Labor vote collapses in key areas – Greens boost numbers in NSW local govt elections
The collapse of Labor's vote in some inner city areas and the increase in the Greens vote in a number of local government areas by more than 15 per cent sends a strong message to the Rees government, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said.
"More than 70 Greens candidates have been elected across NSW with breakthroughs occurring in both regional areas and Sydney suburbs," Ms Rhiannon said.
"The results in in the inner city areas of Marrickville and Leichhardt where the Greens outpolled Labor are encouraging for the state election.
"In Marrickville the vote was Greens 40 per cent and Labor 29 per cent. In Leichhardt the vote was Greens 46 per cent and Labor 25 per cent.
"Greens candidates have had break throughs in a number of areas where we were previously not represented and we have increased our numbers on Byron Shire Council, where the popularly elected Greens Mayor Jan Barham has increased her vote.
"The Greens regional council representation has increased with Greens councillors on Wagga Wagga, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Orange, Yass and other centres.
"The Greens strong vote puts the new Premier on notice to take drastic surgery to the government policies that have angered voters in the local government election.
"For years now the Labor government has looked after the big end of town. It is time a Labor government got its priorities right.
"The Labor government will crash in coming by-elections if Premier Nathan Rees does not move quickly to change the damaging policies of his predecessors.
"At the top of his agenda should be repealing pro-developer planning laws and banning corporate donations to political parties.
"The Greens will campaign on these issues in the coming state by-elections.
"Our strong showing in the NSW by-elections comes after good results for the Greens in the WA election with a four per cent swing and the Mayo by-election where we gained 48 per cent in the two party preferred vote", Ms Rhiannon said.
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