If you haven’t already noticed – or have been sleeping under a rock for the last few months – there is an election in the air. We will head to the polls on March 23, 2019, to elect the 57th parliament of NSW.
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The politicking and vote grabbing has well and truly begun, with premier Gladys Berijiklian and other current politicians hitting the beat to push their cause and why we should vote for them. Ms Berijiklian dropped into the Highlands earlier this month promising “millions” for rail services.
Those already sitting in the box seat in their electorates seem to be suddenly more flush with funds to hand out in the community – a roundabout at Sheepwash Road intersection with the Illawarra Highway and funds for a renal service at Bowral and District Hospital quickly spring to mind.
Meanwhile, those new candidates hoping to secure a seat in the next term of parliament are making themselves well known in the community door knocking, holding community forums and making promises about what they will do if elected.
No doubt it is a lot of white noise for the jaded voter who has heard it all before. And the people of the Wingecarribee have good reason to feel unsure and a little jaded. The shire has long been divided as far as voting boundaries are concerned. While that in itself is not uncommon the division can be frustrating when those boundaries are Goulburn electorate (which includes about half of the Wingecarribee) and Wollondilly electorate (which includes the other half of Wingecarribee).
It is frustrating as Goulburn the city is our southern neighbour, while Wollondilly shire is at our northern boundary. The promise of anything from a politician, or prospective politician, in either electorate can be lost on constituents in the Wingecarribee portion of either electorates. Campaign promises for Goulburn or Wollondilly can fail to resonate with a Wingecarribee voter.
Perhaps it is time for candidates to make a real connection with the people of the Wingecarribee – spend more time meeting with those who live in this section of the electorate, get to know what they want, familiarise yourself with the area and find ways to deliver messages that makes the Wingecarribee voter pay attention.
At this stage both electorates are a blank canvas with both current MPs – Jai Rowell (Wollondilly) and Pru Goward (Goulburn) stepping down. There are plenty of candidates who have thrown their hat into the ring. The smart money would be on any candidate who made sure Wingecarribee voters mattered – maybe even opened an office in the shire.
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