A nurse-unit manager has been chosen as the Labor candidate for Oatley at the state election next March.
O’Bray Smith, who won a ballot of rank-and-file branch members on Saturday, manages the midwifery unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where she is responsible for a team of 45.
Oatley was won by Liberal Mark Coure in a ‘‘cliffhanger’’ at the 2011 election and was the Coalition’s most marginal seat until an electoral redistribution late last year increased its margin to 3.8 per cent.
Ms Smith said in a statement that she had seen the effects of the government’s cuts to the health system ‘‘first hand’’ through her work as a nurse.
‘‘St George Hospital had $2.2 million slashed from its 2012-13 staffing budget and we are now seeing waiting times blowing out as a result,’’ she said.
Former Oatley MP Kevin Greene said Ms Smith was ‘‘one of the hardest working people I’ve met’’.
Do you think Labor has made a good choice?
