To suggest as he did that the crisis facing the steel industry is due to the laziness and lack of productivity in the workforce suggests that he must have access to some “alternative facts” to those that the BlueScope Steel CEO, the unions and the international steel industry leaders have been relying on.

Or does the NSW Liberal Government really believe that the crisis of overproduction of steel and the international glut is just “fake news”?

I know that you weren’t there when Ryan Park, the Member for Keira moved the Steel Protection Bill in the House but are the ignorant, irrelevant and offensive rants of the Member for Kuringgai the best the NSW Liberal Government can offer to oppose the Steel Protection Bill?

A bill so important to safeguarding the jobs of thousands of Illawarra workers and the economic future of our region? I would hope Gareth that you don’t share these extreme views from the ultra-right wing nutters in your party that seem to be calling the shots.

I also expect that you not only publicly distance yourself from these offensive slurs on our region and our people but that you honour your commitment to address the procurement issue constructively and call an urgent meeting with the key stakeholders on this issue prior to any vote on the Steel Protection Bill.

Given your previous comments on this Bill we understand that you might not support it in its current form. Likewise you must appreciate our disappointment and anger that your Government can’t protect jobs in the way that you do not seem to have a problem in protecting the interests of big business, banks and corporations.

However, what will not go down well at all Gareth is if your Government shoots down this Bill without a Plan B, an alternative reform of procurement policy to ensure that our money buys our steel and supports local jobs. I trust that you will give this matter some urgent consideration and your response would be appreciated.

Arthur Rorris, Secretary South Coast Labour Council

Last week Campbelltown State Labor MP Greg Warren moved a motion in NSW Parliament calling for the immediate removal of non-air-conditioned trains from the Sydney Trains network and hitting out at the Liberal Government which promised to remove the trains from the network five years ago when Gladys Berejiklian was Minister for Transport.

According to a review by Sydney Trains last year, revealed one in six trains on the line between Macarthur and the city were not air-conditioned.

As Wollondilly train travellers using our third world Southern Highland train service have to connect with these  non-air-conditioned trains at Macarthur or Campbelltown because of an almost non existent direct to city service, I have not heard the same outrage from our local state member Jai Rowell.

Make no mistake along with police and roads in Wollondilly I will make rail an election issue in the next state election.

Robert Khan, Deputy Mayor, Wollondilly Shire Council

Well it looks like we finally have a voice in state parliament.

Paul well done after reading your speech to parliament I feel we now have someone who is there for Wollongong.

Your words came from the heart and I'm sure you will endeavour to do your best.  

 Cead Mile Faitle

Michael Connelly, Wollongong