Thursday, March 14, 2013

Blue Mountains Community has a say on two years of the O'Farrell Government

From left to right; Mark Lennon (Secretary Unions NSW), Greg Carty, Shirley Ross-Shuley, Nick Franklin, Kerry Cooke (President Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc), Rory Cooke-Ives, Kate Mlinaric Cooke, Debra Smith (Secretary Blue Mountains Unions Council Inc).

The Blue Mountains Unions Council marked the two year anniversary of the O’Farrell Government by launching a community report card to give the community the opportunity to have their say about the performance of the Government in seven key areas.

BMUC spokesman Kerry Cooke said local MP Roza Sage had made plenty of promises to the local community before the election but this was the chance for voters to have their say on how well she had delivered.

The local report card was launched outside Katoomba TAFE on yesterday.

“This report card asks people to have their say about the actions of the O’Farrell Government — and our local MP — over their first two years in power,” Mr Cooke said. “It covers key topics such as their investment in jobs, transport, infrastructure, health, and education, as well as what they have done to look after workers and the community and keep key vital public assets in public hands.

“The O’Farrell Government made a lot of promises to get elected, including to create 100,000 jobs, invest $3 billion in health, not sell out electricity generators and to invest in TAFE, schools, transport and the community. “But they have failed to keep many of those promises and have instead: - cut 20,000 public service jobs, with plans to axe a further 15,000; - done a deal to sell power generators; - slashed $3 billion out of health, with hospital beds closed and ambulance services compromised; - cut $1.7 billion from education, including support for disabled students; - cut TAFE courses vital to the local tourism industry, sacked teachers and increased fees; and - done a deal to allow shooting in our National Parks, putting lives at risk.

“Two years ago we heard a lot about how things were going to change in the Blue Mountains if an O’Farrell Government was elected but unfortunately the vast majority of locals I speak to say that very little has changed and in many places government services have gone backwards,” Mr Cooke said.

Find out more about what they promised and what they've delivered.

Blue Mountains' locals can fill out a physical report card, or vote online at O'Farrell/Sage Two Year Report Card.


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