State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has labelled the lack of a response after 2 months to the hundreds of letters sent to the Minister for Transport and the General Manager of Keolis Downer, disrespectful.
More than two months after the first batch of correspondence was sent to the Minister and Keolis Downer, responses from both the Minister and General Manager of Keolis Downer have not been forthcoming.
Last week more than 1000 residents turned out to a public meeting to hear the concerns and issues people have been having with the new bus timetables and routes.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“The hundreds of constituents in my electorate who have raised serious concerns about losing their ability to get around, who have been forced to give up their job, who have had their children just dumped on the roadside or who because of their disability can no longer get to a service, to appointments or work, are still awaiting a response from the Minister and Keolis Downer.”
“To treat the real concerns and issues that people have raised with me with such contempt is disrespectful.”
“The Minister has played politics with this issue, with responses being raised by Government and Independent MPs having been responded to, but anything raised by a Labor MP has just been left unanswered.”
“These changes to bus timetables and routes are having a significant impact on the lives of residents in our community but the Minister chooses who he will respond to and when.”
“It’s simply not good enough.”
“If the Premier was serious and cared about the issues Members are raising on behalf of their communities in an appropriate manner, she would direct the Minister to the concerns being raised or replace him with someone who can.”