Port Stephens MP Wants a Billboard for Berejiklian

BY CATHERINE ALLEN

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington was joined by local nurses and health worker this morning to launch a campaign to crowd-fund a new billboard to be located on Nelson Bay Road.

The billboard is set to read "Schools and Hospitals before Sydney Stadiums" and is an attempt by Kate Washington to send a strong and clear message to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and local Liberal candidate, Jaimie Abbott.

"Don't waste billions of dollars on Sydney Stadiums, spend it on schools and hospitals instead,"

"Local residents have been raising this issue with me more and more. They can't believe the obscene waste, and they want to know how they can stop it," Ms Washington said.

"People in Port Stephens don't want their hard-earned taxpayers dollars being splurged on stadiums in Sydney."

$1600 is required to put the billboard in place, and Kate Washington has emphasised it is up to residents whether or not they donate to the fund.

Lorna Scott from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association echoed Ms Washington's sentiments that the government's priorities are wrong.

"For a good society we need health and we need education, and we need the environment to be looked at as well," said Ms Scott.

"These are vitally important things. Stadiums are important for a few people who like to watch men chasing balls, to be quite honest."

The NSW Labor Party has called for the people of NSW to be given the opportunity to have their say on the stadium spending, asking the Berejiklian Government to halt the stadium demolitions until after the March 23 election.

Any residents who wish to donate to the campaign are able to do so via Kate Washington's Facebook page.

Image: Ian Crouch/2NURFM News

"Despair" Expressed at Raymond Terrace NDIS Meeting

BY JARROD MELMETH

Disability Services organisations and NDIS participants have taken part in a roundtable at Raymond Terrace to discuss the privatisation of the NSW Government's disability agency.

NDIS participants and their families raised concerns regarding inadequate funding in supports and services while providers said demand for their services is outstripping their capacity.

Acting Shadow Minister for Disability Services Kate Washington said the discussions shed further light on the complex issues facing the sector.

"There was a lot of frustration, a lot of concern and indeed despair," she said.

The Labor MP believes there's a significant risk of market failure emerging, as providers find it difficult to remain financially viable.

The roundtable comes as the NSW Government holds a Parliamentary Inquiry into the rollout of the NDIS and its impact of local services.

Around 50 people including carers, disabled and non-disabled community members have also rallied in Newcastle's Civic Park today, calling for funding to be restored to the system.