Labor eye Oatley in hopes of forming majority government
A south west Sydney seat could be the scene of one of the biggest political ambushes in the 2023 election, with Labor insiders quietly talking up their chances of knocking off a sitting Liberal Minister.
State Election
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A south west Sydney seat could be the scene of one of the biggest political ambushes in the 2023 election, with Labor insiders quietly talking up their chances of knocking off a sitting Liberal Minister.
Oatley has landed in the crosshairs of Labor as one of the key areas they need to win to form majority government.
Doing so would require unseating Liberal MP Mark Coure, Dominic Perrottet’s Minister for multiculturalism and seniors, who holds the seat on what would usually be regarded as a safe 6.8 per cent margin.
Labor are confident they have a vote winner in their candidate Ash Ambihaipahar, a solicitor recently elected to Georges River Council and of Sri Lankan background.
The Oatley suburb of Riverwood was the first stop for Labor’s campaign bus unveiled on Monday, which will be used to ferry media and politicians across battleground electorates in the coming two weeks.
Adorned with pictures of Labor leader Chris Minns, the bus is also electricity-powered and was built in western Sydney, feeding into the party’s campaign pitch to bring more manufacturing back to the state.
Mr Minns, accompanied by Ms Ambihaipahar and fellow MPs Steve Kamper and Jihad Dib, hit the streets of Riverwood to a hero’s welcome, with multiple members of the public telling the Labor leader he had their vote.
“We aren’t taking a single vote for granted this election,” Ms Ambihaipahar said.
“But after twelve years of this government we have a health system under unsustainable pressure, a chronic teacher shortage and the cost of living is sky rocketing.”
Mark Coure, who has held the seat since winning it from Labor in 2011, said he had a track record including hospital and school upgrades after more than a decade in parliament.
“At the end of the day I’m taking no vote for granted and I’m campaigning each and every day in the election and I’d never take my community for granted,” he said.
“We’re out door knocking every day and the mood on the ground is very good.
“I understand the issues that many local families are facing and I’m committed on delivering our positive plan for our local residents.”
Around Riverwood, the cost of living was the main issue on voters’ minds.
Kamal El-Hage, a grocer whose shop has sat on Riverwood’s busy Belmore Rd for 30 years, said locals were struggling to afford even groceries.
“When the power bill comes in, or any bill in fact, they struggle to make ends meet,” he said.
“I’ve been here a long time – people who would never buy on credit (are buying on credit).
“I can see from my take at the end of the week, it’s a bit down.”
Fathi Kak, owner of Fathi’s Hair Salon, said he thought Labor’s popularity at federal level would help Chris Minns.
“You can see from the result of the (federal) election … I think more people are voting for Labor,” he said.
Oatley resident Phillip Pomfret said he would vote for the Greens – although he was “keen for (Matt) Kean’s” energy policies.
He added he wasn’t “keen on Perrottet”, but on Labor’s Mr Minns he wasn’t “so crazy about him either”.
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