"Iemma makes big spending promises"
Feb 18, 2007 12:27:57 GMT 10
Post by dededom on Feb 18, 2007 12:27:57 GMT 10
Iemma makes big spending promises
February 18, 2007 - 12:14PM
www.smh.com.au/news/National/Iemma-makes-big-spending-promises/2007/02/18/1171733599556.html
NSW Premier Morris Iemma has unveiled his campaign for the March 24 state election, with big spending promises in the areas of education, water, domestic violence prevention and health.
Mr Iemma on Sunday addressed about 100 supporters and friends at the Civic Theatre at Hurstville, in south western Sydney.
Guests at the launch included his family, asbestos diseases campaigner Bernie Banton, and Carolyn Martin and Ron Delezio, the parents of burns survivor Sophie Delezio.
Mr Iemma said NSW needed "a way of governing where problems are identified, solutions found and plans became reality".
He said if re-elected the Labor government would spend $2 billion over four years on improving infrastructure in public schools.
"Today I can announce the biggest infrastructure program that public education has ever seen," he said.
Under the plan, every primary school with more than 500 students would get a school hall and every high school with more than 900 students would get a hall or gymnasium.
As well, 200 toilet blocks would be upgraded, 200 new security fences would be installed and 800 science labs would be rebuilt.
Mr Iemma said 40 per cent of the projects would be in rural and regional areas.
On water, Mr Iemma promised to spend $130 million on a water recycling pipeline in western Sydney which would be used to supply water for non-drinking purposes.
On domestic violence, Mr Iemma said the government would provide 40 new specialist police to help make women and children safe.
He also promised Labor would give police more powers to crack down on domestic violence.
"I'm proud to announce that we will legislate a new offence of domestic violence, enshrining in law our collective revulsion against this crime," Mr Iemma said.
Mr Iemma said voters would have a choice at the election between his government, which wanted to improve services, and the coalition, led by Peter Debnam, which plans to abolish 20,000 public service positions.
"I know there's more to do, but we're heading firmly in the right direction," Mr Iemma said.
"This campaign presents a clear, stark choice.
"A choice that boils down to one question: who can working families rely to improve services and expand services?
"My government, that builds trade schools, opens GP centres and hires more police.
"Or an opposition who ... will sack 20,000 workers from our public services."
Australian Idol winner Damien Leith entertained the crowd with several songs before Mr Iemma arrived and the Premier and his wife Santina entered the auditorium to a recording of another Australian Idol winner, Shannon Noll singing Shine.
There was one minor technical glitch.
A video about Mr Iemma's life and political achievements stopped half way through and had to be replayed again from the start.
© 2007 AAP
February 18, 2007 - 12:14PM
www.smh.com.au/news/National/Iemma-makes-big-spending-promises/2007/02/18/1171733599556.html
NSW Premier Morris Iemma has unveiled his campaign for the March 24 state election, with big spending promises in the areas of education, water, domestic violence prevention and health.
Mr Iemma on Sunday addressed about 100 supporters and friends at the Civic Theatre at Hurstville, in south western Sydney.
Guests at the launch included his family, asbestos diseases campaigner Bernie Banton, and Carolyn Martin and Ron Delezio, the parents of burns survivor Sophie Delezio.
Mr Iemma said NSW needed "a way of governing where problems are identified, solutions found and plans became reality".
He said if re-elected the Labor government would spend $2 billion over four years on improving infrastructure in public schools.
"Today I can announce the biggest infrastructure program that public education has ever seen," he said.
Under the plan, every primary school with more than 500 students would get a school hall and every high school with more than 900 students would get a hall or gymnasium.
As well, 200 toilet blocks would be upgraded, 200 new security fences would be installed and 800 science labs would be rebuilt.
Mr Iemma said 40 per cent of the projects would be in rural and regional areas.
On water, Mr Iemma promised to spend $130 million on a water recycling pipeline in western Sydney which would be used to supply water for non-drinking purposes.
On domestic violence, Mr Iemma said the government would provide 40 new specialist police to help make women and children safe.
He also promised Labor would give police more powers to crack down on domestic violence.
"I'm proud to announce that we will legislate a new offence of domestic violence, enshrining in law our collective revulsion against this crime," Mr Iemma said.
Mr Iemma said voters would have a choice at the election between his government, which wanted to improve services, and the coalition, led by Peter Debnam, which plans to abolish 20,000 public service positions.
"I know there's more to do, but we're heading firmly in the right direction," Mr Iemma said.
"This campaign presents a clear, stark choice.
"A choice that boils down to one question: who can working families rely to improve services and expand services?
"My government, that builds trade schools, opens GP centres and hires more police.
"Or an opposition who ... will sack 20,000 workers from our public services."
Australian Idol winner Damien Leith entertained the crowd with several songs before Mr Iemma arrived and the Premier and his wife Santina entered the auditorium to a recording of another Australian Idol winner, Shannon Noll singing Shine.
There was one minor technical glitch.
A video about Mr Iemma's life and political achievements stopped half way through and had to be replayed again from the start.
© 2007 AAP