State Infrastructure

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-120848

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

State Infrastructure

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (14:21:33):

I address a question to the Premier. Will the Premier update the House on what the New South Wales Government is doing to ensure that businesses and families can have confidence in our future?

Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET (EppingPremier) (14:21:47):

— That is a great question from the member for Oatley. He is a person who understands the importance of record infrastructure investment, because he has seen it firsthand. The previous dixer that I received concerned regional New South Wales, and I spoke about the bush. Now we are seeing investment in metropolitan Sydney. If we look at the wave of investment that has occurred since this Government came into office 10 years ago and inherited the $30 billion infrastructure backlog, it has constructed $154 billion of infrastructure right across the State. There is $108 billion of infrastructure investment planned over the next four years. That will be over one quarter of a trillion dollars invested in infrastructure. As the Treasurer has set out today, we have made record infrastructure investment from a strong budget position at record rates. Plus, there has been a substantive investment of $44 billion since the pandemic began to get people back into work and businesses open. Moody's have reaffirmed the triple-A credit rating for New South Wales.

Mr Anthony Roberts:

Triple-A Perrottet.

Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET:

Triple-A Perrottet; I thank the Minister. He is right on cue. They are creating rating agencies. Futures come in and with the first look at the books they say triple-A. S&P Global Ratings has rated New South Wales double-A plus, which is better than Victoria. When the Labor Government was in office it delivered deficits or vanity surpluses, without any investment in infrastructure. Take the Opposition's first question; it is running a campaign of fear and negativity against construction every step of the way. That is exactly the attitude that took New South Wales backwards. On the Government side, we are all about not just hope and optimism but building a brighter future for the people of our State. We know that building infrastructure can be a challenge but we are determined to get on with the job.

Mr Chris Minns:

Be happy about it. What is your problem?

Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET:

You built nothing in government. We have not just delivered strong surpluses leading into the pandemic but record infrastructure that ensures economic and jobs growth right across the State. That investment has instilled confidence in our people, as shown through consumer sentiment, consumer confidence at its highest levels and business confidence at record levels. Why is that important? It is because if businesses have confidence, they invest and that drives jobs and they employ more people. That is the Liberal‑Nationals way. That is why right across the board we will continue to invest to make a difference in people's lives.

Look at the work that has been occurring. This week I was out with the education Minister when we announced the first stage of curriculum reform and other substantive reform to ensure that our kids get back to basics as we light up the best education system in the country. I have spoken about the infrastructure backlog inherited from Labor, particularly the schools maintenance backlog. While we are building schools—we built 170 new and upgraded schools and we are building 200 more—Labor closed 90.

Ms Kate Washington:

Where is the Medowie high school?

Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET:

There is Bungendore in Monaro. That is another school that is going well. There are new primary schools in Tallawong and Riverstone. The member for Riverstone loves it. There is Canterbury South Public School. Where is the member for Canterbury? I thank the member for Canterbury, who wrote me a lovely, very articulate letter asking for the creation of a John Howard hall at the Canterbury Boys High School—delivered! I responded. That is how you work constructively with a government: You write lovely letters and you get lovely infrastructure.

Ms Sophie Cotsis:

The DA is still not in—a year later.

Mr DOMINIC PERROTTET:

We will build John Howard halls in all Opposition electorates, if they like. While Labor keeps failing, this Government will keep building a brighter future for the people of New South Wales.