Labor supporters are defecting from the party faithful due to ‘‘poor candidate choices in Wollongong’’ rather then party politics, according to former Labor stalwart Paddy Ryan.
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Mr Ryan maintains that dissatisfaction with Noreen Hay led him to back independent Arthur Rorris over the party he had supported for the most of his life. ‘‘I was disillusioned by the current sitting member last election, that’s when I stood behind Gordon Bradbery,’’ he said.
A former miner and trade unionist, Mr Ryan campaigned for the Labor party before switching to support Gordon Bradbery in his independent run for the state seat of Wollongong in 2011.
Ms Hay came close to losing her seat in the traditional Labor heartland of Wollongong in 2011 when a historic 22.7per cent swing against her saw the incumbent depending on a few hundred votes to beat the current lord mayor.
After a controversial preselection battle which resulted in some rank and file members being barred from voting and generated branch stacking allegations, Ms Hay was challenged by union boss-turned-independent candidate Arthur Rorris.
Union officials from traditionally Labor party affiliated unions were seen manning polling booths on election day wearing Arthur Rorris T-shirts while handing out pamphlets in support of the independent.
After preferences were counted, Ms Hay beat Mr Rorris with 56.9per cent of the vote, with the independent capturing 43.2per cent of the vote
