Her visit to the towns coincided with that of Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who was here to support the campaign of Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis.

Ms Phillips believes health and education overshadow issues discussed by Ms Bishop on her visit, such as the free trade agreement, push for a building industry watchdog (the Australian Building and Construction Commission) and the need to rein in the financial services and banking sectors.

“While I have been here, no one wants to discuss the ABCC, it is about Medicare bulk billing,” she said.

“People are totally aware of the government cutting bulk billing incentives (for pathology and diagnostic imaging services) on July 1, and that is going to have a big effect in an area like this with lots of retirees.

“The other issue people are concerned with is education, as the government wants to cut millions of dollars of funding in this area, which would go to literacy and numeracy programs.

“We believe that multinationals should pay their fair share of tax, and that this should be put into the public school system,” she said.

She said Labor supported the fair trade agreement but opposed the Australian Building and Construction Commission  

She said her party also supported efforts to rein in the financial services and banking sectors, but that this should be taken further. 

“We believe there should be a Royal Commission, as this is the best way to deal with this issue,” she said.