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- 12 November 2003
Port Kembla Prostitution
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Page: 4788
The Hon. CATHERINE CUSACK [9.39 p.m.]: Earlier today a most disgraceful incident occurred in another place. We saw the Australian Labor Party at its bastard best. My colleague the member for Southern Highlands attempted to address the Parliament on a matter of urgent, intense interest to the women of New South Wales, and she was deliberately bludgeoned by the member for Kiama, a bully and a bigot whose verbal bashings—
The Hon. Peter Primrose: Point of order: Under the standing orders it is inappropriate for a member to reflect upon a member in another place other than by way of a substantive motion. I am happy for the honourable member to proceed but I believe it should be in accordance with the standing orders.
The DEPUTY-PRESIDENT (The Hon. Amanda Fazio): Order! I uphold the point of order. The Hon. Catherine Cusack may proceed. However, I remind her that imputations against the member for Kiama can be made only by way of a substantive motion, and not during the adjournment debate.
The Hon. CATHERINE CUSACK: My colleague Peta Seaton was prevented from airing her important and pressing information about illegal brothels in the Illawarra. It is a sad day when that happens. I want to share with the House the issues that my colleague was prevented from airing. The issue concerns an SOS sent out today by Port Kembla businesses desperate to stop illegal street prostitution. I quote the words of my colleague:
The President of the Port Kembla Chamber has said the Premier's Department has not produced an acceptable solution to the problem of illegal brothels.
Clearly, the Carr Government has failed to do what is necessary to support businesses and protect exploited women.
Mrs Bryant sent my colleague proof—highly disturbing photographs of examples of the problems that are facing the people of Port Kembla, problems too big for the few but hardworking social workers. The photographs show makeshift tents and cardboard humpies, one with a person inside who appears to be a young woman lying on a filthy mattress on the ground, the area strewn with wine casks and rubbish—her shelter is a plastic curtain—and a stairwell with refuse, including what seems to be human faeces. Is this the street where sex workers conduct their trade? This is the filthy underworld of drugs, illegal sex work and exploitation of people at their lowest ebb in life—people who Jeanette Bryant says are drug dependent and suffering from mental illness. Anyone can see that these women are at risk. Today's Illawarra Mercury reports an arson attack only yesterday on a cardboard squat in Military Lane where sex prostitutes live, and the possible identification of an allegedly murdered woman's body as a missing local prostitute.
The effect on legitimate business is appalling. Businesses are struggling and facing vandalism, antisocial behaviour, graffiti and broken shop windows. Why have the Premier and the Minister for the Illawarra not solved the problem? Because they take this area for granted. What exactly has happened with the $330,000 of taxpayers' money that the Premier's Department boasts has been spent on the big problem in Port Kembla and other towns? Perhaps it is being used to pay for the tents and mattresses. Is this what the Strengthening Local Communities Strategy is all about?
My colleague sought to hear from Government members exactly what the taxpayer-funded main street project in Port Kembla has achieved. Mr Gino Mandarino—who, I hear, continues to have his eye on preselection for Throsby—has been paid $50,000 to run this program. Where are the accountabilities for taxpayers' funds on this project? Why do the Premier and the Minister for the Illawarra refuse to allow an independent audit of the $50,000 Port Kembla main street project—courtesy of the New South Wales taxpayer—which was administered by a board that then included Mr Neville Hilton and Mr Neville Despotovski, both of whom are now facing charges for alleged offences including under-age prostitution and illegal firearms?
If a woman or a 13-year-old child forced into prostitution is faced with this scene as a place to live, they might fall prey to people enticing them into illegal brothels. Why is there a cover-up by the Premier and the Minister on how taxpayers' money has been spent? It is simple: taxpayers' money has been spent yet illegal prostitutes are still living and working in these conditions, and businesses are crying out for help. My colleague is answering the call for help today and will offer to meet with local concerned shop owners, including Mrs Bryant, to address the Carr Government's neglect of this problem, because the Carr Government will not. Because the Carr Government has done nothing to fix the problem dozens of shops at Port Kembla have closed, the lives and health of sex workers and drug addicts are at risk, and the good work of many genuine business people who want to see Port Kembla restored is being wasted.
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