Former Canberra Raiders captain and philanthropist Terry Campese announced today that he will step down as Labor candidate for Monaro in the NSW state election next month.
“Not because my heart isn’t in it, but because I love this community too much to drag it through the media – whether they are truthful or not,” Mr Campese said.
In recent days, News Corp papers have run articles about his appearance in a sex party tape; claimed Mr Campese was a captain’s pick who skipped proper preselection; and alleged that he used his charity’s resources to visit a convicted drug dealer friend in prison.
“Unfortunately, I have … come to realise that, for some, politics is not about representing people but about their own power with a ‘win at all costs’ mentality,” Mr Campese said.
Mr Campese announced in December that he would run for preselection for Labor in Monaro.
- Terry Campese to join Labor for NSW election (18 December 2022)
Born in Queanbeyan, he captained the Canberra Raiders (2010–14), and represented Australia and NSW in rugby league. He has been captain-coach of Queanbeyan Blues since 2017, and works with the National Rugby League on their roads to regions project.
Mr Campese set up the Terry Campese Foundation, mentoring marginalised young people, in 2012. He served as a community recovery officer in the 2019–20 bushfires; raised funds for the Queanbeyan sleep-bus; and was an ambassador for Canteen Australia (support for young people affected by cancer) and Ronald McDonald House, and a Patron of the Raising Hope Education Foundation. He is the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council community co-ordinator.
“I will continue to serve my community in the same way I have over the last decade, through the work of my foundation and other charities,” Mr Campese said.
“I had never considered being a politician until I was approached late last year and informed of the difference a good member of parliament can make for the community.
“In the past couple of months, I have had great conversations with highly passionate people about a range of topics across the Monaro.
“I’m grateful that even in this short time I have been able to progress some of these conversations to pre-election commitments.”
Those commitments include $80 million to build Googong high school; $40 million to complete stage two of Jerrabomberra high school; $600,000 to build Yvonne Cuschieri House, a respite centre in Queanbeyan; $3.5 million to extend the building and courts of the Queanbeyan Basketball Association; and $1.9 million to Queanbeyan City Football Club for a clubhouse and permanent change rooms.
“I have also witnessed the incredible force of the Labor volunteers and members, and I thank them for their time and support,” Mr Campese said.
“Perhaps in the future, things will change, and we will see more community members put their hand up to be involved in politics.
“It’s clear we need a fresh start in New South Wales, and our communities do, too.”
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