“Paul Toole has been rewarded for being a yes-man to the Liberals and their cost-cutting and privatising agenda in Sydney that leaves regional communities behind,” she said.

“Appointing Paul Toole to Cabinet means he will now be an automatic vote for privatisation of the electricity network. To advance his own career, he will sell Bathurst out every time.”

Ms Coleman said that Mr Baird’s loyalty to the city-centred agenda has had disastrous effects on Bathurst, which is dealing with a jobs crisis and a has a hospital pushed to the brink.

“In the eyes of the new premier, Paul Toole has been a huge success for blindly supporting the privatisation of electricity generators and huge cuts to health.”

She said that over the last three years, nurses at Bathurst Hospital had protested regularly as the Liberal Government’s $3 billion cuts to NSW health were rolled out. 

“The jobs crisis in the Central West has centred on Bathurst and Orange with hundreds of jobs going at companies like Simplot and Electrolux – and there are no government plans to halt the slide,” Mrs Coleman said.

“Bathurst needs an MP focused on securing the best for the community, not a ‘yes man’ for a city-centric Liberal premier.”

She noted the electorate didn’t see much of Mr Toole when he was a backbencher and would seen him even less now he is a minister.

“He’ll be spending even more time in Macquarie Street – and less time listening to the concerns of people in his electorate.”

Mr Toole hit back at the claims, stating the Bathurst electorate would continue to be a top priority and he was given a cabinet position because of his experience.

“My ‘reward’ is because of my 18 years of experience in local government and because I am able to deliver for my electorate,” he said.

Mr Toole said he had a proven track record of delivering on his election commitments.

“I have delivered record spending in infrastructures when it comes to regional and rural roads, I have delivered on my promise of the Bathurst Bullet, Dennison College and a 24/7 fire station.”

When the Western Advocate spoke to Mr Toole, he said he was in the electorate visiting Thelma Barnes who was celebrating her 100th birthday in Blayney.

“My electorate is still a top priority and I will continue to support projects for this area,” he said.

In terms of electricity privatisation, Mr Toole said there was nothing even on the table for consideration.

He noted the government had increased expenditure at Bathurst hospital from a budget of $53 million to $62 million. 

“The Labor candidate is clearly out of touch,” he said.

He said the government had offered support packages and the payroll tax rebate to Simplot and Andrew Stoner had announced in Orange  that funding would be available for a Central West jobs plan before the end of the year.