Former soldier turned MP Greg Warren has been promoted to the shadow ministry on new Labor leader Jodi McKay’s frontbench.
The Campbelltown MP accepted a request from Ms McKay, pictured above, to serve as Labor’s shadow minister for veterans affairs, shadow minister for local government and shadow minister for Western Sydney.
Prior to entering politics, Mr Warren served in the army from 1990 to 1998 as part of the Royal Australian Infantry and the Royal Australian Corps of Transport.
Mr Warren, who is also a member of his local RSL sub-branch, said the welfare of returned servicemen and women was an issue close to his heart and that he views having the opportunity to advocate for veterans across NSW as a great privilege.
“It’s an honour to be asked by Jodi McKay to serve on her frontbench, and particularly in a portfolio that I care so deeply about like veterans’ affairs,” he said.
“As a state we must always look after those who have served in our military, and I look forward to the opportunity to get out there and speak to veterans across the state to see what we need to be doing differently to support them.”
Mr Warren pointed to his experience as a former local councillor, deputy mayor and mayor as a good foundation for the local government portfolio.
“Whether it’s forced amalgamations, the stripping of local planning powers or the debacle that is the Fire and Emergency Services Levy, the NSW Liberals have relentlessly attacked local government over the past eight years,” Mr Warren said.
“Local government is the closest level of government to our local communities, and it’s important that we do everything we can to ensure the community’s trust and faith in local government remains high – something the Liberals have actively tried to undermine.”
Mr Warren has also been given responsibility for the important Western Sydney portfolio, as one of the few Labor MPs in Western Sydney who increased their margin at the recent state election.
Born and raised in Dubbo, Mr Warren moved to Campbelltown in the 1990s with his now wife Simone and has called Western Sydney home ever since.
He was first elected to state parliament in 2015.
Mr Warren said that the next decade would be the most important in Western Sydney’s history, with the Badgerys Creek Airport presenting significant opportunities for the region, but equally posing great challenges.
“I’m proud to call Western Sydney home, and like everyone else in Western Sydney I know that we aren’t getting anywhere near the required attention from Gladys Berejiklian and her Government,” Mr Warren said.
“We are entering a period of enormous change in our region, and that change must be managed properly by the NSW Government.
“We haven’t seen that over the past eight years, and as the shadow minister my mission will be to make sure the people of Western Sydney are heard loud and clear.”
