Prime Minister Julia Gillard will spend next week in western Sydney. Here she is pictured in front of buildings in Parramatta CBD.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard will embark on a week-long visit to western Sydney in a bid to save the seats that could win or lose September’s federal election.
Reports say Ms Gillard will begin her whirlwind tour with a speech at the University of Western Sydney on Sunday night.
Where do you think Ms Gillard should visit? What would you ask the Prime Minister if you have a chance? Let us know your questions and we will ask her for you next week. Tell us below.
It’s understood she will spend her time across the Parramatta, Fowler, Lindsay, Greenway and Banks electorates. The week will include a cabinet meeting and ethnic community events.
Parramatta MP Julie Owens, who holds the seat by 4.4per cent, said the more Ms Gillard and key politicians and leaders spent in western Sydney the better.
‘‘Parramatta is a place of beginnings in a lot of ways — there’s the convict history and you’ve got to experience the diversity and range of cultures and heritage sites we have,’’ Ms Owens said when asked where the prime minister should visit.
‘‘She should spend as much time as possible out here — a week is not enough.’’
Sydney’s west and south-west include seven of the most marginal seats in the state.
The government holds the seat of Greenway — which includes suburbs in Blacktown — by less than 1per cent; while the seat of Lindsay — which includes Penrith and St Marys — is held by 1.1per cent.
On Facebook people nominated Parramatta’s historical Female Factory, Fairfield’s Braeside palliative care facility, Australiana Pioneer Village at Wilberforce, and local schools as sites the prime minister should visit.
■ As Ms Gillard travels through the west the Sun will be with her every step of the way. Keep up to date with where she is and who she’s talking to online and on our Facebook and Twitter sites.
Go to facebook.com/ParramattaSun/HolroydSun; twitter.com/parramattasun and use the hashtag #GoWestPM.