Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The City of Gosford deserves a business, economic, infrastructure and cultural heart, and every single day I am fighting to help make this happen. Labor, on the other hand, is determined to mislead the people of the Central Coast as part of its own anti-jobs and anti-infrastructure agenda.

The former member for Robertson and now senator, Deborah O'Neill, has tabled motions in a feeble effort to attempt to sabotage the delivery of 600 federal jobs into the Gosford CBD. For a region where population growth is outstripping predictions, this is an extraordinary attempt to hold the Central Coast back for cheap political gain, at a time when we need more local jobs, sooner. The motions are also untrue. Labor claims a regional performing arts centre was 'earmarked' for the old Gosford Public School site. But the location of the centre was moved to the Gosford Memorial Park—and Labor knows this, because in 2013 and 2014, their own representative made very public statements that the performing arts centre would be on that site. Ultimately, the location is a matter for Gosford City Council. But we need the funding to help realise this dream. So I will continue to fight for the $10 million in funding to make this important civic attraction a reality.

Labor also makes allegations about government processes without checking the facts. The federal government is not buying this land or constructing a building. The federal government is leasing a building for 600 employees, which will deliver a massive boost to our local economy. Now is the time for Labor to stop its stunts and get behind the coalition's positive plans for Gosford. (Time expired)