One of the Coalition's big ticket items for the NSW election has run out of the bag early - a $250 free travel card for 400,000 rural and regional seniors.
The $100m election promise was due to be revealed at The Nationals election launch in Queanbeyan on Sunday - but voters in the seat of Barwon received advice about the new card early.
It was all to do with a Nationals head office and Australia Post mix up. The letters to Barwon voters highlighting the new $250 travel card went out early with Australia Post thinking they'd take longer to deliver because of the far distances of the Barwon electorate in western NSW.
By the time the news broke of the new seniors card, the office of The Nationals candidate for Barwon, Andrew Schier, was already receiving congratulatory emails. One voter from Hay said "this is great, how do I apply?", a voter from Tottenham was eager also to apply for the card, while one addressee from Condobolin came back with "address not known".
NSW Deputy Premier and Regional NSW Minister John Barilaro said seniors with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and aged pensioners living in Regional NSW will benefit from the initiative.
The Card can be used for fuel and taxis from participating providers in rural and regional NSW and pre-booked NSW TrainLink train and coach services, he said.
“I’m very proud to announce the Regional Seniors Transport Card,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The Nationals are unapologetic about doing everything we can to support our regional seniors. Many people in the city wouldn’t realise how hard it can be to get to a local doctor or to see your family.
“Travel is one of the most significant household costs faced by those living across rural and regional NSW – and with further distances to travel, country seniors rely more heavily on their cars – that means more fuel and more money,” he said.
His office said the Regional Seniors Transport Card policy follows a recommendation from the 2016 NSW Parliamentary Committee on Community Services into the access to Transport for Seniors and Disadvantaged People in Rural and Regional NSW.
The card will be renewable on an annual basis for two years and is available for aged pensioners and seniors with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card who live in regional NSW.
Former Greens MP now Independent Jeremy Buckingham accused the Nationals of trying to bribe voters.
"Are the Nationals trying to bribe voters? I think the wording and presentation of this letter circulated to voters in Barwon breaches the Electoral Act pertaining to bribery," he alleged.
"I've written to the Electoral Commission notifying them of my concerns.
"The Electoral Act s209 - "Electoral bribery, treating and selling of votes
"(1) A person must not, in order to influence or affect any person’s election conduct, give or confer, or promise or offer to give or confer, any property or any other benefit of any kind to the person or any other person.
"Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units or imprisonment for 3 years, or both."
"Many voters will see linking the act of voting for the Nationals ‘to get your’ card to the value of $250 as an attempted bribe, others may fall for it and be influenced at the ballot box.
"These are desperate and underhanded tactics, targeted at vulnerable people who may not know better. That’s why this type of activity is prohibited by the law."
Andrew Schier said the card would be a big bonus for seniors in the electorate of Barwon with people having to travel long distances for appointments and to see friends and family. "I have only had positive feedback," he said.