Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) (12:59): I am pleased to speak in debate on this important motion moved by my good friend for member for Campbelltown. I endorse the comments of my friend the member for Wollongong about this Liberal-Nationals Government's poor record of unfair treatment of people in south-west Sydney. This Government has been overpromising and under-delivering. It would come as little surprise to learn that the member for Campbelltown and I face many of the same issues in our electorates, not the least of which is inadequate and unfair public transport services. We know about those things only too well as we are both regular train commuters to this place on sitting days and for meetings. Further, at our early morning train station mobile offices commuters make clear to us the kind of second-rate treatment they receive from this Liberal‑Nationals Government.
For too long commuters in south-west Sydney have suffered, especially in summer when temperatures soar. It is simply unacceptable and totally unfair that after a long day's work or study people are forced to travel for an hour or more in what is essentially a crowded oven. It is inhumane and adds unnecessary stress and discomfort for commuters who have already had a long day. What is the Government's response to this situation? It is spin and excuses. Government members are the undisputed grand spin-doctoring champions. In a press release on this issue as Minister for Transport the now Premier said:
For too long customers have complained about travelling in trains without air-conditioning ... and I am now pleased that the days of sitting in a hot train in the summer or a cold train in the winter are over.
She said that those days were over with such confidence—maybe not. They are certainly not over for the people of south-west Sydney. As Minister for Transport, the Premier said in the same press release that the completion of the rollout meant that 100 per cent of timetabled Sydney Trains services were air-conditioned. Not content with that, she went on to say that the Government was "making travel even more comfortable for all our customers and ensuring 100 per cent of services are air-conditioned." The phrase "100 per cent" is unambiguous; it means all trains will be air-conditioned without fail.
Our commuters can see through this Government's spin and excuses. They know only too well the feeling of being crammed in a crowded, non-air conditioned carriage in midsummer. They know only too well that under this Government there is no solution in sight. Commuters from Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields only ever ask for their fair share and a fair go. They expect nothing less and they demand nothing more. Adequate public transport services are a right, not a privilege to be enjoyed only by those on the north Sydney or eastern suburbs lines. After a long day of work or study all that our commuters want is to be treated with respect and provided with a more pleasant journey home.
Unfortunately, this Government has lost its way; it picks winners and losers. The commuters of south‑west Sydney are certainly the losers. The motion moved by my friend and colleague the member for Campbelltown goes to the heart of this Government's failure. This Government fails at every level to deliver the services the public needs. It does not care about or listen to south-west Sydney residents. It excels at producing press releases that make claims but not delivering. I commend the motion moved by the member for Campbelltown and call on the Government to help our commuters.
