Kellie Sloane’s first day on job hijacked by Parramatta protesters

Newly installed NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane has been hijacked by hecklers on her first day on the job in western Sydney.

Newly installed Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane’s first day on the job has been hijacked by hecklers in western Sydney, where local residents accused her of only attending for a photo opportunity.

Protesters were lying in wait at Parramatta Square on Saturday afternoon as the Liberal leader arrived. for a street walk.

“I’m delighted to be in Parramatta on day one of the job as the new leader in NSW Liberal,” Ms Sloane said.

“This is a priority for me to come here, because, of course, as we all know, Parramatta is the demographic and geographic heart of our city, and it is an engine room of our state as well.”

Depite observers reporting that Ms Sloane received an overwhelmingly positive — even “rock star” reception — from locals, the new Opposition Leader was cut off by hecklers who accused her of being a leader for “developers and billionaires”.

Kellie Sloane was confronted by hecklers in Parramatta. Picture: Julian Andrews.

A man interrupts Kellie Sloane during the street walk in Parramatta. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Activist Damnien Ridewell in Parramatta Square on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Julian Andrews

When questioned on a series of federal government policies by hecklers, she said she was happy to sit down and talk through their concerns.

“Liberals only care about buying investment properties in the west, that’s all they care about,” one protester argued.

The Vaucluse MP said she was always happy to have “tough conversations” with members of the community.

“I like to sit down with someone face-to-face and have those conversations,” she said.

“But let me tell you this, when I’m travelling across NSW and across this city, the majority of people are fair, decent-minded people who might express their opinions, but it had been to have constructive conversations.

Kellie Sloane addresses the crowd in Parramatta. Picture: Julian Andrews

“They’re the conversations I want to have, because politics doesn’t have to be precious.

“We can come together and we can problem solve without division of leadership.”

She said she wouldn’t think about Liberal Party bumps in the polls experienced in Victoria this week, saying it was “day one in the job”.

Ms Sloane said she was “super chuffed“ to have received messages from former NSW premiers Gladys Berejiklian and Mike Baird, as well as federal Liberal Leader Sussan Ley.

Originally published as Kellie Sloane’s first day on job hijacked by Parramatta protesters