Luke Foley is taking to the road in a campaign bus to spruik NSW Labor's opposition to the state government's $2.5 billion plan to knock down and rebuild three sporting stadiums in Sydney.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The red bus - emblazoned with the slogan "schools and hospitals before stadiums" - left Sydney on Sunday for a week-long trip that will see Mr Foley visit the far north coast, Myall Lakes, the Hunter Valley, Barwon, Dubbo, Bega, Queanbeyan and finally key western Sydney seats.
"The premier just has the wrong priorities here," Mr Foley told reporters.
"It's just such a monumental extravagance to knock down an 18-year-old stadium (at Homebush). The Olympics were held in Melbourne in 1956 (but) they've never knocked down the MCG."
Mr Foley said he suspects Premier Gladys Berejiklian "will capitulate" and scrap the stadiums splurge at some stage.
More than half of NSW voters are opposed to the state government spending more than $2 billion to demolish and rebuild Allianz Stadium at Moore Park and ANZ at Homebush, according to a poll released late last week.
The ReachTEL poll, commissioned by Fairfax Media, suggested nearly 60 per cent of voters oppose or strongly oppose the plan.
Labor says it would support a "modest refurbishment" of the Olympic stadium at Homebush.
The Berejiklian government is also spending about $300 million to redevelop Parramatta Stadium which is due to be completed by 2019.
The premier on Sunday defended her government as she released three key reports on infrastructure, transport and Sydney planning.
"Our investment spend on sporting infrastructure is less than one per cent," she told reporters.
"We've already spent $111 billion until this point on schools, hospitals, roads and rail ... something the Labor party failed to do."
Ms Berejiklian appeared unconcerned about Mr Foley's bus tour which is headed to Lismore on Sunday evening.
"I wish he'd actually launch a policy," she said.
Australian Associated Press
