Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I support the motion that grievances be noted, and I do have a grievance. It's a grievance that I really wish I didn't have to make, but I am at my wit's end. Kiama Municipal Council, it seems, has just not learnt anything from sticking its nose into the federal election campaign. Now it's moved into what can only be described as political meddling in the Kiama state by-election.

Many will not know that, during the final weeks of the federal election, Kiama council was engaging in the strangest behaviour. I was hounded by the deputy mayor, Melissa Matters, demanding to meet. There were bizarre advocacy videos by the deputy mayor for projects that weren't shovel-ready, along with some incorrect facts, while the mayor, Cameron McDonald, was away. They looked more like Liberal and Dutton promotional pieces. Beforehand, there were even photos of the mayor, Cameron McDonald, with pro-nuclear Peter Dutton. The CEO, on behalf of council, threatened me with legal action. There were unusual and harshly toned letters from the CEO. It was not the kind of council I knew. Something was very, very wrong, and I could not quite put my finger on it.

Needless to say, I kept going, and thankfully, with the many positive policies of the Labor government and my track record of delivery, that's what people voted for. As a result, people in Kiama will benefit from Labor slashing 20 per cent off student debt, introducing five per cent home deposits for first home buyers from 1 October, protecting penalty rates and providing cheaper medicines. We already know that Gilmore has the highest take-up of solar home batteries in New South Wales, which people in Kiama are benefiting from as they help drive down power bills and support local businesses and jobs.

I gave Kiama council the benefit of the doubt after the federal election. I have always considered myself to be very fair, and I honestly thought things were better. So you can imagine my surprise when Mayor McDonald, all of a sudden and multiple times, again started to use council resources and ratepayer funds, so close to the Kiama by-election, to have a clear political whack at the state Labor government, not once, not twice, but three times—actually, I'm sure it's more by now. In doing so, he's also had a stab at the federal government. I've had enough, so today I'm airing my grievance, because people in Kiama do deserve better than a politically meddling Kiama council that often hasn't done the work to get projects ready to fund, that has lied to Kiama ratepayers or just hasn't told the whole truth, and that provides just about no recognition of federal or state funding. Well, that stops right here today. I'm setting the record straight because I can and I will.

I say this to the mayor and deputy mayor of Kiama council: advocacy is all year round. Do it earlier and provide it to all levels of government MPs. It shouldn't be political. Make sure projects included are shovel-ready; otherwise, you're all hot air. And don't outright lie to Kiama ratepayers when federal and state funding has been provided or is available. Apply for available grants. Don't let them go begging, as is so often the case with Kiama council. Maybe try promoting and being thankful for projects that include federal and state funding, instead of just having a go at other levels of government.

I really hoped the mayor, deputy mayor and CEO had learnt from their federal election shenanigans, but I was wrong. For the record, the federal and state governments have both provided significant disaster recovery funding and infrastructure betterment funding for Jamberoo Mountain Road. As to the Kiama Sports Complex, which we all want to happen, the federal government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure fund provided funding towards the master plan. I'm glad council has progressed the master plan and draft options are out with the community, but council has not adopted the final plan. The project is not shovel ready. I wish it were, because there are federal funding streams that Kiama council could apply for if it were ready to go. I have raised this with the federal minister and continue to provide advice and support for the dedicated and patient volunteers of the Kiama District Sports Association.

Similarly, Kiama council's plan for Jamberoo Community Preschool—is it shovel ready? No, not at all. I agree it's a much-needed service, but Kiama council needs to play its part in order to get it off the ground. Kiama council, despite repeated attempts by me, has not addressed flooding issues at the current preschool site. It has not put in an application under the Disaster Ready Fund, nor does it even have a shovel-ready alternative site. So to see it appearing in some mayoral political promo video is, quite frankly, disingenuous.

Then there are the exorbitant legal costs of Kiama council, paid for by ratepayers, which should be going into local community infrastructure, like lights at Mick Cronin Oval and at the Kiama Sports Complex. I don't know any other council that instigated a costly and unnecessary legal dispute with a local surf lifesaving club, like Kiama council did with Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club. Despite delivering $5.5 million for a stunning new clubhouse—an important community facility—I copped nothing but grief, disdain and some type of weird punishment from the Kiama council deputy mayor and CEO, and horrible toned letters from the Kiama council CEO. These are not typical actions of a local council, and you have to ask yourself why.

Kiama council should really take a leaf out of Shoalhaven City Council's book, and I don't say that lightly, because Shoalhaven council has its challenges, too. But you certainly don't see Shoalhaven council exhibiting behaviour like the mayor of Kiama council is exhibiting, despite both being local government areas in the Kiama by-election. I've had enough. I call time on the behaviour coming from the mayor of Kiama council. I've really tried. I grieve that Kiama ratepayers are told the truth.

Recently, I announced, from the Albanese Labor government, more federal funding for terrific local community projects: the Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving Club, Jamberoo Youth Hall, Gerringong & District Historical Society & Museum, Kiama Central Netball Club, Kiama Pipe Band, and Gerringong and Jamberoo public schools P&C associations. This builds on many other terrific local projects delivered under Labor, like headspace Kiama, upgrades at Gerringong Golf Club and the new Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club.

We have a terrific opportunity to have a wonderful local advocate in Katelin McInerney, who I know will deliver for local people in the Kiama electorate, from West Nowra, Bomaderry, North Nowra, Shoalhaven Heads, Gerringong, Kiama, Jamberoo, Minnamurra and everywhere to the north, south and west in the Kiama state electorate. Katelin is a local mum. She wants her young son, William, to be able to go to school locally and use our upgraded hospitals under Labor and, like me, she wants all people to be able to live and work locally and to enjoy our most magnificent area.

Together, we're fighting for people in Kiama, whether it's slashing 20 per cent off student debt, five per cent home deposits for first home buyers, cheaper home batteries that are slashing energy costs, Kiama headspace, upgraded schools and hospitals, the free Medicare urgent care clinic coming to Nowra or an upgraded Medicare mental health centre at Nowra. Labor is investing in local community infrastructure and roads, with free TAFE, the Jervis Bay flyover, the Nowra bypass and short-, medium- and longer term solutions for the Hampden Bridge at Kangaroo Valley. Katelin McInerney is a fighter and a strong local voice for Kiama.

Only a Minns and Albanese Labor government, together, will truly deliver for people in Kiama.

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