Kristina Keneally gets Bennelong boost with thousands for ALP campaign

THREE heavyweight unions have joined the battle for Bennelong, funnelling tens of thousands of dollars into the electorate in support of Labor candidate Kristina Keneally.

THREE heavyweight unions have joined star Labor candidate Kristina Keneally’s battle for Bennelong, funnelling tens of thousands of dollars into the hard-fought campaign’s final weeks.

The NSW Nurses & Midwives’ Association and the NSW Teachers’ Federation have joined the Australian Council of Trade Union campaign — despite not being formally affiliated with NSW Labor — sending volunteers and flyers to the electorate.

The Australian Education Union, the Teachers’ Federation and the ACTU have also spent thousands on separate truck-mounted billboards, which The Daily Telegraph understands cost between $5000 and $7000 each per week.

Labor Candidate Kristina Keneally and Senator Doug Cameron in front of the union-paid ad at Meadowbank. Picture: Daniel Munoz

The Teachers Federation will have had a truck in the electorate for three weeks, at an estimated cost of around $16,000, by Saturday, when voters hit the polls.

That has left Coalition campaigners furious as unions push Labor campaign lines on Gonski school funding while also restarting the “Mediscare” campaign.

ALP candidate Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten speak to voters at Ryde Hospital yesterday. Picture: Richard Dobson

They are clearly desperate to help promote Labor lies,” a senior Liberal campaign source said.

Ms Keneally, who was campaigning yesterday with Labor Senator Doug Cameron, is locked in a tight contest with Liberal John Alexander.

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The latest public polls shows the candidates tied at 50-50 on a two-party-preferred basis.

One Labor campaign source said the intervention “is hugely welcome given these unions are unaffiliated to the Labor Party, and we’re excited about the momentum it provides”.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull takes a selfie with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian during the first tunnel breakthrough of the NorthConnex project.

Ms Keneally and Mr Shorten get the ALP message across at Ryde. Picture: Richard Dobson

Material circulated by the ACTU and the Nurses and Midwives Association claim the Turnbull government is “attacking Medicare in an ­attempt to dismantle universal healthcare”.

The government claims it is spending more on Medicare than before, and that a plan to increase the cost of medication had been abandoned.

“The Turnbull government needs to spend less time ­attacking unions and trying to pass corporate tax cuts, and help Australians get a wage rise and secure work,” ACTU president Ged Kearney said.