The prime minister has again weighed in on a stoush about the proposed development of apartments at a Sydney golf course, where four children were killed by a drug-addled speeding driver last year.
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Scott Morrison says he is "very distressed" about the news Oatlands Golf Club wants to develop 193 apartments on land where it had previously rejected erecting a memorial to the children, despite his intervention.
Three members of the Abdallah family - eight-year-old Sienna, Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13 - died alongside their 11-year-old cousin Veronique Sakr on February 1 last year after being struck by a ute as they walked on the footpath adjacent to the club on their way to get ice cream.
Mr Morrison wrote to the club in July, after its general manager confirmed the board was no longer negotiating with the family of the children killed after deeming the memorial designs unsuitable.
His letter stated he hoped to "encourage the club to reflect on its responsibilities as a community group".
On Monday, after news broke about the proposed apartment development, Mr Morrison said the families of the victims had shown a humbling level of grace and forgiveness.
"Their simple, honest, humble request that they should be able to memorialise their children that were taken from them is entirely reasonable," Mr Morrison said.
He has consulted NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet about the issue.
"We were texting this morning and I know (he) is working with them to hopefully achieve something positive here," Mr Morrison said.
NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns also addressed the issue on Monday afternoon, urging the club to "show some compassion" for the family who had acted with grace and determination in remembering their loved ones.
"Some things are more important than money and this is one of them," Mr Minns said.
"I'm hoping that common sense prevails and and the golf course changes course."
The driver who killed the children was sentenced to at least 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of manslaughter, among other charges.
An appeal of that sentence is scheduled to be heard next year.
Oatlands Golf Club has been contacted about the memorial and development proposal but has previously declined to comment.
Australian Associated Press
