Premier to be Minister for Western Sydney

The Chamber is excited that incoming NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has appointed himself Minister for Western Sydney. Mr. O'Farrell has been the opposition spokesman on Western Sydney for the past four years and it is good to see that the new government is not only retaining the ministry but that the Premier has placed such importance on our region.

The new Premier said, 'If we're to give people in western Sydney the services, the infrastructure, the jobs, the opportunities they deserve, it needs priority and I thought to myself, well best to do what I've done over the past four years'.

'It's those roads that have been long promised, not the big roads but the smaller roads, like the Werrington bypass ,that would make a significant difference to people's lives (or) the on-off ramps from the M4 that on a Saturday morning, as well as in peak hour, clog back,' he said.

Mr. O'Farrell promised also to give priority to issues the Chamber has long lobbied the government to address, such as; more resources for infrastructure, hospitals, extra police, and education.

The Chamber welcomes the new Premier and Minister for Western Sydney and looks forward to a continued excellent working relationship.

Trevor Oldfield

President