There are 25 candidates vying for your vote in the five Illawarra electorates this state election.
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Before you head to the polling booth and grab your sausage sandwich on Saturday, get to know the Keira candidates.
Ryan Park, Labor
Mr Park, 41, lives in East Corrimal and is the member for Keira and NSW Shadow Treasurer.
I attended Wollongong University where I completed a Bachelor of Education and Master of Education - Leadership. I worked as a high school teacher at Lake Illawarra High School then worked in the Department of Education as a curriculum adviser before starting my career as a political adviser from 2004 to 2009. I was then Deputy Director General for Transport NSW. I have been the Member for Keira since 2011.
I will continue to listen to my community and represent them ensuring they receive what they need and deserve. A focus on fairness has driven me in everything I do in public office.
Good government is about standing up for what is best for everyone and representing our most vulnerable. For me, being the elected Member for Keira for eight years has been the greatest privilege. This is the community I love and fight for and the place that I call home, and with the blessing of the constituency I will continue to give it my all.
Top three priorities
- Transport and infrastructure: Labor has committed to prioritising public transport over building new toll roads.
- Education: Labor will invest $500 million to replace 1,000 demountables in NSW as well as air-conditioning local schools.
- Health: Labor has committed to ensuring the funding for Bulli Hospital redevelopment is secure, a $5 million upgrade to the maternity ward at Wollongong Hospital, a $4.5 million upgrade to the Children's ward at Wollongong Hospital and $1 million to fund eating disorder treatment services for the region.
Chris Atlee, Liberal
Mr Atlee, 36, lives in Coniston and is a small business owner.
I live locally with my wife and three children, so I understand the challenges faced by local families in Keira, especially the cost of living. I am the son of two former police officers so I am also passionate about keeping our communities and our families safe.
I run my own business, and I am a former president of the Corrimal Chamber of Commerce, so I know first-hand the importance of a strong local economy to create jobs for young people and provide more services for hardworking families and retirees.
The NSW Liberals and Nationals have built a strong budget and a strong economy so that we can provide the infrastructure and world-class services to take the pressure off you. The Labor Party has taken Keira for granted for too long. If elected, I will fight to ensure you receive your fair share of our record investments in infrastructure and services.
Top three priorities:
- Delivering the F6 Extension atage one.
- Delivering the Bulli Hospital upgrade.
- Better transport and roads infrastructure so locals can spend less time commuting and more time with their families.
John Gill, Sustainable Australia Party
Mr Gill, 61, lives in Avondale and is a self-employed mortgage broker.
I was born in Wollongong and have lived in the area all my life. I attended Lakelands Public School and Dapto High School, then Studied electrical engineering at North Wollongong TAFE. I worked in the Port Kembla Steelworks for many years as an electrical supervisor then a production systems controller at No5 Blast Furnace. Later I attained a Diploma of Finance and run my own mortgage broking business. I am interested in bushwalking, tennis, dancing and walking soccer.
I joined Sustainable Australia as the party policies are a good fit to my own beliefs and aims. As a mortgage broker, I see the difficulty first home buyers have entering the market and want to work towards making housing more affordable.
As a regular bushwalker in the Illawarra and beyond I want to protect the area from overdevelopment. I support development but let's have local communities deciding what is acceptable, not a courtroom in Sydney.
I also believe we need better planning of infrastructure before development to avoid, among other things, traffic issues such as we now have in Thirroul. Climate change is a major priority that successive governments have consistently failed to address.
Top three priorities:
- Improved rail service Wollongong to Sydney.
- Protect both the urban and natural environment from overdevelopment.
- Affordable Housing for first home buyers
Kaye Osborn, Greens
Ms Osborn, 54, lives in Corrimal and is an international students recruitment coordinator.
A Corrimal resident for 17 years, I work at UOW in international recruitment and am union Branch Vice President. I am also a singer with several local ensembles. I love the diversity and creativity in our community and am a passionate advocate for equality and protection of society's most vulnerable. I am a leading campaigner for protection of the Sydney and Illawarra water catchment from the damaging impacts of longwall coal mining.
The next decade is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our government must do more to combat climate change and protect our environment. We also need to transition our industry and economy, ensuring that workers in unsustainable industries do not suffer from the changes that have to be made.
The Greens don't accept donations from business, but Labor and the Liberals do. This means corporate donors influence their policy and prevent them taking effective action on climate change. If you elect me, I'll be representing you, not the big end of town. I support improved public transport and more trains - both intercity and within Wollongong, more affordable housing and investment in education.
Top three priorities:
- Action on Climate Change and protecting our environment for future generations
- Better transport and more trains
- Clean up politics and stop corporate political donations
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