Michael Johnsen - Nationals
Michael Johnsen
© The Nationals
For most of the twenty-five years that Michael Johnsen has lived in the Hunter Valley the area has been a safe seat for the Labor Party. Despite rapid growth in the region's economy and population over that time he believes that the people of the Hunter have missed out on their fair share of government funding for roads, hospitals and the infrastructure they need to maintain their way of life.
More importantly Michael believes that Labor has failed to provide leadership for the Hunter. The result has been growing tensions within the community - between miners and farmers, between developers and local residents. Vital decisions have not been made in the best interests of the entire valley.
Michael believes that the problems the people of the Hunter face today - with divided communities, traffic snarls and a lack of basic services - are a direct result of living in a seat which the Labor Party takes for granted.
In 1996 Michael ran for Hunter at the federal election. His strong results (7% swing, 44% of the two-party preferred vote) showed that the people of the Hunter were prepared to back a real alternative to Labor.
Politics then took a back seat for Michael, as he and his wife Zenda concentrated on building their small business and raising their family. Michael became heavily involved in community activities, including terms as president of the Scone Rugby League Club, the Scone Apex Club and the Scone Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
In 2008 Michael was elected to Upper Hunter Shire Council, serving as Upper Hunter Shire Mayor from January to September of 2009.
The Rudd Government's Emissions Trading Scheme was the catalyst for Michael's return to the political arena. He saw the scheme for what it was - a tax that would destroy jobs in the Hunter Valley without ever helping to stop climate change.
He was impressed by the way that The Nationals took a stand against the ETS on behalf of regional areas and is standing again for Hunter - in large part to prevent Labor from implementing its scheme after the election. As wellas its latest new tax plan, a super tax on mining.
Michael sees the choice for the people of the Hunter as clear - voting for Labor, means risking an ETS and a super tax on mining which will destroy tens of thousands of jobs in the valley. Voting for The Nationals will send a strong message to Kevin Rudd - stop taking the Hunter for granted.
Source: Nationals Website
Contact
PO Box 233
SCONE NSW 2337
Phone (work): 02 6545 2344
Mobile: 0419 696 756
Email: michael.johnsen@nationals.org.au