Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has used Parliament to deliver a withering assessment of the NSW Labor Government which is approaching its first 12 months in office.
Mr Ward said NSW Labor has cut projects, broken promises and has no real vision for the region.
Download speech here.
“Chris Minns and Labor promised a ‘fresh start’ for NSW. But their record to date shows its been a false start.
“NSW Labor have cut the Toolijooa Passing Loop rail project which would have doubled the capacity of the South Coast Line, they’ve announced the closure of David Berry Hospital and haven’t ruled out its sale to developers, they’ve cut Opportunity Class places, and left previously manned ambulance stations, unstaffed,” Mr Ward said.
“In our region, Labor has shown no vision. We’ve seen no big commitments to infrastructure; just more ‘planning’. Labor haven’t even attempted to get easy wins like starting a discussion around the future of the existing Shellharbour Hospital site once its decommissioned. We don’t even have any of the New Intercity Fleet trains with the Illawarra scheduled to be the last line to receive them.
“At a State level, Labor have broken their promises around important cost-of-living measures like the Regional Seniors Travel Card, the Active Kids Rebate and the Creative Kids Rebate.
“All Labor have done is shamelessly take the credit for the work of others. From photo opps at the Jervis Bay Road intersection and new Shellharbour Hospital, re-enacting a sod turn at the Shoalhaven Hospital re-development, through to Artie Smith Oval and Kiama Tennis Court upgrades, we’re yet to see Labor talk about anything they’ve promised to deliver which wasn’t already funded or being delivered.
“As they always do, Labor are taking their safe Illawarra seats for granted. They talk a big game in Opposition, but now in Government, Labor MPs couldn’t care less about our region, and it shows,” Mr Ward concluded.