other prominent places to put up Bob Debus posters.

Election Day

We need volunteers to staff polling booths on election day.

Contact the Campaign:

I am available to meet with local residents to discuss federal issues. Simply contact our team to arrange a time at our offices in Bathurst, Springwood or Lithgow.

General Campaign Contact

Ph: 1300 785 185
Fax: 1300 785 186
E: bob.debus@alp.org.au

Bathurst Office

Ph: (02) 6331 6488
Fax: (02) 6332 3388
Mail: PO Box 262
BATHURST, NSW 2795
Office:137 George St, Bathurst

Springwood Office

Ph: (02) 4751 4239
Fax: (02) 4751 4501
Mail: PO Box 636
KATOOMBA, NSW 2780
Office: 13/125 Macquarie Rd, Springwood

Lithgow Office

Ph: 0448 472 600
Office: 50 Main St, Lithgow
Please pass this email on to interested friends, family and workmates. To sign up for future bulletins, email SUBSCRIBE to bob.debus@alp.org.au. If you no longer wish to receive them email UNSUBSCRIBE to bob.debus@alp.org.au.


Bob Debus | Labor Candidate for Macquarie
Springwood Campaign Office
Ph: 02 4751 4239 | Fax: 02 4751 4501
bob.debus.springwood@bigpond.com