POLITICS
Doonside gets a lift
Meet Martha Lynch , 96-year young Doonside resident and local legend , who got to take the 1st ride up the Doonside Railway Station lift .
NSW Transport Minister , the Hon Jo Haylen MP officially opened the lifts for a station that ’ s been here since 1880 and was the last station on the Western Sydney line to get its own lifts .
The previous NSW Liberal government ignored community calls for these lifts . State Member for Blacktown , Stephen Bali MP and I worked to ensure our community was heard .
Stephen Bali tabled in NSW Parliament one of the biggest supported petitions
With NSW Transport Minister , the Hon Jo Haylen MP and State Member for Blacktown , Stephen Bali MP .
with Ed Husic MP
from our area - which forced debate on the issue on the floor of the Legislative Assembly .
With community backing I lodged the biggest number of objections against the then NSW government ’ s Transport for NSW via the Australian Human Rights Commission , using the Disability Discrimination Act to argue that those with a disability and senior people in our area were being denied easy access to their public transport . In the end , people power won , because the people of Doonside would not take no for an answer .
It was a terrific turnout to celebrate the win , well done Doonside !
Helping with the cost of living
The Albanese Labor Government is taking greater measures to help with the cost of living .
My focus remains on easing the cost-ofliving pressures faced by local residents , and I am pleased that we have been able to deliver :
• Cheaper child care
• Cheaper medicines
• Fee-Free TAFE Electricity bill relief
• Record investments into Medicare and bulkbilling
We know there is more to do to take the pressure off you , and that is why we ’ ll keep working for you .
More support for women reporting domestic violence
The NSW Government is continuing to increase support offered to women reporting domestic violence with the expansion of the Women ’ s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service ( WDVCAS ) and NSW Police Force Colocation Pilot , to additional locations in Sydney and regional NSW .
This crucial initiative provides the co-location of a specialist domestic and family violence worker at police stations to improve the response to women who attend a station to report , or seek help in relation to domestic and family violence .
With an additional funding injection of $ 1.4 million , the program will be expanded to Blacktown , Toronto / Belmont , Taree , Walgett and Albury Police Stations .
Since October 2022 it has been available at Kogarah , Fairfield , Griffith , Armidale and Nowra Police Stations . In the first year of the pilot , to October 2023 , 541 women were assisted across these five sites .
This program was developed in response to several inquiries and reports which identified that women sometimes receive a poor response when reporting domestic and family violence at the front counter of a police station .
Attorney General Michael Daley said , “ The initiative will improve the experience of victim-survivors who attend police stations , increase the number of victim-survivors who report to police , and streamline their access to safety and support .
“ This expansion sends a clear message to perpetrators that they will be reported to Police , held accountable for their actions and punished appropriately through the courts .”
And Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison added , “ Providing onsite support to victim-survivors would significantly improve the response to domestic violence .
“ It takes courage to step forward and report domestic and family violence .
“ This initiative empowers women and can make a huge difference during one of the most challenging periods in their lives .”
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 34 // JANUARY 2024 15