Federal Member for Eden Monaro Dr Mike Kelly, Liberal challenger David Gazard and Green candidate Catherine Moore have been campaigning hard around the electorate, well aware that the seat is seen as an indicator of which party will govern the nation - a bellwether seat.
On Monday a Canberra Times Patterson Market Research Poll showed that of the primary vote Dr Kelly is favoured to keep the seat at 53 %, while David Gazard was on 36% and Catherine Moore on 9%
Of the two party preferred vote Labor was on 61% and Liberal 39%
With campaign pledges coming thick and fast the Labor government has unveiled plans to cut emissions by offering rebates to take older cars of the road, and create a 150-strong Citizens' Assembly to examine the evidence on climate change, the case for action and a market based approach to reducing pollution.
On Monday Dr Kelly welcomed the government's commitment to invest $96 million to deliver more and better qualified frontline staff for Emergency Departments, including a dedicated investment in up-skilling local GPs and other doctors working in rural regional hospitals with skills in emergency medicine.
Last week Dr Kelly welcomed the announcement of up to 50,000 new work experience places for school students participating in new National Trade Cadetships.
Dr Kelly also welcomed $2.2m towards construction on the new $2.4 million Indoor Sporting Centre at Queanbeyan, and on the south coast of the electorate Dr Kelly has announced $85 million to build a far superior Bega Bypass, on top of $1.45 million in community infrastructure in the Bega Valley Shire.
There is also a pledge of $460,000 to Bombala Council towards the redevelopment of the Bombala Pool Complex, if elected on 21 August, and a new GP Super Clinic in Jindabyne
The Coalition has announced it will fund an additional $89 million for initiatives to make child care more affordable and help ensure the quality of care, reintroducing the indexation of the Child Care Rebate. For those parents receiving the maximum amount of the Child Care Rebate, indexation of the payment will provide an additional $300 per year for every child in care.
Liberal Leader Tony Abbott said "an incoming Coalition government will not seek to change the Fair Work Act for the three years of the next term of parliament. The Coalition will carefully monitor how the Fair Work legislation operates over the next three years, in consultation with workplace organisations and with the public."
Liberal candidate for Eden-Monaro David Gazard has called on Dr Kelly to debate him in Narooma on plans to massively expand the Bateman's marine park. Mr Gazard has also advocated a ring road for Queanbeyan and promised to fight for better radio services for residents of Braidwood and surrounding districts.
Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro Catherine Moore, has expressed her extreme disappointment at Prime Minister Julia Gillard's climate change proposal.
"Climate change will have huge impacts in the electorate of Eden-Monaro....On the other hand, Eden-Monaro has huge potential to provide renewable energy development zones" said Moore.
Meanwhile a Newspoll survey commissioned by NRMA Motoring & Services has found that the roads policies of the major parties are an important voting issue for 86 per cent of voters in the seat of Eden-Monaro. The survey of 300 voters in Eden-Monaro found that roads (86%) and petrol prices (83%) in the local area were rated as being important voting issues.
NRMA local Director Alan Evans said with half (51%) of those surveyed in Eden-Monaro undecided about how they would vote on 21 August, the seat was still up for grabs.
A 'Meet The Candidates' evening will be held on Tuesday 10th August, 7pm at The Q Theatre in Queanbeyan.
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