BARRY O'FARRELL has launched the Liberal Party's campaign to steal seats in Labor's Hunter heartland, raising the spectre of jailed former minister Milton Orkopoulos and declaring the Liberals can ''win big'' in the region at next year's state election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In an address to the party's state council in Cardiff yesterday the Opposition Leader rejected claims he was trying to sneak into government on the back of Labor's unpopularity.
''This is an election I plan to win, not one where we sit on the sidelines and watch NSW Labor lose,'' Mr O'Farrell said.
The decision to stage their state council in Cardiff reflects the Liberals' hopes of picking up at least two seats in the Hunter.
They hope upper house MP Robyn Parker can move to the Legislative Assembly by taking Maitland, now held by Housing Minister Frank Terenzini. The Liberals also have high hopes for businessman Andrew Cornwell in the seat of Charlestown, held by Labor's Matthew Morris.
The council follows an announcement by the party on Friday that it had appointed a central coast and Hunter campaign director, Rod Bosman. Mr Bosman worked on former tennis star John Alexander's successful campaign to take the northern Sydney federal seat of Bennelong from Labor's Maxine McKew.
His appointment reflects concerns the Liberals have about their prospects on the central coast after a disappointing performance at the federal election and some criticism of the work rate of local candidates.
Emphasising the importance of the Hunter to the Coalition's chances next March, Mr O'Farrell said ''it will determine the mandate we might be provided to get on with the job of fixing NSW''.
He said Labor, with its back to the wall at the election, would run a campaign of ''smear and fear'' and ''negative personal attacks''.
However, he also chose to highlight the plight of former Orkopoulos staffer Gillian Sneddon, who blew the whistle on the former Aboriginal Affairs minister and Swansea MP, who was jailed for child sex and drugs offences.
Ms Sneddon was sacked from Orkopoulos's electorate office after raising her concerns.
''A government that treats whistleblowers like Labor treated Gillian Sneddon has no claim on honesty or integrity,'' Mr O'Farrell said. ''A government that treats good people like that brings shame on this state.''
Mr O'Farrell also announced the launch of a television campaign that will screen for two weeks from tonight, with a heavy emphasis on local media in the Hunter and the central coast.
Like an earlier ad, it features Mr O'Farrell talking directly to the camera, emphasising the Liberals' five-point plan.
