"I suppose he is too busy amending his pecuniary interest returns - so many clerical errors, five in respect of his 14 properties."

Ms Hancock described Ms McMahon as naive and said Ms Hay, Mr Campbell and Mr Brown were not concerned about the region and more worried about "rank corruption in Wollongong" and "fighting to stop the unions overtaking them".

Ms Hay retaliated: "(Ms Hancock) would probably have more to say if she did any work in her electorate," she said.

"People should not bad mouth particular areas. Very good people live in the electorate of Wollongong, and they get good parliamentary representation from members of the Australian Labor Party."

But the attacks continued, this time by Mr Piccoli who said Labor had damaged Wollongong's reputation.

"Not only has the Illawarra been getting bad press in the Illawarra Mercury but also in newspapers, television and radio right across Australia and even in international newspapers because of the behaviour of the Labor Party," he said.

See below for the full Hansard transcript

Full Day Hansard Transcript (Legislative Assembly, 5 June 2008, Proof)

ILLAWARRA BUDGET ALLOCATIONS

Motion Accorded Priority

Mr PAUL McLEAY (Heathcote) [3.21 p.m.]: I move:

That this House:

1. congratulates the Iemma Government on investing more than $423 million in the Illawarra to deliver improved services and invest in infrastructure;

2. applauds the Government for increasing the budget for the Illawarra by more than 78 per cent, or $134 million; and

3. congratulates the Premier on introducing a cut to payroll tax which will help create investment and more jobs in the Illawarra.

More than $423 million will be invested in the Illawarra to build new roads, increase energy capacity, secure water supplies and provide vital health, education and transport infrastructure. The Illawarra has won a healthy share of the Iemma Government's third budget. In the last four years the budget for the Illawarra has increased by more than 78 per cent, or $134 million. The Government's third budget delivers significant capital works programs to the Illawarra that will benefit residents for years to come. The Minister for Police, and Minister for the Illawarra and member for Keira, Dave Campbell, the member for Shellharbour, Lylea McMahon, the Minister for Housing, and Minister for Tourism and member for Kiama, Matt Brown, and the member for Wollongong, Noreen Hay, have been working hard to ensure that the Illawarra region receives a healthy share of the State's record $13.9 billion capital works and roads maintenance budget.

The budget includes $132 million that will be spent on maintaining and building new roads, with the majority of funds, $92 million, going towards major road infrastructure projects, such as the Princes Highway upgrade to dual carriageways between Oak Flats and Dunmore and the Northern Distributor Extension from Bellambi Lane to the Princes Highway at Bulli. In addition, $11 million will be spent on upgrading Port Kembla as it gears up to become the State's car importation hub. People living in the Illawarra will benefit from $1.79 billion in funding for the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service, which has been allocated $76 million more than last year.

The Iemma Government's commitment to securing the State's electricity supply has increased by 30 per cent this year to a massive $3.5 billion. The Illawarra's growing energy needs will continue to be served with a $73.4 million capital works program to upgrade and increase the capacity of substations. The Iemma Government is also spending large amounts on key services, such as funding for nurses and teachers, more police and new technology in schools. Spending in 2008-09 will include the following roads projects: a $45 million Princes Highway upgrade from Oak Flats to Dunmore; a $33 million Northern Distributor extension from Bellambi Lane to the Princes Highway at Bulli; $6 million to commence work on the Princes Highway and Lawrence Hargrave Drive intersection upgrade; $4 million for completion of the $14 million Kiama ramps project; and $4 million to continue planning for the Princes Highway upgrade from Gerringong to Bomaderry.

Budget allocations for education in the Illawarra include a new upgrade at the Nowra TAFE to replace accommodation for Aboriginal studies and electro-technology, upgrades to toilets at Warrawong Public School and a new library for Bargo Public School. Helensburgh Public School will have $2.4 million spent on upgrades, creating 60 jobs. Budget allocations for health care and facilities include $3.2 million for the construction of a child and adolescent inpatient unit and a child and adolescent inpatient day unit at the Shellharbour Hospital; $1 million for completion of the hospital's new $6.6 million 20-bed mental health unit; $1 million for equipment for Wollongong Hospital's operating theatres; $1.8 million provided for continuing the work on the Wollongong Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre; and $577,000 for the completion of the Illawarra Older Persons Mental Health Unit at Wollongong Hospital.

Budget allocations for water resources include $18 million to install remote control and monitoring systems for water and wastewater infrastructure assets throughout the Illawarra and $18 million to upgrade Tallowa Dam on the Shoalhaven River. The allocations will improve environmental flow releases, protect threatened native fish species and will include $1.2 million for new sewerage systems in Kangaroo Valley and at Robertson. Other infrastructure projects include $15.5 million for the construction of new public and community homes, crisis accommodation and improvements to existing stock; $5 million towards the construction of the $17-million Lake Illawarra police station; $700,000 to upgrade the walking tracks from Sublime Point to Austinmer, Forrest Walk and Bulli Tops; and $78,000 to upgrade Garie Beach Surf Safety Centre, including the provision of a solar power system and a kiosk fit-out.

The Iemma Government is delivering to the people of New South Wales by providing better services and by investing heavily in new infrastructure. I will focus on some of the budget allocations that specifically relate to the Heathcote electorate by beginning at the top with improvements at Garie Valley. Improvements there follow a $3 million investment in Garie Valley on a new surf safety centre. The funding will be used to install solar power panels and provide a kiosk fit-out. The Garie Beach Surf Safety Centre has done a magnificent job of protecting the lives and safety of visitors to Garie Beach—a unique place within Royal National Park that receives approximately 2 million visitors every year. As tourists drive down the coast highway before they get to the Seacliff Bridge they will see the new Helensburgh Public School, featuring the new hall and covered outdoor learning area and kiosk that was built last year. Several hundred thousand dollars will be spent to provide new teachers' facilities, administration facilities and classrooms at the Helensburgh Public School.

When tourists arrive at the crest of Bulli Tops they will find magnificent walking tracks. Over time, people will be able to walk from Bundeena all the way to Dapto along an unbroken chain of walking tracks through national parks. I look forward to the day I join the member for Lismore on a walk. The area has been allocated $700,000 this year. At the bottom of Lawrence Hargrave Drive people will be able to see the results of the $4 million that has been allocated to construct the massive significant flyover at the intersection of Bulli Pass and Lawrence Hargrave Drive. Many people, after they have driven across the $49 million Seacliff Bridge, arrive at Bulli Pass to find significant congestion, particularly on Sundays and during peak hours. The Government has resolved the problem with a dramatic flyover structure that will take into account local sensitivities.

Given that the Leader of the Opposition failed to mention the Illawarra during his reply to the Treasurer's Budget Speech today, members of the House who represent the Illawarra region's electorates are pleased to support the Illawarra region.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK (South Coast) [3.28 p.m.]: What a very sombre dissertation from the member for Heathcote! One would have thought that with the record budget announcements to talk about he would have spoken with more passion and excitement to show how pleased he is. The truth is that we are debating a desperate motion from the desperate Illawarra members of Parliament who have been trashed in the media over the past two days because of cuts in the budget that will affect the Illawarra. That is the truth of the matter.

There are only three members who represent electorates in the Illawarra who are presently in the Chamber. The Minister for Police, and Minister for the Illawarra and member for Keira and the member for Wollongong have scuttled away because their counterparts on the other side of the Chamber know they have been deeply shamed, embarrassed and humiliated by a government that has taken Illawarra members for granted by delivering very little for their region. Government members representing the Illawarra are sitting very quietly at the moment.

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Where is the member for Kiama? Instead of joining the member for Heathcote in listing all the wonderful things that the Government has done for the Illawarra, he scurried from the Chamber. I suppose he is too busy amending his pecuniary interest returns. So many clerical errors—five in respect of his 14 properties—from a mathematician! I suppose he is fixing those errors now.

Ms Tanya Gadiel: Point of order: The member for South Coast is clearly making derogatory comments about another member of the House. I ask that you draw her back to the leave of the motion.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member for South Coast knows that attacks on other members must be made by substantive motion.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK: I was not making derogatory comments; I was stating facts. The matter is the subject of an investigation ordered by the Speaker. The member for Kiama is not here because he is not at all excited about the budgetary allocations for his part of the world. The Kiama off-ramps to which the member for Heathcote referred were promised two or three years ago and are still not completed. The member for Kiama, who is a Minister of the Crown, cannot get even that small project done. Yes, the budget allocates planning money for Gerringong to Bomaderry, but the member for Kiama cannot decide on the route. He will not meet with the community of Berry to decide on an appropriate route. Well done to the member for Kiama, who as we speak is making corrections to his pecuniary interest returns!

The member for Heathcote made a very sombre, quiet contribution—and no wonder. I expected him to be extremely excited because I was looking forward to an announcement about the F6 extension. But the member for Heathcote has been scuttled because of a dummy spit by the member for Miranda, who jumped to the left and then back to the right—God knows where he is now! The member for Miranda stopped the project even though the member for Heathcote knows that his constituents and those in areas south to my electorate and to the border would be very pleased to see the F6 extended. What has the media said about that issue in the past two days? They think it is shameful that the budget did not mention the F6 extension. The member for Wollongong appears to have left the Chamber—she is embarrassed about the budget. The member has heard the media reports.

Ms Tanya Gadiel: The member for Wollongong picked up a piece of paper and is clearly consulting an officer. I ask the member for South Coast to withdraw that comment. She is trying to make the member for Wollongong look bad.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK: That's not a point of order.

Ms Tanya Gadiel: You know exactly what you are doing. Withdraw!

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK: I have nothing to withdraw, Mr Deputy-Speaker.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! I cannot force the member for South Coast to withdraw the remark. The member will confine her remarks to the motion, which is about infrastructure projects on the South Coast.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK: That is exactly what I am doing: I am talking about the F6 extension. The member for Shellharbour is a new member of this place and I am sure that she, in her own naive way, is very excited about the budget. I am certain that she has caught up with the budget announcements for her electorate. But did she hear anything about the West Dapto transport link? No. Is the member for Shellharbour aware of the problems in that area? Of course she is, because her office is right there. The truth of the matter is that the Federal members of Parliament from the Illawarra are aware of the issues. Sharon Bird and Jennie George, although Labor members, are working hard. The people of Wollongong know very well who is not. The member for Wollongong, the member for Kiama and the member for Keira are not working hard for their communities; they are more concerned about rank corruption in Wollongong. They are fighting to stop the unions overtaking them.

Ms Noreen Hay: Point of order—

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wollongong rises on a point of order.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK: Instead of working for infrastructure in Wollongong—

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member for South Coast will resume her seat.

[Interruption]

Ms Noreen Hay: Point of order—

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! I will hear the point of order of the member for Wollongong in a moment. When a member rises on a point of order the member with the call should resume her seat. She should not have to be asked to do so several times. It is difficult to keep order when that does not occur. I will now hear the point of order of the member for Wollongong.

Ms Noreen Hay: The member for South Coast is being disorderly. She is spraying allegations—

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! What is the point of order?

Ms Noreen Hay: The member for South Coast is misleading the House.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. I have reminded the member for South Coast that she should not make attacks on other members except by substantive motion.

Mrs SHELLEY HANCOCK: Of course I would not attack other members of the House. I was simply saying that the two Federal members of Parliament from the Illawarra, Sharon Bird and Jennie George, are working extremely hard for their electorates—unlike the five State members who represent electorates in the Illawarra. This is a pathetic motion. The Illawarra is not receiving a 78 per cent increase over one year as the motion suggests, but a 78 per cent increase over four years. Get it right! Those opposite could not come up with the correct wording because they are embarrassed about the budget and about the media coverage that they have been copping in the past two days on ABC Illawarra and 2ST, and in the Illawarra Mercury and every other newspaper. Why? It is because their Government takes them for granted. Members opposite are not working hard enough to deliver for their electorates—in fact, they are not working at all to deliver for their electorates. If anything, it is the Federal members who are working hard. [Time expired.]

Ms NOREEN HAY (Wollongong—Parliamentary Secretary) [3.35 p.m.]: It is interesting to note that the member for South Coast had absolutely nothing good to say about the member for Gilmore, Joanna Gash. It is understandable that the member for South Coast would sing the praises of Federal Labor members. She would probably have more to say if she did any work in her electorate. But she is too busy hanging out at secret meetings in other member's electorates. That is why she can talk about everything except the making of obnoxious and offensive videos in her electorate.

I welcome the Iemma Government's third budget, which sees a massive injection of funds to improve local infrastructure and services across the State—including the electorate of Wollongong, which I am extremely proud to represent in this place. People should not bad mouth particular areas. Very good people live in the electorate of Wollongong, and they get good parliamentary representation from members of the Australian Labor Party. I was particularly pleased to see investment of more than $11 million to expand Port Kembla, as it gears up to become the State's car-importing hub. I commend the Minister for Ports and Waterways for making a special effort to visit Port Kembla fairly regularly in the past few months. This is a huge show of confidence in our port by the Iemma Government. Investing in infrastructure in Port Kembla means local jobs—the member for South Coast might like to hear some ideas for creating jobs. Indeed, 1000 jobs will be created when car-importing operations have relocated fully.

Local health services will receive a boost, with a $1 million investment in new equipment at Wollongong Hospital's operating theatres. More than half a million dollars has been allocated to the Illawarra Older Persons Mental Health Unit. There will be four new beds at the Medical Assessment Unit at Wollongong Hospital and one additional intensive care bed. The Government has also provided $1.8 million for continuing the work on the Wollongong Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre. The Iemma Government is making unprecedented investments in mental health services, and I commend the Premier for that initiative.

I remind the House that before the last State election the member for Terrigal made it quite clear that a Coalition government would ensure that no cars were imported through Port Kembla. I congratulate the Government on its commitment to funding four clinical nurse educators and an additional midwife. The list goes on. I congratulate the Government on its commitment to improved healthcare services, increased investment in health and better services across the board.

Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI (Murrumbidgee) [3.38 p.m.]: I support the Illawarra, which is a very important part of New South Wales. It is terrific to see the Illawarra doing so well. I am sure all members support any investment that any Government makes in the Illawarra.

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The Australian Labor Party has done the most damage to Wollongong in the past 12 months. Not only has the Illawarra been getting bad press in the Illawarra Mercury but also in newspapers, television and radio right across Australia and even in international newspapers because of the behaviour of the Labor Party, particularly the member for Wollongong.

Ms Lylea McMahon: Point of order: Yet again rather than dealing with the motion before the House, which is the budget, the Opposition is making scurrilous allegations and raking over old issues.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! I remind the member for Murrumbidgee that the motion before the House deals with investing money in the Illawarra, the budget for the Illawarra and cuts to payroll tax. I ask him to be relevant to the motion before the House.

Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI: I was talking about the investment of money in the Illawarra into campaigns in Wollongong, particularly the campaign of the member for Wollongong. That is an investment in Wollongong.

Ms Lylea McMahon: Point of order: I ask you to draw the member back to the budget. This is not a discussion about spurious matters.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! I remind the member for Murrumbidgee, who has long experience in this House, to address the motion before the House.

Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI: I move to omit all the words after "House" and insert instead "notes with concern the second report of the Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into Wollongong".

Ms Noreen Hay: Point of order—

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The member for Murrumbidgee has proposed an amendment to the motion. I will seek advice from the Clerk but I will hear the point of order first.

Ms Noreen Hay: The amendment has been moved purely because the member for Murrumbidgee has been drawn back to the leave of the motion, and he did not know what the motion was.

Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI: If the member for Wollongong can accuse and attack the member for South Coast about matters that have nothing to do with this motion, and the member for South Coast can take it, so can her accomplice, the member for Shellharbour.

The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order! The proper procedure to move an amendment is to put forward the amendment, speak in support of it in the time available, and sign it. This was not the case when the amendment was proposed.

Ms LYLEA McMAHON (Shellharbour) [3.42 p.m.]: This budget continues to deliver for the people of Shellharbour. Shellharbour families have won a healthy share of the record $13.9 billion being invested this year in schools, hospitals, roads, transport and other infrastructure. Funding better health services at Shellharbour Hospital is one of the local highlights in the Iemma Government's third budget. The Government has set aside $3.2 million for the construction of a child and adolescent inpatient unit, and a child and adolescent inpatient day unit at the hospital. The budget also includes $1 million for the completion of the hospital's new $6.6 million 20-bed mental health unit, an excellent facility that will work to further support those with a mental illness to develop long-term strategies as they transition back into the community. Additionally, Shellharbour Hospital will get six new acute-care beds.