“Today’s leaked revelation that the Iemma Government has ordered its Ministers up to the Central Coast during the Olympic Games period (page 1 Sydney Morning Herald 1 August 2008) comes as no surprise”, Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, Chris Hartcher said today.

“People on the Central Coast have had enough of a Government that over promises and never delivers. At the last State Budget the Central Coast with 5% of the States population got only 2.5% of the States revenue.

“Again and again the Central Coast is simply taken for granted.

·         Gosford Hospital , a level 5 Hospital and therefore one of the most important in the State, has no public radiology service. It is in an ongoing financial crisis due to the draining of money into Royal North Shore Hospital since the forced amalgamation of Central Coast Area Health into the North Shore .

·         Central Coast roads are in constant gridlock. Despite a rushed announcement only 3 days before the last State Election by Premier Iemma that the West Gosford interchange Pacific Highway/Brisbane Water Drive would be upgraded, absolutely nothing has happened and the needed fly-over to Manns Rd is just an illusion.

 ·         The Government’s true attitude to Central Coast roads is shown in the fact that the Pacific Highway at  Somersby has still not been re-opened, 15 months after closure and Woy Woy Rd , the vital artery to the        Peninsula , is only open one way more than 3 months after its subsidence.

·         Kincumber Police Station is being sold off. Wyong Police Station has not been re-built. Terrigal and Woy Woy Police Stations are only semi-staffed.

·         Train services to the largest commuter area in Australia are over crowded, expensive and delayed. Central Coast commuters are still waiting for the promised new carriages that were announced for the Sydney Olympics, 8 years ago.

·         The Central Coast has been the victim of Labor’s power play and arrogance exemplified by power couple Belinda Neal and John Della Bosca. Everyone in Australia knows where Iguanas’ is thanks to the bad behaviour and bullying that took place there on June 6.

“This is a Government that is so inefficient that it allocated money for staff for Kincumber Fire Station in this years Budget, even though there is no Fire Station at Kincumber, nor is one under construction.

This is the Government that has told its Ministers to re-hash old announcements during the Beijing Olympic period to give the illusion of activity.

“The people of the Central Coast are not fools, even if Mr Iemma wants to treat them as fools. They will have their opportunity to pass their judgement on Labor on September 13 at the Local Government Elections”, Mr Hartcher said.

“Unless Government Ministers have a genuine offer to make, they should stay away and allow Central Coast voters to wait for polling day”, Mr Hartcher said.