The Southern Highlands has been forgotten in this election campaign, so why would any of the leaders bother to pay a visit?

O'Farrell has been busy visiting the Illawarra for months. At one stage he was very particular about Kiama, where he could sniff a victory over sitting MP Matt Brown.

The Libs are now the least of Brown's problems, because he now faces a greater challenge in Sandra McCarthy (the very popular Kiama Mayor), who has announced she will stand as an independent.

But at least Brown will be standing again, unlike some of his more gutless colleagues in the ALP.

I wonder if the ALP will stand a candidate in the Goulburn electorate. Sure, whoever stood would be on a hiding to nothing, but that's not the point.

The point, surely, is the democratic process?

How is democracy being served when a well-established political party fails to stand a candidate; when it deserts those who may be faithful to that party?

It is nothing short of disgusting. One wonders why the Australian Labor Party's NSW branch should, legally, be allowed to continue to exist.

Sure, most voters will get to have a say in the state election and express their disgust at this failure of a government, but not, apparently, in the Southern Highlands.

It just seems to be another example of this party's gutlessness.