The following are media releases from Justin Field MLC and Dawn Walker MLC - THE GREENS NSW SOLD OUT AND SHORT-SIGHTED Media Release from Justin Field MLC The NSW community will pay the long-term cost of greater inequality and a lack of preparedness for the impacts of climate change in a budget that sees a short-term sugar hit from privatisations propping up the State Budget to the tune of billions, according to Greens Treasury spokesperson Justin Field. Mr Field said the much-touted $4.5 billion Budget ‘surplus’ is built on the sell-off of essential public assets and services. While spending to catch up on a backlog of health and education infrastructure is welcome, there is an obvious lack of investment in key challenges for the state, including housing affordability, building renewable energy and climate change.
“Today’s NSW Budget is a missed opportunity to make smart choices on how we invest in people and communities for the future,” Mr Field said today.
“The NSW Budget has failed to come up with any plan to address climate change. There is not one mention of climate change or building renewable energy in the NSW Treasurer’s speech. “It’s simply not credible for the Treasurer to claim ‘this is the tomorrow we must prepare for today’ and have nothing in the budget to address the impacts of climate change on people communities and our economy. “We all know what’s needed. A future NSW economy driven by renewable energy, where our state has transitioned out of fossil fuels and is harnessing the power of the sun for clean, affordable energy. “The community has lost $53 billion in public assets and services since the Coalition came to power in 2011 and the Treasurer has indicated there is more to come.
“A one-off cash splash can’t hide the fact the Government doesn’t have a long-term plan for the state.
“This budget will do very little to reduce growing inequality, invest in public housing, help unemployed young people; particularly in regional areas and address the overwhelmed public transport system.
“The state’s greatest assets are our people, communities and nature. None of them have been winners in this budget today,” he said. Media Release Greens question Government’s $100 million reduction in TAFE asset values in State Budget Media Release by Dawn Walker MLC NSW Greens TAFE spokesperson, Dawn Walker has questioned the NSW Liberal-Nationals $100 million reduction in TAFE assets that was revealed in the 2017-18 State Budget. “Is this a sell-off? The Liberal-National Government needs to come clean with NSW taxpayers and explain exactly where their $100 million loss in TAFE assets comes from.“Time and again, we’ve seen the NSW Liberal-Nationals undermine and de-value our public TAFE system. The Greens are demanding answers after today’s State Budget revealed that TAFE land and building assets are forecast to plunge in value by $100 million dollars from approximately $4.5 billion in 2016-17 to under $4.4 billion in 2017-18. “Is this asset reduction a sign of a TAFE sell-off? “It’s alarming that right across NSW, this Government is closing TAFE campuses and replacing them with pop-up shopfronts that will have a devastating impact on the learning outcomes for many students, especially those requiring extra support services. “Rather than embarking on a short-sighted fire-sale of TAFE assets, the NSW Liberal and Nationals should be investing in our world-class vocational education system and end their fixation with privatisation. “It’s time this Government fronted-up and explained to communities why they think closing vital TAFE facilities is a good decision” said Dawn Walker, Greens MP. Media Release
