Illawarra Labor MPs, Ryan Park and Paul Scully have today called on the Berejiklian Government to agree to the funding proposals put forward by the University of Wollongong (UOW) and Wollongong City Council to keep the Gong Shuttle free, immediately if Council agrees to the Labor Councillors plans to be debated on Monday night.

UOW has proposed in a letter to the Premier that it will contribute $350,000 annually to the operation of the Gong Shuttle service from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2021.

Wollongong Labor Councillors have proposed a similar arrangement matching the annual contribution of UOW over the same three year period. 

So far, however, despite the UOW and Council funding proposals being made public, neither the Premier nor Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance MP, have signalled the Government would agree to the rescue plan.

The Labor MPs have called on the Premier and Minister Constance to make clear publicly that the Government would sign up to a funding proposal that meets their objective of Gong Shuttle remaining free.

Mr Park and Mr Scully also demanded that the Government stump up the funding shortfall from 29 January 2018 to 30 June 2018 should the UOW and Council proposed funding contributions come into effect.

Anger within the Wollongong community continues with nearly 10,000 signatories to the petition launched by Mr Park and Mr Scully, with the support of the Illawarra Mercury, received so far.

Since the Government announced it would impose Opal fares on the Gong Shuttle service from 29 January next year, not a single stakeholder organisation in Wollongong has spoken out in favour of the Government’s plans.

The Premier last week was dismissive of even meeting a deputation of stakeholders requested in a letter by Mr Park and Mr Scully in November.

Minister Constance has ignored all correspondence in relation to the matter from the two MPs.

Comments attributable to Ryan Park MP:

“We’re on the cusp of achieving Labor’s objective of keeping the Gong Shuttle free.

“Yet, while proposals for a funding rescue plan have been put on the table by the University of Wollongong, and an option proposed by Labor Councillors, we’ve not heard a word from the Premier or the Minister for Transport on whether they would agree to the deal.

“It’s time the Government ended its silence and indicate its agreement to keeping the Gong Shuttle free by adopting the alternate funding model.”

Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“It is extraordinary that we haven’t yet heard whether the proposal, even in-principle, is agreeable to the Government.

‘Today I am calling for two things: one that Councillors on Wollongong City Council support the Labor Councillors funding proposal, and two that the Berejiklian Government agrees to fund any shortfall so the Gong Shuttle remains free.

“A good faith offer on behalf of our community must be accepted by the Government in its entirety – no ifs, buts or maybes – and it needs to be accepted before the Christmas shutdown.”