KATE WASHINGTON MP

Earlier this week, I joined people with disabilities, their families and advocates in Queanbeyan, at a rally to keep disability advocacy services funded. Sadly, the Berejiklian/Barilaro government is proceeding with its planned cuts, in the misguided belief that the NDIS will solve everything. #RecentMediaCoverage

A Labor government led by Luke Foley will take back $300 million from the Berejiklian Government’s multi-billion dollar Sydney stadium splurge - to air condition hundreds of NSW public schools for the first time, many of those in the Hunter. Announcing the policy on Sunday at the end of his Schools and Hospitals before Stadiums tour, Mr Foley said Labor’s Cool Schools policy includes a guarantee of air conditioning in all new schools built under Labor. Labor will invest an in

Newcastle Herald (25/3/2018). "A NSW Labor government would use $300 million from the Berejiklian government’s Sydney stadium splurge to provide air-conditioning to hundreds of public schools, the Opposition announced." #RecentMediaCoverage

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and Paterson MP Meryl Swanson have today presented the proceeds of the recent International Women’s Day breakfast to the Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services. The well attended breakfast co-hosted by the two MPs saw the return of an International Women’s Day event to the Raymond Terrace area. This event heard from young women high school leaders from Irrawang High School and Hunter River High School, as well as Hunter High School pr

An election backflip by the Berejiklian Government has been exposed in documents obtained under freedom of information. In March 2015, days before the State Election, Premier Mike Baird promised $67 million for the “full duplication” of Nelson Bay Road from Stockton to Anna Bay. Despite appearing in the Government’s 2015-19 Election Commitments document, Freedom of Information documents reveal the funding for the project is not due to commence until after 2021. At the curren

Nick Bielby, Newcastle Herald (23/3/2018). "The NSW government stands accused of backflipping on a $70 million last-minute election promise to duplicate the infamous Nelson Bay Road after the release of a "sensitive" document that revealed only a small fraction of the promised funding would be spent before voters return to the polls." #RecentMediaCoverage

Port Stephens residents will come together on Monday and Tuesday evening to voice their concerns about local school bus services. Following a shocking start to the school year, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington will host meetings in Medowie and Tanilba Bay to hear directly from parents and high school students about their school bus experiences. Overcrowding, missed services, and safety concerns about students standing on buses at high speeds are common concerns amongst local

Today, I bring a simple message from my community to the Premier and her Government: Buy back the Mambo Wetlands before it is too late. I thank everyone who is in the gallery today for travelling here from Port Stephens. I know that you have made a big effort and I know how much you care about the Mambo Wetlands. Why are we here? We are here because almost 15,000 people have signed a petition urging this Government to buy back the Mambo Wetlands. Yesterday, in this place, I t

Staff and clients of the Hunter’s disability advocacy services will be raising their voices this week, against the looming funding cuts planned by the Berejiklian Government. The Berejiklian Government is using the roll out of the NDIS as a cover to end their long standing funding of disability advocacy funding. Unless the Premier intervenes, disability advocacy services will lose $13 million from July this year. Acting Shadow Minister for Disability Services Kate Washington

On Thursday afternoon this Chamber will pause to debate a petition signed by almost 15,000 residents which calls on the New South Wales Government to buy back the Mambo Wetlands. Six hectares of the Mambo Wetlands was sold by this Government to a property developer in 2016 for the paltry sum of $250,000. In tomorrow's debate I will outline why this low act represents everything that is wrong about this Government's priorities, but today I acknowledge the amazing people who ha