NSW Labor to hold economic summit for Sydney s worst COVID areas

Australia's NSW Labor says they will hold a virtual economic summit for peak business groups_ mayors_ unions and community and religious leaders from Sydney s COVID hotspots next week amid ongoing concerns of a city divided by the Delta outbreak.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns made the commitment after mayors from the 12 areas of concern were last week infuriated by Premier Gladys Berejiklian s refusal to meet them collectively to discuss many COVID-19 issues.

Ms Berejiklian declined their invitation on the same day she attended a western Sydney business conference_ despite the mayors pleading to meet with her to talk about the mental health of residents_ requests for more vaccination hubs_ policing issues and pathways out of lockdown.

The Premier referred the mayors to Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock.

Mr Minns said the opposition would also hold an in-person cabinet meeting in west and south-west Sydney  as soon as it is safe to do so after lockdown in a move to show support for the areas that have faced some of the harshest restrictions across the state.

Mr Minns said recent data has shown that small businesses in the hotspots have suffered losses in trade of up to 70 per cent_ while in other parts of Sydney similar businesses have seen an increase of up to 33 per cent.

He said job advertisements in those areas have also suffered a 60 per cent drop compared to 23 per cent in other parts_  proof that the impacts of lockdowns and restrictions have not been felt equally across Sydney .

 We want everyone at the table including community leaders and representatives_ businesses_ religious leaders_ unions_ social service groups  because we know this will require a whole of community effort to get through this_ Mr Minns said.

 If we are going to get the west going_ it will require the cooperation_ ideas and combined effort across the board. We want everyone to have buy in.

Mr Minns said there needed to be  further specific and targeted economic survival and recovery measures that show an appreciation of just how hard hit many of these communities have been .

 The lockdowns have been longer and harsher than last time  therefore the support needs to match. Labor has been calling on the government to roll out specific survival measures for west and south-west Sydney_ he said.