High school teacher to run for Labor in Barwon

Education, health and housing have been identified as key areas of concern by Labor candidate for Barwon Joshua Roberts-Garnsey.

Mr Roberts-Garnsey, a Narrabri High School teacher, had his pre-selection for the party confirmed on Monday ahead of the March state election.

He described his candidacy as an honour.

“I don’t want to squander it,” he said.

Mr Roberts-Garnsey is particularly concerned about increasing workloads being experienced by teachers.

“We are on the verge of losing a lot of teachers who are unsatisfied,” he said.

“It’s not sustainable.”

Barwon is not immune to the housing challenges facing NSW, and Mr Roberts-Garnsey endorsed Labor’s plans to address housing affordability and supply.

Labor has promised to abolish plans to introduce a land tax, will offer incentives around stamp duty and has said it will introduce a mandatory requirement for 30 per cent of homes built on surplus government land to be set aside for social, affordable and universal housing.

Mr Roberts-Garnsey also gave the party’s pledge to boost Kids’ Helpline by $17 million as well as promises to take action on suicide prevention and to have safe staffing levels for nurses his full support.

“NSW Labor leader Chris Minns has a lot of legislation that will not just benefit Barwon but the whole state,” he said.

“Chris Minns would be a great Premier.”

Mr Roberts-Garnsey has hit the campaign trail already, visiting Broken Hill and he hopes to travel between his home in Narrabri and the silver city as much as he can between now and polling day.

“I want to speak to as many people as I can,” he said.

Mr Roberts-Garnsey will return to the classroom at the start of the term, however, will take leave leading up to the election to continue campaigning across the vast Barwon electorate.

Mr Roberts-Garnsey moved to Narrabri in 2021 to take up a high school teaching position, however, the move was a reacquaintance with a familiar area.

His grandparents lived in Gwabegar and he has fond memories of spending time in the region.

“I have a really good connection with the land and the community,” he said.