Cr Kelly said ALP candidates would suffer at this year's local government elections because of their association with Premier Morris Iemma's administration.

``The State Government has been on the nose and voters will no doubt punish anyone with a Labor banner,'' he said.

The mayor was particularly critical of the Government's plan to privatise the state's electricity.

``People are concerned about paying higher power bills and what service they'll get,'' Cr Kelly said.

He also attacked new planning laws, which reduce local councils' say over developments and residents' power to object to them.

``They've lost the plot,'' he said. ``They ought to start acting like a Labor Party. I count myself a true believer there's not many left.''

Cr Kelly said he believed the people of Blacktown knew the difference between their Labor councillors and the Iemma Government.

But he was concerned some would see Blacktown Council as ``tarred with the same brush''.

``I would appeal to our community to remember what this council has done for Blacktown,'' Cr Kelly said. ``We have delivered facilities and services to our community and we will continue to defend them.''

He said that as a long-standing Labor man it pained him to criticise a Labor Government.

Premier Iemma's office did not return our calls.