Ms ANGELA D'AMORE (Drummoyne) [3.36 p.m.]: I move:

That this House:

(1) applauds the Iemma Government for the second State Infrastructure Strategy 2008-09 to 2017-18, which outlines capital projects in New South Wales over the next 10 years;

(2) congratulates the New South Wales Government on investing over $140 billion in new and upgraded infrastructure over the next 10 years, which is the largest capital investment in Australian history;

(3) notes that the State Infrastructure Strategy is about investing in our transport, water, health, law and order, education and energy capital works to underpin improved access to services and make our State more accessible to business; and

(4) notes that the Opposition went to the last election without any infrastructure policies and that nothing has changed.

As a government we have a responsibility to plan for the future. The Government has a responsibility to provide infrastructure to enable the economy to grow, and to support working families in our growing suburbs and towns. The second State Infrastructure Strategy released last week outlines $140 billion in capital projects in the coming decade. This strategy is a rolling 10-year report, which is updated every two years, to plan and fund the infrastructure that supports economic growth and the services that the Government delivers. It is about investing in our transport, water, health, law and order, education and energy capital works to underpin improved government services and support business and economic activity.

The State Infrastructure Strategy forms a link between the infrastructure plans detailed in each State budget, the 10-year State Plan and the 25-year Metropolitan and Regional Strategies. It is about clearly mapping out the Government's future infrastructure requirements to provide certainty to the community, the private sector, and local government. A major new project since the first State Infrastructure Strategy was released two years ago is the $12 million Euro-style North West Metro. This new mode of transport for the city will run 38 kilometres from the central business district to the city's growth areas in the north-west. The North West Metro will be completed in the next 10 years and will cut travel times for commuters by more than 40 minutes.

My constituents are very excited about the prospect of having a Metro running under the suburb of Drummoyne. The Metro will deliver commuters into the city in a journey that is expected to take about nine minutes. This investment will complement the existing projects to create strategic bus corridors and work to further relieve urban congestion. This will include a morning and afternoon peak bus, a tidal flow traffic scheme in Drummoyne and additional lanes for the Iron Cove Bridge. As the population grows so does the demand for more services and infrastructure to ease urban congestion and transport bottlenecks. This is a national issue: it is not confined to New South Wales.

Mr John Williams: Point of order: The member for Drummoyne is reading from copious notes.

Ms ANGELA D'AMORE: No, they are points.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The member for Drummoyne may refer to copious notes.

Ms ANGELA D'AMORE: The Iemma Government will work with the Federal Government to ensure that an appropriate portion of the $20 billion Infrastructure Australia Fund goes to addressing these issues in our cities. In the meantime, both the State and Federal governments have committed to funding a feasibility study for a Western Metro to run from the city towards Parramatta. The State Infrastructure Strategy also plans for the M4 East extension and a feasibility study into increasing the capacity of the M5 East corridor. Other highlights include: $1.36 billion for a south-west rail link that will connect Glenfield to Leppington by 2012; $3.6 billion for 626 new air-conditioned rail cars to be progressively introduced by 2010; $222 million for more than 400 new buses for delivery by 2012; $1.9 billion for the Sydney desalination plant set to start operation in 2010; and $3.9 billion for the Pacific Highway upgrade to 2009.

The State Infrastructure Strategy will also see the construction of or upgrades to more than 15 hospitals, 51 schools, 27 TAFE facilities and 17 police stations, as well as funding for planning. This is the most ambitious capital expenditure program ever undertaken by an Australian government and sets up the State to meet future challenges. The New South Wales population is expected to grow by 600,000 people by 2018. Sydney and the Central Coast are expected to account for about 70 per cent of that population growth, and planning for that is included in the State Infrastructure Strategy. The Iemma Government is embracing technological change in areas such as education. The State Infrastructure Strategy reflects technological change, with investment in projects such as Connected Classrooms and increased levels of home and community care for illnesses such as cancer. We are investing record amounts in industry and commercial developments, such as the expansion of the coal sector in the Hunter Valley, container trade in Port Botany and setting aside adequate land zoned for industrial and commercial use. The State Infrastructure Strategy also incorporates renewal and revitalisation of infrastructure in areas such as Homebush, which is near my electorate, South Sydney and the Newcastle waterfront. We are setting the right environment for the national emissions trading scheme, which is to be introduced by 2010.

The State Infrastructure Strategy is a comprehensive plan for the future of New South Wales. It follows on a State budget that delivers record spending in services and infrastructure, $3.6 billion in tax cuts and the thirteenth consecutive surplus. That is something the Opposition could only ever dream of. In 2008-09 alone the State's annual capital spending will reach $13.9 billion—the highest ever by a New South Wales Government. We are proud of that achievement. In real terms, this investment is 70 per cent higher than the investment five years ago and more than twice the level in the mid 1990s. Over the next four years the State's capital expenditure will total $57.6 billion, which is 58 per cent more than in the previous four years. Since 2004-05 capital expenditure has been increasing at an annual compounded rate of 19 per cent per year. Since 1995 the Labor Government has spent $102.6 billion on infrastructure, or $7.9 billion a year in real terms. The Coalition Government spent $42.2 billion on infrastructure. That is $6 billion a year in real terms. The State Infrastructure Strategy demonstrates the Iemma Government's commitment to delivering the right environment for people to live and work in New South Wales now and into the future.

Mr BRAD HAZZARD (Wakehurst) [3.42 p.m.]: What a joke! The Government has been in office since 1995. When did it finally wake up to the fact that the State was falling apart? When did it finally wake up to the fact that schools and hospitals were not being maintained, that not enough schools and hospitals were being built and that transport services were not being provided? There are 600 buses sitting in a shed waiting to be put on the roads, when people throughout New South Wales are desperate for public transport. What about the Tcard system? The performance of the Minister for Transport has turned out to be a farce. Today in the House we have the Z team led by the member for Drummoyne who, in the run-up to the last State election, knew very well that schools in her electorate were not being maintained.

Ms Angela D'Amore: That is not true, Brad.

Mr BRAD HAZZARD: She did know that, and she did absolutely nothing.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member for Drummoyne will cease interjecting.

Mr BRAD HAZZARD: One of the public schools in her electorate asked me to visit as the shadow Minister for Education. It was desperate for attention. The Government had not delivered on its promises. The member for Drummoyne is utterly useless in her electorate, and she has been sent into the House today with a prepared speech to laud an utterly useless Government. I move an amendment to the motion:

That all words after "That this House" be deleted and the following words substituted:

condemns the State Labor Government for failing to provide infrastructure required by the residents of New South Wales.

Not one resident in New South Wales would be satisfied with the State's infrastructure. When people go to their local hospital they know that the infrastructure is so poor the chances are they will not receive the service they require.

[Interruption]

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wakehurst is entitled to speak without interruption.

Mr BRAD HAZZARD: I am enjoying the cacophony of buffoonery coming from the Z team. They really are hopeless. It is safer to have them here than in their offices, because they are all conspiring against the poor, dithering Premier, who has not provided the infrastructure.

Mr David Harris: Point of order: The member for Wakehurst is being argumentative. He has nothing to say, so he tries to coax a reaction and get some information he can use.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wakehurst is entitled to put forward his point of view. I remind him to keep his remarks relevant to the motion and the amendment.

Mr BRAD HAZZARD: It is uplifting to have that point of order taken. I refer to an issue that typifies the failings of the Government. On the northern beaches, indeed across New South Wales, people are desperately waiting for ready access to dialysis services. People with kidney failure suffer in agony. They tend to be over the age of 50, often in their 70s and 80s.

Ms Angela D'Amore: And younger.

Mr BRAD HAZZARD: Less frequently. They often have diabetes and multifactorial symptoms, and other issues. The Government has repeatedly made promises to provide dialysis in accessible centres. For example, only two years ago the people on the northern beaches were promised six dialysis beds at Mona Vale Hospital. Last week a gentleman of about 80 years of age came to my office and said, " Mr Hazzard, all I want to know is, are they going to provide these six dialysis beds?" He was not being political. He was not jumping up and down about the Labor Party. All he wanted was access to this service. He explained to me how long it takes him and his elderly wife to get ready and be driven to the service, which is 1½ hours away. Then after four to five hours of dialysis, he and his wife make the return journey. I put on the record that it is time the Government realised that the infrastructure it has failed to deliver across New South Wales translates in real terms to the diminution of and impingement, severely in many cases, on people's capacity to enjoy and live their lives. It is not a joke or a farce.

Recently I received a letter from a lady about Bathurst Hospital. She wrote to me that the member for Bathurst, who is not in the Chamber, had not responded to her correspondence. We have all read about the issues at Bathurst Hospital. This lady, who lives in the immediate vicinity of the hospital, is concerned about noise levels and is unable to sleep. She cannot get a response from the Government. She said in her letter to me that she had been a lifelong supporter of the Labor Party and she could not believe that the Government did not listen to people's concerns. According to the Government, the Education portfolio currently has a backlog of $82 million in maintenance. I suspect it is more like $120 million, as identified by the Auditor-General a couple of years ago. In transport, 600 buses have never made it onto the road. The Tcard system was promised year after year, but it has never been delivered—we do not have an integrated ticketing system. The Government promised to provide a host of police stations and to refurbish police stations in Labor-held electorates such as Kiama. Whether it is in the portfolio of police, education, health or transport, the Government has failed miserably. It is hard to listen to the member for Drummoyne lauding the Government in the House. As I said at the outset, the Government did not have an infrastructure plan until two years ago. Now it is unlikely that most aspects of the infrastructure plan will be delivered. It is impossible for the Opposition to support the motion.

Dr ANDREW McDONALD (Macquarie Fields) [3.49 p.m.]: The reason I entered politics is simple: only Labor governments will deliver the necessary infrastructure for the people of south-west Sydney. The $150 billion 10-year State Infrastructure Strategy details the Government's commitment to the largest capital outlay program in the State's history. Our communities in Sydney's west will benefit significantly from investments in transport, education, law and order, water and health. Two weeks ago the State budget provided $2.2 billion for Sydney's west to fund key infrastructure projects over the next year. This included $317 million for Western Sydney roads, $120 million for Western Sydney water recycling and $160 million for housing for those most in need.

The Western Sydney health infrastructure also received a big boost in the budget, with $106 million to continue the major redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital—I was there only yesterday to count the bulldozers—and more than $50 million for the construction of a new hospital on the existing Auburn Hospital site. The budget revealed that the Iemma Government's infrastructure investment over the next four years would total $57.6 billion. The State Infrastructure Strategy gives us a glimpse even further into the future. By 2018 there will be 600,000 more people in the State and the percentage of people aged over 65—including the member for Wakehurst—will increase by 3.7 per cent to 17.4 per cent. Meeting the demands of our ageing population—mainly those on the Liberal benches—will include increasing capital expenditure in health, housing and transport. For this reason, the 10-year blueprint will see further major redevelopment at Westmead and Nepean hospitals, and new ambulance stations at Auburn and Liverpool. There are plans for new respite centres and accommodation for the aged and disabled.

To revitalise our social housing stock, the aim is to build high-quality accommodation in the right locations, with a focus on the elderly and the disabled. For example, the Minto Estate will be redeveloped in stages into approximately 1,200 new dwellings, of which 30 per cent will be social housing and 70 per cent private housing. The Western Sydney Recycled Water Initiative will provide recycled water via dual reticulation to all new homes to be built in new suburbs in Sydney's north-west and south-west. Last week I was at Glenfield with the Minister for Water to check out the dual reticulation in the new homes.

Mr Brad Hazzard: Was that exciting?

Dr ANDREW McDONALD: It was great fun. In transport the major project will be the $1.3 billion south-west rail link to connect Glenfield to Leppington by 2012. This is the most ambitious capital expenditure program ever undertaken by an Australian government and will ensure New South Wales will be well placed to meet the future challenges of a growing and ageing population.

Mr ROB STOKES (Pittwater) [3.52 p.m.]: I support the amendment moved by my colleague and friend the member for Wakehurst. Quite frankly, I am astounded that the Government has moved this motion. It shows that Government members have their heads completely buried in the sand. They do not realise how bad things are in our communities. If they were to go out and experience the impacts of congestion and chronic underinvestment on our local communities, they would see then why these promises seem so empty. I know we have been told that the State Infrastructure Strategy is a good thing, but I refer to page 33 of the last manifestation of this policy:

An integrated ticketing system for the greater metropolitan and public transport system will be gradually phased in starting in 2006-07. This will provide commuters with the convenience of a single card for travel on all government and privately owned rail, bus and ferry services.

This document is not worth the paper it is written on: that promise was never delivered. Instead, $95 million has been wasted on developing the strategy plus whatever was spent producing these glossy brochures. It is just a disgrace. Another infrastructure policy was promised in the document. I refer to page 65.75 where the Government promised that The Spit Bridge and approaches would be widened by two lanes: a $59 million promise not delivered. The Government did a total backflip, and the widening was never undertaken. I refer to a couple of projects in the new strategy to see whether we can believe what it says. In the previous strategy we were promised a new northern beaches hospital. In this strategy it is called the Northern Beaches Strategy. A footnote says:

These projects are not yet approved but form part of the $140 million State Infrastructure Strategy.

If it is not yet approved why is it in the strategy document? What does this mean? If we go by the previous policy, it means the future promises are worthless and it is just an exercise in the tsunami of spin that emanates from this Government. It is quite deceitful to raise the community's expectations that these projects will be delivered, only for the community to discover that the projects were never going to be delivered in the first place. I point to another example from my community of Pittwater. We were told in the last State Infrastructure Strategy that Mona Vale Road would be widened. Yet we see in the latest manifestation of the infrastructure strategy on page 83.24, "Mona Vale Road upgrade", followed by a footnote:

These projects are not yet approved but form part of the $140 billion State Infrastructure Strategy.

In other words, these projects are not approved; these are just glossy diagrams on glossy documents to falsely raise expectations. We need change in this State.

Mr DAVID HARRIS (Wyong) [3.55 p.m.]: Last week the Iemma Government announced the largest capital outlay program in the State's history. The $140 billion State Infrastructure Strategy is a testament to the forward planning prowess of the Government. It maps out future priorities for areas across New South Wales, including investments we have already committed to in this year's budget. I am pleased to see that people living on the Central Coast will benefit significantly from the Iemma Government's massive infrastructure investment. Projects on the Central Coast include upgrades of local transport infrastructure through a commitment of $4.7 million towards the expansion of interchanges at Woy Woy and Tuggerah and $18 million to upgrade sections of the F3 to implement our traffic emergency plan.

Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: The member should know he was promised $22 million for upgrades five years ago and he never got that either.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order. The member for Wakehurst will resume his seat.

Mr DAVID HARRIS: And the State Infrastructure Strategy goes further, foreshadowing additional future investments in transport facilities at Tuggerah and Woy Woy to build on this budget's investment in their expansion. Capital investments will be made also to support the delivery of first-class health facilities on the Central Coast. This year's budget allocated $5.93 million to complete the redevelopment of Gosford and Wyong hospitals and $8.3 million for the Mandala mental health unit. This will deliver six new acute beds at Gosford Hospital and 20 hospital beds at Wyong. The State's 10-year blueprint also outlines further work to these facilities, including important car park and access investments at Gosford Hospital.

Central Coast students and their parents will benefit also, not only from capital outlays committed to over the next four years, but also from our 10-year plan, which includes a new school at Kariong Mountains and upgrade works at Gorokan High School, Lisarow High School, Jilliby Public School and Pretty Beach Public School. There will be a new gymnasium at Gorokan High School; an upgrade of facilities at nine Central Coast public schools; and the provision of four new classrooms, an administration area and a library at Pretty Beach Public School. The Central Coast population is increasing, which is why we are committed to the delivery of essential water and electricity infrastructure for Central Coast families. This includes the $379 million Tillegra Dam project for the lower Hunter and Central Coast, and a further $400 million will be spent on energy-related capital works on the Central Coast—part of this Government's commitment to own and maintain all electricity infrastructure.

The State Infrastructure Strategy outlines our 10-year commitment to Central Coast motorists. In fact, wherever one goes on the Central Coast roadworks are underway. These include $18 million in the current budget to continue upgrading the Pacific Highway at Ourimbah and Tuggerah; $15 million for planning and preconstruction of the Central Coast Highway upgrades; and more money for upgrading the Central Coast Highway intersection at Woy Woy Road, Brisbane Water Drive and Manns Road. I could go on and on. With such an extensive road infrastructure upgrade program on the Central Coast, motorists can be assured that the New South Wales Government is delivering on its State Plan commitment to deliver better services.

Ms ANGELA D'AMORE (Drummoyne) [3.58 p.m.], in reply: I thank the member for Macquarie Fields and the member for Wyong and Opposition members—the member for Wakehurst and the member for Pittwater—for their contributions to the debate. It is always wonderful to hear the Opposition speak of doom and gloom. As usual, the member for Wakehurst can never bring himself to acknowledge the capital investment the State Government is ensuring in this State. Although outside this Chamber I believe him to be a reasonable person, I tend not to see him as reasonable when he is in the Chamber. I thank the member for Macquarie Fields for outlining how this infrastructure strategy is helping Sydney's west, with $2.6 billion for the west and $370 million for roads.

We know how important it is to upgrade and build new roads in the outer west, especially given the establishment of new suburbs that are attracting more people. The $160 million the member for Macquarie Fields outlined for housing is a major win for our local community. We know how important it is to implement affordable housing strategies. The people of the outer west and the south-west will welcome that $160 million. It will go a long way in assisting people to move into affordable housing. The member for Macquarie Fields also spoke about the $106 million that will be spent on the major redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital, which is a fantastic hospital. Concord Repatriation Hospital is in my electorate and, like all members, I always look forward to expenditure on that type of capital infrastructure to ensure not only that we have state-of-the-art facilities but also that our doctors and nurses work in good hospitals that can provide good health care in times of need.

The member also mentioned new respite centres for the elderly. We certainly welcome those centres. He also mentioned the fantastic Minto redevelopment and the $1.3 billion that will be spent on the south-west link connecting Glenfield to Leppington by 2012. The member for Macquarie Fields has outlined a number of fantastic projects and the member for Wyong mentioned the $4.7 million expansion of interchanges and the upgrade of the F3.

The member for Pittwater criticised the upgrade of The Spit Bridge. He opposed that project during the election campaign, so it is a bit rich for him to oppose it now. It demonstrates that he does not have much to talk about. He is a relatively new member, so I will cut him a bit of slack. However, he should review the position he took on The Spit Bridge as a candidate and his position now that he is a member. He might consider revisiting that issue. I commend the Government for its major capital investment in New South Wales. Members on this side look forward to that investment.

Question—That the words stand—put.

The House divided.


Question resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment negatived.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

The House divided.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.