Luke Foley's absence from $1b roads announcement raises eyebrows

Shadow roads minister Michael Daley was left riding solo as he announced a plan to spend $1 billion improving Sydney roads.

Two weeks out from the election, Foley's plans for the day were kept quiet, with no media alerts nor releases sent out or press conferences held.

Foley, who started in the job of leader less than three months ago, has faced an uphill battle getting his name known around the state.

A Fairfax/Ipsos poll in February, seven weeks out from the election, found that recognition of Mike Baird was at 53 per cent whereas Foley's recognition was significantly lower at 15 per cent. Of those intending to vote Labor, 18 per cent recognised him as the current NSW Opposition Leader.

The March 28 election is the first time Foley has faced voters. He was appointed to a vacant upper house seat when former Labor Minister Ian Macdonald resigned in 2010 over his travel expenses.

The 44-year-old is now fighting to win the lower house seat of Auburn after the sitting Labor member Barbara Perry cleared the way for him by pulling out of the pre-selection race in January.

Foley's absence from the announcement of a $600 million road "pinch point and safety program" and a $400m overhaul of traffic management on the M4 Motorway raised eyebrows in some quarters.

His Liberal opponents were quick to note his non-appearance and claimed it showed the announcement was not a serious commitment.

"If they actually had $1 billion would they use a low key announcement ... without the leader of the Opposition? You don't make a billion dollar announcement, if you've actually got the money and you believe you can deliver it, off-Broadway," Roads Minister Duncan Gay said.

Premier Mike Baird said: "For 16 years Labor would make announcements like this, in this case they're ashamed of it, the Leader of the Opposition is not there."

Labor's pledge would see upgrades made to dozens of roads including Parramatta Road (Strathfield to Leichhardt), Cumberland Highway (Warwick Farm to Northmead) and the Pacific Highway (North Sydney to Pymble).

A spokesperson for Mr Foley said had spent the day in the Auburn electorate, and was planning to attend a cultural festival there in the afternoon. He also did not hold any official engagements last Saturday.

Mr Baird and Environment Minister Rob Stokes spent Saturday morning promising $57 million towards an upgrade of Taronga Zoo.

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