2019 NSW State Election: Michael Daley says Riverstone hard to win
Riverstone is “impossible” to win in the State Election, NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley said in a candid interview.
Riverstone is “impossible” to win in the State Election, NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley said in a candid interview.
Despite fielding a gun candidate in Annemarie Christie, he said the 12 per cent swing needed to steal the victory over the Liberals was an “inordinate” task.
“It’s like climbing Everest,” he said.
“This is a seat that’s almost impossible for us to win, a 12 per cent swing. But times have changed and people are pretty cranky and we’ve got one of the best candidates.”
Sitting MP Kevin Conolly won the seat with 70 per cent of the vote in 2011.
Less than 100 days from the March 23 poll, Mr Daley visited Stanhope Village Shopping Centre with Dr Christie on Saturday, when the “red hot” issue of stadiums was raised.
“One in every two people that stopped to talk to me said, ‘Get rid of stadiums, we’d rather have infrastructure and money to build community services’,” Mr Daley said.
Mr Daley has promised to use the $1.5 billion for stadiums such as ANZ to be put towards community services and force corporate entities to fund venues’ redevelopment.
Overdevelopment has also irked the booming northwestern Sydney community.
“Western Sydney is not a dumping ground for every poorly-designed set of flats,’ he said.
“Everyone, everywhere needs to take their fair share.”
He said Woollahra, Manly, Vaucluse, the northern beaches and parts of the north shore had escaped the burden of overdevelopment.
Shoppers also raised concerns about train timetables and a chronic lack of parking spaces.
Last month the State Government pledged a $40 million, multistorey carpark with up to 700 spaces at Schofields.
Dr Christie, a Castle Hill GP, was announced as Riverstone’s candidate in April and enjoys a high profile in the community.
“Everywhere I go she’s treated someone or their grandparents,” Mr Daley said.
“If anyone could win it, it’s Annemarie.”
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