Andrews would make better Minister - Hartcher
Shadow Minister for the Central Coast Mr Chris Hartcher has said that Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews would have made a better Minister for the Central Coast than new appointee Mr Ian McDonald.
Mr Hartcher said Mr McDonald lived almost 300 kilometres away from the region.
"Rather than elevate the retiring Member for Gosford or bring back unpopular MLC John Della Bosca, the Central Coast has been lumped with a Minister whose dubious history raises questions about what he's doing back in the Cabinet in the first place.
"How is the Central Coast supposed to get a fair go when the closest our new Minister is likely to get is a flyover on his way home?
"Ian McDonald has a reputation for one thing and one thing only - his incredible long lunches at taxpayer's expense," Mr Hartcher said.
Mr Hartcher said: "Earlier this year, former premier Nathan Rees dumped the then Minister for Primary Industries after the NSW Opposition revealed the Minister's Wine Industry Research and Development Advisory Council spent a shocking $150,000 on lunches and travel to those lunches including a $24,000 lunch in Mildura - which isn't even in NSW."
Press release, 8 Dec 2009
Chris Hartcher, Shadow Minister for the Central Coast