Category: NSW News

NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley today returned to the North Coast to re-affirm NSW Labor’s plan to build the $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital at Kings Forest rather than on sensitive agricultural farmland at Cudgen.
In a major statement on the new Tweed Valley Hospital, NSW Labor leader Michael Daley:
· Rejected claims by NSW Health bureaucrats and the National Party that the project will be delayed by moving to the Kings Forest site, saying an incoming Labor Government would “haul in the bureaucrats to begin work immediately” with a guarantee that it would be completed on-time and on budget;
· Pledged to retain the old Tweed Hospital site and the Cudgen site in public hands – never selling either site to property developers; and
· Committed that there would be no privatisation of health and hospital services in the Northern NSW Local Health District – after the Liberals-Nationals failed attempt to privatise five regional hospitals.
Mr Daley was joined today by Country Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot to recommit to Labor’s plans for the new Tweed Hospital.
https://twitter.com/michaeldaleyMP/status/1106014110930472960
NSW Labor reiterated the State election will be a referendum on the location of the Tweed Hospital.
Mr Daley said that people across regional NSW were up in arms about the Berejiklian Government’s $2.2 billion to Sydney stadiums instead of properly funding schools and hospitals across NSW.
Mr Elliot reaffirmed NSW Labor’s opposition to the National’s plans to build the Tweed Hospital on Cudgen farmland and condemned the National Party’s botched site selection process.
Mr Daley expressed concern that the National Party had chosen the Cudgen farmland site as a “Trojan horse” to overturn height limits in Kingscliff and to open the door for over-development – destroying the unique quality of life.
Reports earlier this month revealed that a Queensland property developer which had made donations to the Liberal-National Party recently purchased farm land next to the Nationals proposed hospital site.
Retaining the sites in public hands will require additional funds but NSW Labor is committed to protecting Cudgen farmland and not selling off Government land to developers for a quick buck like the Nationals will.
NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley said that Labor will always prioritise protecting farmland and the community ahead of developers. 
“My commitment is ironclad – Labor will build the hospital in Kings Forest and protect the current hospital from being handed over to developers,” he said.
“NSW Labor will build the hospital on time and on budget – but the Nationals and NSW Health will continue to pedal their mis-information”
Country Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot expressed concern that the Nationals were using the hospital location as a Trojan horse for developers to take-over state significant farmland.
“Whether it be high rise in Kingscliff or a nine-storey hospital on Cudgen farmland – Geoff Provest and the Nationals are failing to protect the Tweed from inappropriate developments,” Mr Elliot said.
“The March 2019 election will be a referendum on the location of a new Tweed Hospital. My commitment is to build the Tweed Hospital at Kings Forest but that should not be at the expense of residents living north of the river.
“Labor’s commitment is to keep the current Tweed hospital site in public hands and in doing so continue to deliver future health outcomes from that location.”

A Daley Labor Government will provide $80.4 million to re-develop the Ballina District Hospital, as part of Labor’s Schools and Hospitals before Stadium plan.
NSW Labor leader Michael Daley made the announcement with Labor Candidate for Ballina Asren Pugh today.

This follows Labor’s earlier announcements to provide 5,500 more nurses; 1,500 more paramedics; 2,240 more cleaning, support personnel and allied health workers; and 250 more security staff to protect patients and health workers.
“Regional hospitals and health services around the State – particularly on the North Coast – have been neglected for too long under the Liberals and Nationals,” Mr Daley said.
Mr Pugh said the local area had been demanding better health services, but that the Liberals and Nationals were simply refusing to listen to the community.
Ballina District Hospital’s catchment area has experienced significant population growth over the last eight months.
Labor’s Ballina District Hospital Redevelopment project will deliver:

• A fully operational Integrated Perioperative Unit including:
  • an additional three-bed Recovery and two new Operating Theatres and a six-bed Recovery area;
• Expansion and relocation of the remainder of the Medical Imaging Department;
• Construction of a new Emergency Department, Ambulance Bay, Allied Health and Outpatient areas; and
• Expanded medical and rehabilitation inpatient services, support services including pathology and pharmacy and the construction of a new integrated Ambulatory Care Precinct.

Recent independent data from the Bureau of Health Information (BHI), reveals that Ballina District Hospital is under pressure.
Its emergency department attends to more than 17,000 patients a year – with 17 per cent waiting longer than four hours. However, 10 per cent of patients waited longer than five hours and 21 minutes.
In addition, the average waiting time for “non-urgent” surgery was 242 days; this was an increase of 39 days over the previous year.
As of December 31, there were 238 patients waiting for non-urgent elective surgery.
“No one can forget the images of a patient several years ago lying on the concrete outside Ballina Hospital’s emergency department; it is time to fix this hospital,” Mr Pugh said.
Mr Pugh said the coming NSW election would be a referendum on health services on the North Coast.
“This is one of the most over-stretched hospitals in the state and the hospital upgrade and additional staff are desperately needed,” Mr Pugh said.

A Daley Labor Government in NSW will provide $9 million to replace and upgrade bridges in the Kyogle Council area.
This is part of Daley Labor’s plan to prioritise local infrastructure, such as bridges, schools and health facilities.

The commitment will support the Kyogle Council bridge renewal program and matches a $9 million commitment by Federal Labor. State and federal Labor’s total investment into Kyogle Council bridges is $18 million.
“The people of the Northern Rivers region have every right to safe bridges. This basic duty of Government – safe roads and bridges to drive on – must be a top priority,” NSW Labor Leader, Michael Daley, said.
Kyogle council manages 311 bridge, 150 of which are timber bridges mainly built in the 1940s.
The bridge network is critical for the transport of timber, dairy, livestock and other industries which sustain the region.
“Kyogle council residents deserve safe and secure bridges which they can use well into the future,” Shadow Minister for Transport Jodi McKay said.
“These funds will go toward rebuilding modern bridges that are safer, last longer and can handle higher loads,” Country Labor Candidate for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, said.
“I can’t understand why the Nationals will support knocking down and rebuilding huge Sydney stadiums that get used once or twice a week. Our bridges are used many times a day and are in far greater need of investment. I don’t want to see our taxpayer money splurged on those stadiums.”

Deputy Labor Leader Penny Sharpe today announced Labor’s plan to rebuild the National Parks estate of NSW and repair the damage to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) that has occurred after eight years of cuts and neglect by the Liberals and Nationals.
Labor’s plan includes elevating the NPWS to report directly to the Minister, reinstating a formal establishment plan for National Parks, creating new National Parks and employing additional officers to manage and care for this precious public asset.
Key policies in Labor’s plan include:

• Employing 200 additional field officers to undertake targeted pest control and boost firefighting capacity;
• Investing in 60 new officers to restore the damaged mountain catchments of Kosciuszko National Park;
• Creating a koala national park in south-west Sydney to protect the only disease-free koala colony in NSW;
• Recommitting to a Great Koala National Park in northern NSW;
• Nominating the Royal National Park for World Heritage Listing;
• Returning Me-mel (Goat Island) to the Aboriginal people of NSW; and
• Additional resources for weeds and pest management.

“Labor is very proud of building the National Parks estate across NSW. If elected, we will continue this legacy. We will start by going on an Australian and worldwide hunt for a highly skilled person to head up the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
“After eight years of neglect, Labor will invest in new staff to protect threatened species, prevent further declines in biodiversity and safeguard our water catchments, wetlands and key habitats.
“Labor wants the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to be the best in the world.”
Under the Liberals and Nationals our Parks have been under constant attack. Over the last eight years, Liberals and Nationals have:

• Cut 493 full-time equivalent positions from the National Parks and Wildlife Service;
• Cut more than $100 million from the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s budget;
• Reduced the growth of the NSW National Parks estate by 95 per cent;
• Allowed hunting in National Parks;
• Tried to scrap the Murray Valley National Park to allow logging of the river red gum forests;
• Passed legislation that threatens the native wildlife and alpine environment in the Kosciuszko National Park; and
• Planned the flooding of large sections of the Blue Mountains National Park, risking its World Heritage Listing.

“There is a very clear choice at this election. A vote for Labor is a vote for our National Parks to be cared for, celebrated, and given the funding they need to be the best in the world. A vote for the Liberals and Nationals will see our National Parks fall into further disrepair and further threaten our biodiversity.”
Key facts – NSW National Parks and reserves:

• Cover more than seven million hectares of land;
• Represent around nine per cent of the total land area of NSW; and
• 51 million visits are made to National Parks each year.

The world class Sydney Metro rail network will be expanded to connect even more of Sydney and free up capacity on the existing network under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s strong economic management has made it possible for planning to begin on four additional Metro routes.
The new Metro routes will be:

• Metro West extension – Westmead to Western Sydney Airport
• North South Rail Line extension –
  • St Marys to Rouse Hill via Schofields.
  • Western Sydney Aerotropolis to Macarthur.
• Metro South West extension – Bankstown to Liverpool

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is delivering Australia’s first Metro network. It will provide turn-up-and-go trains services up to every two minutes and complement the existing Sydney Train network,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The four additional Sydney Metro projects announced today are on top of the five Metro projects the Government already has underway.”
Work will start over the next four-years on the early planning for these projects, as part of the Government’s long-term transport vision.
“Metro North West from Rouse Hill to Chatswood is almost complete, under budget and will open in May,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The second and third stages, Sydney Metro City and South West, are under construction and we are accelerating Sydney Metro West, and the North South Rail Line to the new Western Sydney Airport.”
Construction on Sydney Metro West will start next year. Construction on the North South Rail Line to the Western Sydney Airport will start in 2021 and will be complete for the Airport’s opening in 2026.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said only the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will be able to deliver the Metro rail network across Sydney.
“When Labor were last in office they announced 12 rail projects and only delivered half of one,” Mr Constance said.
“It is clear Labor has not learnt. They have already committed to cancel the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro upgrade.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals are committed to develop a Metro Rail network across Sydney. Labor’s only plan is to cancel projects.”
Tunnelling is well underway on the first section of the new City Metro tunnels, where more than five kilometres of tunnelling is already finished.
Tunnel Boring Machine Nancy has built nearly 2.5 kilometres of tunnel while TBM Mum Shirl has excavated just under 2 kilometres. Both machines will pass underneath the Sydney CBD as they dig 8.1 kilometres via new metro stations at Waterloo, Central, Pitt Street and Martin Place, on their way to Barangaroo.
TBMs Wendy and Mabel have dug about 732 and 101 metres respectively from Chatswood towards Sydney Harbour.

A Daley Labor Government, if elected this month, will embark on an unprecedented $7.4 billion school building program.
Labor is committed to building and upgrading 204 schools right across NSW as part of the largest investment in public schools in NSW history.
NSW Labor Leader, Michael Daley, said it is part of Labor’s investment into our schools that will put our children’s future before Sydney stadiums.
Mr Daley made the announcement at Dalmeny Public School in Prestons today, which is burdened with more than 20 demountables. Mr Daley was accompanied by Shadow Minister for Education, Jihad Dib and Labor candidate for Holsworthy, Charishma Kaliyanda.
“Labor can afford this record investment into our public schools because we will not proceed with the Liberals and Nationals’ $2.2 billion Sydney stadium splurge.
“Labor will make sure school infrastructure keeps up with the booming school-aged population,” Mr Daley said.
By 2036, it is estimated there will be one million students enrolled in NSW public schools, an increase of 200,000 students compared to today. Already, 636 NSW schools are at or above 100 per cent capacity.
It comes on top of Labor’s commitment to replace 1,000 ageing demountables and to ensure that every new school built has childcare or before-and-after school care facilities.
Mr Dib, said: “The Liberals and Nationals failed in their promise to build 12 new schools a year.
“Instead they’ve squandered $14 billion on budget blowouts and are spending $2.2 billion on stadiums that could be better spent on schools.”
Currently, there are 4,640 demountable classrooms in NSW schools and the Liberals and Nationals have recently purchased 520 more rather than investing in bricks and mortar classrooms.
Yesterday, Mr Daley announced Labor’s plan to hire an additional 5,065 teachers to keep up with demand and provide the best opportunities for our children.
Ms Kaliyanda, said: “Labor has fought for and will deliver excellent public services like schools and hospitals.”
This further builds on Labor’s previous education commitments, including to:

• Inject $2.7 billion to deliver 100 per cent of the standard level of funding for every student
• Make TAFE free for courses in skill shortage areas
• Ensure every child can learn a second language
• Allocate $5,000 to P&Cs
• Give free glasses to disadvantaged school kids
• Air condition every school in NSW

The commencement of the demolition of the Allianz Stadium just ten days before the NSW election shows complete contempt for the courts, the NSW public and for the democratic process.
Mr Daley said it was appalling that there was no notice given to the public – particularly local residents – of the actual demolition despite repeated calls on the Premier to provide details of the demolition timetable.
Mr Daley also said that under the terms of the demolition consent, Infrastructure NSW is required to give 48 hours notice of any hard demolition of the stadium and that this had not been done.

Opposition Leader Michael Daley said he would be seeking an urgent meeting with the CEO of Lendlease, Mr Steve McCann, for details of the extent of the demolition to the stadium before election day.
The Premier must “Order the cessation of any further hard demolition, pending the legal challenge to the demolition in the NSW court of appeal which is due to be heard on Friday”, Mr Daley said.
“To do otherwise shows just how arrogant and out of touch this Premier really is.
“There is absolutely no reason why this demolition should take place so close to election day.
“This sort of underhanded demolition is more reminiscent of the Bjelke-Petersen era than the modern standards of any government expected by the people of NSW.
“The public must have the right on election day to determine whether the stadium should remain or be demolished. Furthermore, the Premier must respect the democratic process no matter how disturbing this may be for her supporters from the big end of town.

Labor Leader, Michael Daley, has announced a $260 million funding package to address homelessness and child protection in NSW.
Mr Daley said: “Only Labor will bolster the services for the most vulnerable in society.
“They need that help now more than ever, after suffering through years of cuts under the Liberals and Nationals.”
Homelessness
A Daley Labor Government will increase the availability of social housing in NSW with an additional $200 million funding boost.
Currently, there are more than 60,000 households on the waiting list for social housing, leaving a minimum 5-10 year wait for new applicants.
Labor will tackle this head on by investing $200 million to deliver hundreds of new social housing properties.
Mr Daley said: “The cash injection will not only be a significant boost to social housing but will provide for jobs in the building and construction industry.”
Shadow Minister for Housing, Tania Mihailuk said: “The Liberals and Nationals made a hollow pledge to halve homelessness but didn’t provide any new money to do so.
“They’ve allowed homelessness to continue to rise because they are more focused on rampant property sell-offs and stadium splurges.”
A Daley Labor Government will also increase funding for homelessness services by $40 million and commit to develop a longer-term NSW strategy for homelessness.
Mr Daley said: “We need real action, backed by funding, to improve homelessness services.”
Under the Liberals and Nationals the number of homeless people in NSW increased by 37 per cent between 2011 and 2016 (according to the most recent ABS data).
Child Protection
 A Daley Labor Government will fund 100 additional FACS caseworkers to ease the workload that caseworkers are facing right across the state.
The number of children reported at risk of significant harm has ballooned to a record high of 95,869 but the number of children being assessed face-to-face has dropped to only 28 per cent, the lowest in three years.
Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, Tania Mihailuk, said: “This Government has failed to provide face-to-face assessments for a staggering 69,000 children.
“Only Labor will provide more frontline workers to increase face-to-face assessments for children at risk of significant harm and ensure children do not fall through the cracks.”
Last year, Liberal MP Matthew Mason-Cox slammed his government’s decision to spend more than $2 billion on sporting stadiums while labelling their performance in child protection as a “disgrace”.
Today’s homelessness announcement builds on Labor’s previous commitments to combat key causes of homelessness such as domestic violence and rental stress, including:

• $80 million over four years for up to 200 additional DV places;
• Rental reforms including ending no-fault evictions; and
• Introducing affordable housing targets.

NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley today wrote to Premier Berejiklian calling on her to halt the hard demolition of Allianz Stadium which commenced as the sun went down last night.
Mr Daley made it clear in his letter to the Premier that the proposed demolition of Allianz is a matter of serious public concern across NSW, Mr Daley said that going ahead with the hard demolition of the stadium nine days away from election day was an affront to democratic principles.
Mr Daley called on the Premier to call a halt to the demolition and allow the people of NSW to have their say in nine days time.
Mr Daley also told the Premier that allowing the hard demolition of Allianz Stadium to begin before the NSW Court of Appeal is able to hear the appeal from the Land and Environment Court on whether the project itself is legal is an affront to the judicial system of NSW.
Mr Daley has urgently requested a full briefing from the Premier on all aspects of the demolition timetable between now and March 23 given that the NSW Government is now in caretaker mode.

NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley today returned to the North Coast to re-affirm NSW Labor’s plan to build the $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital at Kings Forest rather than on sensitive agricultural farmland at Cudgen.
In a major statement on the new Tweed Valley Hospital, NSW Labor leader Michael Daley:
· Rejected claims by NSW Health bureaucrats and the National Party that the project will be delayed by moving to the Kings Forest site, saying an incoming Labor Government would “haul in the bureaucrats to begin work immediately” with a guarantee that it would be completed on-time and on budget;
· Pledged to retain the old Tweed Hospital site and the Cudgen site in public hands – never selling either site to property developers; and
· Committed that there would be no privatisation of health and hospital services in the Northern NSW Local Health District – after the Liberals-Nationals failed attempt to privatise five regional hospitals.
Mr Daley was joined today by Country Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot to recommit to Labor’s plans for the new Tweed Hospital.
https://twitter.com/michaeldaleyMP/status/1106014110930472960
NSW Labor reiterated the State election will be a referendum on the location of the Tweed Hospital.
Mr Daley said that people across regional NSW were up in arms about the Berejiklian Government’s $2.2 billion to Sydney stadiums instead of properly funding schools and hospitals across NSW.
Mr Elliot reaffirmed NSW Labor’s opposition to the National’s plans to build the Tweed Hospital on Cudgen farmland and condemned the National Party’s botched site selection process.
Mr Daley expressed concern that the National Party had chosen the Cudgen farmland site as a “Trojan horse” to overturn height limits in Kingscliff and to open the door for over-development – destroying the unique quality of life.
Reports earlier this month revealed that a Queensland property developer which had made donations to the Liberal-National Party recently purchased farm land next to the Nationals proposed hospital site.
Retaining the sites in public hands will require additional funds but NSW Labor is committed to protecting Cudgen farmland and not selling off Government land to developers for a quick buck like the Nationals will.
NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley said that Labor will always prioritise protecting farmland and the community ahead of developers. 
“My commitment is ironclad – Labor will build the hospital in Kings Forest and protect the current hospital from being handed over to developers,” he said.
“NSW Labor will build the hospital on time and on budget – but the Nationals and NSW Health will continue to pedal their mis-information”
Country Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot expressed concern that the Nationals were using the hospital location as a Trojan horse for developers to take-over state significant farmland.
“Whether it be high rise in Kingscliff or a nine-storey hospital on Cudgen farmland – Geoff Provest and the Nationals are failing to protect the Tweed from inappropriate developments,” Mr Elliot said.
“The March 2019 election will be a referendum on the location of a new Tweed Hospital. My commitment is to build the Tweed Hospital at Kings Forest but that should not be at the expense of residents living north of the river.
“Labor’s commitment is to keep the current Tweed hospital site in public hands and in doing so continue to deliver future health outcomes from that location.”