oakshotte and windsor, page-27

3000 is not a bad show for a country town. obviously oakeshott hasnt the stomach to face the locals

Thousands join NSW anti-carbon rally

THOUSANDS of anti-carbon tax protesters have marched outside the office of Independent MP Rob Oakeshott, voicing anger over his support of the tax, the rally organisers say.

Along with federal member for New England Tony Windsor, Mr Oakeshott this week voted in parliament for a resolution in support of the carbon tax.

The proposed tax has been criticised for potentially costing jobs and increasing living costs.

About 3000 people attended Sunday's rally, which was held outside Mr Oakeshott's Port Macquarie office, on the NSW mid-north coast, Consumers and Taxpayers Association (CATA) spokesman Jacques Laxales said.

Of those, more than 90 per cent were local, he said.

"With something like this, you don't know how many locals are going to turn out," he said.

"The vast majority were locals, which is what we wanted.

"It proves to us it is a very local issue. It will not go away."

A similar protest in Canberra earlier this year was criticised with the slogans on displayed banners deemed offensive.

Mr Laxales said banners displayed during Sunday's protest were not rude, apart from one or two exceptions.

Speakers included Nationals leader and federal MP for Wide Bay Warren Truss, Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce and climate scientist David Archibald.

CATA's next rally is due to be held in Melbourne on June 19.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/thousands-join-nsw-anti-carbon-rally/story-e6frfku9-1226056254555#ixzz1MUANZY17