NSW election: East Hills candidates clash over gangland violence, police numbers

Candidates in a gang-violence riddled electorate have clashed over police numbers, with calls for more boots on the ground to tackle the issue. See the video in our election ‘seats of power’ exclusive.

East Hills Liberal incumbent Wendy Lindsay (left) and Labor challenger Kylie Wilkinson (right) diverged on whether police were suffeciantly funded in the area.

Police in a gang-violence riddled electorate should be better resourced according to one candidate in Saturday’s state election – although there the Liberal incumbent argued the state government had provided enough support, and funding, to the force during an exclusive NewsLocal video series.

East Hills, in Sydney’s southwest, encompasses Revesby, one of the suburb’s at the centre of recent gangland violence, documented in The Daily Telegraph’s The War series.

In August, two women were gunned down on Hendy Ave, a kilometre from the electorate office of incumbent Liberal MP Wendy Lindsay, which took the amount of victims in the gangland wars to about 15.

“There has proven to be challenges with the gangland violence we’ve seen in East Hills,” Ms Lindsay said.

“The police do an outstanding job in managing those very unfortunate circumstances.”

Victim Amy Hazouri was gunned down in August.

Revesby shooting victim Lametta Fadlallah. Picture: Facebook

However, the MP, who is holding off a Labor challenge from Kylie Wilkinson on a notional 0.1 per cent margin, rebuffed claims the police weren’t adequately funded or resourced.

“We have well resourced the police, but they do have a difficult task … there is no question,” Ms Lindsay said.

Ms Lindsay, who spoke to NewsLocal as part of a marginal electorate video series, cited the possible introduction of the cashless gaming card and a $7m commitment to renovate Revesby police station, but her Labor challenger said more needed to be done.

Candidates diverged on whether police in the area should be increased or supported better. Picture: Monique Harmer

“More police presence (in the area) would certainly help,” Labor’s Ms Wilkinson said, while referencing her own party’s $13m commitment for 50 new police officers across southwest Sydney.

“Police in our area need to be supported and could be increased.”

Ms Wilkinson, who is director of Revesby Worker’s Club, didn’t suggest a cashless gaming card to help curtail gang-related violence, like Ms Lindsay and Greens candidate Natalie Hanna, but instead “community programs to support children and families”.

East Hills was profiled as part of NewsLocal’s marginal ‘seats of power’ series to understand the views of those running for office, along with candidates in Penrith, Leppington, Heathcote and the Upper Hunter.