Daily Telegraph Future Western Sydney Summit: NSW leaders in spending rumble to win over voters
Call for politicians to do more for Sydney’s ‘booming heart’ as Premier and the man who wants his job rumble on infrastructure costs as they vie for votes in Western Sydney.
State Election
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The battle for the west has been take straight to the source as Premier Dominic Perrottet and Labor leader Chris Minns faced off on Thursday in a bid to win over Western Sydney voters.
Both leaders were at The Daily Telegraph’s Future Western Sydney summit, pledging to make life easier for those who call our state’s engine room home.
The leaders clashed on infrastructure spending as Labor committed more than a billion dollars worth of local road upgrades, while the Coalition has promised to give small businesses up to $1000 back in their pocket over two years.
‘WESTERN SYDNEY DESERVES BETTER’
The Daily Telegraph editor Ben English kicked off the summit with a call to Premier Dominic Perrottet and Labor leader Chris Minns – and all politicians – to do more for the booming heart of the city’s growth.
“Western Sydney has for a long time deserved better from our politicians. Whether from infrastructure that lags behind growth or the slow crippling grind of rising housing costs or the steady decline of our education system,” he told an audience of western Sydney leaders and visionaries assembled at Rosehill Racecourse.
Mr English also spoke of the massive changes The Telegraph’s Future West series has resulted in over the years – such as pushing for the western Sydney airport years ago, which now is set to herald millions of new residents, businesses and opportunities for the area.
The Telegraph editor said the summit was the time for the two men vying to lead the state for the next four years to lay down their vision.
“It is not often The Daily Telegraph praises politicians but in Opposition leader Chris Minns and Premier Dominic Perrottet we have already seen …. leaders of intelligence and vision,” he said.
LEADERS CLASH ON INFRASTRUCTURE SPEND
Premier Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns were taken to task in a summit debate moderated by Mr English.
Mr Minns defended Labor’s stance on putting plans to build a Metro between Parramatta and western Sydney airport on ice, pointing to the extensive cost and doubts over whether the NSW Government could afford it’s infrastructure to-do list.
“We’ve got to be honest about the challenges, (and back) believable projects which can be delivered,” the Labor leader said.
Mr Perrottet shot back that it was “short term thinking” to not look forward with more major projects before the current $116 billion of projects is even finished.
The Premier also denied he was at the head of a “tired old government” after three terms in power.
“I’ve led a government which dares to do things differently,” he said, pointing towards the stamp duty reform he ushered in at the end of last year.
PREMIER’S MEGA PROJECTS PLEDGE
Earlier, in his opening address, Mr Perrottet vowed to forge ahead with major infrastructure throughout western Sydney as a key plank of his re-election pitch.
He rattled off a list of western Sydney projects as he vowed his government would continue to build mega projects in the region to the summit.
Mr Perrottet revealed as well that he would build 84 rapid buses to run from the western Sydney Airport the day it opens, matching an election promise by Labor.
“But we also have plans for additional metro connections: Tallawong to St Marys; the new Airport to Macarthur; Bankstown to Glenfield via Liverpool,” he said.
“And importantly, Westmead to the airport – which will be the first direct rail connection between Parramatta’s thriving CBD and the Western Parkland City,” he said.
“That link will shape the future of our city — but only if we plan for it now.”
Mr Perrottet said this month’s election comes at a “pivotal time” for the city, in a pitch for western Sydney voters to back him.
“If we get it right, I believe Western Sydney will be our nation’s greatest economic success story of the 21st century,” he said.
“And we are asking the people of Western Sydney to back our plan — to back our track record — to choose experience, leadership and bold thinking –
“To get through these uncertain times — and deliver the future Western Sydney deserves.”
MINNS DETAILS $1.1 BILLION ROADS PACKAGE
Labor leader Chris Minns used his opening address to declare education, health and conditions for renters need to improve in western Sydney, while detailing his $1.1 billion roads package for new and upgraded roads.
Mr Minns said a chunk of the billion dollar-plus in funding would go to western Sydney roads.
“We will support the growing number of people choosing to make a home here. We will help them access the jobs and services they need,” Mr Minns said.
Mr Minns hit out at the NSW Government’s spending, saying Labor would be the responsible party if elected, following the massive infrastructure projects committed to by the Coalition.
“Many voters would be concerned to hear that at the heart of that plan is $50 billion of unfunded infrastructure projects,” he said.
“A metro extension from Westmead to the Aerotropolis could cost an eye watering $35 billion. And extending the metro from Bankstown to Glenfield is estimated at a further $10 billion.”
Mr Minns closed with a plea to western Sydney voters to vote Labor after 12 years of the Coalition.
“I stand here today and make this pledge to the people of Western Sydney; we will not leave you behind and make you an absolute a priority in our government,” he said.
“We will fund the roads and key public transport infrastructure. We will make it easier for renters to find a place to live, and first home buyers to purchase their first home.”
‘WE NEED SCHOOLS’: PANEL PLEA
Guests heard The Telegraph’s Future Western Sydney panel outline their thoughts on the future of the city’s west.
Western Sydney University pro vice-chancellor Andy Marks said that, while both the Premier and Labor leader had outlined good visions for the region, services as basic as schools had to keep up with the rate of population growth.
“Treat western Sydney seriously, treat them with sophistication … I think Chris and Dom understand that,” he said.
He added currently the government was “not building enough schools”.
“Growth is good for western Sydney but it needs to be managed,” he said.
“Western Sydney isn’t saying no to more growth, make the funding equitable.”
Jade Clarke, head of Westpac DataX, said it’s “clear the majority of those” coming to Australia were heading west.
Not just big city infrastructure connections was important, PWC’s Janice Lee said, with schools, health and cultural establishments had to be built alongside them.
DOMINIC PERROTTET’S PLAN
Small businesses will get up to $1000 in rebates over two years to cover the cost of government fees and charges if Premier Dominic Perrottet is re-elected.
The money will mean small businesses – which employ 45 per cent of the state’s workforce – will be able to save money on things like outdoor seating fees, liquor licenses, tradesperson licenses, and event fees.
Mr Perrottet will announce the $500-per-year cost of living sugar hit at The Daily Telegraph’s Future Western Sydney summit in a move designed to win over small business owners living and working in Sydney’s west, the engine room of NSW.
Under the $40 million program, businesses employing less than 20 people will be able to apply for the rebates from July 1.
Businesses will need to register through ServiceNSW, where they can upload receipts to claim their money back.
The scheme is expected to benefit up to 40,000 small businesses.
“We’re backing small businesses across Western Sydney by putting more money back in their pockets to help cover the costs of a range of government fees and charges,” Mr Perrottet said.
He said the new rebates are part of a range of hip pocket relief the Coalition is delivering for small businesses.
“We’ve already made it easier for small businesses by slashing payroll tax nine times since 2011 by increasing the payroll tax threshold by over $500,000 to $1.2 million, meaning thousands of small businesses no longer need to pay payroll tax,” he said.
“Only the Liberals and Nationals can be trusted to back small businesses because of our long-term economic plan to keep our state moving forward.”
According to data from Business Western Sydney, the region is home to some 230,000 businesses.
Western Sydney is the country’s third-largest economy, with an estimated gross regional product of $157 billion, accounting for almost 25 per cent of NSW’s economic output.
The new rebates come after a similar saving scheme announced by the Coalition ahead of the election including a $250 saving on energy bills for people who use a government comparison tool.
The Coalition has also vowed to introduce no new taxes for households or small businesses if it wins the election.
CHRIS MINNS’ PITCH
More than $1 billion will be pumped into NSW roads across Sydney and the state if Labor Leader Chris Minns wins the election, with Labor making a major pledge to prioritise local roads over tolled motorways.
The roads package, which is Labor’s most significant election commitment to-date, will have a specific focus on Western Sydney, to fix bottlenecks that drive locals mad.
Mr Minns is set to use the $1.1 billion pledge to open up a major point of difference between Labor and the Coalition, by committing to fix small local roads rather than splashing cash on new motorways.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Labor will commit funding to deliver road upgrades that are currently in their early planning stage, like spending $75 million on Bandon Road in Richmond and $50 million to fix Hill Road in Homebush.
Labor will also put $10 million towards more entry and exit ramps on the M1 Princes Motorway around Dapto.
Mr Minns’ “Local Roads not Toll Roads” package will be paid for in part by a pledge to scrap the Northern Beaches Link, a project Labor says will cost $10 billion.
“Only Labor has a plan to deliver the critical infrastructure this state deserves. Unlike the Liberals, we won’t be flogging off the state’s assets to do it and we won’t be focused on more toll roads,” Mr Minns said.
Mr Minns is set to use his speech to The Daily Telegraph’s Future Western Sydney summit to accuse the Coalition of promising infrastructure projects without having the money to deliver them.
“Every election, the Liberals promise big and deliver little. Look at everything they promised in 2019 which hasn’t happened. Only NSW Labor has a plan to deliver the improved roads our state needs,” he said.
Mr Minns yesterday accused Premier Dominic Perrottet of a “$50 billion infrastructure black hole” that can only be funded through selling off more assets.
“Every time you see a piece of infrastructure with an asterisk next to it, or it says in the Budget papers unfunded you know, that straight after the election he’ll start privatising assets owned by you the people of the state,” he said.
Labor’s roads spokesman John Graham said the commitment marks a major difference between the two major parties.
“Labor is committed to local roads, the Liberals and Nationals are committed to toll roads,” he said.
“Labor’s roads plan involves building local roads and capping tolls. That is a good result for drivers.”
Labor has already committed $50 million to build and upgrade Fifteenth Ave in Austral to service the new airport, and $20 million to expedite delivery of the Tripoli Way in Albion Park.
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