Labor Party Candidate: Jeff Drayton

JEFF Drayton, Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) Northern District vice president and former Muswellbrook deputy mayor has been announced as the Labor candidate for the May 22 by-election.

The 50-year-old coal miner and father of three will contest the Upper Hunter seat previously held by disgraced Nationals MP Michael Johnsen.

Born in Denman, Mr. Drayton attended Muswellbrook High School where he met his wife Susan. He worked in the coal industry for 20 years, beginning at BHP’s Mount Arthur Coal Mine.

“I’m putting my name forward to represent Labor in the Upper Hunter because I want to stand up for working people in my community, to fight for secure and good jobs across the Upper Hunter, and to make sure that women and men and the industries they work in, get the respect they deserve,” said Mr. Drayton. 

“I’m sick of the Upper Hunter being forgotten when it comes time to benefit from all the heavy lifting we do here,” he said.

“Whether it’s people having a go at coal miners who are the backbone of our community, our manufacturing jobs and industries being shipped overseas, or our local TAFE campuses being sold off,  we just don’t get a fair go here. We feel like we’ve been taken for granted,” he said.

At the last election, the Nationals won the Upper Hunter seat with a 2.6 percent margin and if Mr. Drayton wins the by-election,  it will force the Coalition into minority government.

NSW Opposition Labor Leader Jodi McKay said Mr. Drayton knows the importance of keeping jobs,  creating jobs and ensuring young people have the opportunity to get a safe, secure and reliable job.

“He’s lived here, worked here, and fought for his community for his whole life,” Ms McKay said.

“The Upper Hunter is a diverse region offering a diversity of jobs in agriculture, equine, tourism and viticulture. Jeff will help grow those jobs and support the towns and communities that make this region great,” she said.

“The Nationals have taken this community for granted for far too long. They’ve sold the Scone TAFE campus, sent manufacturing jobs offshore and they supported Michael Johnsen for years,” said Ms McKay.