LABOR TAKES THE ILLAWARRA FOR GRANTED

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has slammed NSW Labor for making no substantive promises other than ‘planning money’ during a visit by the Opposition Leader today.

“NSW Labor has always taken this region for granted and today’s abysmal media conference confirms it,” Mr Ward said.

“Having secured more than $3 billion for projects and services that benefit my own electorate, I know what hard working representation can deliver. Today’s media conference was frankly an embarrassment and confirms that Labor just takes the Illawarra for granted.

“Having secured a $106 million upgrade to Wollongong Hospital and funding for the doubling of car parking at that hospital, a few bob in ‘planning money’ is meaningless without a long-term commitment for future investments and workforce planning to increase staffing levels.

“Labor was in Government for 16 long years and did nothing to improve Wollongong Hospital. And now they expect locals to back them in with no real commitments to the region. People in our region are much smarter than this.

“The Albion Park Rail Bypass is a good case-in-point. NSW Labor voted against funding the project in Parliament and now they want residents of Dapto to believe that they will extend the project if elected. The only thing Labor ever bypassed was the people of the Illawarra!

“There are a number of experienced and qualified independent candidates contesting this election and the Illawarra has an opportunity to vote for outcomes rather than endorsing ‘brand Labor’ that ignores this region in Opposition and Government. This is an exciting time and an important choice,” Mr Ward concluded.