Gareth Ward: Calls for Kiama MP to apologise after false airport funding announcement

It was earmarked as a “tremendous win” for tourism, however, there are now calls for outspoken state politician Gareth Ward to apologise after a budget announcement botch-up.

Shellharbour mayor Chris Homer, Kiama MP Gareth Ward and Shellharbour councillor Kellie Marsh at Shellharbour Airport on Monday. Picture: Supplied

It was earmarked as a “tremendous win” for tourism in the Illawarra, however, there are now calls for outspoken state politician Gareth Ward to apologise after a budget announcement botch-up.

Mr Ward took to the stage at the Shellharbour Airport on Monday alongside the LGA’s mayor Chris Homer and deputy mayor Kellie Marsh to announce a mammoth $15.9m worth of upgrades for the facility.

However, it has been revealed it was not a 2023 budget commitment made by anyone in the government and had striking resemblance to a 2019 Growing Local Economies Fund announcement – an announcement Mr Ward attended with then mayor Marianne Saliba.

“Gareth Ward should apologise to the community for not doing his due diligence,” Shellharbour Labor MP Anna Watson said.

“He owes the community an apology and he needs to accept responsibility for what he has done.”

Labor Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson has called on Gareth Ward to apologise. Picture: Supplied

Mr Ward, who has been in office since 2011 and politics since 2004, claims he did nothing wrong and has blamed the mess up on the NSW Treasury office.

“I was given official treasury documents for this current budget for my electorate which clearly indicate funding for the Illawarra Airport,” he said.

“What’s worse is that the budget identifies the Economic Activation Fund as the source of funds which is a new fund announced by the government.”

The original – now proven false – announcement indicated the Shellharbour Airport would have received the $15.9m worth of upgrades from the state budget, which would have gone toward upgrades to the passenger terminal and other expansions to the airport’s facilities.

Mr Ward claims the information given to him was from the 2019 state budget.

The revelation on the incorrect announcement has resulted in Ms Watson, the parliamentary secretary for regional transport, blasting both Mr Ward and the media who published the incorrect information.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward said he was given the wrong documents from the NSW Treasury office.

“The media didn’t check the facts,” she said. “I have been asking the local media to fact check every media release he puts up.”

Ms Watson said, however, the blame started and ended with Mr Ward.

“Gareth Ward either can’t read budget papers or he is misleading the community,” she said.

“I say it is probably both.”

Mr Ward is now calling on the state government to “fix their mistakes” by funding the airport upgrades he announced.

“If you can’t trust treasury documents – I will never believe another thing this government has to say ever again,” he said.

A Treasury spokesman confirmed there was still some cash to be spent on the airport, however, it stemmed from the four-year-old announcement.

“Total funding of $15.977 million was committed for the project from the Growing Local Economies Fund, funded from Restart NSW and this was announced in the 2019-20 budget,” the spokesman said.

“There is a residual committed balance of $1.644 million to acquit the project this financial year.”