NSW Labor is today announcing Bawley Point local, Liza Butler, will run as the NSW Labor candidate for South Coast in the NSW State Election in March 2023.

Liza Butler has lived in the South Coast community for twenty years, and has raised her five children there. She has worked in service delivery and currently as a business woman, as well as serving as a member of the local Business Chamber and as a Councillor for Shoalhaven City Council.

Career and why she is running

Over the past twelve years Ms Butler has seen a dramatic decrease in the services available to support her local community. This includes everything from social housing and homelessness services, support for multicultural communities and services for women experiencing domestic violence.

For nine years Liza worked for the Department of Aging, Disability & Homecare as a Senior Project Officer, supporting the NGO sector, and for the next five she worked at Centrelink assisting the most vulnerable in her community.

Today, Ms Butler has two successful retail start-ups in Ulladulla and Milton which employ six locals, including a young person on a transition to work program. 

Three years ago, when the South Coast experienced the devastating Black Summer Fires, she worked to support her community of Bawley Point. When she requested assistance from the NSW Government to get access to food and medication she was informed that her community ‘is not our problem’.

Liza is running for South Coast to ensure her community is never overlooked that way again.

As the daughter of two school teachers and a mother of five, Ms Butler is passionate about education and training pathways for young people. She is acutely aware that the South Coast has seen TAFE courses slashed while local schools are overcrowded with teachers leaving long held careers due to unmanageable workloads.

Over the past 18 months alone there has been an 8.1 per cent decrease in social housing stock in the South Coast electorate, while a broader housing affordability crisis is leading to an electorate-wide shortage of teachers, nurses, doctors, retail and hospitality staff.

After twelve years of declining services and support for her community, Liza is running to give the South Coast a fresh start and ensure that the needs of the South Coast are advocated for and heard on Macquarie Street.

Comment from Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:

“I’m excited to announce Liza Butler will be the Labor Candidate for South Coast at the next election.

“Liza has a deep understanding of the issues facing her community and I believe she will deliver real change for this community if she is given the opportunity.

“There is no doubt Liza has a tough battle ahead of her in this electorate, and the Labor Party will not take a single vote for granted, but she is up for the challenge.”

Comment from Liza Butler, Labor Candidate for South Coast:

“I love the South Coast and my community, this is where I have raised my children, this is where I have built my career and started my own businesses. I’m now asking for the opportunity to serve this community in the NSW Parliament because I believe we deserve better, and only a Minns Labor Government can deliver that.

“After 12 years of a Liberal-National Government, the South Coast has a healthcare crisis, a teacher shortage crisis and a housing crisis. Their time is up and this is our opportunity to vote for a fresh state.”  

CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER
 
LIZA BUTLER
NSW LABOR CANDIDATE FOR SOUTH COAST