It was breathing room only as the Party faithful crammed into the small businessman’s Auburn St campaign office. Amongst them were Senator Ursula Stephens and Minister for Regional Communications, Regional Development and Road Safety Sharon Bird.

Mr Pilbrow believes he has what it takes to become the first Labor Member for Hume in more than 39 years and in the coming weeks he will take the fight to the Coalition, campaigning strongly on completing the NBN, education reforms and protection of workers’ rights.

He isn’t concerned by his party’s poor federal polling numbers, the overtly negative press coverage or the fact that many Australians view the Prime Minister contemptuously.

“To be perfectly honest I don’t really have time to read national newspapers at the moment,” he said. 

“But, I’m picking up a really positive feeling across the electorate, especially in the towns and villages where people have told me how pleased they are to see a Labor candidate. Quite a few people have told me they want to know me, the candidate, and they’ll judge me on that, not what’s going on a national level. I believe that and I believe that winning is quite possible.”

Mr Pilbrow pointed out the Labor Party had historically held the seat for more years than the conservatives and he believed the ‘strong’ field of independents would likely have an impact on the outcome. He said they would likely eat into the primary votes of both major parties and that their preferences could prove important.

For the last 15 years, retiring MP Alby Schultz has had a strangle hold on the seat however with his withdrawal from the contest, there is no telling what might happen.

“A lot of people have told me they were personally committed to voting for Alby even though their views were probably more Labor. So, it will be the first time in 15 years his name hasn’t been on the ballot paper but I don’t take anyone’s vote for granted,” he said.

“I’m out there every single day trying to persuade every single person that a vote for me and a vote for the Labor Party is a vote for Hume… I’m running a no frills campaign where I’m spending every possible moment meeting with people, talking and listening to them, and to me that’s what a political campaign is all about.”

One of the biggest concerns he has heard is about the poor quality of internet services in the area. People want the NBN, he said, and not a ‘second rate’ fast tracked version that will operate at a quarter of the speed.

“The big difference is that Labor is going to roll out fibre to the home for 93 per cent of homes across the country and new satellites and wireless to the other 7pc,” he explained.

“I’ve already had farmers tell me how impressed they’ve been with the satellite NBN which is already available in the electorate.” 

The Coalition’s Plan connects to the aging copper network and won’t deliver the speeds of Labor’s more expensive option.

“I’m also very focused on Labor’s education reforms, which will see every school in Goulburn and across the electorate better resourced to meet the needs of their students,” Mr Pilbrow said.

He questioned the Coalition’s ability to deliver the funding reforms given their previous strong opposition to them, saying the opposition only recently ‘back-flipped’ on the issue. He also pointed out that his party was committed to them for an additional two years.

“This week I’m spending a lot time talking to workers,” he told the Post.

“Many workers across the electorate have spoken to me about how hard it can be to make ends meet and their concern about the Coalition’s approach to worker’s rights.”

Last week Mr Abbott accused the Labor Party of running ‘the most dishonest election campaign in our history’ for suggesting he would close hospitals and fire nurses and teachers. The Labor Party is also ramping up fear around the Howard Government’s failed industrial relations reforms, ‘Work Choices’, which many believed were Draconian and ‘sold out’ the Australian work force.

Mr Pilbrow says their questions are perfectly valid however.

“I believe that workers in Goulburn should have reason to worry about what Mr Abbott might try to do with penalty rates if he forms government,” he said. 

“There’s a lot of pressure from people like Peter Reith and big business groups for Mr Abbott to be less cautious on work place issues.

“So, Mr Abbott has been very careful to not say very much about penalty rates but the Party that brought you Work Choices is still made up of people who would like to get rid of penalty rates.

“(On the issue of hospitals, nurses and teachers) Mr Abbott still hasn’t told us where he’s going to make his cuts and to uphold his commitments he’s going to need to make cuts in the many billions of dollars.

“There have also been comments by the opposition spokesperson about privatisations of hospitals, so, that needs to be clarified, and look, I’m just really keen to see what comes out when they announce where they’ll be making their cuts. 

“My main message though is that I, as a Labor Member, would stand up for the rights of Goulburn workers. I will defend your penalty rates.” 

Mr Pilbrow has recently voiced his support for wind farm employees and stood alongside local nurses during a strike for fairer ratios.

“As a small business person I know business needs workers and workers need business and when we all work together, that’s when we get better outcomes for everyone.”