Mr Foley toured Baxter Healthcare, an advanced manufacturer in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, based in Old Toongabbie, before sitting down with business leaders to discuss the challenges facing Sydney and possible solutions.
“I won’t pretend that I have all the answers when it comes to solving the congestion challenge facing our city – that’s why I’m sitting down with business leaders to hear firsthand the great success stories in our suburbs and what government can do to help create more of them,” Mr Foley said.
“I thank Baxter Healthcare for the opportunity to visit and tour their facilities in Old Toongabbie.
“Baxter is a great example of what the future of our economy needs to look like – advanced manufacturing jobs located in the very heart of our western suburbs.
“I said when I became Labor leader that I wanted to reach out to the private sector and call on their expertise to help drive the massive job creation we need in the suburbs to put a lasting dent in the congestion challenge we face in our city.
“My concern is that no matter how many roads we widen or how many buses and trains we try to cram onto the network it will never be enough to give our people the quality of life they deserve – only creating hundreds of thousands of smart jobs in the suburbs and our regional centres will help solve the congestion challenge.
“I believe that the next government of NSW has an important role to play in partnering with private enterprise and focusing our collective resources on shifting the jobs needle in Sydney’s greater west.
“We need more smart jobs in Penrith, Liverpool, Campbelltown and every suburb in-between if we want to have a liveable city in which mum and dad don’t have to leave home before the kids wake up and come home long after they’ve gone to bed.”