Against a literal Labor wall of fame, Liberal MP Lee Evans has faced his first test of the 2023 New South Wales election campaign in northern Illawarra, as redrawn electoral boundaries shift the marginal seat of Heathcote further south.
The wooden Thirroul Railway Institute Hall has been home to the local Labor party branch for decades and members proudly point to the newest portrait.
"We've just added Albo, doesn't it look good?" they say.
It is hot and humid as around 50 people gather to hear from candidates running for the Heathcote seat.
All who have nominated have been invited, but only Mr Evans, Labor candidate Maryanne Stuart and Greens candidate Cooper Riach attend.
Before the forum starts, the candidates hear the Thirroul Village Committee's ordinary business.
The group has grave concerns about major new aged care facilities that will bring hundreds to the coastal village, which is already struggling with an overburdened health system and heavy traffic congestion.
The candidates are then invited to speak.
Ms Stuart receives warm applause as she finishes.
But there are audible groans as Mr Evans explains that a wage cap for frontline workers is necessary, otherwise the "budget will be blown".
Heads also shake as he argues he is coming home after previous electoral boundary shifts.
Nonetheless, he receives hearty applause as the bell rings to end his five minutes.
The young Greens candidate has brought props, and hands around an old jam jar containing dirty, sludgy water, which he says was collected near Camp Gully Creek in September last year.
A concerned mumble washes around the hall.
Those listening are well aware the near-by Metropolitan mine owned by Peabody at Helensburgh received a clean-up order from the Environment Protection Authority, over two discharges of polluted water containing coal particles in July and September of last year.
Shift into Labor heartland
The Liberal MP has held the seat since 2011. However, the recent electoral boundaries shift changes the Liberal margin of 5 per cent in Heathcote to a likely Labor gain, with an estimated margin of 1.7 per cent.
ABC election analyst Antony Green says the change sheds about 12,000 voters west of the Woronora River, replacing them with 12,000 voters from Keira, where they voted 70 per cent for Labor, two-party preferred.
On paper, the seat has flipped to Labor.
And after the Liberal party lost Bega at a by-election last year, Heathcote is a must-retain seat if the Perrottet government is to retain a majority government.
From greyhounds to ethics
While the regular train announcements from the nearby Thirroul station echo into the room, the candidates start responding to questions — the first on the privatisation of Sydney Water.
Ms Stuart seizes a pre-prepared flyer pointing to the recent controversy from a candidates' forum in Bowral, where Liberal MPs for Goulburn and Wollondilly appeared to offer support for the measure.
Mr Evans says he wants to "dispel this farce" as a Labor smear campaign, to which someone in the fourth row politely heckles "crap".
The premier has since categorically ruled out any privatisation of public assets.
The second question is about local mines.
"Can they assure us there will be no expansion, extension or new coal mines in our water catchment?" an attendee asks.
"I would say yes to that," Ms Stuart answers.
However, Illawarra Labor has a rich history of supporting mining and its employees in the region.
Ms Stuart says her party's policy would be to transition the 400 workers at the Metropolitan mine into the renewable sector.
"If elected on March 25, we would implement that straight away — we need to transition quickly," she says.
Mr Evans says "until coking coal is illegal, it will be mined out of this area".
The forum continues with questions on everything from greyhound racing to ethics, and demands for answers on local traffic issues which are "pissing people off".
Leaving the forum, local Helen Gibson says she will be "doing a little bit more thinking" on how she will direct her vote.
Another local, Paul Tuckerman, praises the democratic process and "pertinent questions," but issues a warning for Mr Evans.
"I'm rusted on, and I will be supporting Maryanne Stuart," he said.
"It has got to make a difference with this large part of northern Illawarra being tipped into Heathcote."
