Government Performance

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-129665

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

Government Performance

Mr MARK COURE (OatleyMinister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Seniors) (11:56:02):

— Daylight is getting longer, the weather has started to get warmer and the year is drawing to a close, so what better way to end the final week of Parliament in 2022 than by reflecting on some of the New South Wales Government's achievements over the past of four years. I take this opportunity to congratulate my colleagues on both sides of the House for an extremely rewarding year. While we may have our differences, we all strive to achieve the same goal: to make our communities a better place in which to live, work and raise a family. I wish everyone in my electorate an enjoyable and restful Christmas and New Year period.

With the next State election fast approaching, there has never been a better time to remind ourselves and the people of New South Wales of some of the incredible achievements of this Government over the past four years. While certainly there have been challenges throughout that period, we have continued to foster a stronger economy and even stronger communities to ensure that New South Wales remains the best State in the country. Young families especially will be pleased about the First Home Buyer Choice scheme established by legislation that recently passed this Parliament. This fantastic initiative will offer first home buyers a choice between paying a small annual property payment or up-front stamp duty on properties up to $1.5 million, thereby bringing thousands of young families closer to realising their dream of owning their first home.

This year there has been a wealth of investment to secure our future as the strongest State in the country. The recent ban on single-use plastic items took effect on 1 November 2022 and is set to stop 2.6 billion single‑use items from entering our natural environments and waterways. The New South Wales Government's $356 million commitment over the next five years to tackle the problem of harmful plastics is a true game changer in protecting our environment. Recently we announced the newly slated pharmacy reforms, which will enable people within our communities to access medication and vaccines without having to first visit their GP, giving people more choice when it comes to their health.

With so many of our communities across the State relying on local pharmacies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to receive their vaccines and boosters, we know that pharmacies and our pharmacists play an incredible role in supporting our community. These reforms will not only ease the burden on our GPs but also make processes quicker and easier for those who require more specialised care. The COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most difficult challenges that our country has faced over the past four years. We owe a debt of gratitude to our frontline workers, who bravely supported us all throughout this difficult period. We have also continued to support our local communities across the State over the past four years. In the Oatley electorate, the New South Wales Government has backed a number of key infrastructure projects, making a real difference to our local community.

One of my favourite things to talk about is St George Hospital. If members follow my Facebook page or receive my newsletters, they will know that we recently announced stage three of the massive $411 million allocation to St George Hospital. That announcement brings the total investment for St George Hospital to over $740 million since we came to government in 2011. St George Hospital is the crowning jewel of southern Sydney, providing the very best care to local residents when they need it most. The Government has also ensured that that every school in the electorate of Oatley has received an upgrade over the past four years. This includes a $45 million upgrade to Penshurst Public School.

Mrs Leslie Williams:

Wow!

Mr MARK COURE:

Wow! That is exactly right. That is what they are saying. That funded the construction of 47 brand new classrooms, a new library, hall and playground. These upgrades complement our statewide investment to introduce universal prekindergarten for all children in New South Wales, set to be fully introduced before the end of the decade. I close the door on another parliamentary year by saying thank you to the people of Oatley for all their support. I thank my staff, my wife, Adlar, eight-year-old James and a new addition to our family, who has just turned three, Sammy. I truly believe our local area is the best place to live, work and raise a family. I wish everyone in my electorate a very merry Christmas and happy New Year.