State Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman was the Shadow Minister for Local Government, but resigned on Friday. Photo: Wendy Tuckerman MP/Facebook.
State Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has stepped down from her Shadow Cabinet role over what she claims was a lack of consultation with regional communities.
In NSW Parliament on Friday (8 August), Ms Tuckerman announced her resignation as the Shadow Minister for Local Government over an energy bill.
The Electricity Infrastructure Investment Amendment (Priority Network Projects) Bill 2025 passed on Thursday (7 August), giving the Environment Minister extra powers to manage renewable energy projects.
In Friday’s speech, Ms Tuckerman said she was outraged at only learning about the draft legislation this week, while other MPs had been briefed previously.
“[The bill] was presented to the party room without due process and without due consideration by Shadow Cabinet,” she said.
“This is an extraordinary move that has bypassed proper process.
“It was dropped into the party room without adequate notice, without any due consideration by Shadow Cabinet, and it has now emerged … that the Minister had briefed the Shadow Minister the previous Thursday and the Shadow Minister had failed to share the knowledge that was provided to them.”
Ms Tuckerman has resigned from Shadow Cabinet but will stay on as the Member for Goulburn.
Ms Tuckerman also pushed back on the renewable energy transition, arguing that the Labor Government had shown “poor planning and a lack of accountability”.
“I can no longer stand by and be a part of a flawed process that diminishes my ability to represent my community.
“This stand is not about me, it is about the communities I serve as a member of this place.”
Ms Tuckerman said the transition, as well as parliamentarians, hadn’t listened to the concerns of regional communities.
“This is not an abstract policy or issues that come up in the distant future,” she said.
“They are real-world impacts on people’s farms, their homes, their families, their businesses, and they’re being affected every single day.”
In a statement on Friday, Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said he had spoken to Ms Tuckerman about her decision.
“Wendy is an outstanding local member for Goulburn, deeply committed to her community and a tireless advocate for the people she serves,” he said.
“In the Liberals and Nationals team, we value the right of our MPs to speak their mind; that is the strength of a healthy, principled team.
“A new Shadow Minister for Local Government will be appointed shortly, and our focus will remain on holding the Minns Labor Government to account, standing up for the people of New South Wales, and making sure the voices of our communities are heard loud and clear.”
Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.
