Hume candidates ready for federal poll

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the poll for Saturday, May 18 yesterday morning.

Sitting Liberal Hume MP Angus Taylor holds the 17,240 square kilometre seat by a 10.2 per cent margin. He'll once again come up against Labor's Aoife Champion. Ms Champion also stood in 2016. Independent Huw Kingston has also thrown his hat in the ring. He's calling for "meaningful action" on climate change but also more support for small business, among other platforms.  

A relative latecomer to the contest is Lynda Abdo, who is standing for the United Australia Party. The Greens' candidate, Dr Saan Ecker has pulled out.

Mr Taylor said he'd be standing on his record.

"I want to keep fighting for the great outcomes and achievements we've made in Hume," he said.

"We've got record low unemployment here. We've got strong business growth. (A total) 1040 new businesses have started in Hume in 12 months.

"Investment in infrastructure here is in the billions of dollars.

"I've delivered and I want to keep on delivering because this is a great region with great potential.

"This election is the clearest choice for Australians in almost 50 years. It's not just a choice about managing the economy and fixing the Budget; it's a choice about Labor's climate policy, Labor will smash the housing market and impose draconian new restrictions on households and businesses."

Mr Taylor said he'd be fighting for farmers, small businesses and families.

Ms Champion said she'd be focusing on climate change and Labor's $2.3 billion cancer treatment investment.

"I'm prepared and I've been doing a lot of pre-campaigning for quite a while," she said.

'My opponent (Angus Taylor) has been doing a lot of work for me by talking about energy policy and climate change. Most of it is counter to the science. The science is aligned with Labor Party policy."

Ms Champion said climate change had macro and micro impacts, from farming to every day life, including the cost of energy.

Schools and hospitals were high on her agenda, as was the cancer treatment plan. She said almost everyone had a story about being out of pocket for cancer treatment due to the Medicare gap.

"I'm in it to win it," Ms Champion said of the election.

"But it's not about me. It's about the voters and giving them a credible candidate and telling them their votes count."

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