Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) Western Sydney is the third largest economy in Australia behind the Sydney central business district and Melbourne; and

(b) the Western Sydney Airport opening in 2026 will create thousands of jobs, inject billions into the economy and support the continued growth of Western Sydney; and

(2) commends the Government:

(a) for investing nearly $2 billion extra in Western Sydney transport infrastructure, including 14 new projects and additional funding for two existing projects;

(b) for investing a total of $17.3 billion for infrastructure projects to support the growth of Western Sydney and the development of the new Western Sydney Airport; and

(c) on opening the new Moorebank Interstate Terminal, which will deliver thousands of local jobs in Western Sydney and ease congestion by removing more than 3,000 trucks off Sydney roads per day.

Western Sydney is the third-largest economy behind Sydney CBD and Melbourne in Australia, but for far too long the residents of our suburbs have paid the price, living with congestion and traffic jams, and no sewerage or parks. Our communities have been left behind. We've been subjected to underinvestment by successive state and federal coalition governments, with nothing more than press releases and photo-ops for announcements that never materialised.

This has changed dramatically since 2022. Western Sydney finally has a government that will deliver for our region. Most recently, the Albanese government announced a substantial infrastructure package for Western Sydney, with funding allocated in the most recent budget. The announcement committed $1.9 billion towards 14 new projects and additional funding for two existing projects. The new projects invest all over Western Sydney, including Mamre Road, Mulgoa Road, Elizabeth Drive, Garfield Road, Memorial Avenue and Appin Road. These projects will deliver much-needed upgrades to these congested roads. Further, the announcement on 6 May also committed $20 million to partner with the New South Wales government to expand the scope of the south-west rail planning business case to include consideration of expanding the line to the Macarthur region, something that I and the member for Macarthur have been calling for, for eight years. The Albanese government has also committed an additional $147.5 million to new planning projects and $70 million in additional Australian government funding for existing projects. Overall, it's a very impressive package that delivers for our community at a time when it most needs it. Our region has suffered from underinvestment for a decade, and this package, which is in addition to other investments, will go a long way to addressing our region's needs. It will keep our region moving during the current economic boom.

The most recent announcement builds on other investments in other projects, specifically in the electorate of Werriwa. That includes the Western Sydney airport, which is on track to open in 2026 and has already created 4,300 direct jobs during its construction. Half of those jobs are going to residents who live in Western Sydney. By having their work closer to where they live, it means they can get home to be with their families more quickly. The airport has also met its targets for employing a percentage of First Nations and CALD Australians, encouraging and creating greater on-the-job training and skills. Thousands more jobs will be created as the airport begins operating, creating more jobs for locals close to home—jobs that will be accessed by the new toll-free M12 motorway, another piece of infrastructure being delivered by the Albanese Labor government. The new motorway is currently 50 per cent complete and on track to open with the new airport, creating billions in economic activity and ensuring residents spend less time on the road and more with their families.

I also think of the recent opening of the additional commuter car park at Edmondson Park station and the commitment by the New South Wales Labor government to build a lift at Macquarie Fields railway station. The former not only meets today's commuter needs, but adds 2,000 carparks to Edmondson Park, a growing suburb in my electorate. And the latter, the final upgrade of Macquarie Fields railway station, is about righting injustices. The previous Liberal state government refused to address, over its decade in office, the fact that nobody could use that railway station if they had a pram or if they were elderly, because the 75 stairs up and down made catching a train just impossible for them.

On both of these matters, I'd like to give a particular shoutout my state colleague, the Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong, the member for Macquarie Fields. He has worked alongside us with petitions and speaking to residents to make sure that both of these infrastructure projects became a reality. Community needs change, and so do governments. The government was elected to deliver, and after years of media releases and years of inertia and years of empty promises, the people of Werriwa in south-western Sydney will get the infrastructure they deserve.

See this speech in context