Steve Whan
Member for Monaro

MEDIA RELEASE

Whan reflects on first year back

Monday. 25 March 2024

Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, says the one year since he was re-elected to the NSW Parliament has been on of progress on local commitments, with a few wins and plenty more work!

Steve Whan said, "It was a privilege to have the voters in Monaro give me their trust again a year ago.

"I told the people of Monaro that my priority was to move away from photo opportunities with oversized cheques and onto the basic job of Government, making sure our schools, hospitals and essential services have the staff needed.

"We had a crisis in our schools when I was elected. Children were spending their time in combined classes in playgrounds and halls, instead of learning with a teacher. The former Government's wages cap meant teachers were leaving in droves - particularly in our regional where the ACT was offering much better salaries.

"It wasn't much better in our hospitals, for ambulance paramedics, and police.

"In each case we have made great progress. NSW schoolteachers are now the highest paid in the country and we continue to address workload issues. Our paramedics had a record wage rise, nurses had the wage cap lifted and police recruits are now paid to train at the Goulburn academy.

"We've got work still to do, but in each case, Monaro is seeing a direct benefit.

"At local level all my election commitments are either delivered or on track for delivery. Promised road funding has been allocated in the last budget with planning underway on projects including the upgrade of the Spotlight roundabout in Queanbeyan.

"Currawarna in Bombala is open again, after Labor backed the community by delivering our $840,000 commitment.

"Early planning has started for Googong Highschool and stage two of Jerrabomberra High will be delivered.

"Obviously not everything goes to plan, and I continue to acknowledge the frustration felt by the Bungendore community over their high school project. 

"One year into a term of a new Government is early days, and I have always talked about wanting to be part of a government that plans for sustainable real improvements to our communities, not one that is focused on short-term political objectives.

"I'm delighted that as a member of the Government and as a Cabinet Minister, that is exactly what I see reflected by Premier Minns and the rest of the cabinet colleagues at every meeting."