A sleepy road in Sydney’s south grew to become the scene of a frenzied rush as NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns visited native companies on Monday – with TV crews and journalists in tow.
While most residents of Riverwood, which sits within the protected Liberal seat of Oatley, when pressed stated they’re undecided on who they’ll be voting for on election day, they have been fast to focus on the rising cost-of-living as their important concern.
Co-owner of family-run business Riverwood Fruit Market Sonia Saleh stated her and her husband and 25-year-old son labored seven days per week on the fruit market to maintain their business afloat.
“We need change because cost-of-living is too much; living these days is very dear,” she informed NCA NewsWire.
“We’ll see who gives us more options and we’ll vote for them.”
Mr Minns visited the fruit store on Monday with Oatley Labor candidate Ash Ambihaipahar, Rockdale MP Steve Kampar and Lakemba MP Jihad Dib. Despite the 6.8 per cent Liberal margin, Labor is hoping to show the voters crimson on March 25.
“He bought strawberries, grapes and plums; he said they were for his kids’ lunches,” she stated of Mr Minns.
While Ms Saleh spoke positively about Mr Minns, she referred to as on the following authorities to offer extra help to native companies.
“It’s been really bad after Covid for small businesses; we’ve suffered a lot,” she stated.
Tolls have been one other ache level, with Ms Saleh estimating her business pays about $150 per week to make use of the M5 and M7.
“That’s coming out of our pockets; it’s a business expense but the tolls should be free. We already pay a lot of tax, we shouldn’t have to pay tolls.”
Just days in the past, Premier Dominic Perrottet visited companies on the opposite aspect of the voters in Penshurst – only a few streets away from Mr Minns’ personal very marginal seat of Kogarah.
Head chef at Short Black Espresso Bar George Adamou stated companies have been below extra stress now than throughout Covid-19.
“We told them the government payments during the pandemic were a great help during that time, but we‘re facing the toughest time right now with increasing inflation, increasing rent and mortgage repayments,” he stated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
