COMMENT
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Change is coming.
Whether it is Labor’s “fresh start” mantra, the Greens’ “community and coast” focus, independent Gordon Bradbery’s “Wollongong first” approach or the CDP’s “time for the one you can trust” stance – the byelection campaign messages are remarkably similar.
It appears Wollongong needs a new way forward.
That way forward will be determined by about 60,000 electors, who will head to the polls to elect a new Member for Wollongong on Saturday.
The poll follows the retirement of Labor’s Noreen Hay earlier this year.
If a fresh face is what the city needs, that’s what it will get this weekend.
However, voters must determine if changing the city’s political landscape extends further than just a particular person in the Parliament.
There’s no denying the Labor Party has a stranglehold on Wollongong – 25 consecutive years of Labor representation is a testament to that.
Previous attempts to boot Ms Hay out of Macquarie Street have amounted to little, with the support of rusted-on Labor supporters outweighing the naysayers time and time again.
In 2015, Ms Hay was returned as Wollongong MP for a fourth term after beating independent Arthur Rorris.
The closest result came at the 2011 election, when Cr Bradbery – the Wollongong Lord Mayor – came within 700 votes of Ms Hay. A similar down-to-the-wire battle can be expected in 2016.
Labor’s Paul Scully has certainly been seen during the campaign and was able to muster party MPs’ support.
The Greens’ Cath Blakey also enlisted the help of state and federal party representatives to bolster her campaign.
Cr Bradbery didn’t have access to similar levels of support and, as a result, has been somewhat quiet in the lead-up to polling day.
The councillor hasn’t been completely missing in action, though – his position means he is already known within the community.
As for the result, Mr Scully will likely get over the line.
However, it’s possible he won’t get an outright majority and could have to rely on preferences.
The bottom line – expect a close contest. If Donald Trump’s win in this week’s American presidential election is anything to go by, anything is possible in politics.
Two candidates won’t be getting their own vote
Here’s a thought to consider – two candidates live outside the electorate they want to represent.
Mr Scully lives in Figtree and Ms Baxter calls Mount Keira home. Both suburbs are in the Keira electorate.
Candidates residing within the Wollongong boundaries are: Ms Blakey (Wollongong) and Cr Bradbery (Berkeley), while the Shooters’ Joe Rossi is listed as living in Towradgi.
RELATED STORIES