Fredericks million dollar promise

NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam joined recently endorsed local Liberal candidate Trevor Fredericks in Kiama last Wednesday to commit $1 million towards the proposed Kiama Showground Pavilion upgrade.

Labor MP Matt Brown was quick to question the commitment, accusing? the Liberals of indulging in empty promises that would spill $22 billion over budget.

Mr Debnam said Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy had contacted him,? calling for a three-tiered funding approach from Local, State and Federal Governments coffers, adding that he was delighted to be able to offer a commitment to the project.

When I visited the Kiama Show earlier this year I saw the current state of the pavilion and made it a priority to do all I could to achieve an upgrade as soon as possible, he said.

After lobbying from Trevor Fredericks and a meeting with the Mayor of Kiama Sandra McCarthy and the President of the Kiama Show Society Sandy Rendel, to discuss funding options, a request for $1 million from the State Government was made.

It is a pleasure to announce a Liberal Government will meet that request.

Kiama MP Matt Brown slammed the oppositions funding announcement, labelling Mr Debnam as nothing more than a Yes Man.

I have had meetings with Joanna Gash and the council regarding this upgrade but I have not even received a specific figure put forward to me in terms of a request for funding, so I am not sure how Mr Debnam came about getting the figure of $1 million, he said.

No matter where Mr Debnam goes he is saying yes to funding or yes to tax cuts.

No one takes this man seriously any more.

Nick Greiner did the same thing when he was elected, he said yes to everybody and within 100 days he had broken 100 promises including the closing down of Kiama Hospital something he said he would never do.

I see the pavilion as something Kiama definitely needs and it is something that we are constantly pursuing, I will keep working to ensure the best result for the Kiama community.

Liberal candidate for the seat of Kiama Trevor Fredericks said the Kiama Showground Pavilion is a centrepiece for the community, hosting local sporting events, the Kiama show, youth services as well as school and community functions.

The pavilion is an important part of the local community and Im pleased Peter Debnam has listened to the community and acted on calls for an upgrade, he said.

The Kiama council is very keen to move forward in the 2007 calendar year on this project and to provide the multipurpose facility that this community needs.

The pavilion will obviously provide a large boost for the show society however it will also offer a great space for holding large conferences within Kiama which is something that we have not had before.

The pavilion has deteriorated into a state of disrepair over the last few years and the grandstand has been shut because of structural problems so the upgrading of this facility is definitely a priority.

While in town Mr Debnam also took a shot at police numbers, claiming the Iemma government was betraying Kiama residents through ongoing police cuts.

Mr Debnam called on the Iemma government to reinstate 29 police officers he said have been cut in the electorate since 2003 saying it was hard to believe the slashes to local police numbers are coming at a time when crime statistics are on the rise.

? The Lake Illawarra Command (Covering both Kiama and Gerringong) has been hardest hit, losing 28 police officers since 2003, he said.

Matt Brown and the Iemma government must reinstate the 29 police officers they have cut since 2003 and provide the community with a fully operation police station.

? The coalition has committed to a 24 hour seven day a week station at Kiama, something that the Labor government has refused to do.

Local residents have every right to be angry at Matt Brown and the Iemma government as they continue to slash police officers from Kiama.

Mr Brown dismissed Mr Debnams police number claims, arguing that Kiama already has a 24 hour police station.

Local police are working very hard continuing to bring crime down. If they are not in the station, they are out on the road trying to catch crooks.

Peter Debnam has come to town to scaremonger with his usual tactic of misleading the public over police numbers and crime figures.

Police numbers in the Lake Illawarra Command have actually risen by 21.9 percent under the Labor government.

The authorised strength for the command is 206 but at the end of May 2006 there were actually 224 officers working at Lake Illawarra. In other words we have 18 extra police.

Mr Brown went on to accuse Mr Debnam of saying and doing anything to get a headline saying he will no doubt forget all about my electorate after the election.

The Iemma government is delivering on its promise to back our frontline police with the powers, equipment and training they need to drive down crime, he said.

The Premier recently announced an extra 750 officers will be ready and trained for duty throughout NSW by January 30 2007.

Liberal candidate for Kiama Trevor Fredericks said he was alarmed there had been significant increases in the number of robberies in the local area saying he had been surprised to see the government respond with police cuts.

Significant increases in malicious damage to property which includes such offences such as graffiti and damaging monuments show there are not enough police available to stop these thugs, Mr Fredericks said.

I will fight tooth and nail for the return of the 29 police officers Matt Brown and the Iemma government have cut from Kiama.

Newly endorsed State Greens candidate for the local seat, Ben van der Wijngaart chose not to comment on the blatant pork-barrelling of Mr Debnams pavilion funding promise but did condemn Debnams simplification of Kiamas policing issues.

While law and order is a serious issue for us in the electorate, as it is elsewhere, it is very easy to make simplistic promises for more police in order to seem strong on the issue, said Mr van der Wijngaart.

However, I would ask whether Peter Debnam is going around to all electorates making such extravagant promises or just the winnable ones, where votes are marginal?

While I am? equally concerned for community safety, I doubt that blanket 24/7 policing is a practical answer in its own right, even if it could ever be achieved, which is highly improbable.

It is a serious and complex problem that does not lend itself to pat solutions.

This point is nowhere more clearly emphasised that with the 1300 Australian and other well armed soldiers trying to address violent gang behaviour, in broad daylight, in the tiny city of Dili.

The underlying causes for poor and criminal behaviour are more difficult to address, but ultimately need to be if a long term solution is to be found.