Have politicians fallen in love with the MIA?
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Lately, multiple pollies have swanned through the MIA like they were Oprah Winfrey, cashed up with goodies to give away.
We’ve seen so many government ministers in these parts, you’d be forgiven for thinking you lived in Griffith – the Canberra suburb near Parliament House.
The pollies have been only marginally more subtle than the Channel Nine’s Today presenters last week, who were handing out dollar bills to locals at Memorial Park.
But the question must surely be asked: is this a fling, or will the politicians still love us after the Murray by-election?
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian even visited the small town of Deniliquin this week, also part of Murray electorate.
Shooters, Farmers and Fishers candidate Helen Dalton pointed out a NSW premier hadn’t been to Deni in the last three decades.
Ms Berejiklian has also visited Griffith twice in the past few months.
How many times have you seen premiers in this town over the previous decade?
Deputy Premier John Barilaro has been here at least three times in the past few months, as has Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
We even saw Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce here on Wednesday.
There’s no doubt they’re bringing a lot of good news with them. Funding for hospitals, fire stations, TAFE, a bike path and CCTV cameras are welcome for the MIA.
But it really does seem when a seat transforms from safe, to under threat, it makes the world of difference for locals.
Case in point is the electorate of Parramatta.
The geographic centre of Sydney was an urban wasteland for 70 years. It made Temora seem like a vibrant beehive of activity.
During all that time, it was a safe Labor seat. But for the past decade, it’s become marginal. And at the state level, it’s even switched over the Liberals.
Since then, Parramatta seems to get everything. Light rail. More train services. A stadium upgrade. A park revamp. It now looks and feels like a second city.
The NSW Government is even reportedly spending up to $1.5 billion dollars moving the Powerhouse museum out there.
Now its Murray's turn to taste the honey.
Will it last longer than October 14? That remains to be seen.
