Campaign Quotes

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery OAM: “As a Council, we are worried about the impact the privatisation of the Port of Port Kembla could have on our community… It is vital, as a community, our concerns are heard.”

Professor Philip Laird: “To me, it’s there’s a lot at stake – if it’s packaged off with Port Botany, you reduce any incentive for competition between the ports… we’ll get more trucks and it will make it harder for people to live here and commute to Sydney.”

Ian Fulford, Port Kembla Business Chamber: “nonsense… It just doesn’t make any economic sense.”

Arthur Rorris, Secretary South Coast Labour Council: “Their key consideration will not be the interests of the people of the Illawarra, it'll be their profitability and their hold over that market.”

Trevor Mott: “is that what the people of NSW desire, a Port controlled not by the people of NSW, the profits of what appears a futuristic port going to either a foreign government or a foreign enterprise, a port where workers safety and conditions now enjoyed taken away.”

Stephen Jones Federal Member for Cunningham: “why on earth are they flogging an asset which delivers a profit year in, year out… a dud deal for the Illawarra and it’s a dud deal for NSW”.

Dr Ray Robinson: “There is a high probability that foreign investment may have a significant share and that infers repatriated revenues overseas. Put another way, less revenue for Australians… the lessee has a jump start with an operational profitable concern – what a gift to strangers with our resources.”

Dr Mike Donaldson: "Some say that the Government should have passed the [port privatisation] enabling legislation only after all the expressions of interest were all in, but no doubt the Government is very aware of the huge problem it faces."

Dr Robert Carr: “History reveals that only a public harbour could be built in Wollongong… one thing remains consistent: the question of whose interests does privatisation of the harbour really serve.”

Wollongong Cr Vicki Curran: “They didn't go into the election letting people know about the privatisation of the port, so they don't have a mandate… They did feasibility studies for Port Botany but so far we haven't had … had any feasibility studies [for Port Kembla]. All we have is the assurances from government that it's a good deal."

Shellharbour Cr Peter Moran: “The ongoing income from the port could be much better spent providing basic services to the community rather than providing profits to what will potentially be an overseas lessee”.

Wollongong Cr Ann Martin: “This is also about how locals and visitors can access our surrounding waterways.”

Wollongong Cr Leigh Colacino: “I think privatisation of the port is a good idea. However, I think it’s being done in the wrong way.”

Olive Rodwell: “They are treating the whole issue with contempt - contempt for the people of the Illawarra and their wishes.”

Alice Scott, on meeting with NSW Treasurer Mike Baird: “He told us his side of the story, we told him ours… We told him why we think it's a rotten deal for the Illawarra and he tried to convince us what a great deal it is, but no it is not a good deal for the Illawarra at all.”

Editorial, Illawarra Mercury: “For the government to then turn around and lease the port for $500 million is simply staggering and brings into question its business nous... Wouldn’t it have been far smarter to keep the port in government hands and spend some of the profits on educating our children?”

Editorial, Illawarra News: “To the community, the Port is defensible space, a source of income and continuity. The Port’s history is entwined with that of the community. A reasonable conclusion is that its future is tied to that of the community’s as well.”

Illawarra News: “Scenes of impassioned red and a sea of big community hearts are expected for tomorrow's train trip to Parliament. Reminiscent of the Battle for Bulli in 1887, it is the women of Save Our Ports leading the way tomorrow.”

Save Our Ports campaign: “The NSW Government has previously said it needed $500 million from the privatisation of Port Kembla to make up for the supposed lack of funds to enhance NSW infrastructure. After the Auditor located $1 billion in extra money in the NSW Treasury, there really is no need to sell off Port Kembla at what is an inadequate price in the first place.”