Federal election 2022: Wentworth Point Public School booth records 17.8 per cent swing in Reid

One of the nation’s largest swings towards Labor has hit in a middle-ring Sydney suburb where a grassroots promise was instrumental in the party’s victory.

Voters at the Wentworth Point Public School polling booth in Reid have recorded a huge 17.8 per cent swing towards Labor and it was likely the party’s promise to undertake an $8.5 million road upgrade that saw them defeat the Liberals.

Reid incumbent MP Fiona Martin lost to Labor’s Sally Sitou 55.24 to 44.76 for the battle of a seat that was endangered under the Liberals, who held it by a slim 3.2 per cent.

Ms Sitou, who now holds the seat by 5.2 per cent, was first out of the gates in March to promise residents in the peninsula suburb $8.5 million upgrade to the Hill Rd-Bennelong Parkway intersection.

It was not until two months later that incumbent Dr Martin matched the funding in a desperate measure to woo drivers who use the flood-prone intersection as the sole entry and exit to Wentworth Point where 15,000 residents call home.

She promised traffic lights for Hill Rd after her party promised $100 million to upgrade the notorious “DFO roundabout” at Sydney Olympic Park.

But community advocates were impressed with Ms Sitou’s presence in Wentworth Point more than Dr Martin’s campaign and performance as an MP over the past three years.

“Sally actually came to Wentworth Point a lot in the lead up to the election,’’ Clement Lun, a suburb advocate and Wentworth Point Public School P and C president, said.

“She came to see the Wentworth Point Residents’ Action Group and she really paid attention to our needs in the area.’’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with new Reid federal Labor MP Sally Sitou a day after their election victory. Picture: Wendell Teodoro

The anti-Chinese rhetoric has also driven voters in the seat, where many have Asian heritage, to vote for Labor.

“Personally, I didn’t like the Liberal Party the rhetoric about the Chinese-Australian relationship,’’ Mr Lun, who is of Chinese descent, said.

“It wasn’t good during the time Morrison was in government.’’

Wentworth Point Residents’ Group convener Mark Green compared Labor and Liberals’ campaign as chalk and cheese.

“One (Labor) was a very grassroots campaign,’’ Mr Green said.

“Sally was here so often and it really paid off whereas Fiona, I’m not sure she came down here once.

“Fiona Martin didn't turn out to be a great champion of Wentworth Point.’’

Across the Bennelong Bridge at the Rhodes Community Centre polling booth, the swing towards Labor was also high at 14.69 per cent.

Its profile is similar to Wentworth Point; there is a thriving Asian population and similar infrastructure needs, including demands for a park to give the high-density community some green space and a high school.

Strathfield West Public School voters recorded a 10.47 per cent swing to Labor.

Fiona Martin dispenses pamphlets at Wentworth Point Public School on polling day. Picture: Alexi Demetriadi

Overall Ms Sitou enjoyed an 8.4 per cent swing to Labor on a two-party preferred basis.

Parramatta Labor councillor and Wentworth Point resident Paul Noack labelled the swing to his party as unbelievable.

“This is the biggest swing in Reid — it may in fact even be the biggest swing in Australia — so I say to everybody: do not ignore Wentworth Point,’’ he said.

“If you do, (it’s) at your peril because what really got Sally over the mark wasn’t federal issues; they were local issues.

“When Sally was the candidate she came to the people at Wentworth Point and the Sydney Olympic peninsula and she asked ‘what are your issues?’.

“They are not rusted-on Labor supporters — they are rusted on community people that want their local issues resolved.’’

Wentworth Point residents Clement Lun, Parramatta councillor Paul Noack, Peter Corry, Mark Green and Elaine Shi. Picture: John Appleyard

He said a schedule for the Hill Rd project should be completed in June.
Meanwhile residents have been promised a raft of projects, including the second stage of the light rail, from previous governments but are keeping the government accountable to deliver.
“We’ve been promised a lot in the past on numerous occasions but it hasn’t really been delivered,’’ Mr Green said.

MORE NEWS

Calls to enrol in butcher courses at TAFE as demand for meat increases

Greg Whitby retires as Parramatta Diocese’s schools executive director