“This is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, yet it feels like the slow lane when it comes to government attention.’’
That’s not someone local saying it, but the shadow minister for South Western Sydney Mark Coure, who was in Camden on Monday when the NSW Opposition brought its shadow cabinet to the area to meet with families, small businesses and community groups across the region about the issues shaping everyday life.
“Camden’s booming suburbs deserve their fair share of attention,’’ Mr Coure said.
Just having a shadow minister for South Western Sydney is a clear sign the Liberal Party knows it has to win seats out this way if it’s to wrest government from Labor at the next election due on the last Saturday of March 2027.
The Liberal leader, Mark Speakman, also visited Campbelltown for an interview with the South West Voice on Monday morning, before joining his shadow cabinet members in Camden.
The visit was part of a series of shadow community cabinet meetings focused on getting out of Macquarie Street and back into local communities.
Cost-of-living pressures, housing, infrastructure, health care and the future of the region were all issues the opposition were keen to hear about from local residents.
Mr Speakman said the visit was about listening to the community and acting on what matters most.
“Families here are working hard and doing their bit,’’ he said.
“They bought homes, built businesses and put their trust in government to keep up. Instead, they’ve been left waiting in traffic, waiting for services and waiting for promises that never arrive,” Mr Speakman said.
Deputy Liberal leader Natalie Ward said the Camden area captures what so many families are feeling right now.
“People are tired of doing more with less,’’ Ms Ward said.
“They want a fair go and a government that delivers. The women, parents and small business owners I meet across South Western Sydney are all saying the same thing. Life has become harder, and the bills just keep climbing,” Ms Ward said.
The shadow cabinet met with representatives from local councils, business chambers, schools, service providers, and sporting and community organisations about their priorities and concerns.
As part of its Camden visit, the opposition hammered the Minns Government on the lack of reliability of the train network.
“Sydney’s train network is now less reliable than ever, leaving commuters stranded, frustrated and late. Under the Minns Labor Government, one in every 10 trains has been late for almost two years straight,’’ says the Opposition.
“Despite three budgets, three reports and two separate reviews, the Minns Labor Government has failed to fix the basics.’’