Ryan Mainey's letter 'Oakeshott's own record proves he won't fight for workers' (Courier-Sun, Mar 20) makes a number of statements that are clearly wrong in fact. My copy of the Henry Tax Review (commissioned by Labor in 2008) contains no recommendation for replacing our progressive tax system with a flat income tax, as Mr Mainey's letter claims. Most of Henry's recommendations were accepted - not "almost 100% rejected". There is no record of a press release from Oakeshott on August 9, 2011 as claimed? I don't think I need to address any more statements?
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It feels to me like a mud-throwing exercise to obscure more important facts. We have in Cowper, a choice of three main candidates. A Labor man - of unknown pedigree, a Nationals man - of unknown pedigree, and a Independent of proven ability in past State and Federal governments. Liberal/Nationals and Labor are all supported financially by many of our large corporations, and admit it or not, they need to deliver to these sponsors. Case in point - the Nationals support of coal and gas at the expense of their rural constituents, and their total denial of climate change.
Mr Oakeshott was one of a group of independents exercising a strong voice of integrity in the Gillard government, and hopefully in 2019, together with a field of other quality independents, we have an opportunity to do that again.
Roger Burke,
Bellingen
