Bill Shorten, Labor would deliver $60m roads package to Central Coast
IT was standing room only as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten brought the full force of Labor’s federal election campaign to Woy Woy. And, the Labor leader came bearing gifts — a $60 million commitment to fast track roadwork on the Central Coast.
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IT was standing room only as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten brought the full force of Labor’s federal election campaign to the Everglades Country Club at Woy Woy.
And, the Labor leader came bearing gifts — a $60 million local commitment to fast track roadwork up and down the Central Coast.
The Central Coast Roads Rescue Package will allow the Central Coast Council to complete the road improvements planned for the next decade in only four years.
Earlier this year, the NRMA revealed the coast was near $84 million behind schedule in upgrading many of its major thoroughfares.
Keen followers of local politics will note the announcement is identical to a Labor commitment pledged before the 2016 election which it went on to lose.
Labor candidate for Robertson Anne Charlton welcomed the announcement and said the council would now be able “to do its job”.
“Everyone has their own personal worst roads list. My view is that the fairest way to prioritise the worst roads is to let council do its job, and that includes a rigorous safety assessment and consulting with locals,” she said.
“Every day I talk with people about the roads backlog in their neighborhoods.
“There are some spots that come up again and again like Ocean Beach Rd, Woy Woy and Davistown Rd in Saratoga - but there are many more.
“Our aim is to move as quickly as possible to fix the worst roads, and the best way to do that fairly is to empower council, which already has a process in place to get to those priority spots and consult with the community.”
Mr Shorten gave a town hall-style appearance to outline his party’s election platform and take questions from a capacity crowd, with many forced to stand.
He was introduced by Ms Charlton who will take the electoral fight to sitting Liberal MP Lucy Wicks.
Robertson is held by Ms Wicks on a knife edge margin of 1.1 per cent.
There were emotional scenes in the auditorium when a breast-cancer patient thanking the Labor leader for his newly-announced policy to cover out-of-pocket costs for those living with cancer.
Trish, a registered nurse, was recently diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.
“I’ve actually spent almost $10,000 in the last five weeks in out of pocket expenses, and I can’t work either,” she said.
“Sorry, I’m probably going to start crying in a minute. But I just really wanted to thank you for the cancer plan. It may not be for me, I’m just grateful it will be there for other people, who will be able to experience that and not have the pressure that I have, and the financial burden that this is leaving for my family.
“Especially when I may not be alive in five years’ time for them to actually … I’m sorry. At least it’ll be around for other people.”
The town hall covered a range of other subjects, including the fate of Julian Assange. One questioner compared Mr Assange’s plight to that of Australian journalist Peter Greste, implying he deserved more help from the Australian government than he is currently receiving.
Mr Shorten said he “wouldn’t necessarily call Mr Assange a journalist”, but did say he would ask Labor’s spokespeople to get in touch with Mr Assange’s lawyers.
Mr Shorten was flanked by Labor senators Kristina Keneally and the Erina-based Deb O’Neill, as well as Dobell federal Labor MP Emma McBride, at Everglades.
Earlier that morning, Mr Shorten, Ms Kenneally and Ms Charlton took in some local competition when they completed the Mt Penang park run.
Following his appearance at Everglades, Mr Shorten and Ms Charlton dropped by Adcock Park at West Gosford to take in action from the local junior netball competition.
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