A university student has the daunting job of being the Labor opponent of Treasurer Scott Morrison at the July 2 federal election.
David Atkins, 20, of Dolans Bay, joined the Cronulla-Caringbah branch of the party just over a year ago.
“I believe the Labor Party is the best to effect positive change in this country and to make Australia a more fair and equitable place,” he said.
“To my knowledge I was the only person to nominate for preselection.
”Basically, I put up my hand and said I would be very interested in running on the Labor platform and speaking about the things that we need in Cook.
“A political career is something I am definitely interested in pursuing and I see this as a first step.”
The Liberal Party has a margin of 15.8 per cent in Cook, which extends into St George following electoral boundary changes.
Mr Atkins is studying a Bachelor of Arts with majors in History and Politics at the University of Wollongong.
He works two to three days a week in the office of a building and landscaping supply company at Taren Point.
“I really want to stand up for the people of Cook and make it a better place in which to live,” he said.
“I am not going to deny it is a big task, but if something is important, isn’t it worth doing?
“At the very least I am standing up for the people in this electorate, which I think the Liberals and Scott Morrison have taken for granted.”
Mr Atkins said local issues he would raise included the need for more investment on roads to reduce traffic congestion.
“I drive in the electorate and, in peak hours, it’s pretty hard to get places,” he said.
“Cronulla residents can hardly use their cars on the weekend because of the traffic and it is worse in summer.
“The [traffic situation] is impacting on small and medium size businesses in the shire.”
Mr Atkins did not nominate specific road projects, but said Labor had credibility and an excellent record on road infrastructure at state and federal levels in NSW.
He said, while roads were largely a state and local government responsibility, it didn’t mean a federal member couldn’t highlight needs and lobby for funding.
Mr Atkins said housing affordability was another big problem.
“My generation is probably the first in this nation’s history that will be worse off than the previous generation,” he said.
”I fully support Labor’s changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax and superannuation concessions.”
Mr Atkins said the Coalition government's health cuts and refusal to commit funding to the full rollout of the Gonski reform program in education would impact on Sutherland Hospital and shire schools.