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Hunter based MLC Robyn Parker says taxpayers deserve to know why the Government spent more than $53,000 on advertising for the meeting, more than $29,000 for a newsletter and more than $6,500 for catering. The meeting was held at Newcastle Panthers on 7th April 2009. At a cost of $110,000, and with 400 people in attendance, the meeting averages out to cost $275 per person.
In comparison, figures obtained for the Macarther community cabinet meeting on the 19th May 2009, shows that meeting cost less than half of the Newcastle event, at just over $47,000.
“It is very clear that Labor’s community cabinet meetings in the Hunter region are nothing but a PR exercise and thousands of dollars of taxpayers money is being spent on political campaigning,” Robyn Parker said.
“How much advertising does Premier Nathan Rees need to get a crowd? I would have thought that one announcement of the meeting would be enough to draw hundreds of people, given the long list of projects that continue to be ignored and the anger towards this scandalous ridden Government.
“I have no problem with holding cabinet meetings in regional areas. But this Government has to understand that every dollar they spend must be accountable and $110,000 for one meeting is ridiculous.
“Given the number of key projects we need in this region, such as reducing road congestion along the New England Highway at Maitland Hospital and Maitland Railway Station, one has to wonder whether this money would be better spent on real outcomes rather than Labor’s publicity machine.” |
