$5.3 million roads promise

Narrabri Shire Council would receive $5.3 million from a $67 million Barwon package to repair damaged roads, if the NSW Labor Party is elected at this month’s state election.

The party announced its package on Wednesday morning in Narrabri, detailing what councils across the electorate would receive.

The funding would be in addition to the current Liberal Nationals government’s pothole repair program allocation, Labor has said.

Narrabri Shire boasts an extensive road network which was significantly damaged in last year’s major flooding events.

Neighbouring Walgett Shire would receive $8.7 million and Warrumbungle Shire would be allocated $6.6 million as part of Labor’s plan.

Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison, the Member for Maitland, announced the package with the Labor candidate for Barwon, Joshua Roberts-Garnsey, of Narrabri.

Mr Roberts-Garnsey described the package as vital for regional NSW.

“We have seen the extensive damage of fire and flood on our roads. They are a vital component of our local industries – this will go a long way to support them in the future.”

Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison travelled to Narrabri to make the election announcement for roads with Labor candidate for Barwon Joshua Roberts-Garnsey.

“We’re here to make a massive announcement,” Ms Aitchison said.

“Labor’s commitment of over $67 million for Barwon roads will provide much needed cost of living relief for councils and communities by repairing their damaged roads after 12 years of inaction, floods and fires and deliver the roads that are needed to provide the roads our regions need for the future.

“We will ensure that councils have got the money they need right now to fix our roads.”

Labor candidate for Barwon Joshua Roberts-Garnsey added, “We have absolutely critical infrastructure here which is really important for getting students to school, for getting nurses and people to hospitals and ensuring that people are able to support their local economy – I really welcome this investment from NSW Labor.

“The roads are terrible, they need fixing.”

Ms Aitchison said if Labor wins the state election on March 25, the party will honour the election promises it’s made to regional communities even if the electorate is represented by a non-Labor member.

“What we want to do is definitely fund all of these promises, that’s why we’ve been quite clear in what the promises are, where they are funded from and making sure that they will be committed,” Ms Aitchison said.

“Regardless of who wins individual seats, it shouldn’t be the case that the government carves up the state like a checker board and if you live in a yellow or a blue seat you get money and you don’t if you live in any other colour.”

Barwon has been held by independent MP Roy Butler, formerly of the Shooters, Farmers and Fishers, since the 2019 state election.

The electorate is the largest in NSW, covering almost 44 per cent of the state. Before Mr Butler’s victory in 2019, the electorate was considered a safe National Party seat.

Ms Aitchison said, “We will work with whoever the local members are, I have actually spoken to Roy this morning and spoken to him about our commitment because I think it’s important to be open given that he is the sitting member at the moment.”

Politics isn’t always a popular or attractive profession, but Mr Roberts-Garnsey said it was a ‘simple decision’ to put his hand up and run as Barwon’s Labor candidate.

“I have an education background, I’ve seen how teachers have been treated,” he said.

“I spent a lot of my childhood growing up in Gwabegar, which is in this electorate and moved back to Narrabri in 2021 to undertake a full-time teaching load and I think that they have been completely under-represented in the grand scheme of things.”

Mr Roberts-Garnsey added, “I want to make that commitment to Barwon and to Narrabri and all surrounding communities that I am going to be there for them, that I know the electorate and that I want to represent them and be very vocal about regional NSW and I want to ensure that it gets its fair share.”

When Ms Aitchison was asked about Mr Roberts-Garnsey’s chances at the March 25 election she responded, “Josh is a great candidate, it’s the passion and the thing that has really impressed me about him is that he is here for the long-term.

“We’ve been talking about his commitment to the community – not just in his local school but soccer, having those local community networks.

“Barwon is a huge electorate to get around and to get known, but I have no doubt that if he’s not successful this time, he will be very successful next time because I think Josh is someone who really listens to people, he’s young, he’s very motivated and that’s what we need.”

Mr Roberts-Garnsey said the issues voters are raising on the campaign trail are “cost-of-living, education, health and housing”.

Candidates contesting the seat of Barwon at the state election on March 25 are, in drawn ballot order, Joshua Roberts-Garnsey (Australian Labor Party), Roy Butler (independent), Annette Turner (The Nationals), Paul Britton (Shooters, Farmers and Fishers), Thomas McBride (Public Education Party), Stuart Howe (independent), Pat Schultz (The Greens) and Ben Hartley (Legalise Cannabis Party).