“The
issues that people in my electorate care about are reliable public transport, a
strong public education system, good health care, community safety and securing
Sydney’s water
supply. These issues are shaping this year’s election, whether it’s
Heffron or any other seat.”
Rosebery resident and mother of two, Keneally’s
awareness of State issues may allude to a preoccupation with Labor strategy, as
opposed to the finer issues dominating her region. But first impressions are
soon quelled.
On public transport, Keneally points to results she has achieved.
“Over the
last four years I have lobbied the Government and put in place additional bus
services and added express bus stops.”
Looking forward in her electorate, which is set to cushion a fresh round
of residential development in suburbs like Alexandria and Zetland, Keneally is adamant
about using the infrastructure that is already in existence. “The rail
service is ready to service residents as they come online, but we need to lower
the fare for train travel between suburbs and the city,” she
explains. “The
Minister for Transport now endorses a reduction provided rail ownership issues
are resolved.”
Public housing is a sensitive talking point, but Keneally is quick to
defend Labor’s
strategy. “The
Government has invested more than $20 million for public housing in the Heffron
area since 2003,” she says. “We can assure residents that all (public housing) tenancies are secure
and public housing numbers will not decrease.”
It becomes clear Keneally ardently believes the Redfern Waterloo
Authority’s (RWA)
plans for the area will help integrate public housing tenants “most in
need” with
the broader community. “The RWA is providing a holistic approach to revitalising the area with
the people who already reside there,” the Heffron MP points out.
She says the sale of the Carlton United Brewery site by the Fosters
Group is part of the strategy. “The affordable housing levy received by the RWA from the sale of the CUB
site will be invested in affordable housing in the Redfern Waterloo area.”
Fighting off suggestions the RWA might be weak in community focus or
lenient to beefing up the surplus side of a weak State balance sheet, Keneally
says, “The RWA
is not a capitalist enterprise. It receives an annual budget allocation from
the State ($7.19 million for this year) and has retained seven of the eight
State properties in the region for public use.”
Regarding the controversial State-approved expansion of Port Botany,
Keneally is quick to point out she was opposed to the expansion and points to a
bigger problem. “My overwhelming concern for the residents of Heffron is that the
proposed Sydney Airport expansions are far more
detrimental than Port Botany but I will continue to try to get the best
possible deal for my electorate.”
It is this understanding of the game of inter- and intra-party politics
that will probably result in US-born Kristina Keneally retaining her seat,
above the electorate’s conservative majority who will baulk at a Greens candidate and ask why
there is no Liberal candidate in the running.
“The job
of a good local MP is to be accessible on the ground, know what the local
issues are in each suburb, and be working hard to resolve them,” says
Keneally with savvy delivery. “Whether it’s taking up a fight against Council, State or Federal, it doesn’t
matter.”
Source: South Sydney Herald February 2007