Shoalhaven councillor Liza Butler revealed as NSW Labor candidate for South Coast

A mother of five with an impressive business and community service record will be named as Labor’s 2023 election candidate for South Coast as a longstanding Liberal plans to step down.

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns has endorsed Shoalhaven councillor and businesswoman Liz Butler as the party’s candidate for the South Coast seat.

Ms Butler now serves on Shoalhaven City Council as part of the Greens-Labor bloc, as well as on the local business chamber.

The Bawley Point mother-of-five also operates two retail start-ups in Milton-Ulladulla, having previously worked for the Department of Ageing, Disability, and Homecare as a senior project officer supporting the NGO sector, as well as for Centrelink.
Longstanding Liberal member Shelley Hancock is preparing to step down at the 2023 state election.

Following the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires, Ms Butler said she never again wanted to see the south coast overlooked.

“I love the South Coast and my community,” she said.

“This is where I have raised my children, this is where I have built my career and started my own businesses.

“I believe we deserve better, and only a Minns Labor Government can deliver that.

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns has endorsed Shoalhaven councillor and businesswoman Liz Butler as the party’s candidate for the South Coast seat. Picture: Shoalhaven City Council

“After 12 years of a Liberal-National Government, the South Coast has a healthcare crisis, a teacher shortage crisis and a housing crisis.

“Their time is up and this is our opportunity to vote for a fresh state.”

Mr Minns, who plans to head to Nowra to announce Ms Butler’s candidacy on Thursday, said Ms Butler would deliver much needed change to the region.

“Liza has a deep understanding of the issues facing her community,” Mr Minns said.

“I believe she will deliver real change for this community if she is given the opportunity.

‘There is no doubt Liza has a tough battle ahead of her in this electorate.

“The Labor Party will not take a single vote for granted, but she is up for the challenge.”

Shoalhaven City Council mayor Amanda Findley will represent the Greens at the NSW state election. Picture: Supplied

The announcement comes the same day as NSW Greens officially endorsed Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley as their candidate for the South Coast seat. For Ms Findley, the move is a tilt away from local politics after eight years at the helm of the Shoalhaven council.

She told this publication last month she believed more action was needed from state leaders to address the critical housing shortage.

“We’ve got some really big problems in the Shoalhaven,” Ms Findley said.

“Over the past five years, we’ve had increasing issues around housing affordability.

In May, former Bega member Andrew Constance also narrowly missed out on securing the seat of Gilmore. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

“And yet, the homeless shelter had to shut just this week because there is no state or federal funding to keep it open.

“The councils is stuck just filling in endless reams of paperwork to receive any money. The system is broken.”

Both candidates will seek to fill the gap left behind when Ms Hancock steps down after 17 years as South Coast member.

The Liberal party has not yet announced its candidate for the South Coast seat.

The party suffered double losses in 2022, losing the state seat of Bega for the first time to Labor’s Michael Holland in the February by-election.

While Labor’s Fiona Phillips retained the seat, the popular former transport minister profited from significant swings to the Liberals, bucking national trends.

Originally published as Shoalhaven councillor Liza Butler revealed as NSW Labor candidate for South Coast