Western Sydney airport slammed for its failure to employ local residents

IT IS a joke that almost two million people live in western Sydney but no one from the region has been appointed to head the board of Western Sydney Airport, Ed Husic says.

The Residents Against Western Airport action group held a protest meeting outside Penrith state Liberal MP Stuart Ayres' against Western Sydney Airport.

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IT IS a joke that almost two million people live in western Sydney but no one from the region has been appointed to head the board of Western Sydney Airport, Ed Husic says.

In Parliament last week, the federal Labor MP for Chifley also slammed the Federal Government for failing to ensure locals would be employed at the airport.

Mr Husic gave an emotional speech about vital airport decisions being made by those living outside of western Sydney.

Federal Labor Member for Chifley Ed Husic slammed the government’s failure to employ people from western Sydney..

“Numerous jobs figures are thrown around but here’s one jobs figure that you never hear from a Turnbull Government minister — the guaranteed number of jobs that will actually go to western Sydney residents from this development,” he said.

“This government doesn’t have one. It’s not a key performance indicator.

“And so far all of the key decision-making jobs associated with this project have not gone to a single western Sydney resident.”

Last week Peter Shergold — who does not live in western Sydney — was named head of a community consultation board for the airport.

“Imagine if a western Sydney resident headed up the Sydney Airport consultative forum? The east would convulse itself into the Tasman,” Mr Husic said.

“Peter Shergold might work in western Sydney but he doesn’t live here. He’s not accountable to neighbours or fellow residents for the quality of the job he performs on that forum.”

Aerial photos of the site of the Western Sydney Airport in Badgerys Creek. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Last week a government-owned company, Western Sydney Airport Co Limited, was established to assist in the design and construction at Badgerys Creek.

Mr Husic said none of the members of the board, led by Optus chairman Paul O’Sullivan, were from the west.

A statement by Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said: “Mr O’Sullivan’s business leadership expertise makes him highly credentialed to lead the company delivering Western Sydney Airport.”

But Mr Husic said despite having “enormous respect” for Mr O’Sullivan he was not from western Sydney.

With nearly two million people in western Sydney, Mr Husic said it was “a joke” no one from the west had the necessary skills to be employed.

Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali, Federal MPs Ed Husic and Susan Templeman and Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill at the joint council’s community forum about Western Sydney airport.

But Western Sydney Business Chamber reiterated that the airport would have a positive impact on the region. Chamber director David Borger said it would be a game-changer for Sydney’s economy and NSW, and was expected to generate about 20,000 direct and indirect jobs by the early 2030s.

“With about 30 per cent of workers living in western Sydney and commuting outside the region, the new airport will assist in providing job opportunities and help to address the jobs deficit,” he said.

By 2063 the job numbers are expected to grow to more than 30,000 indirect and 60,000 direct jobs.