Labor’s Coogee MP accused of hypocrisy over Allianz after attending Roosters-Rabbitohs clash

Labor MP Marjorie O’Neill was a vocal critic of plans to rebuild Allianz stadium but the Coogee MP has now been spotted enjoying corporate hospitality at the very stadium she said should not be built.

A Labor MP has been accused of hypocrisy after she was spotted at the packed Roosters-Rabbitohs clash at the new Allianz stadium — after vocally opposing the stadium rebuild during the last NSW election campaign.

Pictures obtained by The Daily Telegraph show Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill enjoyed the first NRL game held at Allianz from the plum vantage point of a corporate box, just days after Labor MPs were warned against attending the opening of the $874 million stadium.

That’s despite Ms O’Neill vehemently opposing plans to build a new stadium during the 2019 election campaign.

In March 2019, Ms O’Neill fronted a media conference to call for the government to abandon the new stadium, later posting on Facebook: “This community does not want a new stadium”.

Sports Minister Alister Henskens took aim at Ms O’Neill in parliament, accusing her of hypocrisy in enjoying the brand-new stadium.

Marjorie O'Neill at the new stadium's first NRL match in a corporate box.

Ms O'Neill opposed plans to rebuild Allianz stadium.

“She has been in the corporate box not once, not twice, but three times in the last three weeks,” he said.

“They say one thing, they do another, they are hypocrites,” Mr Henskens said of Labor.

The Daily Telegraph understands that Labor Leader Chris Minns warned his MPs off attending the ceremony to open Allianz Stadium in August due to his party’s previous stance against the new ground.

Labor MP Marjorie O'Neill, who opposed plans to rebuild Allianz stadium, at the new stadium's first NRL match in a corporate box.

Ms O’Neill defended her attendance at the stadium she said should not be rebuilt by saying she does not get to “choose which ground” her team plays at.

“I am a passionate Roosters supporter and rarely miss a game,” she said.

Labor MP Marjorie O'Neill strongly opposed plans to rebuild Allianz stadium.

“My views on Allianz Stadium have been absolutely crystal clear and well expressed for years — the government should have simply refurbished the stadium and not demolished and rebuilt it,” she said.

“That would have saved hundreds of millions of dollars that could have been spent on schools and hospitals across the state, like Sydney Children’s and Royal Women’s Hospitals in my electorate, or upgrades of Randwick Girls and Randwick Boys High Schools”.

“I don’t get to choose which ground my team plays at.”

Ms O’Neill did not deny that she had been to the new stadium no fewer than three times.

Originally published as Labor’s Coogee MP accused of hypocrisy over Allianz after attending Roosters-Rabbitohs clash