Labor MPs record large increases in Macarthur region

Sitting MPs Greg Warren and Anoulack Chanthivong look set to retain their seats in the Labor strongholds of Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields.

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Sitting MPs Greg Warren and Anoulack Chanthivong were among the few Labor MPs to significantly increase their margins in the party strongholds of Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields.

While only 60 per cent of the vote has been counted, Mr Warren, the Campbelltown MP, has surged ahead with a 10.1 per cent gain.

Campbelltown Macquarie Fields

Mr Chanthivong has so far gained 6.8 per cent in his seat of Macquarie Fields.

Mr Warren said the election result was a resounding endorsement of Labor’s policies for the local region and urged the NSW Government to take note.

Greg Warren celebrates with his family.

“I think the result in Campbelltown shows there is a clear mandate from our community to the government that they need to reverse changes to the train timetable, build a commuter car park at Campbelltown station and give us the appropriate level of health services,” he said.

We also have a serious school maintenance backlog that has to be addressed.

Anoulack Chanthivong with Susan Greaves before she voted at Robert Townson Public School. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

“The government now needs to be more focused on building communities and not just houses and that is what our region is telling them.”

Mr Warren said the local members could remain effective despite facing another four years in the opposition wilderness.

“I’m willing to work with anyone and I did that with the upgrade for Campbelltown Hospital and getting a much needed bus service to Wollongong for local students,” he said.

Mr Chanthivong told the Macarthur Chronicle last night that he would continue to fight for the preservation of the region’s green space and to stop overdevelopment.

“It’s been too much too fast and the people of Macquarie Fields are feeling the pinch as the infrastructure and services have failed to keep up,” he said.

“Since the Liberal Government announced they were selling the farm at Hurlstone Agricultural High School in 2015 I have been fighting to save our green space and get our fair share of services in Macquarie Fields.

“We have to keep fighting against development in our scenic hills region, which remains under threat, and force this government to understand that we desperately need better services before any more development is dumped on us.”