Luke Foley MP Leader of the Opposition Jo Haylen Member for Summer Hill Sophie Cotsis MP Member for Canterbury Jihad Dib Member for Lakemba THOUSANDS URGE THE NSW GOVERNMENT NOT TO SELL OFF OUR BUSES 20 July 2017 A petition of over 13, 000 signatures in opposition to the privatisation of bus services has been handed over to Labor Leader Luke Foley and the Local members for Canterbury, Lakemba and Summer Hill. The signatures come from commuters from across Sydney who are furious they face sub-standard services under the proposal by the Berejiklian Government to privatise 233 Sydney bus routes. The Local Labor MP’s are united in their opposition to the privatisation and have slammed this idea as yet another example of the Liberal National party’s obsession with selling off the state’s assets. Privatising the area- which services the Inner West to Strathfield, across to Homebush and down through Southern Sydney could result in reduced services in those affected areas. It will also mean that the State Government will only run 3 of the 15 bus contracts in NSW. A new operator also has the potential to cut costs, which could see the loss of key routes and job losses for drivers and vital maintenance staff. Representatives from a coalition of unions handed the petition to Mr Foley during a media conference at Burwood Bus Depot on Thursday. The unions have been strongly campaigning in communities like Lakemba, Marrickville and Campsie as part of their fight to keep the buses in public hands. Residents can still sign the petition being circulated by local members, which will be tabled in the Parliament in addition to the one handed over today. Quotes attributable to Opposition Leader Luke Foley “Tens of thousands of angry commuters who don’t want to lose their bus services have signed this petition and it’s time the Government listens to them. “It’s been pure arrogance from this Transport Minister, who ignored the pleas to fix the timetables and instead he blamed the bus drivers as an excuse to sell the routes off.” Quotes attributable to Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen “Local residents and commuters stand united against the sell-off of our public buses. “The Minister has said he will ignore opposition to the sell-off, but the success of this petition cannot be ignored.” Quotes attributable to Member for Sophie Cotsis, Member for Canterbury “Our community is sending a clear message to the Berejiklian Government, we will stand against the privatisation of our local bus services. “The community and the 1200 Bus drivers and their families have made it clear that it will not stand for bus drivers losing their jobs and services being diminished by the Berejiklian Government. Quotes attributable to Member for Lakemba, Jihad Dib “People in our local community are very worried. Having access to regular and reliable public buses is so important especially for people of limited means” “The privatisation of our local bus services threatens an important way for people trying to get to work, school and medical appointments”. |