After months of requests from the Member for Wollongong for the NSW Treasurer to visit the region, Dominic Perrottet is breaking his self-imposed ban and paying Wollongong a short visit today.
More than 20 months after he took over the job as NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has finally found his way from Macquarie Street to the third largest city in New South Wales.
Mr Scully set the Treasurer three tests for his visit to be considered successful:
- Commit funds for the construction of Unanderra Station lifts;
- Commit to each initiative of Labor’s $225 million Illawarra Jobs Action Plan which includes infrastructure investments that will better connect the Illawarra to the growth areas of south-west and western Sydney and fund the infrastructure needed to create more local jobs; and
- Commit to a consistent definition for Wollongong under Berejiklian Government funding programs so that we get a fair shot at our fair share.
The NSW Treasurer’s first visit to the Illawarra as Treasurer comes on the same day that Labor Leader Luke Foley comes to the Illawarra again – his second visit to the region in a week.
Mr Scully also noted that the Treasurer is responsible for the 2018-19 NSW Budget, which spends less in the Wollongong electorate than any budget over the last seven years.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“After months of requests the Treasurer is breaking his self-imposed ban and is visiting Wollongong for the very first time in his role as Treasurer.
“The recent NSW Budget contained the lowest level of spending in the Wollongong electorate of the last seven budgets under the current government so there isn’t too much for the Treasurer to crow about.
“Today’s visit can only be considered a success if it comes with funding commitments to the region.
“The Treasurer has three simple tests to pass today – fund Unanderra Station lifts; commit to the fully-funded infrastructure and investment program under the Illawarra Jobs Action Plan; and commit to a consistent definition for Wollongong for future funding programs.
“If he doesn’t manage to meet these three basic tests the visit will have been a waste of time.”
