At first glance, it looks like a win for the ladies with both sitting candidates favored to be returned, unless there is a major swing either way in our region.
Member for Dobell Emma McBride has been one of the ALP’s shining stars, acting as Deputy Chair of two Select Committees in the fields of Mental Health and Communications.
The Pharmacy graduateShe was elected to the House of Reps in 2016 and re-elected in 2019 and is the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and assistant Minister for Carers.
Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks has held the seat since 2013 and was appointed to the Speaker's Panel in February 2015. She was narrowly re-elected at the 2016 election and has served on various parliamentary committees.
In July 2019, after increasing her margin, she was appointed chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit. Ms Wicks is currently chair of the Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety.
Opposing Ms McBride for the Liberals will be Sydney cardiologist Dr Michael Feneley who will be aiming to overcome the 1.5% margin.
Dr Feneley bought a house on the Central Coast electorate last year and Labor says he is being parachuted in to the electorate and is ‘not a local’.
Labor candidate for Robertson is local identity Dr Gordon Reid Dr. Gordon Reid who grew up in Umina Beach.
As a local emergency department doctor, Gordon has been serving on the front lines of the pandemic and would need to overcome a hefty margin of 4,2%.
A variety of candidates make up the field in both electorates including Greens Scott Rickard in Dobell and Greens Shelly McGrath in Robertson.
