Local MP Greg Warren has joined criticism of the Baird Government, with the opposition claiming infrastructure projects will cost $8.8 billion more than budgeted for – almost the equivalent of last year’s record breaking stamp duty revenue.
Budget blowouts on everything from WestConnex motorway and the Opal card to the Tibby Cotter pedestrian bridge and the bungled schools IT program is forcing the Baird Government to fritter away taxpayers’ cash, says the opposition.
Mr Warren, the Member for Campbelltown, says the money could have been used to deliver much needed safety upgrades on Appin Road, or provide extra resources at Campbelltown Hospital.
“The government has set about wasting these funds while we have a situation where we desperately need Appin Road to be upgraded,” Mr Warren said.
“Billions of dollars wasted by this Government and we have 48 percent of patients waiting more than four hours for emergency treatment at Campbelltown Hospital.”
In 2014/15 the NSW Government raised a record $9.2 billion in stamp duty revenue which is depleting rapidly because of rising costs on a range of projects.
“Baird’s budget blowouts are costing NSW taxpayers $24 million a day and this means Campbelltown residents are forced to go without much needed hospitals and infrastructure upgrades because of financial mismanagement under this Government,’’ says Ryan Park, opposition treasury spokesman.
“The Auditor General has already made it clear that the management of major projects needs to improve and it’s about time Mike Baird listened to this advice and get these costs under control.
“Wearing a hard hat and a high-vis vest for a photo opportunity is the easy part. Mike Baird hasn’t figured out that the hard yards come in delivering something on time and on budget. “
When you take 1 part away from 3 parts of F%&k All does it leave much anyway? Macarthur is an embarrassment to both parties