ELECTION COVERAGE
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THE thought of a 7½ month election campaign doesn’t have Albury-Wodonga residents dancing in the streets.
“It’s terribly tedious because, in most cases, politicians don’t have anything substantial to say,” Albury retiree Ralph Clarke said yesterday in Wodonga’s High Street.
And his wife, Wilga, said she had lost faith in the integrity of the nation’s top politicians.
“They’ll give us all sorts of promises none of us will believe,” she said.
At Albury’s Noreuil Park, two people from a different generation enjoying the beautiful summer day and sharing a watermelon were reluctant to discuss politics.
Ebden’s Kendal Seaton, 18, thought the extended campaign was “a little bit ridiculous” and Codey Keeble, 17, from Yackandandah, said he believed a three-month campaign would be “more than enough”.
Nearby, picnicking Albury mother Eliza Ault-Connell turned her mind to the possible financial impact of announcing a September election in January, saying it was “eight months to spend a lot of money”.
At least Thurgoona’s Jennifer McMillan, back in Wodonga, had something positive to say as she strolled in High Street with her daughter.
“It’s probably good that the Prime Minister has given people notice,” she said.
“It will be interesting to see what happens.”
Bowral’s Philip Weate was another cynic, saying the campaigning had unofficially begun anyway.
“Whether it’s called or not it’s already started so I guess it finalises it,” Mr Weate said.
But while the idea of an extended campaign didn’t seem to have too many fans, there wasn’t a sense it was a bad tactical move.
“I think Tony Abbott is the one with the difficulties because he has got no policies,” Mr Clarke said.
“Labor will have a chance to pull them apart.”