The announcement last week by Premier Gladys Berejiklian to reinstate Liberal MLC Catherine Cusack as the Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter after an eight-month absence has left Port Stephens Labor MP Kate Washington 'gobsmacked'.
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The parliamentary role was scrapped by the Premier in the aftermath of the March state election where Ms Cusack came under fire when it was discovered that her staff member Tasman Brown, who was assisting Liberal candidate Jaimie Abbott at the time, had breached the code of conduct by using a fake Facebook account to 'troll' the campaign of Ms Washington.
Six days after the election the Premier admonished her parliamentary colleague and overturned Ms Cusack's announcement that the Fingal bypass would not proceed because Ms Washington had campaigned against it.
Then on March 31 the Premier discarded the Hunter role in favour of appointing Taylor Martin, the provincial MLC for the Hunter and Central Coast, in a "spokesperson" role.
At the time of his appointment, Mr Taylor told the Examiner that "the Premier has decided [instead] to go with portfolios ... this makes it a more efficient system and allows the cabinet ministers to work closer with regional communities".
While Mr Taylor would not comment on the Premier's latest decision, Ms Washington did not hold back.
"If Ms Cusack is the best the Premier can offer our region, I think we all just have to accept that the Liberal government no longer cares about the Hunter," Ms Washington said.
Ms Cusack, who was first elected to NSW Legislative Council in 2003, said she was excited to be back advocating for the Hunter.
In response to the trolling accusations, Ms Cusack said that "Tasman has never trolled anyone. He used a false Facebook ID to post government information on newspaper websites which was wrong.
"I am aware one post was critical of Ms Washington for which he has apologised. Lessons have been learned and we move on from this mistake."
She said it was up to Port Stephens stakeholders to look at her record and decide for themselves if they wish to work with her or not. "I am an additional resource for those who wish to have a voice inside government and workshop solutions."
Questioned about the government's pre-election commitments on Nelson Bay Road and the Fingal bypass, Ms Cusack said that she did not have a timeline for the commitments, "which I spent years lobbying for inside government" though she was 'keen to see them progress and will seek a briefing on this and other issues in the new year.'
