Orange byelection candidates Kevin Duffy, Phil Donato and Bernard Fitzsimon have pledged to fight for regional jobs.
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The Australia Manufacturers Workers’ Union wants candidates to fight for rail jobs in NSW and to use Australian-made steel.
Secretary Tim Ayres conceded the majority of rail construction work would be in the Hunter Valley but said there would be benefits for Orange.
“The flow-on effects of smaller projects like bogies and brake discs and all sort of heavy fabrication of components end up in regional workshops and factories,” Mr Ayres.
“Voters want to know the government will still stand up for rail jobs because it sends a signal they’ll stand up for blue collar jobs across the economy.”
Independent candidate and Councillor Kevin Duffy said jobs were needed and the full impact of the Electrolux closure had not arrived.
“The message is quite clear, we’re losing manufacturing in Australia and NSW, we’ve lost Electrolux,” Cr Duffy said.
“You can tell by walking down Summer Street and seeing the number of empty parking spaces.”
Shooters’ Party candidate Phil Donato said it was genuine pledge.
“It’s about having the jobs here and not sending them off-shore,” Mr Donato said.
“We’re all about keeping jobs local and improving the local and state economy.”
Meanwhile, Labor’s Bernard Fitzsimon said the push to keep rail jobs in NSW was about keeping skills, employment, industry and money locally.
“It’s not a fear campaign, it’s our total commitment to local jobs, keeping the employment in local communities and money for our small businesses,” he said.
“Small businesses say they have the same number of customers but they’re spending less.
“That’s a sign of under-employment, casualisation of workers and the worsening of employment conditions and it’s all happening under the Nationals watch for the last five-and-a-half years.”