Liberal Democrats – Call for balanced reporting to give voters a real alternative

http://www.ldp.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1234:big-government-tax-to-bury-mining-industry&catid=135:current-press-releases&Itemid=279

Call for balanced reporting to give voters a real alternative

Released 19 July 2010

The Liberal Democratic Party is calling on the media to include alternatives to the tax and spend policies of Labor, Liberal and the Greens in its election coverage.

The Liberal Democrats support free enterprise and lower taxes, but unlike all the other parties is unembarrassed about calling for a major reduction in public servant numbers. It also strongly supports civil rights and has a feasible alternative policy on immigration.

“The Liberals, Labor and the Greens merely disagree about how to spend taxpayers’ money to attract votes. We say the money would be spent much better by taxpayers themselves,” said party spokesman Peter Whelan.

“We’re calling on the media to provide genuine balance by recognising that the election does not have to be about competing claims for spending our money”.

The Liberal Democrats also consistently favour individual rights.

“Support for gay marriage and assisted suicide, or opposition to internet censorship, are not left-wing issues. We simply say the government has no business intruding in these areas,” said Mr Whelan.

“A compassionate approach to illegal immigration is also not the prerogative of left. The Liberal Democrats policy on immigration, which has similarities with Switzerland and Japan, does not involve off-shore detention and is both practical and compassionate.”

“We are calling on the media to stop being pawns of the three major parties and to provide more balanced coverage. Australians will never get away from high taxes and overbearing governments if the media never let them know they have a choice.”

The Liberal Democrats (LDP) will be running for the Senate in all States, plus various marginal House of Representative seats. Its preferences will not favour either Lib/Lab or Greens. It has a realistic chance of success in the Senate, with the preferences of other minor parties.

“We are willing to offer comment on most election issues, and have a different perspective from the usual Lib/Lab and Greens chorus,” said Mr Whelan.