For Labor in NSW, 2011 has been our annus horribilis. Labor members dusted themselves off from the election defeat and wondered what next. Here are my five thoughts for Labor as we turn the corner into 2012:

1.   The NSW Policy Forumwill shape what Labor Governments in NSW will seek to do. The Forum must be open, it must be transparent and it must be prepared to test and develop new ideas. Nothing should be off the table, but what finally is included must be rigorous, evidence based and the policy must resonate with people beyond the usual suspects.

2.   Community preselections are a way of involving more people and reaching out to supporters of Labor in our communities. The Party must work hard and put adequate resources into making sure we get this right.

3.   Direct election gives real power to party members and should be expanded. Direct election gave me the second opportunity in 22 years of party membership to actually cast a vote for candidates...and it was online. We need more.

Thursday, 15 December 2011

O'FARRELL INCREASES PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES BY 5.4 PER CENT
$156 EXTRA FOR PENRITH COMMUTERS EACH YEAR

The O'Farrell Government's decision to increase public transport fares by a massive 5.4 per cent from next month is a slap in the face for commuters, Shadow Transport Minister, Penny Sharpe said today.

"The O'Farrell Government is sending public transport fares skyrocketing for hundreds of thousands of commuters in NSW," Ms Sharpe said.

"The O'Farrell Government's fare increase will cost the average Penrith commuter travelling to the City each week an extra $156 per year.

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson
Monday, 5 December 2011

PREMIER UNDERMINED BY CITIZEN'S JURY - GREINER RUNNING THE SHOW
O'FARRELL SAYS GREINER "HAS HAD BETTER IDEAS"

Premier Barry O'Farrell and his Infrastructure NSW Chair, Nick Greiner have fallen out over plans for a citizen's jury to decide on what infrastructure projects to build and fund – with the Premier arguing Mr Greiner "has had better ideas".

"Barry O'Farrell has been undermined by his own Chair of Infrastructure NSW, Nick Greiner with his plan to develop a citizen's jury to decide on what infrastructure projects to build and how to fund them," Opposition Leader, John Robertson said today.

"The Premier's comment that Nick Greiner "has had better ideas" says it all.

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

O'FARRELL SHIRKS PUBLIC TRANSPORT DECISIONS FOR ANOTHER 12 MONTHS

The self-proclaimed 'Infrastructure Premier' Barry O'Farrell has put off making any decisions about public transport for a full 12 months today – delaying the start of any major infrastructure for at least another year.

The Premier sent Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian out to deliver the bad news today that the Government's so called ' Transport Master Plan' won't be ready until the end of 2012.
"Earlier this year, we were told that five year and 20 year infrastructure plans would be completed by the end of 2011," said Shadow Minister for Transport, Penny Sharpe.

November 30, 2011

RAIL CHAOS: FREIGHT TRAIN DELAYS SOUTH COAST AND ST GEORGE COMMUTERS TWICE IN A FORTNIGHT

Shadow Minister for Transport Penny Sharpe has revealed that commuters from the South Coast, Illawarra and St George have been delayed twice in the past two weeks due to problems with freight trains – including a breakdown at Jannali yesterday.

Ms Sharpe said it is time for the Minister to act to protect commuters.