Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

In two days time, the people of New South Wales head to the polls to elect a new government. They will be faced with a choice: to back the Prime Minister's best mate, Mike Baird, or to vote for a Foley-led government under Labor, the party with a robust, progressive plan for the state, which does not involve selling off the electricity network to make it happen.

The bromance shared between the Prime Minister and the Premier is obviously on the rocks. They have hardly been seen together in public, and when they are only one of them is allowed to talk. It is time for the voters in my electorate of Newcastle and across the state of New South Wales to end the disruptive and destructive relationship on their behalf, and kick Mike Baird and the Liberals out of office.

The Liberals have caused untold damage in my electorate with their shocking acts of betrayal and dishonesty that were uncovered by the Independent Commission Against Corruption last year. From taking envelopes full of cash in the back seat of a former lord mayor's Bentley to producing sham invoices to cover up developer donations, the acts of Liberal members in Newcastle have tarnished our city's reputation and have totally betrayed the trust of our community. Thankfully, most of them are now gone, with Labor winning back the seats of Newcastle and Charlestown at the recent by-elections, forced by the resignations of disgraced Liberal members.

I look forward to the election of Labor members across Newcastle—good, decent local members who will stand up for the interests of their community rather than their own self-interest.

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