If the Nationals Are Serious About Winning Hunter, They Need to Put Their Money Where Their Mouth Is
The race for the seat of Hunter is well and truly underway, but one thing is glaringly obvious—the Nationals haven’t actually committed to anything of substance for the region. If they think they can knock off Labor’s Dan Repacholi just by showing up, they’re in for a rude shock. Winning elections isn’t about platitudes; it’s about putting real, tangible commitments on the table. And so far, the Nationals have delivered nothing.
Compare this to what’s happening in the neighboring electorate of Paterson. The Liberals are throwing money around like confetti, suddenly realizing they have a shot at flipping the seat. Millions are being promised for infrastructure, roads, and services. Meanwhile, here in Hunter, we get vague statements about supporting business and advocating for small communities. That’s not going to cut it.
Hunter voters aren’t stupid. They’ve seen decades of empty promises, and they know that if an electorate isn’t a battleground, it gets left behind. Labor has taken this seat for granted for years, but at least they know how to play the game. When Repacholi gets nervous, money starts flowing. A prime example? The recent funding announcement for Apex Park and the long-overdue upgrades to Wollombi Road. This isn’t charity—it’s a political survival tactic.
The Nationals, on the other hand, seem content to run on personality alone. Sue Gilroy may be a strong local advocate, but without hard cash commitments, she won’t get over the line. If the Nationals want to be taken seriously, they need to commit to major projects that actually matter to people. A good starting point? The Cessnock rail corridor. A train line from Cessnock to Maitland has been talked about for years, but unless a political party steps up and makes it an election issue, it will continue to gather dust. The same goes for the long-promised but never-delivered Cessnock bypass. If the Nationals came out tomorrow and pledged real federal funding to fast-track these projects, they’d be making waves in the electorate overnight.
And what have they done so far? Opposed a solar farm in Singleton. That’s it. No major investments, no big infrastructure commitments—just opposition to a project while offering nothing in return. If they think that’s a winning strategy, they’re sorely mistaken.
Elections aren’t won on good intentions—they’re won on cold, hard commitments. Right now, Dan Repacholi is sitting in the Hunter seat with no real threat, simply because his opposition has failed to put up a serious fight. The Nationals need to step up, open the checkbook, and start making Hunter a priority. Otherwise, they may as well hand Repacholi another term on a silver platter.