LABOR LIE OVER TRIPOLI WAY REFERRED TO NSW ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER

Independent Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP will refer election material from NSW Labor to the NSW Electoral Commissioner for comment as part of the Commission’s campaign to clamp down on false advertising during election campaigns.

Mr Ward said during the State Election campaign, voters were told ‘only Labor would deliver the Tripoli Way bypass’. In reality, Labor were accounting for money already allocated to the project. 

“Following questions from the Illawarra Mercury, NSW Labor have now come clean and admitted that their $20 million commitment to the people of Albion Park was nothing more than a political illusion. Labor’s promise was predicated on money already allocated rather than new money,” Mr Ward said. 

“NSW Labor told the people of Albion Park that ‘only Labor’ will deliver $20 million for Tripoli Way when in fact more than $20 million had already been delivered. I will not let Labor get away with short-changing our community. 

“The fact is $16 million was in the bank for the Tripoli Way Bypass following lobbying by Shellharbour City Council, Cr Kellie Marsh and myself. Labor led everyone to believe that if they were elected an additional $20 million would be on its way. 

“Turns out their $20 million included the $16 million and their claim that ‘Only Labor will deliver the Tripoli Way Bypass’ is a complete lie. 

“Voters are sick and tired of fake promises from major parties to win votes and I know the NSW Electoral Commission is investigating how this practise can be stamped out. 

“That’s why I’m referring all of NSW Labor’s Tripoli Way bypass election material to the Electoral Commissioner for comment as a first step to ensure political parties don’t lie to people during an election campaign only to walk away from them in Government.”