Locals still angry with Oakeshott for siding with Labor

SIX months after Rob Oakeshott horrified his electorate by helping Labor into government, constituents are not yet willing to forgive and forget.

Brett Pye makes his views known

SIX months after Rob Oakeshott horrified his conservative electorate by helping Labor into government, the constituents of Lyne are not yet willing to forgive and forget.

Very few of the dozens of locals interviewed by The Australian jumped to Mr Oakeshott's defence, and most were openly hostile.

"The anger that people feel towards Rob is still as white-hot as it was six months ago," said Paul Adams, who runs a small advertising agency on the main street of the NSW seaside town of Port Macquarie.

"Everyone is saying the same thing: they think Rob is basically a good bloke but they still can't fathom why he would side with Labor when so few people in the electorate voted for them.

"It's a feeling of betrayal."

While Labor attracted just 13 per cent of the primary vote in Lyne at last year's federal poll, Mr Oakeshott insisted his decision to support the Gillard government was done in the best interests of the nation. That justification still rankles with Brett Pye, who runs a food distribution business on the state's mid-north coast.

"For me, the bottom line is that he pretended he was a true independent when he clearly wasn't. He showed his true colours after the election and I'm still angry about it," Mr Pye said.

The businessman's anger is clear for all to see. Two large signs adorn the front of Mr Pye's business premises, labelling Mr Oakeshott "Judas" and "a bloody sell-out".

Much of the frustration in Lyne appears to stem from the perception that the Gillard government has been linked to too many "wasteful" projects - from the home insulation scheme to the school building program and the National Broadband Network - while the hospital at Port Macquarie remains under-resourced and many local roads need to be upgraded.

"A friend of mine waited in the emergency department for eight hours the other day. That's what people care about, and yet nothing has been fixed," said 66-year-old Port Macquarie pensioner Pam Yates.

"Instead, Mr Oakeshott gets behind something like the NBN.

"His priorities are all wrong - at least when it comes to his own electorate."

Not so, says Port Macquarie optometrist Max Webb.

"He (Oakeshott) is doing a good job in what is a very difficult situation," Dr Webb said.

"I think he's been great for federal politics. By breaking down the traditional party lines, he's trying to get better outcomes for the electorate rather than worrying about party politics."

But memories of the key role Mr Oakeshott played in Labor's election-win drama are long - a fact that will prey on Mr Oakeshott's mind until the next federal election.

"Everyone that I know is angry at Rob," said pensioner Alison Lockley.

"There was just no rhyme or reason for him to go with Labor."