It appears that Maitland has been overlooked again.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Mercury learnt yesterday that Premier Mike Baird will not make the 30km trip to Maitland when he visits Newcastle to discuss the city’s future with community leaders on Thursday.
This news comes amid widespread unrest and dissatisfaction with the state government across the region.
It also comes off the back of concern over how seriously absentee Minister for the Hunter Gladys Berejiklian is taking her role.
Between corruption allegations that toppled a number of Hunter Liberal MPs earlier this year and concern about the heavy rail line cut in Newcastle, the Mercury would have thought the Premier would take the opportunity this week to visit Maitland and give residents the impression that he considers us important.
The last time Mr Baird visited Maitland as Premier was in July, when he held a press conference at the Metford site of the Lower Hunter hospital, but didn’t announce anything new about the project.
Maybe he has forgotten that there is an election around the corner and the race for the title of Member for Maitland has blown wide open since incumbent MP Robyn Parker announced she would not recontest the seat.
Ms Parker was a shining light for the Liberal Party during the ICAC hearings earlier this year – surely that’s another reason to drop in.
This shows that Mr Baird’s promise in August to go from house to house to rebuild the region’s trust in the Liberal Party, was political posturing.
But don’t worry, the government is “getting on with the job” – we are constantly being assured.
The people of Maitland deserve more respect from their elected leaders.