Penrith residents are concerned about the blow-out in the Federal Government’s spending on border protection policies, says Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison.
Mr Morrison held a community forum with western Sydney Senator, Marise Payne and Liberal candidate for Lindsay, Fiona Scott on Wednesday to gauge residents’ concerns on Federal matters.
Over 50 residents turned out for the forum held at Surveyor’s Creek Community Centre in Glenmore Park, to listen to a presentation by Mr Morrison before participating in a question and answer session.
“Residents want to protect their lifestyles and have told me that there are a lot of planning pressures with services not meeting the level of growth that is being experienced in western Sydney,” he said.
“Population growth is a major issue for western Sydney and that’s why the Coalition will use its migration program to channel people into rural and regional areas and not just to Sydney’s fringe.”
The Opposition has estimated that the Federal Government has spent over $5 billion on “illegal boats” since the last Federal Election.
The Coalition’s border protection policies include establishing a better relationship with Indonesia, turning boats around when the situation is safe and bringing back the Nauru Pacific Solution.
Mr Morrison said affordable housing and homelessness was also discussed at length, as was the carbon tax with residents keen to have the tax repealed.
Federal Lindsay MP, David Bradbury, said the Coalition had refused to let the Government implement its border protection policies, and was out to score “cheap political points”.
“They have put their own political interests ahead of the interests of the country,” Mr Bradbury said.
