NSW Labor has turned its back on regional NSW with the Shadow Minister for Regional NSW Mick Veitch being dumped from the Legislative Council ticket in favour of a failed former city candidate.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said it was disappointing to see the party dump one of its hardest working parliamentary members from the ticket.
“Mick Veitch has devoted almost 16 years to working for the people of NSW and is one of the few voices regional NSW has had inside the Labor caucus,” Mr Toole said.
“While I didn’t agree with Mick on every issue, you could never doubt his passion and enthusiasm for the regions. A former shearer, Mick was the only NSW Labor MP who had a genuine understanding of the issues that face regional residents every day, particularly across southern NSW.”
Mr Toole said the decision by NSW Labor was the final piece of evidence needed that the NSW in NSW Labor stands for Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong.
“After being forced to deregister the Country Labor brand due to financial mismanagement, NSW Labor have turned the lights off and stepped off the regional porch for the final time.
“Good opposition is critical to ensuring good government, and without Mick’s voice at the table, it will be impossible for Labor to effectively advocate for the people of regional NSW – and regional stakeholders know that.
“While I would normally call on Chris Minns to step in and show that there is still a place for regional people in his NSW Labor party, it would be a waste of time, because it’s not Chris Minns’ Labor party – it’s the factions and the unions’ Labor party.
“If Chris Minns won’t even fight for his only true regional frontbencher, what hope is there he will ever stand up and fight for regional communities?”
