STOCKTON'S beach crisis hit state parliament's question time on Tuesday as the government stood firm on its record in what Labor leader Jodi McKay branded "an unfolding crisis".
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"It's a catastrophe for a community and she is doing nothing," Ms McKay said of the Premier and "ministers who keep pointing fingers at each other".
In a tense debate punctuated with heckles and jeers, Premier Gladys Berejiklian pointed to $142,000 given to City of Newcastle last year and the expertise of government departments as proof the government was tackling the problem.
Ms Berejiklian also drew on the Newcastle light rail project and "billions in infrastructure" in the Hunter in her riposte to an impassioned grilling from the Opposition.
"The government is onto it, we've been onto it for a while," Ms Berejiklian said of Stockton's woes.
Opposition Leader Jodi McKay and several Hunter Labor MPs interjected, with Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison asking if Sydney suburbs would be treated the same.
"This notion ... that we would ignore one part of NSW ahead of another is simply disgusting," she said.
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Matt Carr
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
