Mr Bowen said federal and state Labor were working closely on issues affecting the south coast, as the area was vitally important to the future of New South Wales.

He also cited cuts to the aged pension as a serious concern for the Kiama electorate.

‘‘For Scott Morrison to claim he’s the pensioners' friend is outrageous,'' he said.

"If he really wants to claim the mantle of being the pensioners' friend, then stop the outrageous cuts to the age pension which his government is insisting on proceeding with.

"If he wants to be the pensioners' friend accept that they’ve got it wrong, that the cuts which will see pensioners not keep up with the real cost of living, is a real issue here on the south coast that Glenn has been talking to me about.’’

In an election shaping up to be about jobs and infrastructure, Mr Kolomeitz said the Labor party was opposed to the sale of the state's electricity poles and wires proposed by Premier Mike Baird.

‘‘It doesn’t take much crunching of the numbers to see the figures they are expecting just don’t add up,’’ Mr Kolomeitz said.

‘‘We’re working up policy to provide infrastructure based on, not crystal ball promises from the sale of our assets, but from us looking at what we can provide, what the community needs,'' he said.

‘‘Youth unemployment in our community runs at 15-16 per cent its the third highest in the state and these liberal governments taking the axe to TAFE and denying our youth opportunities at pre-vocational training, therefore denying them the opportunities at apprenticeships and denying employers of young apprentices.’’ 

‘‘This is far from good enough.’’

‘‘Now we’re hearing privatisation and the impact that’s expected to have, power privatisation, the impact that's expected to have on electricity workers in this seat, big issues not helping the youth unemployment rate in this area.’’

Local Kiama CBD employee, Suzanne Day said there needed to be more focus on training in the area.

‘‘A lot of kids come into the workforce untrained,’’ Mrs Day said.

‘‘Businesses are’nt employing because there is no trained staff.’’

‘‘There needs to be a focus on training potential staff to do what businesses need.’’

An announcement from Mr Kolomeitz, came on the weekend that one of four multi-million dollar nurse walk in clinics would be built in the Illawarra or Shoalhaven area. The centres are staffed by nurses to treat minor injuries and illnesses in an attempt to alleviate pressure from emergency departments.

‘‘Ill fight to secure the best health outcomes for the people of the Kiama electorate, that goes without saying, we’re not sure where this centre is going to be, its subject to consultation, but I certainly would like to see it in the Kiama electorate, this area needs that sort of service,’’ Mr Kolomeitz said.

Asked if there was any commitment to strengthen nursing numbers in the area to support the walk-in centres, Mr Kolomeitz was quick to point to the policies the Labor party are rolling out in the lead up to the election.

‘‘I agree nursing numbers are critical,’’ Mr Kolomeitz said.

‘‘This is one affirmative policy which will assist in these emergency departments catering to the needs of patients.’’

‘‘This liberal government is not helping to secure more nurses, its not helping to secure nurses training, it’s quiet the opposite.’’