1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,679 Speaker 1: Jersey and Amanda jam Nation. 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 2: Australia's largest road infrastructure project, West Connects, is about to 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 2: complete its final major component, the M four and M 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 2: eight motorway. The link will open to motorists tomorrow, linking 5 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 2: Paramatta to Mascot, saving commuters forty minutes. This project has 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 2: finished two months ahead of schedule. What are Utopia Our premier, 7 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,760 Speaker 2: Dominic Perrete joins us now. Good morning, Dominic. 8 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:28,319 Speaker 1: Rorian you Amanda, how are you going? 9 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: Very well? Thank you? What impact do you hope that 10 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 2: this will have on Sydney traffic? 11 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: I think I'll have a massive impact, Amanda. I mean 12 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: this is a project that we started in twenty eighteen. 13 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,840 Speaker 1: It's part of the entire West Cannecs project that put 14 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 1: it this way. If you're in the Blue Mountains and 15 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: when we finish the airport part of this stuff all 16 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: off West Connex, you'll bypass fifty two sets of traffic lights. 17 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: You won't have to go past one traffic light all 18 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: the way from the Blue Mountains to the airport. So wow, 19 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 1: that's pretty good. Yeah, And as you said earlier, forty minutes, 20 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 1: I mean that's more time that people spend with their families, 21 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: and we don't build these projects for the sake of it. 22 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: And you know there's been a lot of challenges along 23 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: the way, but they'll make a real difference to our 24 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 1: growing city and shape. And this is a massive wind 25 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: for Western Sydney. So we're opening that. It opens early 26 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,479 Speaker 1: in the morning tomorrow and I'm looking forward to people 27 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: across Western Sydney being able to use the road. We're 28 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 1: capping it. Obviously. Along West Connecs the toll cap is 29 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: eleven dollars and eleven cents. 30 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 3: And that's that's the most you pay. Would that be 31 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 3: for a tray? 32 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's the most. That's the most you pay all 33 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:46,479 Speaker 1: the way along the West Connecs Road, it's thirty three 34 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: dollars cap for heavy vehicles so trucks and the like. 35 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: For this section it's five dollars sixty five. But the 36 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: other point I think that's important to make here is 37 00:01:54,560 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: that Paramatta Road will also flow faster because of West 38 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: connect So we hadn't built West Connects, you could imagine 39 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: the car park the Paramatta Road would have been. So 40 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: you don't want to use the motorway, you don't have 41 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: to use it. You can use Paramatta Road, which now 42 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: we'll have a lot less congestion because we've got on 43 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: and built this massive road projem Well. 44 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 3: It's a nice distraction from because you've had a hell 45 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: of a start to the year, not dwelling on your 46 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 3: recent controversy. It must be disappointing that apparently someone in 47 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 3: your own party was going to leak that. 48 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: Picture, look Jonesy. Ultimately, it's about me and it's something 49 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: that I did when I was twenty one and I 50 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: deeply regret that. You know, I work every day to 51 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: improve the lives of people across our state. That's what 52 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: I'm focused on. And you know we've got a long 53 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: term economic plan to set up our state to success, 54 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: and that's in my role as Premiere, and that's what 55 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: I'm focused on every single day. 56 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:52,839 Speaker 2: It seems that both sides of the government are trying 57 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 2: to win over motorists coming up to this selection. Chris 58 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: Mins is saying that if you've got a good driving record, 59 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: you can redeem your points faster. You've announced that the 60 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 2: fines will be less for low level traffic offenses. 61 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 1: What we're saying, Amanda, is that if you haven't had 62 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: an infringement notice on our roads for three years. When 63 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 1: you get your next infringement notice, we will waive that fine. 64 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: And that's obviously at a time when many families across 65 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: our state are doing it tough, particularly with the cost 66 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: of living and inflation increasing and rents and interest rates rising. 67 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: We've got through a lot in our start over the 68 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: last four years, throughout five flights a pandemic. It's been 69 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: a difficult time. Our people have stood through all of 70 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: that incredibly well, and you know, there are challenges on 71 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: the horizon and we want to do everything we can 72 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: to help household digits across our state. 73 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 3: And with the poking machine business that's going on. I 74 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 3: read an article the other day and some say the 75 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 3: gaming industry is to our policy what the gun lobby 76 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 3: is to American politics, and people over in other countries 77 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 3: are amazed at how much we give the gaming industry 78 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 3: in our state. 79 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: Well, Jones, we have more pokey machine in anywhere in 80 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 1: the world outside of Nevada, and we have a Crime 81 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 1: Commission report that came out recently that recommended cash lift 82 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: gaming in New South Wales that spoke of proceeds of 83 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: crime being flushed through pokey machines. And we also have 84 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: many families who go through breakdowns as a result of 85 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 1: problem gambling, and you can't sit back and say there's 86 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: not a problem. You don't get in the politics to 87 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 1: simply do what's right for best interest. You do what's 88 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 1: right for the community. And there are campaigns they want 89 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: to run that's really a matter for them. But I'm 90 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 1: not elected for them. I'm elected to do what's right 91 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: for the people of New South Wales. That's exactly what 92 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 1: I'm going to do. 93 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 3: Because what's the biggest thing. Is that the problem gambler 94 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 3: or is it the money laundering? What's the in your mind, 95 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 3: what is the biggest problem with poker machines. 96 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: Well, they're both as bad as each other. You can't 97 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: have a situation where proceeds of crime are being laundered 98 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 1: through poking machines. And that's very very clear in the 99 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: Crime Commission report, and the number one recommendation was that 100 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: we go down a cash list gaming system and I'm 101 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: working for the details of that. That's exactly what we 102 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: are going to do here in our state. But at 103 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: the same time, I don't think anyone in New South 104 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: Wales could say we don't have that. There is not 105 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: an issue with problem gambling, and there's no problem to 106 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: people competting. But there's a problem though, when lives are 107 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: broken because people get an addiction to gambling. And everyone 108 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 1: has a story or knows a friend or a family 109 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: member who's been affected by this, and I'm not going 110 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: to sit back and allow it to happen in our state, discourt. 111 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 3: But it's hard to put that genie back in the bottle, 112 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 3: isn't it as well? 113 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: Well? It is And this all occurred years ago under 114 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: the car Labor government, where we now have a situation 115 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: where there's poking machines on almost every street corner and 116 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 1: it's not normal. 117 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: No, But having said that, Premiere, the Liberal Party has 118 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 2: been in power for twelve years. 119 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, and something has to be done about it. 120 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: And I've been Premier for twelve months where you commissioned 121 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: this Crime Commission report, I've received that back. I've made 122 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: my position very clear on this. And when I was Treasurer, 123 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: actually Amanda, I said one of the things that really 124 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 1: impacted on me at that time that I struggled to 125 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: come to grips with these there billions of dollars we 126 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: received in gambling taxes at a time when you sit 127 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: there and go, well, we're receiving all of these taxes 128 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: in me in many cases from people who have had 129 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 1: their families breakdown because of problem gambling. It was something 130 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 1: I always about every single budget I handed down when 131 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 1: we're going through the numbers, the problem associated with that 132 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: that's driven me to fix it. So that's exactly what 133 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: I'm going to do. 134 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 2: We'll see how voters feel in much the election. 135 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 3: Nice to talk to you, and Amanda will be there 136 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 3: ready to go on the M four and the M A. 137 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 3: And that's only because you'll get lost on the way 138 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 3: to work lately because you, Amanda got lost between here 139 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 3: and getting home one day. 140 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 2: It can happen. 141 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 3: The Harbor Bridge has only been around since nineteen thirty three, 142 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 3: can happen? Dominic Perrote, Thank you, Thanks guys, Thanks Premiu