Prime Minister Julia Gillard wowed a pub-full of Raymond Terrace locals last night in an hour-long meet and greet with Labor candidate for Paterson, Jim Arneman.
But the smiling PM might have offended more people than she pleased, after she snubbed an estimated 500 people who were waiting a few kilometres away at an aircraft noise forum.
Safe Ears spokesman Paul Le Mottee said Mr Arneman was roundly booed by the crowd after he told them Ms Gillard was aware of their concerns but could not be there because of a tight schedule.
Liberal member for Paterson Bob Baldwin said the PM had shamelessly wasted taxpayers’ money by flying to Raymond Terrace for a beer.
‘‘The closest she will get to aircraft noise is the private jet she flew here in,’’ Mr Baldwin said last night.
“People in Port Stephens are concerned about their homes, their health and their livelihoods, yet instead of addressing them, Ms Gillard chose to fly over their heads then head to the pub.’’
With two polls this week putting Labor ahead in Paterson, last night’s lightning visit to the Lakeside Village Tavern – where the Arneman camp will gather for Saturday night’s election party – was supposed to be a crowning moment in Labor’s campaign to win back a seat it held under former member Bob Horne.
The mood was confident and celebratory in the pub, but ALP stalwart Senator John Faulkner, keeping a quiet watch over proceeding at the back of the bar, told the Newcastle Herald the election would go down to the wire in Paterson and nationally.
Ms Gillard talked with drinkers about aircraft noise and other local issues but there were no formal announcements or a formal press conference.
Ms Gillard told the Herald Mr Arneman was ‘‘a great local candidate’’ and that voters who put their faith in him and Labor would not be disappointed.
‘‘This is one of the tightest elections in Australian history and in Paterson Labor has a very strong candidate in Jim Arneman,’’ Ms Gillard said.
Leaving for the noise forum at Raymond Terrace Bowling Club, Mr Arneman said Ms Gillard’s visit was ‘‘a signal to people that we are deadly serious about this seat’’.
‘‘People have asked me when are we going to see the Prime Minister and she has answered that tonight,’’ Mr Arneman said.
He said he was not thinking about the opinion polls but said ‘‘everyone is quite excited but as I’ve said all along, it’s going to be very close’’.
With a schooner of black – which she drank, rather than just posed with – in her hand, Ms Gillard looked at home in the pub with a roomful of punters who for the most part had no idea she would be there.
With Mr Arneman on one side and publican Brian McDermott on the other, Ms Gillard listened to the concerns of residents, posed for photographs, cuddled babies and drew the nightly meat raffle tickets.
She even won money for Raymond Terrace man Graham Conroy, who asked Ms Gillard to pick his Keno numbers for him.
‘‘Let me think,’’ Ms Gillard said under the glare of the TV camera lights.
Taking her time, she called out 26, 17 and 9.
A few minutes later, a resounding cheer went up from the table; Mr Conroy had put $2 on the numbers and came up with $88.
Ms Gillard met Ken Thatcher, a former longtime BHP steelworker who lost his most recent job, at Waratah Engineering, in May.
‘‘I want Labor to win and I don’t want to see a return to WorkChoices,’’ Mr Thatcher said.
Raymond Terrace man Luke Delaney was happy to meet Ms Gillard during a family celebration of his 30th birthday, joined by his wife Kristy, their children Caitlan, 9, and Bryson, 6, and a long table of in-laws and other relatives.
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