MEDIA RELEASE

Tweed Chamber of Commerce and Industry has lent their support to local businesses and workers who have today come under attack from Tweed Council Mayor Katie Milne.

Cr Milne is attempting to ban any local business or contractor from working with Tweed Shire Council that is engaged to work on the new $534 million Tweed Hospital.

Tweed Chamber President Warren Polglase said this is a direct attack on local businesses, contractors and workers.

“Cr Milne is playing politics with people’s livelihoods and people’s jobs, and all because they want to be part of building a new hospital,” Mr Polglase said.

“We should be celebrating and encouraging the use of local businesses and contractors on major infrastructure projects in the Tweed, not threatening them and sending money out of our community.

“As advocates for businesses in the Tweed, we wholeheartedly oppose any move which seeks to penalise law abiding businesses from benefiting from investment opportunities in the local area.”

Whilst addressing a gathering at Cudgen this morning (Monday, 5 November 2018), Cr Milne also committed Tweed Council resources to assisting to blockade businesses, contractors and workers employed to work on the new Tweed Hospital.

“This is a great overreach of power by the Mayor and a great misuse of ratepayer resources,” Mr Polglase said.

“Council should be focussed on fixing roads across the shire instead of playing politics with our rates.

“We want a strong and vibrant business community which is why Chamber is calling on Cr Milne to abandon her tirade against local businesses,” Mr Polglase concluded.

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Media enquiries:
Warren Polglase
Tweed Chamber President