Tuesday 18 October 2016

Williamtown 'Elected Representative Group' Slammed

BY TANYA DU PREEZ

The NSW Government has come under fire for scheduling a Williamtown Elected Representative Group meeting at a time when both State and Federal Parliaments are sitting.

The meetings are designed to brief local elected members on actions being taken in response to the Williamtown RAAF contamination.

Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson and State Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington have openly voiced their dissatisfaction with the running of the group.

"The residents of Salt Ash and Williamtown have elected Kate and me to ask questions on their behalf, so now the Government is scheduling these meetings at a time when we can't attend. It is outrageous," says Ms Swanson.

The Group is chaired and convened by Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald, a member of the NSW Upper House.

"He would be aware of my commitments as a member of Shadow Cabinet, to attend a Shadow cabinet meeting in Sydney on Monday," says Ms Washington.

"The timing of today's meeting confirms that it's been a charade from the beginning."


Meryl Swanson and Kate Washington have slammed the Williamtown Elected Representative Group (The Herald)