Hear from both sides of politics on region’s critical issues

Western Sydney will have the opportunity to hear firsthand from representatives of the Labor and Liberal parties about critical issues affecting the region, as part of a series of special election forums in February at Western Sydney University.

The Western Sydney Votes Forums, hosted by the University’s regional thinktank, the Centre for Western Sydney, will explore the key policy areas of health, education, infrastructure and the economy, taking place on 7, 9, 14 and 16 February at the University’s Liverpool City, Bankstown City, Kingswood and Parramatta City campuses.

During each forum, esteemed community representatives, including Rachel Haywood, Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre, Vikram Murthy, Western Sydney Community Forum and Cat Thao-Nguyen, writer and lawyer, will set the scene ahead of a panel style discussion between the participating Ministers and Shadow Ministers.

Professor Andy Marks, Director of the Centre for Western Sydney, said the forums represent a unique opportunity to focus on the most pressing issues affecting one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic regions in the state.

“The Centre for Western Sydney is pleased to invite the community to join us in February for our Western Sydney Votes Forums,” said Professor Marks.

“At these events, representatives from both the Liberal and Labor party will articulate their party’s policy positions and importantly, how these decisions will improve the lives of people in Western Sydney.

“We know that health, education, infrastructure and the economy will be top of mind come polling day on March 25th, as these are policy areas which are impacting the residents of Western Sydney every day.”

The Centre for Western Sydney will release in March a ‘Western Sydney Votes’ issues paper that will further examine voting behaviours in western Sydney ahead of the 2023 NSW State Election. For more information, contact cfws@westernsydney.edu.au