Small Business Party

[b_auspol]

Small Business Party

How to Vote: Small Business Party recommends voting 1 for them, assigning no other preferences.

Photo comments: There’s a nice shot of Andrew Wilson in front of Parramatta Town Hall that was taken several years ago, judging by the lack of the construction hoardings in the background. Very “Yes I was Mayor”. Also a few of him in his mayoral chain, and one posing with Angela Vithoulkas in Wynyard Park in the city. The picture I’m MOST amused by, though, is Wilson posing in front of a heap of dirt labelled “The site of the future Parramatta Aquatic Centre”. Yes, I want my new pool, but that pile of dirt isn’t convincing me of anything!

 

Andrew Wilson - current councillor

Website: https://thesmallbusinessparty.com/city-of-parramatta/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClrAndrewWilson

Andrew Wilson is the most experienced local council member running for election in the ward. He’s been on Parramatta Council since 1999 and has served as Lord Mayor. He’s decided to join with the Small Business Party to run this year, which is annoying me, as he’s reasonably practical and that’s generally not anything I associate with Angela Vithoulkas.

Previously, Wilson ran under Our Local Community (2017), Lorraine Wearne Independents (2012), and the Liberal Party (2008).

Wilson is a strong supporter of the Powerhouse move. He’s actually reasonably strong on the local arts scene – he’s also campaigned previously about keeping Riverside Theatre publicly owned. However, this does make him the sole candidate in this election that did NOT back saving Willow Grove at its original location. Wilson also supported the new stadium and upgrades for the new Parramatta Pool and getting the pool paid for by NSW Government (though we’re not getting waterslides. Andrew, where are my waterslides?)

In terms of transport, Wilson supports and has worked for footpath upgrades and a walkable city (good! They’re needed) and for better links including the bridge and increased footpath capacity between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point. Wentworth Point honestly needs every bit of transport links it can get, as it’s definitely still being developed. He helped get the Baylink Shuttle Bus, which is a free shuttle that essentially travels between Wentworth Point and Rhodes shops. He pushed for a Metro stop at Wentworth Point (this is NOT on the Metro West map and would have been a significant diversion – they’re getting a stop at Olympic Park instead, which is best described as “next to the train station, on the same block as the Sydney Olympic Park vaccination centre, but up the hill”). He also has campaigned in Council for more overhead crossings and pedestrian tunnels for main roads. Honestly, he’s pretty solid on transport and the only point where I’ll go against him is that he’s blocked sale of car parks. If car parks aren’t financially viable, get rid of them, replace them with something more useful.

His big focuses for the upcoming term are more footpaths and redevelopment of North Granville. This is BADLY needed. Parramatta is in one of those stages where waves of redevelopment are slowly spreading out from the centre of the CBD. As someone extremely self-interested who enjoys good food and a nice local cafe and plenty of community facilities on my doorstep, I am all for this and less for rundown shopping strips that you wonder how the lights stay on.

Look, there’s a reason Andrew Wilson has teamed up with the Small Business Party. He’s a conservative at heart and I wouldn’t trust him to be perfect on social issues, but he’s reasonable and you can talk to him. He’s very passionate for the arts and science and community facilities. He’s also got a lot of lived experience on Council, which can be both good and bad. (And yes, he puts up with “Andrew, where’s my X” from locals when things go down, so there’s that in his favour).

On the downside though: my goodness their flyer. The one pamphlet I’ve got was definitely not copyedited and includes such joys as “Supported the cause for improved improved bus services including the M52 bus” and "We are ghting for families, small businesses and their communities”. Gotta keep ghting for improved improvements on Council.

 

James Laurence

James Laurence is a plumber. He’s filed his paperwork saying that his interests this election are to “stop wage theft and sham contracting in the construction industry”. Now this is also an issue near and dear to my heart as someone who deals with deemed employment for ABN contractors in the construction industry ALL THE TIME for work, but I cannot say that local council is the right place to approach this issue. You want state and federal legislation, mate. He also wants better ethics in property development, and do we all.

Laurence sounds exactly like a plumber operating a business in the construction industry should. If I’ve tracked him down correctly he’s working in his dad’s plumbing business. I have no idea what he actually would like to do if he got a council seat, as he hasn’t said anything, and there’s really nothing in his social media.

 

Christine Rigby

Christine Rigby is a retired TAFE teacher. She’s run with Andrew Wilson before in the 2017 local election.

Rigby’s paperwork lists her involvement with various committees, including at least one Newington strata community, being on the disability committees of the old Auburn Council and of Parramatta Council and on the Heritage Committee for Parramatta. Someone with hands on experience with disability committees, strata, and a retired teacher is at least well versed in how councils run! Rigby knows what level of government she’s running for, unlike Laurence. I suspect she’s in third as she’s only running as a favour to Wilson to fill out the ballot.

 

Overall Opinion:

Our Local Community are deliberately positioning themselves to be the Liberals when there are no Liberals available. Andrew Wilson is possibly the better “Can’t Believe It’s Not A Liberal” candidate to my mind; he’s got the experience (and got the council conflicts) to back himself up. I’m honestly tempted to rank him ahead of OLC simply because I know what I’m getting with Wilson. Also, all three candidates are Rosehill Ward residents, unlike the OLC candidates.