Welcome to this week’s editorial, With the State election just a week away things are hotting up. The promises alone are mind blowing with the booty available into the hundreds of millions. Firstly the announcements came from the State Liberal government with $150m for a new hospital, the $30m for a road, $26m for a swimming pool, $300 million for two bridges and why not throw in an artificial reef. There were the big announcements and the many smaller ones of solar systems, Men’s shed funding, medical equipment—all sourced from the many and varied funds that the State Government have access to being the current custodians of the BIG BUCKET. That big bucket actually represents the taxes of the NSW people and the spoils from selling of a whole lot of public owned assets. It is a historical fact that the NSW BIG Bucket has never been so big. So the wonderous generosity that appears to have abounded with all the promises and announcements were merely hand-downs from funds that already belong to the people. Why has the South East received so much? Well, the sell off of all the assets required a goodly proportion of that “profit” to be spent in regional NSW and not just squandered on metropolitan projects as has always been the case with Regional NSW being left out as the poor cousins. So enter the BIG BUCKET and it has been given a hammering in the South East with a rough count of over $2billion promised so far. However it is mostly conditional as to who is in government after the election. Now comes the politicking of “Vote for me and you get it” or “Don’t vote for me and you won’t”. The interesting thing on this is now the TIT for TAT that appears on a daily basis. An announcement from one side for funding to roads is met by an announcement from the other side within a day or two. What is becoming clearer to the other teams is that if they get in the BIG BUCKET is theirs to spend and all they have to do is say that they will match whatever is promised. Pre-polling is now open and postal voting should now be underway. I will vote on the day as there is still a week of promises to enjoy and speculate over and voting day with the gauntlet of pamphlets and the sausage sizzle with everyone out wearing the colours of their favourite team is one thing I do enjoy. As to what beanie, scarf and team song I shall hurrah on the day—I haven’t made my mind up however I shall delight in placing my one carefully considered vote with still more promises yet to come Until next, Lei
