Two local MPs, one state and one federal, have hit for six suggestions the $1 billion upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue is “pork-barrelling.”
The NSW shadow minister for Western Sydney and Member for Hawkesbury dismissed the $1 billion commitment as a political stunt.
Now the State Member for Leppington, Nathan Hagarty, and the Federal Member for Werriwa, Anne Stanley, have hit back at the criticism from the Liberal Party opposition.
In a joint media statement they say that for 12 long years the Liberals ignored South-West Sydney and such an out-of-touch attack shows they still haven’t learnt.
Now, when the State and Federal Labor Governments secure funding for one of the most important transport links in our area, the Liberals dismiss it as a political stunt, say the two Labor MPs.
They say that the commitment is not pork-barrelling, but planning for the future.
The people of South-West Sydney deserve world-class transport, not political games from senior Liberals who still don’t understand our community, they said in the joint statement.
“This is a transformational investment for Leppington and our wider region,’’ Mr Hagarty said.
“For too long, families in South West Sydney have been stuck in kilometres-long congestion just to get to work, school or the shops. This upgrade is about cutting travel times, improving safety and making sure our community has the connections it deserves.”
Ms Stanley said the commitment was all about fairness for the region.
“Our community deserves the same level of infrastructure investment as the rest of Sydney. The upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue is a critical project that will unlock opportunities for local families and businesses. I’m proud the State and Federal Labor Governments are delivering it, after years of neglect by the Liberals.”