NSW Greens Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP and NSW Greens Member for Balmain, Jamie Parker MP condemn the NSW Liberal budget which boasts a $3.9 billion surplus but fails to deliver on basic community needs or crucial priorities for the state.
Responding to the NSW Budget, Jenny Leong MP said:
“The Liberal’s budget speech did not mention climate change once and that’s indicative of the thinking behind this budget – it’s one that could have been written in the 50’s with massive funding for private toll roads and a failure to recognise the real needs of the community, she said.
"It is time for the real impacts of budget decisions on people to be made the priority, which is why The Greens have announced that we will introduce Wellbeing legislation, which will measure the wellbeing of people, communities and nature across NSW.
“We know that the Liberals have got their priorities wrong – failing to deliver on much needed station accessibility upgrades, increases to maintenance for public housing or additional investment in inner west schools.
“While we are pleased to see our strong support of cycling and active transport recognised with the delivery of a new Bike Shed at Stanmore Station, it is clear that this upgrade doesn’t go far enough as there is an urgent need for this station to be made accessible.
Responding to the NSW Budget, Jamie Parker MP said:
“We should not just be measuring the performance of our state with statistics about growth and revenue but genuinely measuring the wellbeing of our people and the environment.
“While I am pleased the government is investing in the new public school in Ultimo the allocation of funds to destructive projects like WestConnex and the Western Harbor Tunnel toll road dwarf this funding.
“The government should be taking every cent of the billions proposed to be spent on these polluting tollroads and invest into world class public transport.
BACKGROUND if needed
- Greens MP Justin Field will introduce the Wellbeing Indicators Bill 2018 in to the NSW Parliament later this year – more information available here
