The NSW Labor government marked its one year in office this week with a jubilant statement of achievements issued from Macquarie Street HQ.
Premier Chris Minns’ spin doctors say 74 bills were passed and they are ‘delivering on major election commitments’.
There was a lot riding on NSW Labor when they finally got control of the state last year.
For nearly a decade, the state had been plundered by neoliberal gangster clowns, resulting in a less fair, and meaner society.
So how are Labor governments different to the Liberal-Nationals?
To be fair, Labor have made improvements with pay and conditions for essential services and frontline workers. Education, health, infrastructure etc are the bedrock of government business, and have always been Labor’s strength.
The premier’s media release also said, ‘We’ve reduced debt by $13 billion, despite inheriting the largest debt ever passed from one government to another’.
So how about protecting diminishing biodiversity and the unsustainable rate of land clearing and species loss?
There were passing comments about $172 million to save koalas in the wild, but given they won’t stop Forestry NSW logging koala habitat, it’s all spin.
Planning reform
Despite all this, the joyous government media release puts cost of living as their number one priority, and ‘at the centre of that is housing’.
Planning reform achievements were listed, yet they continue misleading the public around affordable housing.
When given the chance to reform the housing State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) last year, they failed to improve the metrics which give advantage to speculating developers. The SEPP offers little for those who can’t afford a home.
What wasn’t included in their achievement list was a commitment to public housing.
No flood funding, yet
As demonstrated on the page 3 story, ‘NSW Labor no show with flood funds’, thousands of north coast flood-affected residents are still without assistance, despite promises.
Should the public accept broken promises and a lack of transparency? It’s taxpayer money after all.
And how about Labor’s values around social justice?
Like the NSW Liberal-Nats, NSW Labor appear unwilling to reform police behaviour around strip searching minors, or pointless and expensive cannabis raids, for example.
And last week, NSW Greens MLC, Sue Higginson, said, ‘The Minns Labor government passed rushed, broad, and badly-drafted bail laws that will see vulnerable children and young people locked up’.
She says, ‘The opposition to these laws is remarkable. The Bar Association, the Law Society, the cross bench and even members of the Liberal Party and the government united against both the spirit and execution of new laws’.
Is there room for improvement? Clearly. Yet comparing NSW Labor to the NSW Liberal-Nats won’t produce better governance – the only agent of positive change is a more informed and active public.
Does that sound like a big ask?
Hans Lovejoy, editor
News tips are welcome: [email protected]
No mention of the fact that the Regional Seniors Travel card has been cancelled.
YES !
That is an unobtainable ask when, two women locking on to machinery to stop it annihilating what is barely left of our natural heritage, qualifies as an unusual and illegal action.
This article though exhibits an unlooked for , extraordinary, rational comprehension of the state of play in this State of misinformation and disinformation.
I have seen the Editor lambasted for ‘left’ leanings but that merely perplexed me as to what their complaints referred, I think this article puts it into perspective for me. I am now convinced that such outbursts of ‘common sense’ and even handed observation is what is driving the usual suspects to distraction. Well done.
Cheers, G”)
Labor just got a digital ID bill passed in the Senate so we can all be tracked and traced. They included a clause that allows them to sell our private information off to private companies to generate govt revenue. So don’t say Labor isn’t doing anything.
Ah Mr/Mrs CVS, I’m betting their doing it just to keep an eye on people like you.
Who does China’s social credit system target? NSW introduced anti-protest laws due to the covid protestors, then immediately started using them on greenie protestors. The Lib/Lab coalition are positioned against left and right. China is the social control model they are aiming for.
Oh dear Hans, it is a continuous struggle for you to give any Labor Govt any credit for anything positive they do. I would think that the mere fact they remove appalling Lib/Nat Govts would alone be cause for celebration. Even your muted attempts at congratulating Labor for completely turning around the climate wars in favour of the transition to renewables, and is in the process of actually delivering, are token at best. You always finish with a great plug for the great things the Greens are accomplishing, (whatever they are?), I don’t know why you even bother pretending, just stick to promoting the Greens in your “articles”.
Keith if the previous Libs/ Nats had done as
Badly as Mr Andrews in Dictoria ..!
Then your negative comments would
Be justified !
Mr Barrow, you are delving into hypotheticals here, but Mr Dan Andrews was not booted from power, in fact at the last election the Andrews Labor Govt was returned with an increased majority, now that does not happen if a Govt is doing such a bad job. It’s gratifying to see you giving Chris Minns a tick of approval, you are right in that he is decent human being, I have the pleasure to have met and conversed with him twice when he was in Ballina.
Hans i think Minn’s is doing a good job
And my opinion a decent human being !
Give him time ..as you stated he has achieved
Thus far in some areas…so much criticism
For a premier who has been in the role
For how long ? I mean let’s get real here
How long was The Labor Premier in
Victoria in for han’s ? how many terms ?
and what exactly did he do for the state
Of Victoria ? You lament about what the
Liberal government achieved in NSW
Previous to Minn’s .. yet not once to my
Knowledge has the echo ever given
Your readers a glimpse into how Mr Andrews
Completely ruled Victoria with a iron fist ..
The longest Covid lockdowns In the world
The Chinese and the Russian people’s were
Treated better than those of Victoria during
Covid …left behind 100′ of billions in Debt
For Victorian’s to pick-up the pieces..
More debt than NSW / Qld / and Tasmania
Combined..yet not one report card done
On this Dictator whilst in government or
After resigning… by any leading News outlets
Including the Echo..yes Minn’s is doing just
Fine Hans !