Inner West welcomes Baird’s resignation

BY ANGIRA BHARADWAJ

Community members opposing the WestConnex toll road gathered in Sydney Park on Thursday 19 January to welcome the news of former Premier Mike Baird’s resignation.

Opposition to the project has been widespread and included protestors camping on the parkland for over four months.

Jenny Leong  , NSW Greens spokesperson on WestConnex and Member for Newtown said growing criticism of the project resulted in Mr Baird’s declining popularity.

“WestConnex was a debacle first promised by Mike Baird and Tony Abbott.  Now that they are part of political history, WestConnex should become history as well.  We all deserve better than this.

“Premier Berejiklian has promised that she will listen on issues that are causing angst to people and WestConnex is clearly causing angst in our community. But it’s more than just listening that’s needed – she must halt construction and set up an inquiry into alternatives,” she said.

The WestCONnex Action Group was also present at the press conference and welcomed Mr Baird’s resignation.

“Mike Baird’s premiership has been defined by his utter failure to listen to communities, experts and even his own colleagues, and WestConnex is no exception,” said WAG spokesperson Rhea Liebmann.

“But while Baird prepares to spend more time with his family, his unfair forced acquisitions, brutal use of riot police during peaceful WestCONnex protests and heartless community destruction has left thousands of families across Sydney devastated.

“Now NSW has a real opportunity to unwind Baird’s mistakes and call a halt WestConnex before more communities are destroyed, and western Sydney families are left paying tolls of up to $25 a day to drive straight into traffic jams,” said Ms Liebmann.

The group has called on the new Premier, Gladys Berejiklian to halt construction on the project and announce and immediate review.