In the face of furious councils and radio shock jocks warning Sydney’s social fabric is being torn apart, Premier Chris Minns only has to look to Parramatta to see how housing policy can change political destinies.

Successive Coalition governments invested heavily in the seat in Sydney’s west – in fact, no electorate was showered in more cash ahead of the March 2023 poll, according to Liberal sources. Regardless, Labor candidate and former Parramatta mayor Donna Davis romped home behind a 13 per cent primary swing.

Aileen Luton outside her apartment in Cremorne, in Sydney’s lower north shore. She believes there needs to be more affordable housing for young people. Credit: Janie Barrett

The problem, according to senior Liberal sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was the inadvertent effect of these transport, social and education investments: first the renters moved in, then the public servants. The concomitant densification changed the demographics of Parramatta. Gradually, then suddenly, the seat had an influx of voters more inclined to vote Labor.

“In essence we created a seat to vote against us. I don’t think we’ll ever win Parramatta back – well, not for a long, long time,” the Liberal source concludes.

The once-safe seat of former Liberal minister Geoff Lee is now firmly entrenched in Labor’s wall of red.

With Minns embarking on an ambitious suite of housing reforms, the Herald spoke with Liberal, Labor and Greens frontbenchers, MPs, and party insiders to understand the electoral dynamics of the city shaping policies.

Minns believes the potential political upside is massive. Over the next three elections, Gen Zs will join Millennials as the dominant force in Australian politics. And repeated polls consistently show housing is the top of their agenda.

QOSHE - Nine marginal seats could cement Labor in power for a decade - Max Maddison
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Nine marginal seats could cement Labor in power for a decade

11 0
05.04.2024

In the face of furious councils and radio shock jocks warning Sydney’s social fabric is being torn apart, Premier Chris Minns only has to look to Parramatta to see how housing policy can change political destinies.

Successive Coalition governments invested heavily in the seat in Sydney’s west – in fact, no electorate was showered in more cash ahead of the March 2023 poll, according to Liberal sources. Regardless, Labor candidate and former........

© The Sydney Morning Herald


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