Wollongong has been short-changed in the 2018-19 NSW Budget today despite handing the Berejiklian Government $52 million in stamp duty in the 9 months between 1 April 2017 and 31 January 2018.
The Government’s last budget before the March 2019 election has delivered very little to the third largest city in New South Wales aside from the re-announcement of school upgrades already underway at Wollongong and Gwynneville Public Schools.
This budget spends less in Wollongong than any other previous budget under the Berejikilian Government over the last seven years.
The budget is complacent about the future of New South Wales’ third largest city.
There continues to be no investment in Wollongong’s future transport infrastructure needs to connect to the growing area of south-west Sydney.
There is no funding for the Maldon-Dombarton rail project, despite clear warnings from the Government’s own transport advisers that the Port of Port Kembla will grind to a halt in less than a decade because of gridlock on the South Coast Line.
No funding has been allocated towards improving the South Coast Line where passengers are crammed into overcrowded carriages.
No funding has been allocated towards upgrading the Wollongong Entertainment Centre, despite a-list celebrity performers criticising its tired look during their live performances.
There is no funding to install the Unanderra Station lifts after it was revealed that a senior Cabinet Minister boasted that the Transport Access Program (TAP) priority list is rorted by “skulduggery and manoeuvring” for political purposes.
And the Treasurer still refuses to even step foot in Wollongong.
NSW Labor has outlined a $225 million Illawarra Jobs Action Plan, which will build on Wollongong’s strengths and invests in its future.
Under NSW Labor, if elected next year, Wollongong will finally attract the investment it needs to upgrade transport links with south-west Sydney, create jobs, increase business opportunities and give the people of Wollongong a fair share in the taxes they pay.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“This last budget before the next election is a big disappointment to Wollongong.
“Last year the Government spent the lowest amount in Wollongong since 2011 and this budget has done nothing to reverse the downward trend in spending.
“Despite the taxes we pay to the Berejiklian Government, we get short-changed year after year after year.
“The Berejiklian Government is just so frustratingly complacent about the future of New South Wales’ third largest city.
“The Government has confirmed yet again that it has no plans to invest in Wollongong.
“In contrast, NSW Labor has a $225 million plan to build on Wollongong’s strengths and invest in our future.
“Under a Labor Government Wollongong will get its fair share of the taxes we pay.”
