Gladys Berejiklian says a claim by Labor that she is ignoring her responsibility to the Hunter is untrue, but it appears her role as Minister for the Hunter is not important enough to display on her official website.
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There is no mention of Ms Berejiklian’s position as Minister for the Hunter at www.gladys.com.au, except in relation to transport announcements in the section of the site containing archived media releases.
But there is prominent reference to her job as Transport Minister and Willoughby MP on the wesbite’s banner heading, which appears at the top of every page of the website.
A message from Ms Berejiklian posted on the home page says, in part: “It is my honour and privilege to serve in the NSW Parliament as the Member for Willoughby and the Minister for Transport.”
She has come under fire recently from opposition spokeswoman for the Hunter Sonia Hornery, who said Ms Berejikilan had not visited the region for about four months.
Ms Hornery said last week that the Minister should return to the Hunter so she could get in touch with community sentiment on issues such as the Newcastle rail cut.
“I have written to Ms Berejiklian today to welcome her here to the Hunter and to say that I would be happy to take her around and talk to residents with her, to help her get a better feel for the region,” she said.
“I think it’s crucial for Gladys to actually see some of the Hunter and talk to some people living here to get that first-hand experience, if she really wants to fulfil her responsibilities as Minister for the Hunter.”
Ms Berejiklian told the Mercury in a written statement yesterday that Ms Hornery’s claim was untrue and that she had visited the region more recently.
“Labor’s claims are simply untrue; the NSW government is getting on with the job of delivering for the people of the Hunter and I was in the region just recently meeting with hard-working community transport volunteers,” she said.
“Now that the parliamentary sitting period is over for 2014, I look forward to visiting the area again in the near future.”
Ms Berejiklian became Minister for the Hunter on April 23.
She visited Maitland and met with local business and community leaders over breakfast on April 29.
The Mercury is not aware of another official visit that she has made to Maitland since then and Ms Berejiklian did not nominate a date since April that she had visited Maitland.