NSW election 2019: Western Sydney Airport underway but Labor wants to stop major projects
The Coalition wants to to build, build, build but Labor is hoping to send several promised projects off the rails after voters go to the polls on March 23. GET THE LATEST WITH TODAY’S ELECTION PODCAST.
NSW
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The Coalition wants to continue to build, build, build but Labor is hoping to send several promised projects off the rails after voters go to the polls on March 23.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she thinks NSW deserves to “have it all”, with new and upgraded infrastructure in every corner of the state.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Michael Daley wants to axe four transport projects and inject more money into Sydney’s Metro West railway.
With the state’s population approaching eight million, transport and infrastructure will be at the front of many voters’ minds, with congestion and expensive travel costs hitting many families hard.
The Coalition has promised to spend $52.9 billion on public transport and roads over the next four years on top of the $58.3 billion it has outlayed since coming to office in 2011.
But despite the $111 billion investment, new roads, rail and trams will not be delivered in time for the election, leaving some questioning whether the pay-off is worth the wait.
Sydney’s troubled $2.1 billion light-rail project was originally due to be completed but is now running a year late. The first so-called “mega project” to open will be Metro Northwest, Australia’s first turn up and go driverless train service, due to come online in May.
And part of the WestConnex motorway will open this year while NorthConnex will open next year.
WESTWARD BOUND
Mr Daley has made Metro West his top priority, pledging $8 billion in contrast to the Coalition’s $6.4 billion. The rail line will slash travel times between Parramatta and Sydney’s CBD to just 20 minutes.
Labor claims that by pouring more money into the project it will be able to build it faster than the Coalition, however, the party has not yet specified a completion date.
It would also come at the expense of other projects in the pipeline. Labor would cancel the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro project, the Western Harbour Tunnel, Northern Beaches Tunnel and F6 extension in order to free up funds for their transport plans.
NSW ELECTION PODCAST: LABOR’S CONFIDENCE
Mr Daley is also opposed to the demolition and rebuild of Allianz Stadium at a cost of $730 million, describing it as a “mad waste” of taxpayer money. If elected premier in 10 days’ time, he will force the SCG Trust to take out a loan for a more modest upgrade.
Both parties have also promised more than $1 billion to ease congestion by expanding the pinch-point program as well as significant upgrades to train stations’ commuter carparks.
FORWARD THINKING
Ms Berejiklian took aim at Mr Daley on Tuesday.
“All we’ve heard from him is about axing projects, axing jobs and taking the state backwards,” she said.
“My government is all about creating jobs, building infrastructure, providing services and taking the state forward.”
Labor’s treasury spokesman Ryan Park said funding that had been reallocated would be spent on “infrastructure projects that put people and jobs first”.
And Opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay said the Coalition had no interest in funding Metro West until recently.
“The government has now suddenly realised it has the capacity to fast track it and there is a need for them to fast track it … it was very low on their priority list until two weeks ago,” she said.
The Coalition has brought Metro West construction forward to begin next year and anticipate it will be open by 2028.
Among promises made to regional communities, Labor has vowed to create a $1 billion fund to build and upgrade water infrastructure across NSW while the Coalition has signed contracts for a $2.8 billion regional rail fleet.
LABOR VOWS TO RULE SCHOOLS
By Rose Brennan
The battle over education spending continues, with Labor pledging to pour $7.4 billion into new or upgraded facilities as the party fights to win parents’ votes.
The massive spending commitment is the final plank in a robust schools package Labor is taking to the election, which includes replacing 1000 demountable classrooms and airconditioning every school.
The billions of dollars the party will spend renovating classrooms and building entirely new schools outstrips the government’s promises by almost $1 billion.
Battle lines have been drawn around education ahead of next weekend’s state election, with Labor Leader Michael Daley promising building and renovating schools will be top of the agenda if he wins at the polls. “It’ll be a first order of business for a Labor government,” Mr Daley said.
Labor education spokesman Jihad Dib said the new schools would be built in boom areas such as West Dapto in the Illawarra. “West Dapto will have 50,000 new homes in the space of the next 15 of years and there’s not a school planned there (now), this will be a new school (under Labor),” he said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian is going to the polls with a $6.5 billion education package which will build or upgrade 190 schools.
Labor has promised to match each of the Liberals’ commitments if elected.
Ms Berejiklian has also promised to replace 1000 demountables but is only committing to airconditioning the hottest schools — not every one — at a cost of $500 million. On Sunday the government chipped in an extra $917 million to build eight more new schools and upgrade a further 31.
These latest projects are across NSW, with new schools promised in suburbs including Epping, Glenmore Park, South Nowra, Jerrabomberra and Marsden Park. Labor has also promised to build schools and provide upgrades in suburbs where the Berejiklian government is not, such as Pottsville and West Ryde’s Marsden High.
Education Minister Rob Stokes yesterday disputed Labor’s costings — which won’t be officially unveiled until next week — claiming that the ALP is counting about 20 schools the government has already delivered.
INDEPENDENT SNUBS DALEY
By Danielle Le Messurier and Rose Brennan
Independent MP Greg Piper has put Michael Daley on notice saying he won’t meet with the Labor leader when he visits his electorate next week if he wants to discuss a minority government.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Mr Daley’s office has contacted Mr Piper, who is the MP for Lake Macquarie, seeking to arrange a meeting during his trip to the Hunter Region.
It comes after Mr Daley on Tuesday said he was in talks with the crossbench as the prospect of minority government looms large over the election campaign with a poll putting the major parties at 50-50.
“We’ve been talking to the crossbenchers, you’d expect that to happen,” he said.
“I’m aiming for majority government … I’m not here to save the furniture I’m here to win.”
Mr Piper said he would meet Mr Daley to discuss electorate issues but had “no interest” in talking about minority government until after polling day.
Fellow independent Wagga MP Joe McGirr said he met with Mr Daley last week and the Premier three weeks ago but it was on local matters.
“We discussed issues affecting the electorate such as community safety, infrastructure promises and coronial autopsies,” he said.
Mr Daley will meet with independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich to discuss climate change.
Mr Greenwich said the three independents would likely vote as a bloc and were united on issues of economy, climate change and helping vulnerable people.
The group will wait until after polling day to consider which party to back to form minority government if the polls play out that way.
On Tuesday Mr Daley said he hoped preferences from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers will deliver Labor some seats.
He has been accused of playing both sides of politics by preferencing the SFF and the Greens — two parties diametrically opposed.
SFF MP Phil Donato said neither Liberals or Labor had reached out to discuss minority government.
“Gladys has said she won’t work with the Shooters but they’re likely to change their position if they have to,” he said.
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