TIMES have changed since Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was last at the Paterson electorate office in Raymond Terrace.
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It was draped in Liberal blue and Mr Shorten wasn’t so welcome, as the national secretary of the Australian Workers Union.
“Boeing workers and I were picketing the office in 2006,” Mr Shorten said, of one of the longest industrial campaigns in recent history.
Ten years later he’s had the pleasure of opening the office on behalf of the Labor MP Meryl Swanson, to the cheers of supporters, as Australia’s “alternative prime minister”.
He espoused popular Labor values like a fair go for all and in a nod to the Worimi people, pledged to close the gap “for our first Australians” if elected next time.
Mr Shorten met briefly with residents living with fire fighting foam contamination, people who want answers.
“It’s not an easy problem to solve but telling resident who bought land in good faith that they don’t have a problem, is no solution.”
