Labor candidate for the state seat of Lismore, Janelle Saffin, has challenged locals to come up with employment opportunities that could be funded by a $4 billion spending splurge in the regions by an incoming ALP state government.
Ms Saffin’s comments followed the announcement by NSW Labor leader Luke Foley that a $4.1 billion windfall from the sale of the Snowy Hydro scheme to the Commonwealth would be spent on ‘transformative projects that will leave a lasting legacy in rural and regional NSW’ if the party win’s government’.
Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
‘It is a ‘once -in-a-lifetime’ opportunity to do a new thing for the prosperity of our towns and jobs for our people if projects are carefully chosen,’ Ms Saffin said.
‘We know that over the past five years as 324,000 jobs came online in Sydney we in regional NSW lost 17,000 jobs’.
In his address to the annual NSW Country Labor Conference on Saturday Mr Foley said all proceeds from the sale would be spent in rural and regional NSW through the establishment of a Regional Job Fund. As well as looking for employment opportunities, the fund would promote decentralisation and new renewable energy supplies.
Ms Saffin said she would begin discussions with local stakeholders including mayors, chambers of commerce, TAFEs, farmers and the renewable energy industry to begin establishing priorities.
Transport plan
‘One such project is the Regional Integrated Transport Plan that I previously advanced and shall continue to promote as one of our regional priority needs.’
‘We have the right priorities that will deliver real jobs, better health and hospitals, upgraded schools, rebuilding TAFE and transformation to a renewables future,’ Ms Saffin said.
‘Whatever state money we have been given (and some is being splashed about now) has been ‘catch-up’ money at best or to improve chances at the coming election.’
‘Of, course, that money is welcome and important, but in Tenterfield, Kyogle, Lismore and Murwillumbah, we need more.
‘The Regional Jobs Fund announcement has opened the door for people in the Lismore electorate.
Working together we can turn this opportunity into real jobs, that will ensure our regional and rural economies and environments are sustainable.
‘It is up to us to seize this opportunity and I am ready to lead,’ Ms Saffin said.
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