By XAVIER SMERDON
THE Napthine government’s plan to bring its entire Cabinet to Werribee for a community meeting has been labelled nothing more than a political stunt.
Just days after the event was announced by the Premier himself it was already booked out and a website for the community forum now says that residents can “register (their) interest to be placed on a waiting list”.
It is being held at the Wyndham Civic Centre, which it is believed will only be able to accommodate around 200 to 300 people.
Tarneit MP Tim Pallas told Star that not enough members of the community would be given the opportunity to share their views with the Cabinet.
“This government is good at creating waiting lists and not much else,” Mr Pallas said.
“If all the places for the forum are already full then you have to think that this could be nothing more than a sham.
“If they are serious about consulting with the community then they should provide sufficient opportunities for people concerned with the pressures surrounding growth to make representation.”
Mr Pallas said there were serious issues facing Wyndham, such as increase of ramping at the Werribee Mercy Hospital by 50 per cent since the Coalition won power and a three per cent higher unemployment rate than the Victorian average.
“To simply bring the circus to town is not really achieving results and it seems just like a face saving exercise,” he said.
“The community is losing opportunities and they are cutting off our future.
“They better bring some money with them.”
But Western Metropolitan Region MP Andrew Elsbury said the Cabinet visit showed where the government’s priorities lay.
“The choice of Werribee for the third Regional Community Cabinet reflects the importance Wyndham and the Western Suburbs hold for the Coalition,” Mr Elsbury said.
“It is fantastic that this forum has been booked out as it shows the great deal of interest among the community.”
The community forum will be held on Monday 7 October.
