The NSW Government has confirmed it will not match Labor’s policy to relocate Liquor and Gaming NSW to Wollongong.
The Government’s response follows a Question on Notice to the Minister for Racing, Paul Toole MP, by Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully MP, last month.
The Government’s failure to match Labor’s public sector job relocation push from Sydney to Wollongong, which would have seen more than 200 jobs shifted to the area along with a $16 million annual salary injection into the local economy.
Labor’s pledge to relocate Liquor and Gaming NSW to Wollongong was announced during the Wollongong by-election last November and is a key initiative in its Illawarra Jobs Action Plan.
The Government’s record on relocating public sector jobs to the Illawarra is abysmal with just 38 jobs moved to Illawarra since 2011.
Mr Scully has today moved a Notice of Motion in the Legislative Assembly to debate the policy:
I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move that this House notes that:
- NSW Labor has pledged to relocate Liquor and Gaming NSW to Wollongong.
- The pledge involves the relocation of more than 200 jobs from the Sydney CBD.
- Recognises that Labor at state and federal levels have relocated government services to Wollongong over the last two decades.
- Notes the NSW Government has relocated only 38 public sector jobs to the Illawarra since March 2011.
- Calls on the Government to match NSW Labor’s policy on relocating Liquor and Gaming NSW to Wollongong.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“The Liberals just love supporting job opportunities based in Sydney CBD while ignoring the job needs of the Illawarra.
“The Government’s refusal to match Labor’s pledge to relocate Liquor and Gaming NSW to Wollongong only highlights its dismal record over the last six years in which it has only moved 38 public sector jobs to the region.
“Labor at state and federal levels has moved government services and offices to Wollongong over the last 20 years.
“Labor’s pledge to relocate Liquor and Gaming NSW and the more than 200 jobs and around $16 million in salaries injected into the local economy remains a key element in our Illawarra Jobs Action Plan.”
