Julia Gillard in Penrith on Thursday, 7 March
Julia Gillard in Penrith on Thursday, 7 March
Julia Gillard in Penrith, with workers laying NBN cables in th eforeground. 7 March
PRIME MINISTER Julia Gillard listed job creation and easing traffic congestion as her main priorities for western Sydney when speaking in Penrith today.
‘‘The people need an M4 that takes them to the city and takes freight to the port,’’ Ms Gillard said.
She said that was why she had offered a $1billion package to the state government for such a project, but Premier Barry O’Farrell had rejected it.
‘‘We have been able to work with Premier O’Farrell before, so we will keep the pressure on,’’ Ms Gillard said.
Earlier today Opposition Leader Tony Abbott accused the Prime Minister of only wanting a fight with the state government.
Ms Gillard said: ‘‘For important things, sometimes a fight has to be had.’’
She also dismissed Mr Abbott’s promise to reduce child care costs.
‘‘He said his plan to fund nannies will come out of existing funding for child care,’’ Ms Gillard said.
She also said the Coalition would axe the government’s school kids bonus and abolish the increase in the tax-free threshold.
The Prime Minister said the government’s rollout of the National Broadband Network and help in developing innovation precincts, such as the health-science unit at the University of Western Sydney, would bring jobs to the region.
‘‘We want to set up the economy for after the mining boom,’’ Ms Gillard said.
She would not comment on poor opinion polling and said her focus was on governing.
‘‘People will make their choice on election day; a stark choice between a plan for the future and negativity,’’ Ms Gillard said.