The NSW Liberal Government has failed to award Labor electorates with Blue Plaques in the first phase of the program, with all successful applicants located in Liberal, National or Independent seats.

The Blue Plaques program was established to recognise individuals, landmarks and events of historical importance to NSW communities.

A total of 763 nominations were made, with 17 successful applicants, however, none of these were Labor electorates.

Swansea was one of the Labor electorates to miss out on Blue Plaques. Member for Swansea - Yasmin Catley MP worked with community members and historical groups to support them in placing their submissions. Applications were submitted for Eddie Charlton and James Lewis Boyd, who played a key role in shaping the local area.

This scam follows a trail of rorts from the NSW Liberal Government. During the recovery phase of the 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires, the Central Coast, which consists of Labor seats, missed out on financial relief despite enduring a $163 million blow to the local economy.

Last year, it was also revealed that the Stronger Communities Fund had directed 96 per cent of funding to councils in Coalition or marginal seats, despite the program being designed to provide financial support to forcibly amalgamated councils.

Ms Yasmin Catley MP – Member for Swansea said ‘it is disgusting that the NSW Liberal Government have politicised the Blue Plaques program instead of fairly recognising the historical individuals, landmarks and events that have shaped communities right across the state’.

‘The NSW Liberal Government should be ashamed of their latest rort. A total of 763 submissions were placed, yet not one Labor electorate was successful’.

‘I am disappointed that the efforts of community members and historical groups to preserve local history have gone unnoticed because the Liberals decided to rig the program to suit their own political agenda’.

‘The NSW Liberal Government have proven to the public time and time again that they are an unjust government, with their failure to grant the Central Coast financial assistance to recover from the Black Summer Bushfires, as well as through directing 96 per cent of the Stronger Communities Fund to Coalition and Marginal Seats’.

‘The NSW Liberal Government have shown the people of this state that they cannot be trusted’.