IT has been a busy two weeks since the Paterson poll was declared, and my staff and I have moved into our offices at Raymond Terrace and well and truly started work.
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As I wrote in my last column, I chose that location because it is the geographical centre of the electorate and therefore allows all the people I represent equal access. But, rest assured, I will visiT all parts of my electorate regularly, and my staff and I are only a phone call away. (See our contact details)
One of my first and most important tasks as a member of the Opposition will be holding the Government to its promises.
And two of those include $15 million towards raising Cessnock Road at Testers Hollow, and $100,000 to upgrade facilities at Kurri Kurri Sportsground.
The Testers Hollow pledge came a week after Federal Labor had pledged $10 million to raise the road, a pledge that was criticised by the Liberal candidate, so we’ll take that about-face, or act of one-upmanship, as a welcome bonus. Now, it will be my job to make sure they deliver, so we don’t have to continue to experience the catastrophic flooding we have for many years.
The Kurri Kurri Sportsground is another important pledge that will make a big difference to local sporting communities, especially the mighty Kurri Kurri Bulldogs.
The $100,000 has been pledged to refurbish the northern grandstands, improve the adjoining broadcast box, install seating in the John Sattler Stand and refurbish the dressing rooms.
This is great news for the Bulldogs and their fans. Surely, better facilities off-field will lead to an even better performance on-field!
JUVENILE JUSTICE
Even though it does not us affect us directly, I know many people are supportive of the Government’s call for a royal commission into juvenile detention in the Northern Territory.
I’m sure we were all shocked to the core about the practices we saw happening on the ABC’s Four Corners report last week, and want to see justice prevail.
There have been calls for it to have a national scope, but the government has resisted, emphasising the need for swift findings and swift action. However, it is important that the terms of reference be expanded over the course of the inquiry if it becomes obvious that these practices are not confined to the Northern Territory.
