Bradfield Oration: Gladys’ vision for NSW — the premier state, complete with more jobs, more projects
GLADYS Berejiklian says some Sydneysiders are suffering growth fatigue — but insists she will power on with the remodelling of NSW, declaring she’s “just warming up” .
- Gladys Berejiklian outlines projects and investment drive
- See the full array of inspiring Project Sydney stories
PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has admitted some Sydneysiders feel “left behind” by the state’s economic success, and declared everyone needs to feel the boom is benefiting them as the state rides high.
As she vows today that the state will turbocharge the pace of development, Ms Berejiklian has said she wants each and every citizen “to feel part of the success of the state”.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal new projections have NSW on track to create one million jobs by 2025 and two million by 2036 — a more ambitious target than the one made by former premier Mike Baird just a year ago.
In the face of the encouraging forecasts, the Premier has told colleagues they must make sure every person in the state feels they have a stake in the economic gains as they battle everyday challenges like congestion, pricey rents and sky-high real estate prices.
“Some of the disconnect that exists is people feeling left behind, or people feeling ‘there’s all this change happening but am I going to benefit from it?’” Ms Berejiklian said. “I want the answer for everybody to be ‘yes — yes the state’s doing well but I will be doing well as well. My kids will be doing well’.
“No matter what your circumstances — I want everybody to feel part of the success of the state.”
READ how Gladys Berejiklian plans to do all this
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Ms Berejiklian said that the short-term growing pains would pay off in the long term, and that the state would feel “less stressful” and more liveable by 2025.
She will today tell the Business Council of Australia her vision is for “more jobs, better jobs, higher-paying jobs and a better spread of them across all corners of the state” — a plan she sees as “key to improving people’s sense of economic security”.
Steve McCann: Bradfield’s sustainable vision for generations
Today’s new jobs projections are modelled from a 2011 starting point, when the Coalition won government. In the 12 months to September this year, annual jobs growth sits at 2.3 per cent — outstripping the year before when it was 1.9 per cent.
“Given the commitment to accelerate our infrastructure plans we are confident NSW will continue to deliver more jobs,” Ms Berejiklian said.
But with the state looking buoyant according to key economic indicators, Sydneysiders are battling fatigue at the constant din of construction, congestion and the side-effects of a city gripped by growth, including high rents and house prices.
“We know that even though we are doing amazingly well, and people have got every opportunity to have a great job, some households are still doing it tough,” Ms Berejiklian said, admitting many felt beset by challenges.
“Generally speaking, if someone wants to get a good job in our state, they can get a job. But we know that path is difficult for a lot of people. There are definitely pockets of challenge.
“I say to my colleagues, yes we’re efficient, we’re building infrastructure, we know how to deliver a strong budget, but we also have to have a big heart. How are we showing compassion? Because we’ll be measured by how we treat the most vulnerable.”
Ms Berejiklian pointed to social initiatives like cutting the price of green slips, energy rebates, the first homeowners’ grant and downward pressure on hospital costs as evidence of her commitment to bringing everyone in on the state’s success.
Asked what Sydney would look like in 2025, she said: “I hope it’s a place where people aren’t stressed out because they’re sitting in congestion. That connectivity and livability has improved.” She said she didn’t want the city to “feel different, just better”.
But Ms Berejiklian, who catches the bus to work every day from her home in Northbridge, said she was conscious that there had been a worldwide disconnect with authority, as evidenced in events such as the election of Trump and Brexit.
The Premier said she saw herself as a political outsider, never part of the club because of her upbringing — not speaking English until she started school and the daughter of a nurse and a welder.
“It’s not something that I’ve spoken about a lot but, you know, reflecting on it, when you look back at your own leadership style and when you’re growing in the job I have no doubt that upbringing’s really impacting the way I make decisions and it’s allowing me to have a bigger heart,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Angelina looks to space for design inspiration
Hundreds of NSW primary school children entered The Daily Telegraph’s competition to design Sydney’s next great building but Angelina El Malouf’s observatory and space museum was out of this world.
Sydney college to rival the best
Aspiring croupiers, cocktail bartenders and even butlers will be trained to compete with the world’s best at Sydney’s newest hospitality training college when it opens in March.