Gladys Berejiklian: Premier says visit to regional NSW has helped ease a troublesome two weeks
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says her Mid-North Coast escape has helped ease a troublesome period for the embattled Liberal leader. The premier, flanked by new Liberal MP Leslie Williams, gifted 6000 square metres of land to Port Macquarie’s Koala Hospital for expansion and upgrades to its facility.
Mid-North Coast
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Embattled NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says has felt ‘overwhelmed and humbled’ by the support of the Mid-North Coast community during her tour of the area.
The Premier was in Port Macquarie on Tuesday morning where she and MP Leslie Williams announced more than 6000sq m of state-owned National Park would be gifted to koala hospital to expand the precinct.
“Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is a critical recovery and rehabilitation facility, and one of the most popular attractions in the region – but it is bursting at the seams,” the Premier said.
“This extra land will ensure the hospital can continue to provide world-class care for our Aussie icons.”
Port Macquarie was the penultimate leg on her tour of the north coast, which yesterday included Coffs Harbour. She said the change of pace and the local support from bushfire victims, employers and her newly-crowned Liberal MP has helped her overcome a challenging period.
“I’ve been overwhelmed and humbled by the support I’ve received and I just want the thank everybody,” she said.
“Please know that I will continue to be here first and foremost for the community and I will continue to work hard to keep NSW safe and vibrant and to make sure people stay in their jobs. We want to grow jobs.
“I will continue to redouble my efforts in leading NSW.”
Ms Berejiklian said she was “optimistic” about the future of regional NSW, which in the last 12 months has been hit hard by extreme weather scenarios, natural disasters and a global pandemic.
“There are a lot of green shoots for what has been a very difficult period and that is why I am forever optimistic about the future and also taking forward the learnings we’ve had during COVID.”
“We are learning about what it means to be a government focused on the citizens, reducing red tape, really listening on the ground to community leaders who have really stood up whether its during the bushfires, drought and now COVID and really taking that expert local advice and that’s what I’ve enjoyed – especially here on the Mid-North Coast.
“Leslie [Williams] has made sure, and other colleagues further north have made sure that I've been exposed to community leaders who have been through these experiences and really given government great advice.”
Ms Berejiklian was forthright in her position on the NSW-QLD border closure, declaring that the issue has started to ‘affect people’s lives.’
“She [Annastacia Palaszczuk] knows my position … I wish we’d just take the games out of this,” the Premier said.
“The border closure is completely unnecessary.
“It is affecting people’s lives, especially in northern NSW. Yesterday I heard some horrible stories with one great grandmother telling me her great granddaughter lives a few kilometres on the other side of the border and she’s five months old and she hadn’t been able to meet her.
“That’s just one small story. It’s a very difficult time for people in this region, we’ve demonstrated in NSW that we are able to get on top of the virus.
Of course we are going to have cases, of course we are going to have breakouts – we are in a pandemic, but if you compare what we have done compared to the rest of the word, I think we can stand tall.
“We are confident in our system and we are confident in our people.
“Even in regional NSW where there has been very few cases, people are still doing the right thing.
“I hope the QLD Government accepts that – and they should.”
Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said the premier’s visit was a true indication of the milestone effort of the work that the koala hospital has done to help treat the injured wildlife.
“This is something that is truly iconic, not only in terms of research, but it is one of our biggest tourist attractions and we want to make it even better and it is going to be even better with the redevelopment,” she said.
“To be able to be here today to share the great news about the gifting of this land to the koala hospital, to all of the volunteers, on behalf of the people of NSW is just a really exciting milestone.”
“I know for the 160-plus volunteers it will really be a boost that they are looking for.
“It will inspire them to keep volunteering and looking after our koalas.”
She said the new land will help cater to the overflow of injured wildlife that present but are often treated in the homes of volunteers due to lack of available space.
“I want to thank them [volunteers] on behalf of the community.”
