NSW Labor’s local government spokesman has said public libraries in Cootamundra and around NSW will receive double the funding they received last financial year. The NSW Public Libraries Association claims funding to public libraries has been cut, something denied by Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke.
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“All people have to do, to work out who’s telling the truth is to go to the state budget,” shadow minister for local government Peter Primrose said.
“The Public Libraries Association went and looked at the state budget, the NSW Local Government Association went and looked at the state budget, we went and looked at at the state budget.
“We all came to the same conclusion and that is funding has been cut by $5 million.”
Mr Primrose said the opposition and library groups expected there to be an increase in funding at the last state budget.
“We’re now part of a community campaign to say, that there should be an increase,” he said. “The next state Labor government will double the state funding for public libraries.”
He explained it would be double the level before it was cut in the 2018-2019 budget, which was a promise made in April before the budget was handed down.
It would mean $50 million per year for libraries, which would also be directed to libraries to per capita.
It would mean an increase in funding based on a community’s population.
“Libraries are so important to communities and people are using them at an ever increasing rate and they’re wonderful resources,” Mr Primrose said.
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
