EIGHTH generation Port Macquarie local Keith McMullen has been preselected by the Labor Party to contest the seat of Cowper in the upcoming Federal election.

McMullen, born and raised in Port Macquarie, left school for a printing apprenticeship with the Port Macquarie News before advances in technology made his profession redundant.

He then moved on to the building industry as a painter and decorator.

After a quarter century as a tradie McMullen studied for degrees in both teaching and the arts, taught English and history in Queensland and then moved to Hong Kong, where he worked in International Schools for a decade.

Five years ago he returned to his home town to care for his ageing mother and attend to other varied family matters.

“I have heard the deep concerns by many people from Coffs Harbour to Port Macquarie about the many issues that impact directly on them that the Liberal/National government has just ignored, or acted against our interest, over the past number of years,” Mr McMullen said.

“I am proud and honoured to be chosen by the Labor Party to contest the local seat of Cowper as part of Anthony Albanese’s team for the 2022 election,” he said.

Mr McMullen said the result of the upcoming federal election was crucial “given the very real issues facing the people of Cowper and our country more generally”.

“I have a deep love and lifelong commitment to the Mid North Coast and it has worried me deeply that our local area has been hurt by the ongoing neglect of those real problems by the coalition government for the past decade,” Mr McMullen said.

“People have told me that they have lost all confidence in the integrity of the Liberal/National government…are sick of the Prime Minister’s lies and want action on the issues that affect them.”

Mr McMullen said voters were looking for action “on the issues that affect them (including) health, aged care, job security, low wages, housing, education, lack of support for small business (and) lack of meaningful action on climate change and women’s safety”.

“People want a National Integrity Commission,” Mr McMullen said.

 

By Paul FOGARTY