Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has used Question Time to call on NSW Labor to reverse its proposed closures of Community Justice Centre services across NSW including those services offered on the Illawarra and South Coast. 

Established by statute in 1983, the Community Justice Centres Act was introduced to provide alternative dispute resolution services free to the community.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has slammed NSW Health Minister Ryan Park’s weak tobacco licensing scheme Bill, calling for a share of federal tobacco excise to help NSW law enforcement crack down on rising illicit tobacco crime.

Mr Ward’s calls come following the Victorian Labor Governments moves today to introduce the toughest regime in the country including fines of up to $355,000 and 15 years in jail for individuals.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has today reminded local residents and community groups across the Kiama electorate to be fire smart and prepared with summer quickly approaching.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has today officially launched his annual Christmas Toy Drive with the festive season fast approaching.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has slammed NSW Labor for taking three long years to re-open a bridge that's already built.

Labor have announced they will spend three years and $20 million refurbishing the old Nowra Bridge before reopening it to pedestrians.

"Is this a joke? Labor is taking three years to re-open a bridge that's done pretty well without them for 140 years. And they think this is a good thing?" Mr Ward said.

"I know Labor doesn't build infrastructure but three years and $20 million seems an excessive amount of time and money.

"Whilst I'm pleased the old bridge is staying, based on Labor's slow and costly timeframe, pedestrians won't be walking on the Nowra Bridge until after the next State Election in 2027!

"All the while Labor have failed to deliver on their promised Nowra Bypass, the East Nowra Sub Arterial, the Milton-Ulladulla bypass and the Dapto Access Ramps.

"If this bridge was in Sydney, it would have been reopened yesterday.

"This 'announcement' is just another example of NSW Labor's poor management of projects and budgets. We're worse off under this government, " Mr Ward concluded.

ENDS.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward says that this month marks 145 years of Hansard serving the oldest Parliament in Australia.

“It is hard to imagine a Parliament without a Hansard. The Official Report and the committee transcripts are used both inside the Parliament and out as crucial resources, cornerstones of transparency, and as historical records,” Mr Ward said.

“Surprisingly, the establishment of NSW Hansard was not an easy process. The matter had been debated on and off for over a decade in both Houses, with some members raising concerns regarding the cost and utility of the publication.

“One member even remarked that he was "quite convinced that the copies of the Hansard would be useless and unread on the shelves of the Clerk," and that it would "never be read by the public.” I think it is safe to say he has been proved wrong! 

“Thankfully, arguments in favour of Hansard won out. It was Sir Henry Parkes who championed the establishment of a NSW Hansard, with the Houses passing the motion in early 1879 and the funding and logistics determined during that year's Budget Estimates.

“The Parliament used the winter recess to take all the necessary steps in setting up Hansard, including the recruitment of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff. The rest is history!

“I take this opportunity to thank past and present Hansard staff who serve the Parliament in recording and editing the debates and discussions of Parliament. Your work is important and isn’t just one for the history books – it is the history books!

A copy of the first ever published daily Hansard proof is attached. It is fascinating to see just how much has changed—and not changed!

ENDS.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward says that work on the Jervis Bay Road interchange is progressing well with some key works happening this month as the project takes shape.

The Jervis Bay Road Interchange lies in the southern-most part of Mr Ward’s electorate and completes the upgrade of the Princes Highway throughout his electorate with more than $2 billion invested from Albion Park Rail to Jervis Bay Road.

“Making the Princes Highway safer has been a career obsession for me. We worked with our community and the government and now a grade separated interchange at Jervis Bay Road is rising out of the ground and I am so pleased that the project is on track,” Mr Ward said.

“Many people thought this would never happen or that it was all too hard. But when I make a promise, I always get it done.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has today officially presented a Business Conservation Champion Award to representatives from Crooked River Winery in Gerringong.

A recent article was published in The Kiama Bugle entitled, ‘Kiama’s canine community secures new dog park’.

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has today announced that he has helped secure a major grant to deliver a fenced dog park for Jamberoo.