Recognition for Firth’s quick responses
In the midst of a tough re-election campaign, Balmain state Labor MP Verity Firth has attracted a welcome boost from independent democracy advocate FairGO, which named her one of six current NSW MPs to excel in terms of responsiveness to voters.
For the past 25 years, FairGO has run the ‘Votergram’ service, through which any member of the public can send a message to virtually every MP. This gives every MP an equal chance of responding, enabling them to be rated against each other.
Considering her status as a minister, Firth’s achievement was described as “exceptional” by FairGO director, Greg Bloomfield. “This is no mean feat for a person with ministerial responsibilities,” he said. “If all politicians responded to voters this way, NSW would enjoy very good government.”
The other MPs to receive praise included Liberal member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea; Liberal member for Hornsby, Judy Hopwood; Attorney General and Labor Upper House MP John Hatzistergos; Tamworth independent Peter Draper; and Liberal member for Baulkham Hills, Wayne Merton.
