STATEMENT ON NOMINATION ISSUE

Wollongong candidate for Lord Mayor Cr Tania Brown has expressed her sympathy to Liberal candidates who have been excluded from the upcoming Local Government election due to a failure to lodge their nominations by the Electoral Commission deadline.

“I feel for the candidates, and my former council colleagues, who have had their efforts to represent the community denied by an apparent administrative failure by Liberal Party head office.

“It is an honour to represent your community and to be denied this opportunity by incomplete paperwork must be very distressing. It is every candidate's nightmare to be blindsided by something out of their control,” Tania Brown said.

“No matter who nominates, my task is to continue to listen to the community, and to put forward policies that demonstrate my ability, and that of the Labor team, and to represent those broad and diverse opinions in the best interests of Wollongong.

“There is still a tough election to be run, with an expected 36 candidates to choose from and I will continue to campaign until the booths close at 6pm on 14 September.

“I urge voters to engage in the democratic process and have their say on who will best represent them on Wollongong Council.

“The Labor team and I will continue to talk about our plans for Wollongong on housing, jobs, spending in our suburbs and valuing our environment - these are the issues residents tell me are their priorities,” Tania Brown said.