There are several issues that are at the core of every community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Health care, education, infrastructure, transport, the environment, services and our economy are frequently cited as central concerns.
As the clock counts down towards the March state election, those who would represent us are working hard to woo votes and define their positions on key issues.
Ultimately, their electoral success will depend on how strongly their positions resonate with the voting public.
NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley has flashed some shiny wares.
Mr Foley stated on the first day of his tenure that school investment would be one of his hallmarks if elected premier.
He further vowed this week that, if elected in March, he would put an extra $100 million towards replacing demountable classrooms across the state.
Across the Hunter, he said that would affect 40 schools that were using demountables that were at least 10 years old.
One of these is Rutherford Public School, which has some demountables that have been on site for almost two decades.
Labor candidate for Maitland Jenny Aitchison drew on the current Newcastle rail line truncation and proposed removal to illustrate how she believed NSW Labor’s funding priorities differed from the government’s.
“This government is spending $460million to rip up the rail line and each school costs about $15 million,” Ms Aitchison said.
“Imagine how many schools they could build in the Hunter to cope with the growth that is coming up, instead of ripping up this existing infrastructure for no good reason?”
If Ms Aitchison’s figures are sound, $460 million would equate to about 30 schools throughout NSW.
And that’s without demountables.