Northern Rivers locals have shared mixed thoughts on whether Ballina Greens MP Tamara Smith should be invited to NSW Government events

The question of whether it’s about gender, politics or a matter of common decency has been raised by members of the community.

Ben Franklin and Tamara Smith. Pictures: Liana Boss

Should elected MPs be invited to ribbon-cutting events and funding announcements, even if their party is not in government?

Ballina MP Tamara Smith has alleged she is either snubbed from these events or quasi-snubbed by being invited at the last minute.

She said this “petty and misogynistic” behaviour has been her experience since she was first elected in 2015.

Nationals Member of the Legislative Council Ben Franklin has hit back at her claims.

We asked readers whether the local member should be invited to these events, even if they’re not in government.

Here’s what the community had to say:

Michael Martin: Nothing to do with her gender, it’s all about the party she represents.

Ash Barnham: No, the Byron Greens mayor is at most announcements. She gets invited when she does the work to secure funding for projects. But she has never delivered for our community so how can she expect an invite? When you deliver for the region then maybe people might actually invite you to project openings and announcements. I’ve heard that in the past it’s been hard to get you to show up too

Linda Banbury: If she’s not delivering, why was she re-elected with a higher % vote?

Stuart Batten: She’s the local elected member. Unlike Ben Franklin who’d be at the opening of an envelope, invited or not.

Stephen Stoneley: Common decency is that for any public event, elected officials (local; state or federal) should be invited, irrespective of their political beliefs; it is up to that person to accept or decline

John Heaton: The electorate is obtaining funding because the electorate is now a swinging seat AND not a safe Nationals seat. Therefore, she is doing something and as a matter of decent courtesy, Tamara as the local MP she should be invited. The local member should always be invited, irrespective of who is in Government. It is common courtesy.

Cotti Radonyi: The elected member should be invited.

Karen Keys: So she is saying she is not invited because she is a woman. Where did she come up with that? Just jumping on the bandwagon.

Julia Chapple: She should be invited without a doubt

Jimmy Dee: Is she calling it misogynistic just because she isn’t being invited, or are there other instances?

Lynn Barkess: Of course. She was elected to represent the area.

Russell Krampe: It would be terrific If we actually saw her pounding the streets and talking to the locals about what matters to them. I bet if she made herself more accessible, then she would perhaps actually be invited to functions etc. Ben Franklin has her number at the moment.....she‘d wanna do something pretty big, and pretty quick … otherwise she’ll just end up the “snuffed out candle” that most thought she’d be.

Simon Chate: Damn right she should be invited. Tamara has done amazing work for Ballina. She definitely deserves an invite!

Nicole Maloney: To keep company with the likes of Hogan?? Phhttt … she’s appreciated in the electorate … who cares?

Hayden Doolan: It happens with the Lismore MP

Linda Banbury: Yes the local member should definitely be invited. It’s sour grapes because she’s from the Greens and has beaten them TWICE!

Carly Woodstock: All smoke and no cigar. But yes, she should be invited. Sick of seeing Franklin’s opportunistic LNP mug. He rode in on his bike from Sydney to curtail community disappointment re the Nats and their intent to frack the Northern Rivers, there he is, with his scissors at the opening of every envelope. Tamara is the elected member.

Khay Dixon: Yes elected members are all equal regardless of party.