David Boyle preselection a 'slap in face'

By Nicole Hasham
Updated November 6 2012 - 12:25am, first published May 6 2010 - 11:12am
Mr Boyle
Mr Boyle

Gilmore Liberal MP Joanna Gash has broken her silence on rival Labor candidate David Boyle, calling his preselection a "slap in the face" for the party's grassroots supporters.Mr Boyle was chosen to contest the marginal seat on Wednesday after a national executive ballot bypassed rank-and-file members.After refusing to comment on Labor's campaign until the contest was decided, Mrs Gash yesterday questioned why the party had selected a candidate who did not live in the electorate.

  • Footy veteran enters ALP scrum in Gilmore"It's a shame they had to parachute someone in - I would have thought there were many worthwhile candidates in the electorate," Mrs Gash said."He's not on the electoral roll and that's a fact; he can't even vote for himself. I'd like to know, I'd ask when is he going to move?"Mrs Gash defended herself against assertions by Mr Boyle that she had failed to address unemployment and had not done enough to promote South Coast tourism."Unemployment is the lowest we've ever had in the Shoalhaven - it's time he knew the facts," she said."As far as tourism is concerned, we have one of the highest day visitation rates in the state, and I was one of the region's tourism managers for many years (with) six awards for tourism under my hat," she added.Mr Boyle was forced to defend his district credentials, insisting he previously lived in the electorate and still ran a business in Barrack Heights.He now lives 1km outside the electoral boundary in Lake Illawarra."I was chosen because I love the area, I run a small business, I've been through the hard knocks school and I care - and that will be the basis of my grassroots campaign," he said."I've been given the opportunity to represent the area and that's what I intend to do."Meantime, it has emerged the ALP's Gilmore federal electorate council, made up of delegates from the seat's branches, unanimously passed a motion last Sunday calling on Mr Boyle to withdraw his preselection nomination.Mr Boyle said the bitter opposition had merely firmed his resolve."I know I've got to work harder, and I'm confident they will come back to the fold," he said.
  • Subscribe now for unlimited access.

    $0/

    (min cost $0)

    or signup to continue reading

    See subscription options

    Get the latest Wollongong news in your inbox

    Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

    We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.