Sparring over Illawarra MPs

By Brett Cox
Updated November 5 2012 - 6:54pm, first published January 25 2009 - 10:19am

Labor Party infighting over two Illawarra state seats has erupted in a war of words between a senior Illawarra union official and one of State Labor's most powerful MPs.NSW right faction powerbroker, Ports Minister Joe Tripodi, and Australian Workers Union Port Kembla branch secretary Andy Gillespie have criticised each other's performance in their respective jobs after Mr Gillespie last week threatened to support independent candidates over Wollongong MP Noreen Hay and Shellharbour MP Lylea McMahon.A staunch supporter of his right-faction colleagues, Mr Tripodi said Mr Gillespie was letting down workers in the union by focusing too much on political debate.It comes as Mr Gillespie spent recent days in meetings with BlueScope Steel after news the company plans to close down two key operations."The remarks from those who sit on the sidelines are not welcome," Mr Tripodi said."I think the person who made those remarks had better focus on trying to keep the jobs in his union because those workers would be more interested in him preserving their welfare and the members' welfare rather than making comments about government."Mr Tripodi refuted Mr Gillespie's claims the two Illawarra Labor MPs were ineffective, saying Ms Hay had played a crucial role in the expansion of Port Kembla and that Ms McMahon, a backer of former premier Morris Iemma, "enjoys very strong support among her branch members and I think from the whole government"."They are ... actually very, very good Members of Parliament."I have worked very closely with them and I can tell you that they are strong advocates for their electorates - they practically insist on things."Mr Gillespie said Mr Tripodi and other Labor Party right-faction figures like former Wollongong City Council identities Kiril Jonovski, George Harrison and Joe Scimone had damaged the party's standing in the region."Labor politicians aren't held in the same regard by people in the region as they used to be," Mr Gillespie said."Comments like that from Tripodi show how ignorant he is. I'm surprised he knows where the Illawarra is."He should pull his head in and look after his own job and a government which could be on the line at the next election."Mr Gillespie said his members wanted better representation in Parliament and it was a part of his role to keep an eye on MPs."People here are sick of the interference from Sussex Street and people like Tripodi."

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