NSW Election 2023: Meet the candidates for Wollongong NSW Election 2023: Meet the candidates for Wollongong

Labor MP Paul Scully is in the enviable position of holding one of the safest seats in NSW, but there are three candidates looking to win Wollongong off him. Read their pitch to voters on the eve of the NSW election.

Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully is the current Member for Wollongong. Picture: Madeline Crittenden.

The electorate of Wollongong is the second safest Labor seat in NSW with Paul Scully achieving a 22.9 per cent margin at the 2019 election.

Wollongong has voted red ever since 1991 with the last MP of a different persuasion being independent Wollongong Council mayor Frank Arkell.

The Liberals announced last week UOW Liberal Club president Joel Johnson, who works for Attorney-General Mark Speakman, would contest the seat while Wollongong councillor Cath Blakey has also thrown her hat in the ring for the Greens.

Joel Johnson (Liberal)

Liberal candidate for Wollongong Joel Johnson.

I care greatly about strong parliamentary representation for the Illawarra.

I am passionate about supporting the Illawarra and Wollongong and, with my experience volunteering with not-for-profit organisations and working in politics, I have seen first-hand the importance of engaging with communities and strongly advocating for issues that matter most to locals.

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Wollongong. Having worked with both Federal and State politicians, I understand the importance of strong economic management and the need for strong relationships between businesses, individuals and government to achieve the best outcomes for our communities.

Paul Scully (Labor)

Incumbent Member for Wollongong Paul Scully.

Why are you running?

Since I was first elected, I have been able to secure important investments for the region including the soon-to-be-completed lifts at Unanderra Station, saving the free Gong Shuttle, securing the Illawarra as a Renewable Energy Zone and work is underway on upgrades to Wollongong Hospital.

I am seeking re-election because there is more to do to secure the infrastructure improvements and service improvements that Wollongong residents need and deserve – this can only be done by electing a Minns Labor Government on March 25.

How long have you lived in the electorate/area?

I was born and raised in the Wollongong area and am the third generation of my family to call the city home.

What is your final pitch to voters?

Wollongong and NSW need a fresh start and the election of myself and a Minns Labor Government will deliver that.

My NSW Labor colleagues and I have developed a comprehensive plan for our region which includes:

• Improvements to health and hospital services, including a $22M investment in Wollongong Hospital, the construction of a new Warrawong Community Health Centre and new ambulance station at Fairy Meadow;
• Converting 10,000 temporary teachers to permanent positions and establishing an Illawarra Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE to train more apprentices;
• Cutting the cost of housing, making renting fairer and increasing social, affordable and universal housing supply;
• Developing an Illawarra rail resilience plan to improve rail services along the South Coast Line and examining connections with south west Sydney
• Investing $10M to progress the construction of on/off ramps on the M1 Freeway at Dapto;
• Improving clean energy supply and security by progressing investments in the Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone and establishing a NSW Energy Security Corporation to invest in renewable energy storage and supply; and
• Ending further privatisations, including stopping the sale of the Lake Illawarra foreshore land at Kully Bay, King Street, Warrawong

Catherine Blakey (Greens)

Wollongong councillor Cath Blakey and Greens candidate for Wollongong 2023 state election.

Why are you running?

We need a state government focused on public services, not special treatment of vested interests.

I have been disappointed that our local state representation has supported the expansion of mining in our drinking water catchment, draconian laws against climate action protesters and subsidies to new gas fired power stations.

I want to see investment in public services to address the cost of living crisis, widening housing inequality and environmental regeneration.

Wollongong has great potential to scale-up renewable energy to power our manufacturing sector.

I want to see nurse to patient ratios mandated in NSW, as it is shown to cut waiting times, improve patient care and stop staff burnout.

How long have you lived in the electorate/area?

I’ve lived in Wollongong 37 years of the 42 years I’ve been alive.

I was born in Wollongong, and have lived here almost all my life except for two stints living overseas in 1999 (Malaysia) and the late 2000s (mostly in the UK, but also overland travel across Africa, Europe, Middle East and South East Asia).

What is your final pitch to voters?

The Greens will push whomever forms government further and faster on climate action so Wollongong can stop irreversible damage to our drinking water catchment that is being caused by longwall mining, build more public and key worker housing and mandating nurse to patient ratios.

Kristen Nelson (Animal Justice Party)

Kristen Nelson is running for the Animal Justice Party in Wollongong.

NewsLocal has not received a response from the Animal Justice Party or Kristen Nelson.