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Peter Knox:
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Griffith’s Peter Knox endorsed as the Labor candidate for Riverina
Peter Knox is determined to “bring the Riverina back to Labor” by taking on
sitting member Kay Hull at this year’s federal election.
The man endorsed as the ALP candidate for the Riverina on Thursday said he wanted to ensure everybody had “a fair go” – something he said the Howard government had failed to deliver.
“I’m standing because I think everybody in the Riverina deserves a fair go – a fair go in the workplace, a fair go in regional development and trade, a fair go in funding for health, and not just in marginal seats,” Mr Knox said.
Supporting opposition leader Kevin Rudd’s “fresh ideas” approach, Mr Knox said the things he wanted to see change most for Riverina constituents included the reintroduction of the federal dental health scheme, abolished in 1996.
He also wants to see comparable petrol prices in the country to the city by introducing a petrol commissioner within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“I also want to see fair prices at the farm gate for vegetable growers,” the widowed father of one and grandfather of two said.
Mr Knox, born and raised in Ardlethan and now living in Griffith, said he had a “vision … to get these country towns moving again”. But the only way this was possible, he said, was to ensure better petrol prices and more equitable work conditions so people did not have to head for the mining boom areas in Western Australia and Queensland just to make a decent living.
Asked whether he thought he had much a chance of regaining the electorate for Labor, which, despite having held the seat more often than not during the past century, has not won it since the 1970s, he acknowledged he had work to do, but likened himself to his favourite AFL team. “I liken myself to the Sydney Swans – slow starters, but strong finishers. In 1993 nobody thought they had a chance, but now they’re the best team in the world.”
The long-standing ALP member and union worker – a painter and decorator by trade – currently holds the position of vice-president of the party’s Griffith
branch.
He made his public debut last night with an address at the third annual Eddie Graham Dinner at the Wagga Rules Club, where Australian Workers’ Union national secretary Bill Shorten was the special guest.
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