THE Member for Port Macquarie and the local Labor Party have clashed head-on over a minor amendment before parliament.
Nationals MP Leslie Williams issued a press release earlier this week, claiming a political stunt from Labor and the Greens threatened the ongoing operation of local community facilities.
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals Government recently introduced a minor amendment in parliament to ensure local community facilities like Lady Nelson Wharf in Port Macquarie can continue to legally operate – but Labor and the Greens have opposed it,” Mrs Williams said.
“This amendment was in response to a recent court decision which called into question the legality of up to 7000 community and commercial facilities operating on crown land in NSW.
“These facilities, including CWA Halls, Scout and Girl Guide halls, recreational sporting clubs, surf life-saving clubs, Rural Fire Service buildings, and local businesses including kiosks, cafes and restaurants on crown reserves, make a valuable contribution to our communities.
“Without a minor change to existing laws, many of our valued community operations and local businesses would be considered legally invalid and may be forced to close.
“This will cause untold disruption as many businesses in NSW will be unable to legally trade because they will not have a valid tenure.
“Lady Nelson Wharf which is used daily by many people in our community is one such facility impacted by this law.
“With beach and bushfire season with us, this reckless political stunt from the Labor-Greens alliance is jeopardising the operation of Rural Fire Service brigades and surf life-saving clubs across NSW.
“The government’s commonsense amendment enables our valuable community facilities and businesses to continue operating on crown land.
“I call on Labor and the Greens to stop playing petty politics and to get behind our important community groups and local businesses in the Port Macquarie electorate operating under secondary tenures on crown land.”
The Port Macquarie branch of Country Labor was quick to hit back, saying Mrs Williams had her facts wrong.
“The ALP and the Greens do not have the numbers in the Upper House to block any legislation,” secretary Colleen Carmody said.
“Plus debate on this bill has not even started in the Upper House.
“Labor will oppose the amendments as it gives the minister unfettered power over crown lands and is an overreach of the original intent of the legislation.
“For example, this power grab by the minister, enables him to rezone crown land to enable the building of a casino or to sell off large tracts of crown land, which is often situated in highly-desirable locations, such as the Port Macquarie foreshore.
“The local member has not read the bill, or if she has read the bill, she has clearly not understood it because all public infrastructure is and will remain operational, even if the bill were to be blocked. This means that the Lady Nelson Wharf situated on the Town Green, will not be affected by the passage or the blocking of the bill.”
