Chris Minns, Dominic Perrottet’s jobs pitch for western Sydney votes
As the state election ticks closer, both of NSW’s major parties have promised a jobs boom for Western Sydney— here’s how each plans to pull it off.
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The Perrottet government has promised 100,000 new jobs will be created in Western Sydney in the next five years under their booming infrastructure to-do list, while Labor will reinvigorate the traditional manufacturing heartland in the city’s west by pumping out TAFE-graduates capable of building the next generation of trains in NSW.
Both parties have stumped up major promises centred on employment in the region as The Daily Telegraph kicks off its Future Western Sydney campaign, with Sydney’s western suburbs holding the key to both Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns’ hopes of sealing an election win next month.
The Telegraph understands the Premier will make a pledge in Western Sydney’s heartland on Monday to foster the creation of 100,000 extra jobs in the region within five years, pointing to mega-infrastructure projects like the Metro and growing health and education facilities.
“Western Sydney is one of the fastest growing regions in the country and the engine room of our state’s economy. That’s why we will deliver more, better paying local jobs so the region continues to thrive,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We will deliver 100,000 new jobs in Western Sydney over the next five years across a range of sectors including construction, manufacturing, health, transport, professional services, science and more.”
“Our $116 billion infrastructure pipeline is already supporting thousands of jobs in Western Sydney, including on the new toll-free M12 motorway, Sydney Metro, and the Western Sydney Airport aerotropolis.”
It comes as Labor tables their vision for jobs in the area, centred on domestic manufacturing, with the party to pump $42.7 million into building three TAFE Domestic Manufacturing Centres of Excellence in traditional construction heartlands – one in western Sydney, and the other two in the Hunter and Illawarra.
Labor says the move will enable 1000 students a year to study fee-free courses in mechanical engineering and electrical fitting.
The party on Monday will also announce a pledge to create 1000 long-term manufacturing jobs in NSW by building the next fleet of trains – set to replace the ageing Tangara rolling stock – in its first term if elected in March.
“I want to build trains, buses (and) ferries right here. But it’s going to take a government with the political will to do – and I am determined to,” Mr Minns said ahead of the announcement.
“Our state has missed out on the skills, the jobs and the work because of this government’s obsession with offshoring transport projects.”
Labor’s shadow transport spokeswoman Jo Haylen said the ageing Tangara fleet had to be replaced no matter who won the election, with a promise they’d be built in NSW.
“The choice for the people of New South Wales is clear. These new trains will need to be built one way or another,” she said.
“If you vote Labor they will be built here in Australia and in NSW.”
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