Laying our own platform for future

THE Illawarra knows what is right for the Illawarra, according to Opposition spokesman for Trade and Regional Development Simon Crean.

Mr Crean was in the Illawarra last week to see the sights and outline Labor policies at a roundtable discussion. He said that in the event the Australian Labor Party won the upcoming federal election he would look to Illawarra businesses to lay the platform for their own future.

"Labor policy is firmly committed to recognising localism," he said.

"Canberra does not know better."

The roundtable discussion, hosted by Wollongong Lord Mayor Alex Darling, was attended by a number of local stakeholders including the Port Authority, Area Consultative Committee, Bluescope Steel, Wollongong University, WIN Stadium and representatives from the Aboriginal community.

Mr Crean said discussions of this nature would become more frequent in the event of a Labor win to government.

"They will be a regular occurrence and they work," he said. "They give local ownership of local issues."

Some of the issues raised at the roundtable included local skill shortages, housing affordability, employment opportunities and local government.