After the success of last night’s townhall-style debate at the Rooty Hill RSL Club, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell has again challenged Premier Kristina Keneally to a series of similar events in the lead up to the 2011 State Election.

“Last night’s forum provided an example of democracy in action, It was interaction between the nation’s leaders and real people – and that’s good for democracy,” Mr O’Farrell said.

“Ms Keneally has so far refused to agree to my request for a series of town hall debates in the lead up to next year’s election, but after the strong interest in last night’s event she should now agree.

“Ms Keneally and I should have a series of genuine debates in regional centres like Western Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Tamworth, Port Macquarie and Dubbo.

"There is always talk about  the level of public disengagement with politics. The high voter turnout at the recent Nationals Community Preselection trial in the Tamworth electorate has shown the level of interest our community has in the political process." Trevor Khan said.

In June this year nearly 4,300 people from across the Tamworth Electorate took part in the Community preselection with Kevin Anderson winning comfortably.

"The more people get involved the better outcomes will be." Trevor Khan said.

"Itis time for the people to again have the chance to have their say in the political process, this time as participants in a town-hall style forum. I'm sure the people of Tamworth would welcome the opportunity to ask Premier Keneally questions about the State Labor Government's:

Failure to redevelop Tamworth Hospital as promised prior to the last State election;

Inaction on the augmentation of Chaffey Dam; and

 Refusal to commit funds to the building of a secure water supply for Barraba through the construction of a pipeline from Split Rock Dam."

"The Tamworth people have a lot of questions, why won't Ms Keneally front us in the town-hall and answer them?"  

Trevor Khan, The Nationals Duty MLC for Tamworth, today responded to confusing comments by NSW Water Minister, Phil Costa, over the augmentation of Chaffey Dam.

Mr Costa in The Northern Daily Leader today said that water savings at Menindee Lakes was the key to funding the augmentation of Chaffey Dam, which he estimated to be $25 million.

"The State Labor Government has a long track record of making grand announcements that never have a hope of materialising. This is just another in a long line." MrKhan said.

"The people of Tamworth shouldn't be reliant on events a thousand kilometres away at Menindee Lakes."

"For this plan to work you'd need to pull a genie out of a bottle, but in this case it seems the genieis a thousand kilometres away" Mr Khan said.

Mr Costa's quoted cost of $25 million, is also widely out of line with current projections.

The estimated cost he quotes takes no account of Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Safety Upgrade. At this point only Stage 1 has been funded. If the augmentation, along with the prerequisite Stage 2 safety upgrade, are undertaken together the estimated cost is $41million. That is $16 million more than the figure used by Mr Costa.

"It's plain that either Mr Costa doesn't know what he's talking about or he's playing tricky politics with imaginative accountancy."

"Labor's commitment becomes less credible the closer you examine it. It simply doesn't add up."

"It's not possible for Chaffey Dam in totality to only cost $25 million. There's no way they can deliver ontheir commitment at that level of funding."

"The issue of the augmentation of Chaffey Dam has been talked about for years. Peter Draper has taken every opportunity to have pictures taken with State Labor Ministers, issuing countless press releases. Despite all the photos and talk we have only seen a constant failure to deliver vitally needed infrastructure projects to this region."

"The only way we'll see realaction on securing Tamworth's water supply, is to make a real commitment, based on real numbers. You're not finding that from either Mr Costa or Mr Draper"Mr Khan said