Ballina MP criticises $1 billion Opera House refurbishment plan
Member for Ballina Don Page says he is appalled at the Rees Labor Government’s decision to spend $1 billion on refurbishing the Sydney Opera House.
“Since the State Labor Government’s mini-budget in November they have announced the closure of the Alstonville Tropical Horticulture Research Centre, the closure of the Vet Labs at Wollongbar Agricultural Centre, a two-year delay to the commencement of the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale section of the Pacific Highway and 400 jobs to be cut from the North Coast Area Health Service,” Mr Page said.
“These cuts to our region were justified by the State Labor Government due to a lack of funding and a need to cut costs in the current global financial crisis.
“Now the Rees Labor Government feels it is a priority to give the Opera House a facelift. How can they justify spending $1 billion on the Opera House when they can’t pay their bills for basic running costs in our hospitals?
“This is yet another example of the incompetent and out-of-touch State Labor Government.
“We are losing services at a frightening rate on the North Coast and very little is being spent by the State Labor Government on improving infrastructure.
“The decision to focus on the Sydney Opera House is another example of the city-centric attitude of the Rees Labor Government.
“In the current economic downturn jobs are vital to the regions. Action is urgently needed to reverse the current decreasing population of NSW.”
Mr Page said the latest ABS figures showed that in excess of 22,000 people had left NSW in the year to 30 September 2008 while Queensland increased their population by around the same figure
“Spending $1 billion on the Opera House won’t create a single job in regional NSW nor bring $1 into regional economies,” Mr Page said.
“The State Labor Government need to take urgent action to help the regions and stop focusing all of their attention on Sydney.”
March 27th, 2009 at 9:28 am
I absolutly agree, I was appauled, what a waste of money when there is so much dept & many other obvious needs.
March 27th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are Australia’s biggest Icons. Imagine the Eiffle Tower, Taj Mahal, Big Ben, Venice, Leaning Tower of Pisa, La Scala, Great Wall of China, and many other world icons, if they were neglected.
The Opera House brings millions of tourist dollars into Australia, which makes our financial dollar go around. To ignore it’s refurbishment would be criminal.
March 27th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
The Harbour Bridge and Opera House are only two of the things that tourists see and spend their dollar upon. They also see and use our transport system, our roads, hopefully not our hospital system, homeless people on park benches..horrors! Neglect? What happened to priorities? I rest my case.
April 7th, 2009 at 1:11 am
The Sydney Opera House is a massive drawcard for Australia, and the economic benefits of the tourists it entices are far reaching across the country. Yes – the health/ school/ transport systems are in need of a cash injection, but they will always need for funds in an ever increasing population. The SOH however urgently needs some repairs, not a ‘facelift’. A one-off spend to ensure that the building (home to many arts organisations catering for every type of entertainment) survives is hardly ‘appalling’. Come in and see a show – there is something for everyone! Don’t forget the health benefits of a smile….