Private Members' Statement
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) (18:02) — My constituents rely greatly on trust.
They rightfully take people at their word, choosing to believe others will offer them the proper respect of not breaking a promise.
I am disappointed that this Liberal Government has taken that trust for granted.
Actually, I am appalled that this Liberal Government has kicked dirt in the faces of my constituents.
For years this Liberal Government has ignored the plight of commuters in Edmondson Park.
Then with last year's election looming, the Liberal Government suddenly acknowledged there was a problem.
Labor had already led the way in south-west Sydney, committing to a new car park in April 2018. The Liberal Government was very late to the party. They had to be seen to be doing something about the parking crisis. They promised 700 extra car parking spaces, with construction to start in 2019.
But by the end of last year the only activity at Edmondson Park Station was the sound of crickets. Construction had not started. Plans were not released. Only a measly sum was allocated in the State budget for planning for a new car park. The budget failed to allocate the estimated $40 million needed to build the car park.
I tried in vain to get answers from this Government.
I wrote letter after letter to the Minister asking for progress updates. I asked questions on notice. My constituents continued to sign my petition calling for an end to the car parking crisis. No further details on the new car park were forthcoming.
It became quite clear that the Liberal Government had broken its election promise—no-one was really surprised.
After all, this Liberal Government spent years ignoring the problem. Why should anyone believe it would make good on its promise?
With one broken election promise under its wing, this Liberal Government tried to save face.
The Member for Holsworthy took to social media to announce the old plans were out the window and now 2,000 spaces would be built.
In other words, the Government tried to distract from the fact that it broke one promise by committing to an even bigger promise.
Quite rightly, my constituents will welcome more parking spaces at Edmondson Park station.
We have fought a long, hard, great campaign to get this Liberal Government to fix the parking crisis. But, of course, there is always a catch.
Frustrated commuters have had to wait years for the parking spaces to be built. My constituents are rightly pulling their hair out in frustration.
They needed action years ago but they have received nothing but empty promises.
Commuters have been promised that a temporary car park will be open by mid-2020, but the details on this temporary car park are somewhat scarce.
How many spaces will be available? Where will it be built? When will the temporary car park be ready for use? Again, the commuters in south-west Sydney are left with more questions than answers.
The only thing commuters can be sure of is that this Liberal Government derailed its original promise to start construction on a new car park in 2019.
The Liberal Government gave my constituents its word that it would fix the car parking crisis, with work to begin last year. It broke that promise.
The truth is that the Liberal Government continues to delay building simple infrastructure for our community whilst collecting millions in stamp duty from local residents.
The reality is that under this Liberal Government the commuter car parking crisis at Edmondson Park will continue because it continually proves it cannot be trusted to keep its word.
