The federal seat of Newcastle has had only six MPs since federation. Two of them have been called David Watkins and another two Sharon.
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Newcastle has never voted anything but Labor, and that is unlikely to change next Saturday.
The Liberal party has run a quiet campaign offering few announcements or high-profile visitors, in keeping with an all but non-existent showing before the state election. Party HQ has been reluctant to give its Hunter candidates free rein to talk to the media.
The Christian Democratic Party has gone even further, declining to provide any details or even a photograph of its candidate, Pam Wise.
It is a familiar story in Eden-Monaro, Hume and Cowper, where the CDP has endorsed mysterious "friends of the party", presumably to drum up Senate votes for Silvana Nile.
Here is each Newcastle candidate's election platform in their own words.
Sharon Claydon
Labor
Age: 55
Work: Federal Member for Newcastle
Why I'm running: As an anthropologist, disability worker and federal representative, I've spent my life working for people who haven't shared in the benefits of our national prosperity. Under the Liberals, wages are down, while corporate profits and living costs are up. Labor has a bold, positive vision to turn that around.
Priorities: Labor will fix our schools and hospitals, stand up for workers, invest in cheaper, cleaner energy, strengthen environmental protections and deliver real action on climate change. Our commitment to closing tax loopholes means we can also invest in local communities. In Newcastle I have committed real dollars for flood mitigation in Wallsend, priority school projects, environmental restoration of our waterways, equity projects to drive university participation, more emergency relief, a music hub for young people to jam, record and access mentoring, pathways to get more young people into full-time work and cutting-edge research to increase renewable energy in the grid.
John Mackenzie
The Greens
Age: 41
Work: Research consultant/City councillor
Why I'm running: Newcastle deserves a visible, energetic and progressive representative in Parliament. My experience on council has improved my understanding of the infrastructure needs of our city, and the urgency of federal support to get these needs addressed. It has also sharpened my vision of Newcastle as a vibrant and thriving 21st century city that embraces clean, smart technology and is a recognised hub of world-class innovation. It is a vision of our city I would be proud to take to Canberra to see fulfilled.
Priorities: Climate change, housing affordability, Denticare, compensation for the Williamtown red zone, fixing Stockton beach, Wallsend flood works, expanding the art gallery and delivering the Richmond Vale Rail Trail.
Pam Wise
Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
Work: Artist
Note: Pam Wise is one of several candidates endorsed by the Christian Democratic Party but not actively campaigning. A CDP spokesman said Ms Wise was a "friend of the party". She had asked that her details and photograph remain private.
Geoffrey Scully
United Australia Party
Age: 62
Work: Martial arts instructor
Why I'm running: I'm from a Labor party background, but I believe in public service and not career politicians. Politicians should serve the public and get down to the nitty-gritty of what people need, not tell them what they need.
Priorities: Increasing the pension by $150 a week. Local businesses to stop provisional tax immediately, to generate cashflow and income and therefore more GST. We have a cost of about $7 billion nationally because small businesses are the largest employers in Australia. Cut power bills in half.
BJ Futter
Great Australian Party
Work: President of church
Why I'm running: Without change, there is no change. Born and raised in the farm lands of South Africa in 1962, I saw first-hand the inequality of human rights and, in contrast, the power of community connected with the earth. For the past 40 years, this heritage has shaped my life as an Australian citizen and fueled my passion to see positive and long-term change.
Priorities: I stand for the recognition of "Cannabis is Food" as a fundamental human right issue and demand we act upon change, and not just debate it. I am dedicated to the awareness and re-education of the crucial role of food as our medicine in the hope we can lessen the burden of pain and disease on the individual and their families. I believe in the equality of all and our innate sovereign right to choose what is best for our health and wellness. The GAP underlines the necessity for the recognition of the Original Constitution which I embrace and support in my commitment for essential change, evolutionary change to a more vibrant way of living, an opportunity to rewrite history from a place of freedom to choose.
Darren Brollo
Animal Justice Party
Age: 46
Work: Musician
Why I'm running: I am proud to be representing the Animal Justice Party in the 2019 federal election in my home-town electorate of Newcastle. Following my passion for animal rights, I advocate for urgent change to the inherently cruel practices of intensive factory farming and animal exploitation as well as an immediate address of our global climate emergency.
Priorities: To put an end to the live export trade, to phase out all intensive factory farming practices, including battery hen cages and sow stalls. If elected, I will fight for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by rapidly phasing out fossil fuels, transition to clean energy sources and legislating to protect our native forests and marine habitats from further destruction. Locally, I come together with many environmental groups in a bid to end the threat of seismic testing and devastation to our coastline.
Katrina Wark
Liberal
Age: 52
Work: Registered nurse
Why I'm running: I am running to give Newcastle a strong voice because Labor has taken this seat for granted for too long. Our community deserves a strong alternative. The NSW Liberals and Nationals government has revitalised our city and, if elected, I would work closely with our state colleagues to ensure Newcastle is also given its fair share of representation in Canberra.
Priorities: Health is my priority. I'll work with the Berejiklian government to ensure the speedy delivery of the John Hunter Hospital redevelopment. I'll also work to help cut red tape and create more incentives for local small and medium businesses so we can create more jobs. I'm keen to focus on community arts programs in Newcastle as well as opportunities to stimulate our tourism industry.
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