Moving more than 200 public sector jobs to Wollongong is a key part of NSW Labor’s jobs plan for the Illawarra.
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Labor leader Luke Foley, in the city for the sixth time this year tagged it “the single most comprehensive plan for jobs growth Wollongong has ever seen”.
As well as previously announced commitments to use 90 per cent steel in infrastructure projects and a WIN Entertainment Centre upgrade, Labor pledged to relocate Liquor and Gaming NSW from the Sydney CBD to Wollongong in the first term of a Foley government.
“I will have to answer for this in Sydney,” Mr Foley said.
“I will have to cop criticism but I make no apologies for putting job creation in Wollongong front and centre when it comes to Labor priorities.”
Mr Foley said those employed would be given the option of relocating to Wollongong but denied the suggestion this was moving jobs rather than creating them.
“It creates new jobs for people here in Wollongong because not everyone will choose to relocate from Sydney,” he said.
“There will be new job opportunities for people here.”
Also in the plan was $50 million for Appin Road, which would be used to extend overtaking lanes and look to create two-lane sections of the road.
“Appin Road’s important because it connects us with the fast-growing region of southwestern Sydney and western Sydney,” said Paul Scully, Labor’s candidate for the Wollongong by-election.
“These are the growth sectors of the future and we want to make sure we’re connected to those so we can have jobs for the future.”
The much-talked about Maldon-Dombarton rail line would get $50 million under a Labor government, which would act as a sweetener to get private sector interest.
Keira MP Ryan Park said he was committed to see the projects in the plan put into place.
“I’ll be the Treasurer of NSW in a future Labor government, I’ll be the Minister for the Illawarra,” Mr Park said.
“Let me make this very clear, I’ll be holding every single minister to account to make sure this is delivered. Every single month I will be meeting with them on their projects to see how they’re going.
“Every single night I will be making sure that we are doing what we can to get these delivered ASAP.”