Country Labor MP, Clayton Barr accused Liberal-National Premier, Gladys Berejiklian of neglecting regional NSW while it’s struggling with a record breaking drought and fires, after she decided to spend at least $1.5 billion moving a Sydney museum – to Sydney.
Mr Barr, Labor’s Shadow Minister for Water said “While people in country NSW are living through one of the worst droughts on record and fighting intense bushfires, Liberal-National Premier, Gladys Berejiklian is spending $1.5 billion of taxpayer money to move a Sydney museum a few kilometres down the road.”
While Mr Barr noted there was nothing wrong with investment in the arts, he said “There are a lot of ways that $1.5 billion could make people’s lives out here easier. I don’t think this should be the Liberals and Nationals top priority right now.”
“We could use that money to build bores, dams, pipelines, new water channels or even to hire additional fire-fighters or park rangers. But it probably didn’t occur to the Liberals or Nationals that we need the hand up.”
“When was the last time Sydney Liberal, Gladys Berejiklian ever visited places in the country like Menindee or Broken Hill, or even the Hunter? She doesn’t show up for us, because we’re just not part of her plan.”