A political expert says Daryl Maguire needs to be elevated to the front bench if Wagga is to push back against safe seat “neglect” in the next term of government.
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Charles Sturt University politics lecturer Dr Troy Whitford said the local election result was evidence that rural people “find a candidate and stick with them” for long periods unless their position was untenable.
Mr Maguire has held his job for five straight elections and will serve as the Wagga MP for more than 20 years.
“Daryl is a good guy but if we were to have a high profile minister, we would get more attention,” Dr Whitford said. “Daryl has had his hands tied on a number of issues.”
He said it was “proven” that marginal seats grab the attention of incumbent political parties desperate to remain in power.
“Look what (then-independent) Tony Windsor did for New England … he got the NBN (National Broadband Network) before anyone else,” Dr Whitford said.
Mr Maguire won more than 60 per cent of the two-party vote at the weekend.
Katrina Hodgkinson also polled strongly in Cootamundra with 70 per cent of the vote after preferences. Adrian Piccoli had the strongest result in Murray with 74 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
Dr Whitford said Mr Piccoli’s and Ms Hodginson’s status as cabinet ministers had delivered high approval ratings and a voice in decision-making for their electorates.
However, Mr Maguire refuted the suggestion more could be delivered for Wagga if he was a minister.
“I would challenge that because any decisions that are made are part of a process,” he said. “It’s not like the old days where the minister gave a wink and a nod and something was done.”
Councillor Paul Funnell, the unsuccessful independent candidate for Wagga, said he was not surprised with the electoral outcome because constituents were “frightened” of changing their vote.
“So many people that were actually handing out cards for Daryl were saying that they need change, but they were frightened of it,” Cr Funnell said. “We are a region of more than 100,000; we should have business and industry everywhere – and it won’t happen because we are a safe seat of 60 years. It is unheard of.”
Mr Maguire slammed Cr Funnell’s comments as an “insult” to Wagga voters.
“If they thought we were missing out do you think they would have delivered me such a resounding vote?” he said. “I think it’s insulting to suggest that they got it wrong – it’s a smack in the face. There is $600 million worth of activity in this electorate as I speak.”