Last night in Parliament Andrew Constance MP, Member for Bega, felt compelled to make this important statement about his past 16 years delivering for the Bega electorate (albeit with only half a voice).
In a social media release he said "My passion for the people of the Far South Coast is as high now as it was the first day I was proudly elected to represent our community – and there’s a very serious agenda that’s driving my decision to stand again in 2019." The Member for Bega has reaffirmed his commitment to stand as the Member for Bega in the 2019 New South Wales state election. “The main reason I’m running is I want to fight alongside my community to secure a funding deal between the national and the NSW Governments to duplicate the Princes Highway, south of Jervis Bay turnoff through the Bega Valley, from 2020 to 2030,” Mr Constance said. In an emotional speech in parliament, Mr Constance said his main motivation is to see through the duplication of the Princes Highway from Jervis Bay to the Victorian border. In his speech he fought through tears as he recalled the 2011 car accident south of Batemans Bay in which he and his family were involved. Mr Constance has been calling on the Federal Government to back an 80/20 funding model for a dual-carriageway from south of Jervis Bay to the border now that their previous commitment to duplicate the Pacific Highway has reached completion The Member has pleaded with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to prioritise the duplication project, calling the Princes Highway one of the most dangerous roads in Australia saying that failing to achieve the funding deal would “run the risk of hundreds of people either losing their lives or being injured for life south of Jervis Bay to the Victorian border”.