[Ballina shire councillor] Keith Williams needs to be informed of a few facts (Byron Shire Echo, 28/2) :
1. It was the state Labor government (1995-2011) that issued all the CSG licenses on the North Coast and it was left to the state Coalition government to clean up their mess by buying those licences back. The Ballina electorate now has no CSG licences thanks to the Nationals in government.
2. On infrastructure, the Coalition has delivered in spades compared to Labor. The two most recent examples – and there are many more – are the new central hospital for Byron Shire (ignored by Labor) and the new high school for Ballina (again, nothing under Labor.)
3. The Nationals have always been very active in the Ballina electorate. Why do you think our former Member Don Page (Nationals) was never taken to preferences in 27 years? Because he was so active in the community and delivered results for everyone regardless of their political persuasion. His is the example I am trying to follow – and I make absolutely no apology for that.
Ben Franklin MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy and Northern NSW
