Country Labor's push to reignite the party in Dungog

A meeting will be held later this month to try to reinvigorate the Dungog branch, but this time it would be under the Country Labor banner. 

Dungog had a Labor Party branch for many years until it was dismantled. 

Labor party members, and those who would like to join, have been urged to attend the inaugural meeting at 5.30pm on October 27 at Dungog Memorial RSL Club.

Labor stalwart Lea Mitchell and member Michael Tobin are behind the push.

Mr Tobin said Dungog’s position within the state and federal electorate boundaries fuelled the decision to take on the new title.

“The Country Labor brand is now some years old in NSW, but Dungog wasn’t really thought of in that context initially because it was attached to major urban areas from the point of view of both federal and state,” he said.

“Dungog was in the state seat of Maitland and the federal seat of Paterson – two mostly urban areas.

“Now we are in Lyne and Upper Hunter, which puts us on the tail end of two country regions, and therefore we do fall into that notion that we should be terming ourselves Country Labor.”

Mr Tobin said a Country Labor branch would allow members to help lobby to improve the area. Roads, rates and services are among the key issues. 

It comes after Jan Lyon was elected to Dungog council last month as a Country Labor councillor and three other Country Labor candidates also performed well.