The Liberal Party celebrated a successful year in central Maitland yesterday and NSW Liberal leader Barry O’Farrell said the party is planning a sustained campaign for the seat of Maitland.

“It always depends on who puts their hand up, but there can’t be a change of government unless there’s a change of MP in Maitland,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“That’s what the Liberal Party understands, that’s what the community needs to understand.

“Given Mr Terenzini’s refusal to stand up for Maitland families in relation to a tax on school student travel, I suspect it’s the message that he’ll get come the next election.

“Currently there are 600 public servants who don’t have jobs, sitting around being paid $45 million a year, (which is) more than the savings in the school student travel scheme.”

Mr O’Farrell said Mr Terenzini failed to stand up against the mini-budget measure, which will see families paying up to $180 for public transport passes.

Mr Terenzini said he was listening to both positive and negative feedback from the community.

“The bus travel issue is a system that does need reform, however I am very concerned about how it is going to impact on families ... I am taking that on board.

“There’s a co-payment in place, I’m getting some feedback from my constituents and I am looking at that.”

Mr Terenzini said it was “a bit rich” for the Coalition to lambast cost-cutting measures because the Opposition voted against a sale of power industry assets that would have netted billions of dollars.

Mr O’Farrell said the proposed sale was poorly timed due to unstable financial markets and the incoming emissions trading scheme. The Opposition leader said Maitland voters would see a renewed Hunter Liberal community contest the 2011 election, where Mr Terenzini will defend a 1.98 per cent margin.

“This year was put in to ensure the Liberal flag is flying across the Hunter,” Mr O’Farrell said. “Next year is about raising the State Liberal standard to ensure people come the next State election, have the hope of an alternative government, and that can start here in Maitland.”